Chapter 1

Divorce. And a rejection. That's a fact I can't accept. Alpha Liam is going to divorce me, but I have no idea why he would come up with that after I have been his wife and Luna's wife for three years.

On Monday morning, the Elders, Beta Jack, and my best friend Hazel, and I was waiting for Liam in the pack hall. They asked Liam to think about it twice.

The way he showed up gave us all a punch in the gut.

Liam walked into the room…with another woman on his arm!!!

“Trista,” he said snidely. “Meet the NEW Luna, Lucy.”

Lucy? Was he kidding me! She was an omega from the Red Moon Pack. She was the maid of the alpha there, but rumor had it she was also his mistress! How could he rejected me because of such a woman!

But I was wrong. She was his first mate. And about me, I am his second chance mate after she left him three years ago.

I was so broken and I decided to kept that secret from Liam--I was carrying his babies.

I chose to live far away alone with my children, as further as I could.

But what I didn't expect was that five years later...

Chapter 1: Shocking News

Trista’s POV

“I want a divorce and to end our mate bond.”

I didn't expect this to be the first thing my alpha husband said to me on the night of our 3rd wedding anniversary…

-Few hours ago-

“Please, Moon Goddess, open the mindlink!” I prayed, but it didn’t work. Liam had closed it.

I prepared a fancier-than-usual dinner for this special day, but my husband turned off the mindlink to me.

It's already 9:40pm, so I scraped his plate of steak and mashed potatoes, (now cold), into a container. My maid could take it home for her children. I worked hard on that dinner. I wanted someone to enjoy it.

I squinted as I tried to snap the lid shut. I reached for my glasses. My eyesight isn’t so great, so I have to wear these thick-rimmed glasses.

That’s more than I can say for my poor wolf, though. My wolf was born blind. There’s no glasses to help with that.

I sighed deeply and sat at the kitchen table. I’d been Luna of Blue Moon Crescent Pack for three years, but I didn’t feel like a Luna at all. Well, not a wife anyway. I felt more like a housekeeper.

Sure, I’d heard the rumors. ‘Trista isn’t Liam’s real mate. Her wolf is blind, and she's barely blind herself, so he doesn’t love her. That’s why he treats her more like a housekeeper than a wife’.

But that’s not true! I am his real mate. I’m just not his FIRST one. I’m his second chance mate.

I married Liam the month after my father died. My father was the Gamma to the old Alpha. Liam was about to become the new Alpha and his father sanctioned our marriage.

“Luna Trista?” My maid interrupted my thoughts. “Is there anything else you need tonight?” I flashed her a sympathetic smile. It was late and I had kept her too long.

“Of course not,” I said. “Go home and take care of those cute little puppies of yours.” She nodded her head. “Oh, and here. Take this.” I handed her the container of cold food. She graciously accepted it and scurried out the door.

I decided to change our bedding. That way, Liam would have a nice clean bed to crawl into when he came home. The sheets had spent the afternoon drying outside in the sun, so they smelled wonderful. He deserved to have a nice bed to come home to; he works so hard.

I heard the door open downstairs. Liam! Finally, he’s home! I nearly tripped on the stairs, I was so excited to see him! I could smell his scent before I saw his face, and inhaled deeply.

“Liam!” I declared, opening my arms to hug him.

He held up his hand though to stop me. There was something about the look on his face, something that made my stomach drop.

“What is it?” I asked him. I squinted to see his face. It was expressionless.

“I want a divorce and to end our mate bond,” he said flatly. “If you don’t agree, I’ll petition the elders on Monday.”

What? A divorce? The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. But…but why?

I stumbled backwards, reaching for the counter to steady myself. As his second chance mate, I knew that the bond between us would be a little shaky. Maybe even a little weak sometimes. But I was a good Luna to him, a wonderful wife. I doted on him and gave him everything he needed! How could he want a divorce?

“But…but I love you,” I stammered, fixing my glasses. “I’ve never done anything wrong. I know our bond isn’t the strongest, not yet. But it was blessed by the Moon Goddess.”

“I don’t care about that.” He refused to look me in the eye.

