When the Alpha Realized I Was No Longer His novel

Kaias POV
I should have felt joy. Nine moons carrying a life inside me, I shouldve been glowingcelebrated, cherished.
Instead, every step through the pack infirmary felt like I was trudging through ice.
The healers voice still clung to me, soft but laced with gravity.
We need to prepare for all possibilities, she had said. These signs theyre not common for expecting mothers. Lets hope for the best, but we must be ready for the truth when the results return.
Her words haunted me more than the sterile walls or the faint scent of herbs meant to soothe.
Something was terribly wrong in my bodyand in my life.
I wasnt trembling because of fear alone.
I was trembling because the one who vowed to stand beside me was nowhere to be found.
Alden shouldve been holding my hand.
My Alpha. My fated mate. My husband.
But duty, he always said, came first.
Pack duties. Reports. Patrols. Meetings.
Excuses layered like armor shielding a lie.
I rounded a cornerand the illusion shattered completely.
you dont have to carry this guilt, his voice murmured, gentle in a way I hadnt heard in months.
A woman answered, her tone silky with practiced sorrow.
I never meant to intrude on your life, Alden. If the Moon Goddess hadnt taken my mate from me, I wouldnt be leaning on you like this.
Marinal. The ghost from his past who suddenly walked back into his future.
And his voicesoft, reverent, a vow that wasnt meant for me
Youre not a burden. I told you Id look after youand I stand by that.
My wolf growled inside mebetrayal echoing in my bones before my mind even caught up.
Two pregnant she-wolves.
One adored. One abandoned.
Funny how destiny was supposed to be sacred but it felt like a cruel joke instead.
I tried to movejust escape before my heart ripped completelybut a healer stepped into the room, bright-voiced and unsuspecting.
Alpha, what a surprise! And Luna, you and the baby look wonderfully healthy!
Marinal flushed, lowering her lashes.
OhIm not the Luna.
The stunned look on the healers face twisted a blade straight through me.
He attends all your check-ups, she murmured. I simply assumed
I didnt stay. I couldnt.
I walked away before I broke in front of them, hand gripping my belly like it was the only thing anchoring me to this world.
A memory hitsharp as claws.
Me, collapsing on the cold tiles one night, coughing blood.
Begging him to come.
And him saying, Marinal strained her leg. She needs me more.
That was the night something inside me died.
Whispers followed me through the pack groundssome pitying, most cruel.
When I reached our den and smelled her scent mixed with his, my knees nearly gave.
I sat on the bed that used to feel like sanctuary and dialed the one Alpha who never failed me.
Dad My voice cracked open.
Kaia? Alarm instantly flooded his tone. Tell me what happened.
And so I did. Every wound, every humiliation, every moment I felt myself disappearing in a place I once called home.
I want to come back, I breathed. I want my child born someplace safe. Im cutting the bond. I cant stay here anymore.
Silencesteady, strongthen his voice wrapped around me like armor.
Leave them. You belong to us. Neither that pack nor that Alpha deserves you.
Tears slid down my face, warm and freeing.
Ill make arrangements. One week.
You and your pup will always have a place here, he promised. Never doubt that.
When the call ended, I pressed a hand to my belly. A small kick answereda promise, a plea, a blessing.
Were leaving, I whispered, tears trembling with determination. Ill protect you. I wont fail you.
And this time, the vow belonged to me alone.


Kaias POV
The doctors assistant approached the moment I stepped into the clinic the next morning, holding a sealed envelope gingerly between her fingers.
Luna Kaia, she spoke softly, offering it to me, these are your test results. The doctor will need to discuss treatment plans and medical steps with you.
The envelope felt as if it weighed a hundred pounds when I accepted it. My fingers trembled while she continued, almost whispering, She mentioned your symptoms dont correlate with pregnancy. Youll understand once you read it. Lets hope things arent as bad as they seem, alright?
Hope. Everyone kept repeating that word, gently, like I might shatter if it wasnt there to cling to. Maybe they were right. I pressed the envelope to my chest, terrified of the truth hidden inside the thin paper.
Nothing stayed down when I ate anymore. My body ached constantly, as though every muscle had been wrung dry. My spine screamed with pain most days, and the dizziness made even breathing feel heavy. My wolfusually fierce and alert so late in pregnancyhad gone eerily quiet, as though she knew something and didnt want me to panic.
