Page 25 of Whisper of an Alpha
I brace myself. Dalton is Wyatt’s best friend and Beta, but he’s also our pack’s unofficial messenger, always the one to deliver news, whether good or bad. Each word is like a hammer, pounding against the fragile state of my heart. I can already feel the sickening sensation creeping over me.
Wyatt clears his throat, and I hold my breath, waiting for the blow. “Rachel,” he continues, “she’s spreading rumors that she’s pregnant.”
The ground beneath me feels like it’s giving way. My heart drops, a sick feeling washing over me like a cold wave crashing against the shore. Rachel. The name alone sends a jolt of anger and fear through me. She was with Wyatt before me, the ghost of a one night stand I thought was buried, but now it’s rising like a specter, threatening everything I’ve built with him.
Wyatt’s brow furrows, and he runs a hand through his hair again, as if trying to comb out the chaos of this situation. “Just like I’ve told you, we were together once a few months before I met you,” he says, his voice almost a whisper. “But I don’t know how this could be happening. I always would wrap up with anyone… you’re the only one I’ve ever gone bareback with.”
His words hang in the air, heavy with implication. The thought of another woman — Rachel — potentially carrying his child sends a chill down my spine. My mind races, envisioning her swollen belly, the way she would cradle it, the way she would claim him in a way I never could. This was supposed to be my future with Wyatt! I had dreamed of giving him an heir, a son like every alpha has first to carry on our legacy, not watching as someone else did.
“I’ve asked Rachel to meet,” he says, breaking through my spiraling thoughts. “I want Dalton there, just to make sure everything is witnessed. I’m pretty sure this is a tactic but I have to be sure.” There’s a tenderness in his eyes, a quiet plea for understanding, but I can’t see past the haze of my own emotions.
I nod, though my heart feels like it’s being crushed beneath the weight of this revelation. “You know how much this means to the pack,” he continues, his voice strained. “There’s unease… we need to settle this before the Luna Ceremony.”
The Luna Ceremony. The very thought of it makes my stomach roll. Marrying him, becoming his Luna, while that awful woman carries a piece of him in her womb? It feels like a betrayal, a wound I can’t fathom healing.
“I need space,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m going to sleep in one of the guest rooms tonight. I… I just need time to process this.” My heart breaks at the crushed look that crosses his face, the hurt that flickers in his eyes. I know I am slightly being unreasonable, but I can’t stop myself.
“Octavia, please,” he starts, but I can’t bear to hear him plead. My wolf is howling in my mind, a blend of anguish and confusion, urging me to be rational, to not jump to conclusions before we know for sure if the child is his.
I turn toward the closet, my movements mechanical as I gather pajamas. I can feel Wyatt’s gaze burning into my back, a silent accusation that I can’t bear to confront. I want to turn around, to tell him that I love him, that I trust him, but the words feel like ashes in my mouth.
As I reach the doorway, I pause, my heart aching with the weight of my decision. “I will always love you, Wyatt,” I say, the sincerity clear in my voice, but it’s laced with doubt. “Maybe the Moon Goddess made a mistake. Maybe Rachel was meant for you after all.”
I close the door softly behind me, the sound echoing like a finality I can’t take back. I hear Wyatt’s sharp intake of breath, the silence that follows heavy and suffocating. I lean against the door, my heart racing, wishing I could take back what I just said, wishing I could rewind time to before this moment. But I can’t.
The reality of my words sinks in, and I feel the tears prick at the corners of my eyes. My wolf whimpers within me, a desperate echo of my own pain, and I slide down to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees, rocking slightly as I try to find solace in the chaos that has overtaken my heart. It all echoes in my mind, a painful reminder that love isn’t always enough to shield us from the storms that life throws our way.
The guest room is quiet,a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in my mind. I toss my pajamas onto the bed, the fabric landing softly against the covers, but it feels like a heavy burden. I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall, my heart still racing, the echoes of our conversation haunting me.
I can’t shake the image of Rachel, her face twisted in a smirk as she flaunts her supposed pregnancy. I can almost hear the whispers among the pack, the looks of pity and curiosity that would follow me as I walked through our territory. The idea of being Luna while knowing another woman might be carrying Wyatt’s child fills me with a sense of dread I can’t ignore.
My wolf is restless, pacing within me,“Please, Tavia, be rational, wait for the meeting with Rachel before jumping to conclusions.”
“How can I be rational when my heart is breaking? When everything I thought I knew is crumbling around me?”With those questions hanging between us, my wolf quiets.
I pull my knees to my chest, closing my eyes as I try to block out the fears and insecurities that threaten to overwhelm me. I need to think clearly, to find a way to navigate this tangled web of emotions. But every time I visualize Wyatt’s face, the pain of his potential betrayal strikes anew, and I can’t help but wonder if this is how it all ends.
What if Rachel really is pregnant? What if I’ve lost him before we even had the chance to become what we were meant to be? The questions spiral in my mind, each one more painful than the last.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, to silence the chaos. I think of the Luna Ceremony, the promises we had made, the future we had envisioned together. I want to hold on to those dreams, but they feel distant now, like dust in the wind, slipping through my fingers no matter how tightly I grasp.
Time passes slowly, the shadows in the room growing longer as the sun dips below the horizon. I can’t remain here, trapped in this cycle of despair. I need to face whatever comes next, whether it’s the truth about Rachel or a reaffirmation of my bond with Wyatt.
With a shaky breath, I rise from the bed, determination outweighing my fear. I pull my phone from my pocket, my fingers hovering over the screen as I consider reaching out to Dalton, the only other person who might give me clarity in this storm. But I hesitate, unsure if I’m ready for the answers that might come.
Instead, I decide I need to talk to Poppy. She’s been my anchor, the voice of reason when I lose my way over the past years. She is also a shifter, so she will understand what having a mate would be like. I pull up her contact, my heart racing as I hit the call button.
“Octavia?” she answers, her voice soothing, cutting through the chaos.
“Poppy, I need your help,” I say, my voice trembling. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Tavia, what is going on? When you quit the diner, I thought you were happy and moving in with your mate.”
And as I speak, pouring out my fears and confusion, I realize that I’m not alone in this. No matter what happens with Wyatt and Rachel, I have people who care for me, who will stand by me as I navigate this unexpected chapter of my life.
I take a deep breath, feeling a flicker of hope ignite within me. Whatever the outcome, I will fight for my happiness, for thelove I share with Wyatt, even if it means facing my fears head-on.
The night drags on,but with Poppy’s support, I begin to piece together my thoughts. She offers wisdom, reminding me that the truth is always better than living in the shadows of uncertainty. I hang up the phone feeling slightly lighter, knowing I have a plan.