“Our bond will get stronger. I’ll…I’ll try harder. Anything you want. Please. Think about the pack, Liam.” My voice was weak and tears threatened my eyes. “You know a stable relationship between the Alpha and Luna is good for the continued development of our pack and…”

His sharp words cut me off. “Development? Good for our pack? You’re a blind wolf Luna. What good is that?”

His words cut deep. I’ve always been sensitive about my disabled wolf. And now he was using that against me. Sure, maybe having a blind wolf Luna wasn’t optimal, but I made up for it in other ways.

“I…my family is the oldest branch of ancient wolves. My…my father was the strongest Gamma,” I stuttered. “Our children, your heirs, they’ll inherit my family’s strong blood. I know they will.”

Again, he cut me off. But this time, he looked me dead in the eyes. “What heirs?”

I blushed. True, I hadn’t bore him any children yet. But that wasn’t entirely my fault. He always came home so late. He was always ‘so busy’. Did he expect me to conceive children on my own? Maybe I could have tried harder though. Maybe if we had children…

“I will sleep in the spare room tonight.”

“Liam, no,” I begged.

“So I’m assuming you don’t agree to the divorce?”

“No, of course not. I want to be married. To you.” My voice was small and weak.

“Fine. Then Monday morning it is. We will take the Rejection in the presence of the Elders. I don’t want to see you before then.”

I was speechless. My heart was breaking. I could feel it inside me, cracking down the centre. “Liam, please. Reconsider.”

“And don’t mindlink me anymore. If you change your mind, you can go straight to Beta Jack. Otherwise, I’ll meet you at the Elders on Monday morning. I just…” he held up his hand. “I really don’t want to hear your voice anymore.”

He walked right past me, knocking me on the shoulder as he went by.

I stood in the kitchen, my hands shaking.

What just happened?

A rejection?

I couldn’t even say the word out loud.

Chapter 2: Best Friends

Trista’s POV

I tossed and turned all night. I got up with the sunrise, but Liam was already gone. So I slapped some makeup on my face to try to cover the dark circles under my eyes. It didn’t help though. My eyes were too swollen from crying.

Divorce.

The word hit me again and my stomach turned.

I couldn’t…I couldn’t even think about it. So instead I started my daily cleaning routine. The maids tip-toed around me, casting me sympathetic looks. They knew something was off with me and Liam. But they were kind enough not to mention it. They gently helped with my housework to show their support.

Divorce.

I scrubbed the kitchen floor on my hands and knees as hard as I could, like I was trying to scrub away the word. It just kept coming back though.

At 10:00am, the kitchen door flew open. It was Hazel, Beta Jack’s daughter and my best friend.

“Tell me everything,” she said, her eyes wide and sympathetic like my maids’.

I smiled gratefully at her. Judging by the look on her face, she already knew everything.

“I’m fine,” I told her, forcing a smile. She saw right through my smile though. As my best friend, she knew me better than anyone in the pack.

“There’s no way you’re ‘fine’,” she declared. She motioned for me to sit with her at the table. “Trista, I saw the letter of divorce. It was on my father’s table. Liam already signed it. What’s going on?”

I didn’t want to talk. I felt like such a failure! MY husband wanted to divorce me? What had I done wrong? Why?

Hazel’s voice was gentle. “I’m your best friend, Trista. Talk to me,” she implored.

I sighed. There was no point fighting Hazel. She was relentless when she wanted to be. “He told me last night. He said if I don’t agree to the divorce, he’s going to petition the elders.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Hazel scoffed. “If he does that, his wolf will be weakened. That’s the rules. Werewolves who reject their mates have to pay a price.”

“Yeah, well, I guess he’d rather have a weakened wolf than mate me.”

I couldn’t hold back the tears. They spilled from my eyes.

Was I that disgusting? That bad of a wife that he’d rather suffer in pain than be with me? Hazel clamped her hand over mine.

“Trista, you’ve done nothing wrong. You’re a wonderful Luna. Look at you! You’re beautiful. You’re loyal. And you’re so, so smart.”

