Chapter 3

Skylar's pov

Everyone has their own secrets. I have mine and I've kept it for an entire month but secrets have a way of rotting you out from the inside out.

After my time with the Alpha, he didn't summon me or rather, Alessia back to Alpha Quarters.

I was becoming worried that maybe he had forgotten about me but a part of me believed he was busy with his Alpha duties.

A lot happened later — Alessia's ankle healed and she practice her struts whenever she like. Our family practically returned to normal or at least our version of normal. Mother resumed gossiping with her friends in the book club, father heading out to the company, Alessia, doing whatever she was good at and me, with my nose stuck in a book.

It all seemed normal but it wasn't for me. Not anymore.

A few days later and everyone's stares become intense. Why wouldn't they stare? It's been a whooping month since the Alpha even whistled for me.

They thought I did something wrong that night. I could tell from mother's sharp glance and Alessia's venomous comments. Well, I did do something wrong but how could I tell them?

I spent most of my days cooped up in my bedroom, reading novels and looking out the window for the Alpha's car, hoping that he'd come around but I was wrong. He never showed up.

From that day, I fell into depression but one thing I knew about depression was that it didn't come with stomach ache and nausea.

I'd clutch my stomach without understanding and feel nauseous at the least. I didn't know what was wrong with me not until this morning when I collapsed at breakfast.

Everyone was seated at breakfast, eating quietly and passing around plates. Not until Alessia asked father about some silk shipment arriving from the West Side Pack. That sparked off a conversation between them and they carried along with it, forgetting I was ever there.

While they ate, I looked down at my plate, swallowing nervously. For the past few days, food has become my sworn enemies, especially eggs and Skylar doesn't pass off an offer on eggs. Everyone knew what but this time I couldn't stand the smell of scrambled eggs.

Mother noticed and snapped at me. “Skylar, stop playing with your food!”

“I'm not hungry.” I muttered and set down my fork, reaching for my iPhone.

They all looked at me as if I grew another head.

“It's an egg, Skylar. You don't feel like eating eggs? They're your favourite.” Alessia said with a gasp.

“I know. I just.. I don't have an appetite.” I pushed back my chair and rose to my feet.

I think I did too quickly because the world spinned. My phone fell to the floor in a clatter and the next thing I knew, the darkness swallowed me whole.

The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils and I jolted awake.

“Where am I?” I asked no one in a whisper.

I sat up, leaning against the headboard. The white sheets, the white walls. Oh no… I'm in the pack's medical ward.

The door slid open and the family trooped into the room.

There was no trace of worry on their faces, only disgust.

What the heck happened when I fainted?

Mother stood at the foot of my bed with a much older man, holding an iPad.

“Tell her what you told us, doctor.” Mother said to the doctor.

What did he tell them? What did the doctor tell them?

The doctor, a ginger haired man with full beards, beamed me a smile. “Oh. Congratulations, Miss Graystone. You're pregnant.”

“No.” I shook my head. “No, no, no. That can't be right.”

“You are with child, Skylar.” The doctor repeated.

I pulled my knees to my chest, trembling slightly. “It's not possible. I … I can't be…”

“Thank you, doctor. That would be all.” Mother said to the man and he left the room with a low bow.

Alessia walked to my bed and gripped my arm. “How could you get pregnant, you bitch!”

“Tell me that's not true, Skylar,” Father said, his voice firm. “Tell us it's impossible.”

I couldn't answer.

“Answer me!” Father snapped.

I flinched. “I… don't know!”

Mother's hand flew to her chest as if she might faint. “How could you not know?”

Father's jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might crack. “Who's the goddamn father?”

My throat went dry and I looked down. Shame crawled up my spine and I couldn't meet their eyes.

It was my mother's turn to snap. “Answer your father when he's speaking to you!”

“It's - -” I hesitated, tears blurring my sight.

Alessia's nails dug into my arms as she screamed. Father stood there, his face beet red with rage and mother, pacing the room.

“The Alpha.” I finally whispered.

Alessia froze. “What?”

I looked up to meet their eyes. “It's the Alpha.”

Harried gasped, staggering backwards. Mother clutched father's arms for support while father glared at me.

Alessia's eyes filled as she spat angrily. “You lying whore!”

“Enough, Alessia!” Father yelled.

“No!” Alessia yelled back then turned to me. “You were supposed to stay away from him! You were supposed to give him the potion! How could you be so selfish!”

“I said enough!” Father's voice boomed, silencing the room.

Alessia was far from done. “She stole everything from me! She took what's mine! You disgusting little - -”

“That's enough, Alessia!” Mother scolded.

Tears streamed down my face as Alessia sobbed in mother's arms.

I was an awful person.

This was all my fault.

Suddenly, a nurse rushed in, whispering something urgently to the nurse beside her.

The other nurse's eyes went round and they turned to us. “Excuse me, ma'am's, sir? There's an important broadcast from the Alpha.”

Alessia was the first to speak up. “The Alpha himself?”

“Yes.” The nurse answered impatiently.

Father sensed the urgency and spoke. “Well, go ahead then.”

The nurse turned on the flat screen Tv in the corner of the room.

A familiar face filled the screen – those silver eyes, that dominating aura. It was him — The Alpha.

He stared straight at the camera, his eyes unblinking, his voice cold and distant. “I am interrupting this news for an important announcement. I have rejected Luna Amber as my mate and I will be taking my chosen concubine as my new Luna. Alessia Graystone will be my new Luna.”

Jaws dropped. Eyes widened and heads spinned.

I was in dip shit.

And just like that, the broadcast ended.

Silence settled over the room.

Alessia broke it first with a scream. “You! You backstabbing slut! He's talking about you!”

She was right. The Alpha was talking about me. The truth was finally out.

Father turned to me, his expression cold. “You've disgraced Graystone, Skylar. You're no daughter of mine!”

My chest tightened. “W - what?”

“You will leave this pack immediately.” He said firmly. “Go to your maternal aunt in the Starlight Pack. You are not welcome here anymore. Pack your things and get out!”

“No, father. Please!” I pleaded with tears in my eyes.

“Leave!” Mother yelled. “Pack your things and get out of here!”

“But mom —”

“I don't want you near me any longer!” She screamed with restrained anger. “You brought shame to this family and you will leave with it.”

Alessia said with  back turned to me. “Leave before dawn, Skylar. We never want to see you here.”

And just like that, my world fell apart.