I sat outside on the bench, exhausted just from walking. I stared at the envelope, too afraid to break the seal. My gaze drifted toward the adjoining wing of the hospital.
And thats when he appeared.
Alden.
My husband. My mate. The Alpha the Goddess chose for me.
He walked slowly down the corridor beside Marinal again, one hand resting protectively at the small of her back, guiding her like she was something precious and fragile. His head inclined toward her, voice low, gentle.
Tender.
Loving.
A tone I hadnt heard directed at me in months.
They paused at a desk. Alden disappeared into a physicians office to retrieve her medical chart. Marinal remained outside, dramatically stroking her bump like she was posing for a portrait.
My throat burned. I looked away before tears could spill. The envelope in my grip felt like it might burst into flames. Swallowing my nausea, I forced myself to stand. I refused to fall apart where anyone could see.
But fate had other plans.
Marinals eyes found me. Her lips curled, pleased to have an audience. She sauntered over, every step fueled by arrogance.
Luna, she greeted syrup-sweet, wandering around staring like this wont bring your bond back. Its pathetic, reallyholding onto something already dead.
I didnt flinch. Interesting words coming from someone who crawled back after a failed mateship just to sink her claws into mine.
Her composure cracked. Briefly. Then she lifted her chin smugly.
I was his first. You? Just a filler. A temporary Luna. And now that Im carrying his pupmaybe its time you step aside.
The sting was sharp and instant. My wolf snarled, low and dangerous. I clutched the envelope.
Youre vile, I hissed. If your fated mate rejected you, go back to him. Dont tear apart someone elses bond because you couldnt keep your own.
Her eyes glittered with venom.
Oh, Kaia. Still pretending? That little baby inside you? Hell forget soon enough. Why would he bother raising two pups when he could raise one with the woman he truly loves?
A tremor ran through me. No. Alden promised me. He said her pup wasnt his. He swore he was only helping her. He looked me in the eye and
Then why did her words strike so deeply?
My hand protectively touched my belly. My wolf whimpered, but I straightened.
Step away, I warned. You dont want this getting ugly.
But Marinals gaze flicked to the envelope.
Whats that? Her hand shot forward faster than I expected.
Stopgive it back!
Too late.
She ripped it open. Her eyes danced over the first page. Slowly, her mouth curled into triumph.
Oh. Goddess above. She laughedactually laughed. Youre sick. You have cancer?
I froze.
And she laughed hardercruel and delighted.
How poetic. The Luna dying. Maybe the Moon Goddess favors me after all. You and your precious pup might just fade away together.
Something inside me shattered, sharp and violent.
My hand flew before I thought. Crack. My palm met her cheek.
Marinal stumbled, gasping theatrically. She crashed into a small table behind her; glass exploded as a vase broke. Thendeliberatelyshe slammed her palm into the shards, slicing herself.
Blood splashed.
Help! she screeched. The Luna attacked me!
A door burst open instantly.
Alden stormed out, eyes locking on Marinal first. He rushed to her side without sparing me a glance.
What the hell is wrong with you, Kaia?! He shoved me back, my balance wavering as I shielded my belly.
I didnt touch hershe staged it! I protested desperately. Alden, listen
Alpha, Marinal whimpered, leaning into him, dont blame her shes just emotional. Im sorry. I dont want to cause trouble.
She owes you an apology, Alden snapped at me.
I lifted the test paper, stained with her blood. Please. Read this. Im Im sick. I have cancer
He slapped the paper out of my grasp. It slid across the tiles, sinking into the spreading blood. The letters blurred, drowning in red.
I dont have time for your theatrics, he growled. I am done tiptoeing around you.
My lungs burned. Youre choosing her. Even after this.
If you apologize to Marinal, he replied coldly, I will accompany you to your check-up. Say sorry first.
I stared at himthis stranger who once promised to love me. Worship me. Protect me. My mate now demanded I bow to the woman who destroyed my life.
I looked at the ruined diagnosis on the floor. Then at him.
No.
Kaia
No. My voice rose, strong and trembling. You have broken me in ways even the Goddess would weep over.
My pup kicked softlyas if reminding me why I had to stand tall.
I wont beg for crumbs of your affection anymore. And I will never apologize for defending my dignity.
I turned away, spine straight, refusing to look back as I walked. This time, I would not crumble for him.


Kaias POV
As soon as I turned away from the hospital and stepped outside, everything around me faded into a dull hum. My wolf whimpered inside mehurt, exhausted, silenttoo drained even to bare her teeth. I should have shifted and run until the earth tore beneath my paws. But I was empty. Numb.