I nodded. She was right about the smart part. I attended one of the top human business schools in the country. I begged my dad in high school to let me go. Since my wolf was so weak, I was pretty much a human anyway. I excelled at human college. I graduated with perfect grades and two degrees: one in art and one in business communications. In fact, I was one of the reasons our pack had been so successful. I have a really good head for business. Since I couldn’t be on the battlefield and fight for my pack (because of my blind wolf), like my father had, I helped our pack in other ways. Running our pack’s businesses was one of them.

And with my help, Blue Moon Crescent Pack had climbed the ladder in the business world. We were now one of the richest packs around.

“You keep a nice, cozy home for him. And you run our pack’s multiple businesses. What more could Liam possibly want?” Hazel asked.

A thought hit me then.

I was away at college for four years. Then, right after I graduated, I was hired by a massive business conglomerate in New York. I worked there for a year. But then my dad got sick, so I came back to Blue Moon Crescent to care for him.

It was during my time away that Liam found his first mate.

What if…

What if he never stopped loving her?

“Hazel?” I asked, biting my lip. “Did you ever meet Liam’s first mate? What was she…what was she like?” I braced myself for her reply.

Hazel shrugged. “She was pretty enough, I guess. Not as pretty as you, though. Not even close. If I remember correctly, she was an omega from the Red Moon Pack. She was the maid of the alpha there, but rumor had it she was also his mistress. Apparently, the old alpha didn’t condone their relationship. On a pack visit they…wait. Why are you asking?”

I shook my head. “No reason. I just had a silly thought. What if Liam wanted a divorce because he was still in love with his first mate. But I know that’s stupid. If I’M not good enough for him, the daughter of a gamma with TWO degrees, then surely she’s not. He’d never reject me for an omega.”

“That’s what I’m saying,” Hazel chuckled. “This whole thing is nonsense. You haven’t failed in your duty as Luna. You’ve been a wonderful, loving wife. You haven’t done anything wrong. There’s no reason for this divorce.”

“You really think so?” I asked. She squeezed my hand.

“Absolutely! And my father agrees, too. He said he’ll help you. We’ll all go to the elders on Monday and plead your case. I don’t know what Liam’s thinking, but I’m sure we can change his mind.” She looked very confident.

I hoped she was right.

Chapter 3: The Meeting With the Elders

Trista’s POV

“He’ll reconsider, I know he will,” Hazel said.

Hazel and her dad, Beta Jack, walked with me to meet Liam at the elders on Monday morning.

“You’ve been a good Luna, Trista,” Jack assured me. “There’s no reason for him to divorce you.”

We got to the elders but Liam wasn’t there yet. I hadn’t seen him since he told me he wanted the divorce.

The elders instructed us to take a seat and wait.

“Do you know where he’s been staying?” I asked Jack. Jack shook his head.

“But it looks like you can ask him yourself, because here he is,” Jack said.

Sure enough, Liam had entered the room…with another woman on his arm!!!

I blinked in disbelief. Another woman? But who?

“Trista,” he said snidely. “Meet the NEW Luna, Lucy.”

New Luna? But we weren’t even divorced yet! I squinted, trying to make out the woman’s face. But I couldn’t see her clearly. They took their seats across from us. The elders stood. The woman looked at me smugly. Was she…was she the reason he wanted a divorce?

“We are ready to hear your case,” the elders told Liam. Liam wasted no time with formalities.

“I have come here today to initiate a rejection.”

“Have you asked for a divorce?” one of the elders asked.

“Yes, but Trista will not sign the divorce papers. This is the only way now.” Liam’s tone was blunt.

Hazel squeezed my hand. His words stung. He was making it sound like this was my fault! All I wanted to do was stay married! Was that so wrong?

“I have come on Trista’s behalf,” Jack said, stepping forward.

“You may speak on Trista’s behalf, Beta Jack,” the elders said. Liam shot Jack a nasty look. Jack ignored it. “I feel that Liam is making a mistake,” Jack said. “Trista has done nothing wrong.”

“Nothing wrong?” the woman, Lucy, blurted out. She stood up. “Her wolf is blind! And she’s pretty much blind too. She hasn’t provided Liam with any heirs. He tried to be kind and offer her a divorce. But she wouldn’t accept it!”

“And who are you?” the elders asked.

“I am Omega Lucy, of Red Moon Pack,” she said boldly.

