"I don't care who you've been with. I don't care for your past. You're mine to love now, Arielle, and mine to protect. And whoever comes to take you from me, be it an Alpha or the Goddess herself, is going to regret it with their lives!" The last thing Arielle Starr expected was to get knocked up by the Alpha's son in a pack that considered Alpha-Omega relations inferior. Still, when David Aspen wooed her with honeyed words of love, the teenager couldn't help but fall for him. But as soon as David hears the happy news, he flips, and now Arielle has no choice but to run from the pack she called home her whole life. Striving to protect the child growing within her she flees, followed by the Alpha's henchmen, unsure of what her life would be from then on. Arielle's lucky star finally shows in her sky when she meets an Alpha that is so different from anyone else who had ever met before, and who just happens to be her fated mate. Will Arielle get to finally live happily ever after with peculiar Alpha Laken Hart, or will the enemies of her past come to take away her life of happiness?
"You're pregnant!"
Those two words ring in my ears, bringing the whole world to a halt. For a moment, I can't hear the whir of the small electric fan at the end of the doctor's desk, I can't hear the small noises that had been coming filtered through his thin carbon-fiber door. At that moment, I cannot feel the relatively cool air of the hospital room on my skin. My heart skips a beat and my eyes lock on the doctor's kind face.
"No," I breathe, "no, it cannot be."
The smile on the doctor's face falls, replaced by one of careful understanding.
"You and your partner had not been planning for this?" he asks, his voice low as he takes a seat on the doctor's chair.
I shake my head, "no, we weren't. We always used protection. He always wore a...a condom, and I took birth control. Neither of us slipped since we began this."
And oh, did I remember the beginning so clearly. It had been him that approached me, smiling at me when I thought had been invisible to the likes of him. I knew that I was not bad to look at, in fact, I know that I had a certain reputation amongst my designation, but until then I did not realize that my image could make men like him take a second look at me as well.
And he had done more than take a second look.
"Are you sure?" I ask the doctor again, just to be certain "I mean, there could have been a mistake in the test, right?"
The doctor shakes his head, "Arielle, you did a pregnancy test at home as well and it gave you a positive result. Now, we had done one here in the hospital too. Now, I could do another, just to alleviate your suspicions, but let me tell you now, it's just going to be a waste of money. It will render the same result. You are pregnant, coming along for 5 weeks. We need to do a scan to see the situation of the fetus, but so far, it all looks like a wealthy healthy pregnancy."
Then he asks me, "did you and your partner not want kids?"
"It's not that," I reply, "It's just that we never talked about it. We aren't married or anything and..." I gulp, "it was only meant to be a monogamous partnership. We can't marry, even if we wanted to."
The doctor's eyes widen, "Oh, it's like that, huh."
I nod.
"Well, in that case, I believe you are due to have a long and meaningful talk with this partner of yours," says the doctor, his tone one of finality, "and I wish you the best of luck, but in case that you don't find the option of keeping the child...unavailable, then know that we can help you. With adoption after the baby is born, or even abortion."
The very words send a jolt of shock through my being, and it's all I could do not to flinch. I nod mutely, thank him for his assistance, and stand to leave the hospital room.
"One more thing," the doctor chirps, and I turn back to him, feeling like I'm underwater.
"Yes?"
"The father," the doctor almost looks flustered to ask, "he is a Beta, right?"
I bite my lower lip and tamp down on the urge to nod. That would be a lie.
"No," I answer, and watch his eyes widen to the size of saucers.
I do not wait to witness more of his disbelief.
***
It's laughable how nice today is. The sun shines high up in the sky, there are barely any clouds dotting the cerulean blue. The pack town of Sataria is brimming with activity. It's the end of a school day for the kindergartners, hence there are mothers and fathers hand in hand with toddlers and young children, walking towards their homes or workplaces. I let my eyes linger on the children more than usual, and unknowingly, my hand migrates to my own stomach.
I can't believe this. There is a baby growing within me. A baby that was fathered by David.
It is an old-fashioned name, I have to admit, but it was a publicly known fact that our pack's former Alpha, David's father, is a very traditional man. That was why he'd kept the rules of his great-grandfather's time valid even in the present day, especially regarding the rules of matin and marriage. In the Sataria pack, free mating is not allowed unless it was within designations. One must only marry within one's designation. This meant that Alphas were only allowed to marry other Alphas, Betas were allowed to marry only Betas, and Omegas should marry only other omegas. No cross-designation relationships would be recognized within the pack, especially ones with omegas. Omegas are physically weak, both in human and wolf forms. In the case of battle, Omegas were practically useless unless they were being used as cannon fodder. Betas are more desirable, with their greater strength and endurance.
Of course, none of us could top an Alpha. Superior stretch, superior senses, and superior speed, the ability to use their voice and their growl to command legions of wolves, and the ability to stand tall and strong in the wake of violence or tragedy, are the qualities of an Alpha. Alphas are leaders, and each pack only had one family of Alphas. The Alpha's spouse, also known as the Luna, the Alpha, and then the Alpha heir. Once the Alpha heir marries, the previous Alpha will step down to relinquish their mantle to their heir. Designation was hereditary, the higher designation always passing to the children no matter what the mother's designation is.
The Alpha heir could marry another Alpha. And in our pack, mating was not necessary for such bonding.
My name is Arielle Starr, and I am an Omega. Years ago, when I reached the majority age, David the Alpha heir approached me. One thing led to another, and I found myself falling head over heels in love with him. And I am certain that he loves me as well.
But the question I have now is, does he love me enough to claim the child growing within me as his?
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Caught in a web of betrayal, Nicole's life shatters in a single evening when her mother-in-law, Veronica, sets her up in an elaborate scheme. Blindsided, Nicole faces her husband Taylor's cold rage as he casts her out of his life and home, accusing her of infidelity and theft. As she tries to defend herself, her best friend, Sarah, adds another blow by denying their loyalty. "Please, Taylor, you have to believe me!" Nicole pleads, her voice breaking, but his icy response is a dagger to her heart. "I don't hate you, Nicole," he sneers. "I despise you." When Nicole reveals she's pregnant, she hopes for compassion, but it only fuels Veronica's determination to rid the family of her. After signing the divorce papers, a dejected Nicole wanders alone, where a brutal attack leaves her bleeding, helpless, and desperate to protect her unborn child. Six years later, Nicole returns from the ashes to inflict seven times the pains upon those who humiliated her and left her to die. "I'll make them pay so dearly that they'd regret ever been born!" She declares. This is a story of romance and revenge you don't want to miss!
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?