I had cancer.
The words still didnt feel real. They floated in my head, blurry and surreal, like a nightmare I hadnt woken from. And Aldenmy mate, the father of the child growing inside me, my Alphahad treated me like I was meaningless. Less than a stranger. He lifted the woman who shattered our life and carried her like his world revolved around her, while I stood alone, accused, dismissed, humiliated.
I was carrying his pup.
Yet he chose her.
Every step toward the Moonspire Packhouse felt heavier, like the ground wanted to swallow me whole. The breeze cut colder. Leaves rustled not in comfort, but like they whispered about my fall. The pack felt unfamiliar, foreign hostile. As though the entire world witnessed my heartbreak and simply watched.
I reached our homeno, his home nowand hesitated in the doorway. The familiar blend of cedarwood and honey, Aldens scent, was faint already replaced by something floral. Lavender. Lilac.
Marinal.
Her smell clung to the house like rot beneath perfume.
My gaze landed on the photo from our mateship ceremony. His smile had been bright, real. His hand at my waist, our foreheads touching like fate was sealed between us. Slowly, I lifted the frame from the wall. My fingers did not tremble.
The crash when it hit the trash bin echoed across the silent room.
I didnt react.
Quietly, methodically, I began to pack. Shirt by shirt, memory by memory. My body ached; every muscle felt inflamed, bones heavy with illness. The fatigue was bone-deep, the nausea constant, like poison threading through my veins. The sickness felt alive, pulling at me from within.
My pup fluttered beneath my palms, sensing my distress.
Im so sorry, little one, I murmured, pressing both hands protectively against my belly. Well leave this place soon. Somewhere safe. I swear.
After a long soakhot water attempting to calm the burn under my skinI wrapped myself in a thick robe. I summoned the pack healers. Time was slipping through my fingers; if I wanted this child to live, I needed guidance. Even if I didnt survive, I had to give my pup a chance.
The scent of wolfsbane tea and eucalyptus greeted me downstairs. The healers were already gathered, heads bowed respectfully. Elder Matteo stood among themsteady, wise, loyal. If anyone would fight for me, it was him.
Luna Kaia, he greeted, voice full of quiet concern. We arrived as soon as we could.
Thank you, I replied softly, my voice barely steady. We need to discuss my condition
The front door swung open.
Alden entered, carrying Marinal in his arms like she was made of fragile crystal.
I stepped forward, blocking their path. I told you not to bring her here.
His expression hardened instantly. Shes injured. Because of you.
I let out a humorless laugh. She threw herself into glass and bled on purpose. You think I cant smell deceit? Im sick, not blind.
Marinal whimpered delicately. I only came because I didnt know where else to go I would never burden you, Luna. Im just thinking of my baby.
A growl formed in my chest.
You dont belong in this house.
Her lashes lowered, trembling dramatically. She slid Aldens hand onto her stomachbarely swollen.
If you want us gone, Alpha well leave. Even if I feel faint. I would never defy your Luna.
Viper. Manipulative and cunning.
Aldens tone cut through the room. What happened to your compassion? Shes expecting a pup.
My composure cracked. And Im not? Did you forget Im your mate and the mother of your firstborn?
Alden stared at me like I was a stranger he despised.
If she makes you uncomfortable, Kaia maybe you should go.
The room stilled.
He said it.
He actually said it.
In front of the healers.
Some dropped their gazes in shame. Elder Matteos jaw tightened in silent anger, but even he remained still. No one moved. No one spoke.
Words lodged in my throat. My voice felt trapped beneath grief and disbelief.
Slowly, I inhaled.
Very well, I whispered. Do as you please.
I turned away. I would not crumblenot here, not for him.
Marinals voice floated behind me, honey-coated poison.
Oh, Alpha, did she break your mateship photo? Thats such a pity it looked so beautiful where it was.
My steps pausedbut I did not turn.
Shes being dramatic, Alden muttered. She always comes back after she cools off.
I walked out of the house without looking back. A single tear slid down my cheek.
And it was the final tear I would ever waste on Alpha Alden.


Kaias POV
I spent the night tucked away in a tiny lodge at the very edge of pack territoryjust me, the freezing wind, and the echo of a mate bond I could no longer feel. I thought distance might numb the ache clawing through me, but all it did was make the silence louder. Space didnt heal me; it reminded me how completely Id shattered.