Omega? So it was true! Liam was leaving me for an omega? This just kept getting worse. “Liam and I are in love,” she continued. “We have been for years.”

For years? I felt like I couldn’t take any more. This was too much…

“If not for his marriage to Trista, we would have been together years ago. I am here on Liam’s behalf. He doesn’t love her. He loves me. He wants me to be the new Luna.”

I could hear the hate in her voice. She despised me. But why? I didn’t even know her.

“I see,” the elders sighed. “Alpha Liam, is this true?”

“Yes,” Liam said. “The Alpha of the Red Moon pack has been abusing her. She isn’t safe there anymore. I love her and I want her to be my Luna. She will be a strong Luna for this pack.”

“Even so,” Jack said, glaring at Lucy, “I urge Liam to reconsider. Our pack already has a strong Luna. Trista.”

The elders were silent for a moment. I held my breath. Then one of them spoke in a calm, steady voice.

“We agree,” he said. “Trista has been a strong Luna for this pack. We too urge you to reconsider.”

“I have given this a lot of thought,” Liam said. “I do not love Trista. I am adamant. If she won’t sign the divorce papers, then I will initiate the vow of rejection alone.”

Clearly, he wasn’t going to change his mind. Lucy flashed me a smile of victory. I hung my head. She had won. It was over. He was going to reject me.

Liam opened his mouth to begin the rejection, but I cut him off.

“There’s no need to initiate a rejection,” I said calmly. “You clearly want to be with this other woman, and you’re not going to change your mind. Your wolf will be weakened if you do this and I don’t want to put the pack at risk. I will protect our pack as my last act as Luna. I accept your divorce.”

Hazel gasped beside me. She pulled me aside.

“Are you nuts?” she asked. “What are you doing? You’ll be a rejected Luna! You’ll have to leave our pack! You’ll be exiled as a rogue, Trista.”

I appreciated her concern, but the past few days had been mental torture. I was exhausted. I couldn’t take it anymore. I just wanted it to be over and I told her that.

“Beside,” I smiled weakly. “Rogue life isn’t so hard anymore. I can return to human society. I lived with humans all through college. I have experience. It’s not so bad.”

“No Trista,” she said, her eyes wide. I could see tears forming. “I’ll be okay,” I assured her. “I have no family here anyway.” It was true. My mother died when I was young and my father left two years ago because of the illness. “If I lose Liam, my husband, there’s nothing left for me here. What’s the point in staying?”

“Luna Trista?” the elders asked. “Is that your final decision?” I nodded at Hazel and walked back to the table.

“Yes,” I said, lifting my chin and blinking back the tears. I felt the moisture on the lenses of my glasses. No way I was going to let them see me cry. “I, Trista Moonlar, accept Alpha Liam Stonewood’s rejection.”

Chapter 4: Cast Out

Trista’s POV

“And sign the divorce paper as well,” Liam snidely slid the files across the table. I breathed deeply. This was for the best. I would leave the pack and reintegrate into human society. I could start over. I had my degrees and experience in the human world. It wouldn’t be that bad.

“Here, I have a pen,” Lucy scoffed. I locked eyes with hers. If this was the woman he loved, an omega from a different pack, then so be it. I was done. I was so over this. I grabbed the pen and quickly slapped my name onto the papers. Then I slid it towards the elders. They read the papers recognizing our divorce.

And just like that, it was over.

I was no longer Luna.

“Trista is entitled to half the pack’s wealth,” Hazel said.

What was she doing? I shot her a look that said, ‘stop it, no,’ but she continued. “The pack is only rich now because of Trista. All the wealth we have, Trista earned it. When humans divorce, they share their wealth. It’s the law. Trista should receive compensation. How else will she survive alone without the pack?”

“That’s ridiculous,” Lucy said, rolling her eyes.

“Is it?” Hazel shot at Lucy. Then she gave her a look that could kill. I had to admit, I was lucky to have a friend like Hazel.

“I think it’s something to consider,” Beta Jack piped in. “Hazel makes a point. Casting Trista out like this, without anything. It seems cruel. She worked hard for our pack. If she’s going to stand a chance in the human world, she needs money.”

