Selene's POV
I acted as usual, calm, composed, and put together.
But Leo? Something had changed about him.
He was suddenly more loving, and attentive. His attitude wasn't surprising because for a man who had thought he could never have kids, like Cassian had said… it felt like a gift from the moon goddess herself. A miracle.
I knew he wasn't in love with me, that he couldn't care less about me but his baby? He would walk through fire to have him.
And until the kid is born, I was nothing but a mere vessel carrying his precious heir. A vessel that couldn't afford a single scratch.
He rubbed my back gently as he led me to one of the sofas to sit. Turning to the head of maids, he said sternly, "Selene's pregnant. From now henceforth, her meals, clothes, and every other thing needs to be perfect. I won't tolerate any mistakes."
A wide smile spread across Sarah's lips as she nodded immediately, and scurried away to go prepare something "nutritious".
Before I could tell what would happen next, I felt Leo's lips on my neck, the exact spot that his mark rested. He placed one hand on my belly, beaming from ear to ear.
"Selene," he whispered. "Thank you for this opportunity, I never thought I'd become a father. From now on, you and the baby mean everything to me, you are my utmost priority. I love you so much, Selene."
My stomach churned in disgust at his words. He loved me? I was his priority? So where did that leave Amelia the absolute love of his life?
"What a fool we have been," Nina, my wolf whimpered in my head. For days, she had been reserved refusing to communicate with me.
"If he wants to play this pretend game Selene, then we have to play along with him until we have our revenge. No more cowering," Nina added, growling ferociously in my head, her anger palpable.
I nodded slowly, biting back my smile.
*****
The next morning, Leo left early for a meeting in the next neighboring pack. I rose up from the bed, freshened up, and made my way downstairs.
Sarah had laid a balanced breakfast. "Good morning my lady," she greeted with a smile. "Today we have oatmeal with fresh berries. Right in front is, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. To your left, buttered asparagus spears and to your right, muffins."
I nodded, impressed as I took a seat. I picked up my fork but dropped it almost immediately. "Sarah, could you help me post something on social media?"
Sarah smiled, excitement visible in her eyes. "Yes, my lady."
I pulled out the ultrasound report and handed it to her. "Take a picture of this and caption it; can't wait to meet you. For the rest of our lives, through every meal and every season, you are the meaning of life for Dad and me."
Without wasting time, she posted it and turned to me with a cheesy smile. "The alpha liked it right away despite how busy he is. He really worships the ground you walk on my lady."
Worship?
Yea right. I knew better than anyone, I knew everything was just an act to uphold his saintly image.
The discussion made my appetite disappear, I rose from my seat, leaving my breakfast untouched and made my way towards the garden.
I inhaled deeply and the sweet scent of tulips ambushed my nostrils.
Tulips weren't my favorite flower. They were Leo's obsession. Or rather Amelia's.
Now that I remember, Amelia had always loved Tulips. Every single petal reminded me that these flowers I had adored for years weren't meant for me but…. her.
A lone tear escaped my eye, and I clenched my skirt in anger, feeling like the greatest fool to ever exist.
But never again!
A dark bitter chuckle escaped my lips as I wiped my tears, and slowly made my way towards the swing.
As I sat on it, I pulled out my phone and called my only close friend.
"Hey," I said with a smile.
Silence ensued for some seconds before a soft worried voice filled my ears.
"I need your help," I whispered. "I want out. I need an Art school anywhere overseas. Anywhere very far away."
More silence.
I inhaled deeply before speaking again. "A donor… please I need you to see if you can find someone or a healer. I don't care who or where, I just…" My voice broke as thick waves of emotions enveloped me. "I just want you to see again please."
"Okay. Consider it done," came the reply.
"Two weeks. In two weeks I want to be out of this pack and this region," I murmured, blinking rapidly as I tried to hold back my tears.
After the call ended, I rose up from the swing and made my way back into the room. I headed to the wardrobe and ran my fingers over the gifts Leo had given me, birthday gifts, valentine cards, anniversary gifts, even the wedding ring I had cherished so much.
I got rid of them all! Every single last one of them. Since he never truly belonged to me, I wanted nothing from him.
After getting rid of it all, as if my legs had a mind of their own, they suddenly found their way to the spare room Leo had transformed into a nursery. Lately, he had busied himself with buying baby toys, and clothes, refusing to let even the maids help him. Even got himself a book titled "How to be a good father"
I could tell how much he cared about his pup but would he ever love my pup the way he loves Amelia?
I fell to my knees and wailed frantically, clutching my chest as I tried to rein in the pain.
I didn't know for how long I had been asleep until a subtle pain pierced my chest. I jolted awake to see my phone blaring with a call from Amelia . I knew immediately the pain I had felt earlier was from Leo cheating.
With trembling hands, I picked up the call.
"Come pick up Leo at Havens. He's drunk," she slurred, hanging up immediately.
A chuckle almost escaped my lips at her antics. I knew she was just trying to rub in the fact that she was currently exchanging bodily fluids with Leo. I knew her action was due to the pregnancy post I had made earlier. Leo never got drunk, he was an alpha and had such resistance.
I wasn't a fool, I shouldn't go but my body had a mind of its own and before I knew what I was doing, I was already yelling for the driver to take me to Azure Havens club.
We got there in no time, the club was one of Leo's owned properties and it was filled to the brim. The loud music hit my ears and the smell of alcohol and smoke filled the air.
I hated places like this. With a deep sigh, I made my way forward until a loud voice caused me to stop in my tracks.
"You must be Selene. Amelia told me to meet you here," she snickered.
She looped her arm around mine like we knew each other before. "She said you wouldn't be hard to spot as you were blind and with a cane. Guess she wasn't wrong."
From her tone, I could tell she was a foe and also Amelia's slave. I remained quiet and just let her lead me to the private room because she wasn't the trouble.
Once inside the room, she immediately excused herself to use the bathroom. I stood rooted to the spot, not knowing what was going on and unable to leave.
As I began to move up with my cane, a loud voice filled the room.
"Seriously what was the alpha thinking? Making a blind girl who was dumped by her family his Luna?"
"I have also been wondering. He and Amelia look better together and she would have been a useful and resourceful Luna to the pack."
"They are a perfect fit, anyone can see it. Even the blind."
They snickered out loud, enjoying the charade.
"Maybe she's a tigress in bed, maybe that's why she has him hooked. Once he gets tired of her, I might also try my luck."
My hands clenched in a fist as anger surged through me, my eyes alternating between mine and Nina's as she fought to surface.
They all knew the story, how I was the maid's daughter who got switched at birth. Amelia was the true heiress of the Casper family and everyone said I owed her for the number of years we had been switched. My family, the pack, and even my mate Leo. They want me to grovel at her feet in forgiveness until the day I die.
But I was their Luna, not Amelia, I was their alpha's mate, not Amelia. They owed me some level of respect. I deserved to be treated like the Luna of the pack.
This was all Leo's fault, he brought this disrespect on me, and they did this because he made them comfortable enough to.
In my rage, I located the table and picked up the first thing my hand touched. I moved closer toward the voices and without thinking twice, I struck the object over one of them without a word.