When dawn crept in, I returned to the packhouse. One hand instinctively cradled my belly as I stepped inside. I paused at the threshold, breath catching. The scent wasnt the one I left. Marinals perfumesweet lilac rolled in synthetic rosewaterhung in the air like poison, weaving through the home that used to be mine.
My wolf rumbled with warning, her ears pinned back.
I climbed the stairs slowly, dread tightening around my ribs. Voices drifted from my roomhealers low tones, nurses murmuring softly. And her voice. Marinals. In my space.
My pulse thundered so loudly it drowned everything else. That room held every tender dream I ever hadwarm evenings curled on the window seat, quiet nights whispering plans for a family, love painted in soft colors and candlelight.
All of it soiled.
I swallowed hard, steadied my wolf, and pushed the door open.
The world tilted.
She was sprawled across my bed like it already belonged to her, wrapped in the sheets Id chosenmy sheets. The vanity I used every morning had been scrubbed clean of me, now cluttered with her perfumes and brushes. Her photos sat smugly where my journal and crystals used to rest.
Rage detonated inside me. My vision tunneled red. I marched forward and seized her arm, yanking her upright.
What are you doing in here? My voice erupted like a snarl.
Before I could drag her from the bed, strong arms ripped me backward.
Alpha! she screamed dramatically. Help me!
And as if summoned by her tears, Alden appeared, storming toward us.
Kaia, stop! he barked, voice cracking with anger. His grip on me was iron cold, pulling me out into the hallway. Youre losing your mind.
I ripped myself free, tears burning. This is my room. Mine. You
Enough, he snapped, slicing his hand through the air. Marinal likes this room. I offered it to her. Find another.
I stared at him, stunned. Those healers are here for me. Im sick, Alden. Im dying
He cut me off. She fell. You hurt her. She needed care, so I brought them. And if you keep acting like this, maybe being mated to you was a damn mistake. His voice dripped with disgust. Youre exhausting to deal with. You dont listen to me at all.
Something inside me turned to ice.
You dont mean that, I whispered, barely breathing.
His gaze was flat. If you cant behave, then leave. Raise your pup somewhere else.
The world scraped away beneath my feet. My knees hit the ground before I realized Id collapsed, arms wrapped around my belly like I could shield my unborn child from his cruelty. My throat burned but no sound came out.
I didnt plead. I didnt scream.
I simply stood, legs trembling like they might snap, and walked toward the hall.
Later, lying on the stiff guestroom mattress he told me to use, I didnt have anger leftnot for him, not for her. Weariness soaked into my bones. The illness gnawed through my body, my joints stiff, skin feverish. My wolf curled close within me, little presence pressed against my soul like she wanted to shield me too.
My phone buzzed. I lifted it weakly.
A message from Marinal.
I opened it.
Alden brought little postcards for the baby. Isn't he the sweetest father?
Something inside me cracked.
Another recording.
Marinal, I hope youre resting. Kaia acted up again but dont worry, I scolded her. This stress isnt good for you.
His tonetender, gentlewas like a blade sinking into my back.
A third.
I hesitated. Then hit play.
Aldens voice poured out, warm, devoted.
Dont worry, love. I made you chamomile tea. Our pup is healthy. Youre glowing.
My hands trembled so violently the phone nearly slipped.
Everything that was supposed to be mineour Luna suite, the shared study, our bedfelt like a memory. A script. I had been the rehearsal. Marinal was the final performance.
A laugh scraped out of my throattoo hollow to be humor. My wolf whimpered, and I wrapped both arms around my belly.
Its alright, I whispered to my pup, voice shaking. Its just us now.
A soft kick answered beneath my palm.
Ill protect you, I vowed quietly. Whatever it costs.
No tears came. I refused to give him another piece of me.
I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly.
Freedom was rising on the horizon. I wasnt there yetbut I was moving toward it.
For now, I had my unborn child. My failing body. And a heart still beating despite every fracture.
And soon, I would have my life backfar away from a mate who never deserved me.


Kaias POV
Ever since Marinal settled into the rooms that were once ours, everything between Alden and me shiftedquietly, like a storm changing direction before anyone noticed the sky darkening. He haunted the edges of my existence, torn between remorse and whatever twisted devotion he felt for her. Even during my cancer infusions, when I lay weak and aching in a sterile bed, he wasnt there for mehe was beside her. Stroking her hair. Whispering comfort. Treating her like the Luna that I was.