“The money belongs to the pack. It’s not Trista’s,” Lucy said. “Whoever heard of such a thing? Sharing the money? The only reason the pack has been so successful is because my dear Liam worked so hard.”

“It is an interesting argument you present, Hazel,” one of the elders said. “And one we should perhaps consider.”

“There’s nothing to consider,” Liam said then. Lucy smiled victoriously at me. “Trista can have whatever she wants. Name your price.”

That wiped the smile clear off Lucy’s face. I was shocked, too. Really? Anything?

“Liam?” Lucy gasped, looking confused.

“The divorce is done. I have a mating ceremony to prepare for. With my NEW Luna.” He looked deep into her eyes and she blushed. “We’ll take our leave now. Give whatever. I don’t care. I’m done with all this.”

They pushed their chairs back and strode out of the room.

I was gobsmacked. He was so eager to marry his new Luna, he didn’t even care about money! I literally meant nothing to him.

“You heard him,” Hazel said. “Name your price.”

I sighed and shook my head.

“Go on then,” the elders said.

“I don’t want anything. I don’t want to take money from the pack. The pack needs it. I’ll find my own way.”

It was true. I didn’t want the pack’s money, I just wanted to go, so I left without taking a dime from the pack. Hazel helped me pack up my things, but honestly, I didn’t take much. Just a few changes of clothes, some toiletries, an old teddy bear from my childhood. I was eager to get out there. Everywhere I looked reminded of Liam and our failed life together.

It was quite the send-off, I have to admit. Beta Jack and the servants escorted me to the pack boundary. A stream of people followed. They hugged me and wished me well. I guess I was loved after all, just not by my husband. I promised Hazel I would call her as soon as I found a place to live.

“Close by,” she said, resting her forehead on mine.

“Of course,” I promised her. Then we hugged one last time and Beta Jack drove me to the bus stop.

I was able to snag a decent apartment in a small town called Summerset. It was close to the pack, so Hazel could still come and visit me. It wasn’t the nicest place, a little dingy with carpet that smelled a bit moldy. But the rent was cheap and it was all I could afford at the time. I had enough money for three month’s of rent. I had to get a job ASAP.

I unpacked my few belongings and a small plant I bought to make the place feel more homey. Then I scoured the internet for jobs. Suddenly, though, a wave of nausea swept over me. I ran to the bathroom and made it to the toilet just in time. At first, I didn’t think anything of it. I’d been really stressed out the past few days. I was probably just run down.

But then it happened again the next day.

And the day after that.

‘Time to see a doctor, Trista,’ I thought to myself when I was sick for the fourth day. I figured I had a bug and just needed some antibiotics.

I couldn’t have been more wrong…

Chapter 5:JL Jewelry

Trista’s POV

My paper gown crinkled as I laid down on the bed for an ultrasound. I wouldn’t normally go to a human hospital but what choice did I have? I was exiled. So I’d found a small but cheap hospital one town over from Summerset. Because the hospital was small and cheap, I knew their equipment wouldn’t be very accurate. They wouldn’t pick up on any of the ‘wolf’ in me.

The doctor was nice. I described my symptoms and he suggested an ultra sound. He smeared the cold jelly on my stomach.

“Ah,” he said, smiling. “I thought that might be the case. See here?” He pointed at the screen and I looked over. “That small ball, right there. That’s your baby. Congratulations! You’re pregnant!”

Preg…nant?

What?

He smiled kindly at me. “I assume from the look on your face that you weren’t planning this?” I shook my head in disbelief. I’d been trying to conceive for three years! To give Liam the heirs he so desperately wanted! How was it possible that I was finally pregnant…now…right after he divorced me? This was some sort of joke. It had to be. Some sort of cruel, twisted joke.

“Are you…are you sure?” I asked, skeptically eying the ultrasound screen. The hospital was cheap. Maybe the equipment was faulty.

“100%! You can see the fetus, right here. See?”

I squinted and adjusted my glasses. But all I saw was a dark blob.

He recommended me to a women’s clinic close by that dealt with pregnancies. I nodded, only half-listening to everything he said. I was in a daze.

When I got home, I sat with my hands in my head. I was shocked at first, but as the shock wore off, my mood changed. I was going to be a mother! I had a little, tiny creature growing inside of me! I flipped open my laptop, more determined than ever to find a good, reliable job. I had a baby to support now!

Over the next few weeks, I applied to a number of large financial institutions in the city. I had the credentials and the experience, but as soon as I told them I was pregnant, they showed me the door. No one wanted to hire a pregnant woman I soon learned.

So I decided to try for a job that was a little more female friendly. Waitressing? A clothing store? A day care? I was desperate! But that’s when I saw an ad for a famous jewelry store, JL. It was one of the companies I had invested in when I was Luna. They were looking for designers…

That’s when I remembered my second degree, my degree in design. I quickly submitted my designs and I heard back from them right away!

“We are willing to hire you, Trista,” the manager said. “Your designs are really great. But our customers have specific needs and demands. And you lack direct work experience in the jewelry business. So we’d like to offer you a three-month internship as a personal shopper at one of our stores. This way, you can learn what our customers want from our jewelry.”

It wasn’t exactly my dream job, a personal shopper, but it was something. I accepted the offer.

I went in for my first day of work, excited to start my new career as a future jewelry designer in the human world. So just imagine my surprise when Liam waltzed in, with Lucy on his arm.

Seriously?

They didn’t see me at first. Lucy pointed to a decadent necklace dripping with sapphires and diamonds. Liam had never bought me jewelry, not even a single piece! Even though Liam was the second largest shareholder in the company right of this brand, all thanks to me and my smart investing.

“Is that the one you want, darling?” He smiled at her and she nodded, excitedly. “Then that’s the one you shall have.”

They looked around for someone to help them and that’s when they saw me. Lucy burst out laughing. “Excuse me,” she said loudly. “We can have some help here please?” I knew she was going to mock me, but what choice did I have? This was my job. So I smiled as sweetly as I could. I opened the case and handed her the necklace. But then she dropped it, on purpose!

“Ooops,” she said. “Guess you better come pick it up.”

She was so cruel. I walked around the counter and bent down to pick up the necklace.

“Is everything okay over here?” It was my manager.

“Yes,” I smiled, the necklace in my hand.

“No,” Lucy snapped. “This clerk here, she dropped my necklace. Look at her! She can barely see! Why would you hire such a stupid girl? She’s disabled!”

“I..I didn’t…” I stammered, but Lucy scoffed. I was humiliated. I’d never been so embarrassed in all my life. And the fact that she was an omega made it ten times worse. My cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

I looked at Liam. What did he see in this woman? She was snide and condescending. But Liam wouldn’t look me in the eyes. His gaze was fixed on his new Luna. We just separated less than a month ago. He seemed to have completely forgotten me as a stranger.

“Trista,” my manager snapped at me, displeased that his customers weren’t happy. “Go clean the glass casing over there. I’ll serve these lovely customers myself.”

Lucy flashed me a sly smile.

But I had something Lucy didn’t. She could mock me all she wanted, but I was the one carrying Liam’s baby. Maybe if I told him, he’d change his mind. Let me come home. Cast out this horrible woman and let me be Luna again.

So I took a deep breath and told him.

“Liam, I’m pregnant.”

Chapter 6: Fired

Trista’s POV

“Stop your foolish tricks! I haven’t even touched you for months! It can’t be my baby!” Liam spat out, his voice seething. “Who’s bastard seed is in your fucking womb, Trista. Who were you screwing around with?”

I gasped, shocked by his words. We’ve been together for three years, he should have known what kind of a person I am. “Liam, I never cheated on you. The baby is yours.” He must have forgotten the night he came home drunk from the pack social night. We had sex that night. It was about a month ago before we divorced.

Lucy looked nervous. She bit her lip. But then he started yelling at me and she relaxed. “Are you stupid?” he scoffed at me. “Do you think I want a blind heir? Blind like you and your useless wolf?”

“I…no…I,” I stuttered.

“It’s not mine,” he stated. “I can’t feel my heir. If it was really mine in that disgusting womb of yours, I’d be able to feel it.”

No, you wouldn’t, I said to myself. You already rejected me. Plus, the baby was still so tiny. Only six weeks old or so. He wouldn’t be able to sense it.

“Liam, please, I promise you, this baby is yours.” I tried to reason with him.