He only learned about my cancer today. Not because he cared enough to askbut because he finally overheard what hed refused to listen to all this time.
And by then, I had stopped hoping. My heart had already slammed its gates shut.
That evening, after another wave of treatment left my bones aching like they were turning to dust, I dragged myself through the pack hospital halls. Every step felt like it scraped something raw inside me. The magic was harsh, fast, unforgivingpushing me toward survival while draining the life right out of me.
I should have stayed awaygone anywhere but home. Yet somehow, instinct pulled me back to the place that once felt safe.
I walked the corridor toward the Alpha wing, half praying he wouldnt be there and half terrified that he would. A warm glow spilled from beneath his door. Marinals voice floated through the crack, soft as sugar-coated venom.
Alpha may I wear the Moonspire Moonstone? she murmuredsweet, innocent, pleading. The one you gave Kaia when you pledged your lives together? I only want to feel cherished just like she did.
My breath hitched, and I pressed myself against the cold wall.
The Moonstone.
The Luna heirloom passed down generationsplaced at my throat under moonlight as Alden vowed loyalty and forever. My symbol. My vow. My future.
I listened to history crumble in two sentences.
Of course, sweetheart, Alden whispered, a gentle tone that had once been mine. It would look beautiful on you. At least until the baby arrives.
A quiet kiss brushed her cheek. The impact felt like a blade sinking into my ribs.
Then his voice dipped low. Ill talk to Kaia. Shell understand.
That was the moment I finally felt the bond snapnot with a scream, but with a silence sharp enough to bleed.
Footsteps shuffled behind the door. Our eyes met in that sliver of light. And for the first time I felt absolutely nothing for him.
I turned. My legs buckled, and the hallway spun. My wolf whimpered deep inside mehurt, furious, abandoned.
Then everything blurred and I found myself pulled into his room, his hands steadying me.
Kaiadid you hear
Go ahead, I interrupted softly. Give it to her. Let her wear it as long as she likes.
His brows lifted, shock flickering. You truly dont mind?
I dont, I whispered.
Relief washed over him like hed escaped a punishment he deserved. I knew youd be reasonable.
He threaded his fingers through mine with false tenderness, as if he thought this half-hearted touch could erase betrayal. My gaze swept the room, landing on the small table where divorce documentstermination of Luna title and bondsat unfolded and waiting.
He hadnt even bothered to hide them.
Alden. My voice steadied. Just sign.
He blinked. Youre sure? You dont wantanything? No demands?
I placed the papers in his hands. Sign.
He didnt read. Not a single line. He simply scribbled his namecareless, blind, exactly as I expected.
When he set the pen down, he sighed. I know youre doing this for leverage. Its fine. But dont ever doubt your place here. He touched my wrist lightly. Or in my heart.
A hollow smile curved my mouth. Lies taste bitter when youve stopped needing them.
I slowly unclasped the Moonstone at my throat. The chain slid over my fingerscool, final. He stared, startled, but I placed it gently in his palm.
She can have it, I murmured. Forever, if that makes her feel complete.
He hesitated, something like longing flickering in his eyes. But it died quickly, replaced by dutyor whatever he chose to call that weakness.
Then he hugged me.
My body went rigid, my wolf silent. There was no comfort in him anymoreonly memory and suffocation. I eased backward, slipping free from his arms.
Go to her, I whispered. Thats where you belong now.
He obeyed. Without hesitation, without looking back. The door shut behind him as he entered her room. Marinals delighted laughter echoed through the hall when the clasp clicked around her neck.
I stood there for one heartbeat. Then I turned and walked away.
Hours later, I sat alone by the frost-kissed window in the forgotten guestroom. Moonlight spilled over my trembling hands. Not from sorrowsorrow had burned itself outbut from the quiet battle between my body and illness. My wolf curled inside my spirit, wounded and loyal, pressing herself against me with soft, desperate need.
Its over, I whispered to her. Its time to go. Well be safe soon.
A tiny kick stirred beneath my ribssoft, brave, alive.
My child. The only heart that truly mattered.
I cradled my belly with both arms. Ill protect you, I vowed. No more pain. No more humiliation. Just us.
The moon dipped behind clouds. My breathing steadied.
Tomorrow, I would walk out of this place for good. No hesitation. No looking back.
On my calendar, I drew a circle around the date.
The day I would leave.
The day I would finally reclaim myself.
Goodbye, Alpha.

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