“I don’t care either way,” he said. “It’s the pup of a dumb, blind bitch. Go find someone else to raise your useless spawn.”

Lucy giggled then and he wrapped his arm around her. His words stung. This was his child! How could he be so mean to an unborn child? The child was innocent. Did he really hate me that much? So much that he denounced his own child? That he would HATE his own flesh and blood?

“Excuse me,” she said, calling over the manager. “We have a problem here.”

He came right over. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, we came in today so I could pick out some jewelry. My husband here, Liam, is the majority shareholder of your company. He wanted to buy me something nice. But this,” she waved her hand dismissively at me, “this little worker here, she’s crazy. She thinks she’s pregnant with my husband’s child! I’m embarrassed for her, really. But she’s causing all sorts of problems for us. All we want to do is shop.”

My jaw fell open. My manager looked from them to me then back to them. His eyes narrowed. “I am SO sorry,” he said to Lucy and Liam. “Trista, you’re dismissed. Go gather your things.”

“You’re firing me?” The words sunk in. “But I’m pregnant. You can’t fire a pregnant woman. It’s against the law.”

My manager turned to me, nostrils flaring. “You have upset some VERY important people,” he said through clenched teeth. “You are nothing compared to them. I don’t care if it’s against the law, you are fired, effective immediately.”

“But I…”

“No buts. Leave. Now. I hardly think you have the money for a lawyer anyway.” His eyes scanned my thrift store clothing. Lucy was decked out in designer clothes from head to toe, complete with a Chanel handbag and Louis Vuitton pumps. I looked ragged and haggard next to her.

“Stanley, is it?” Lucy said, reading his nametag. “I assure you, Stanley, that we are most gracious for your excellent service today and we will remember you.” She smiled sweetly at my manager. He smiled back and nodded curtly.

“My pleasure,” he said. “I apologize. I didn’t hire her. Someone from HR did. Clearly, they didn’t know she was riff raff.”

The next thing I knew, two security men were grabbing me by the elbows. They dragged me right out of the building and tossed me out into the street, even though I was still wearing my work suit. People side-eyed me and smirked. I was so humiliated, I wanted to cry. But I blinked back the tears until I got home.

When I was safe inside my apartment, I sobbed. I was obviously completely dead to Liam. He wanted nothing to do with me or his unborn child. I would never be allowed back into the pack, or any pack probably for that matter.

So what was the point in staying in Summerset? Other than Hazel, I had no reason to stay near the wolves.

The tears streamed down my face as I choked on my sobs. I felt so powerless. So helpless. I didn’t even have a job! How was I supposed to support a child?

I placed my hand instinctively on my stomach.

No, I couldn’t just give up. My baby deserved better. He or she deserved to have a loving, stable home. The baby’s father may have abandoned it, but the baby still had me. And I owed it to this baby to get my shit together and be strong.

My mind flashed back to the email JL had sent me when they offered me the internship. A thought bolted into my mind then.

Milan.

The address for the head office had been on the email.

The head office was in Milan.

I didn’t know much about Milan, or even Italy for that matter. I’d never been to Europe. But what did I have here?

Nothing. There was nothing keeping me here.

So, in a moment of boldness, I opened my laptop and purchased a one-way plane ticket to Milan. I used all the money I had left, but I felt good about my decision.

A fresh start. A new life.

Yes. I could start over in Milan.

I picked up my phone and quickly dialed Hazel.

“Haze?” I said as soon as she picked up. “I know I promised I’d stay close by, but there’s been a change of plans. I’m moving to Milan. Oh yeah, and by the way, I’m pregnant.”

Haze's scream was deafening, and before she asked a million questions, I interrupted her, "Keep it a secret from Liam. I don't have any more to do with him. Including this baby."

Chapter 7: Milan

Trista’s POV

*Five years later*

“Billy! Belle! Lunch!” I called. My two precious twins came running in through the door. They just turned five and they’re one heck of a handful, but they’re the most wonderful children in the world. The sun streamed in through my oversized, floor to ceiling window. We sat at the table and I sighed with contentment.

I had thought I would have one lovely child, but didn't realize they turned out to be two. So I have both an adorable angelic girl and a smart and handsome boy. They made me the luckiest mom ever.

Just then, the phone rang. It was Jonhson, the CEO of JL Jewelry and my boss. He had also become a good friend. When I packed up five years ago and made the risky decision to move here, to Milan, he hired me on the spot. He said he saw ‘real potential’ in my designs. I was a little worried, because I was pregnant. Could I do this all on my own? But when the babies came, he gave me a generous bonus so I could afford the best daycare in Milan.

“Trista,” he said. “Yes. Thanks for taking my call. I know it’s your day off and you’re busy with the Double B’s.” That’s what he calls them, my adorable twins: The Double B’s. I shot a look at Billy and Belle, munching away on their pasta and my heart swelled.

“It’s okay,” I told him. “What’s up?”

I usually tried not to take business calls on my day off. I worked hard, REALLY hard six days a week, so I needed one day a week of playtime and rest with my kiddos. But ever since I was given my own, separate line of business and promoted to Department Director, well, I had to take the odd business calls on my day off.

I fingered my necklace, one of my newest designs, forest-themed, of course. All my jewelry was. When I first started working in Milan for JL Jewelry, they asked me to submit some design ideas. My mind flashed back to the forest and my pack growing up. Sometimes, I still dreamt about Blue Moon Crescent Pack. It was my home, after all. And my first few months in Milan, my heart ached for my pack and the forest that surrounded it. So, I drew inspiration from the ancient redwoods and the sounds and sights of the forest. I fashioned my designs after the place that would always have a special place in my heart – home.

Who knew forest-themed jewelry would be such a hit! It took off like wildfire! We gave some samples to a few famous models, and they wore my designs during Milan Fashion Week. We sold out overnight! From there, I was offered my very own line. It’s called Tree Tall and I’ve been working my butt off ever since, building my brand and designing new jewelry.

“Great. Well, I have some news,” Johnson said. Belle reached for her orange juice but accidentally knocks it over. She gave me her ‘oops’ face. I smiled and wiped it up, cradling the phone between my ear and neck.

“Fire away,” I said.

“We’re taking a trip. A business trip. Overseas,” he said. My heart fluttered. That sounded exciting!

“Where to?” I asked as I wrung out the orange-juice soaked cloth.

“Mamma, more,” Billy said, holding out his plate. I scooped out more pasta while Mr. Johnson continued.

“It’s in the US. Just outside of New York. A smaller city called Summerset.”

I dropped the cloth.

Summerset?

But that was…that was close to my own pack.

And his.

“We leave in a few days. Plan to stay for a while. There’s a company out there, a venture capitalist firm. They saw your designs. They might want to invest. You know? So you can form a separate company, like a sister company.”

My mouth opened but no words came out. Summerset? My heart lurched. I had been very busy the past five years, raising Billy and Bell, working, designing my jewelry.

But the sting of what Liam did…well…it never really went away.

Could I go back there? What if I ran into him? Him and that two-timing woman…Lucy.

“Trista? Hello? You still there?”

“Um, yes. Of course.”

“I’m really counting on you. This could be big, Trista. REALLY big.”

His phone came through the phone, kind as always. He had done so much for me. He’d given me this job, let me spread my wings. He helped out with my rent when I was at my worst. He brought me soup when I was sick and made sure I was never alone for the holidays. And every year, he came to the twin’s birthday, his arms full of presents. For awhile there, they wanted to call him Dad. I couldn’t ask that of him, though, obviously. He’d already done too much.

“Trista, can I count on you? You in?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied. I mean, Summerset wasn’t really THAT small. Just as long as we left as soon as the meetings were done. “I’m in,” I told him confidently.

What were the chances, really? Slim to none. I would go to Summerset, attend some meetings, and sign some papers. It was no big deal!

As long as I didn’t run into Liam, the man who had shattered my heart and cast me out from my pack five years ago, everything would be just fine.

I hung up and turned to my kids.

“Billy, Belle, eat up! Mommy needs to pack. I’m going on a trip!”

“Where to, mamma?” Billy asked, cocking his head to the side.

“Yeah, where to?” Belle echoed.

“Home,” I sighed. And then I crossed my fingers, for good measure.