Chapter 14: Silence and Schemes
(Freya’s POV)
The room was quiet. Too quiet. Except for the soft ticking of the clock on the wall, nothing moved. I sat on the edge of the bed, my phone clutched in my hands, staring at the last message on the screen: “I’m pregnant.” The words glared back at me, as if mocking my foolishness.
Aaron’s silence was deafening. Each minute that passed made my chest tighten, the weight unbearable. Bella, my wolf, growled restlessly inside me, pacing and circling. Her usual calm, protective nature had been replaced with frustration.
Why doesn’t he reply? Bella’s voice echoed in my head, low but accusing.
I let out a shaky breath, trying to reason with her. “He might be busy with pack matters,” I whispered aloud, though the explanation felt hollow. Aaron had always found time to respond to messages whenever it involved pack duties. This wasn’t about the pack; this was about us–about the cub. And yet… silence. Bella didn’t respond to my attempt at soothing her. Instead, she growled again, louder this time. Her unrest only amplified my own fears. I kept staring at the phone as if willing it to buzz. But the minutes stretched into hours, and nothing happened.
Dusk fell outside the window, painting the skies in shades of orange and purple. The colors faded as night began to blanket the world, yet my phone remained painfully silent. I hadn’t moved from my spot on the bed, too exhausted to do anything but wait. My heart ached more with each passing hour.
Finally, a notification lit up my screen. My hands shook as I picked up the phone, my breath hitching. it wasn’t Aaron. It was Emily.
Did you tell him? her message read.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. Emily’s concern only made the reality of my situation hit harder. I dropped the phone back onto the bed, my fingers trembling. You knew, I thought to myself. You knew he wouldn’t say anything, but you still hoped.
Aaron’s silence felt louder than any words could have. My chest tightened, a knot of emotions tangling inside me. I couldn’t stop the questions racing through my mind. Where is he? Who is he with? Is he with her? Did he
tell Caroline?
The thought of Caroline made my stomach churn. I could already imagine her reaction if she found out. She would smirk, her perfect lips curling into a mocking smile. She’d pity me, calling my pregnancy a desperate attempt to keep Aaron’s attention. That image alone made Bella snarl, a sound so sharp it made me jump.
I exhaled shakily, my resolve crumbling. My wolf, my cub, and I–we were all alone in this suffocating silence. The emptiness of the room mirrored the hollowness I felt inside.
That night, I barely ate. Every bite of food tasted like ash, my appetite lost to the constant turmoil in my head. By nine o’clock, I had grown tired of waiting and watching the phone. I forced myself to leave the room, desperate for a change of pace, though my legs felt heavy with every step.
Downstairs, the lights were dimmed, granting the pack house a rare sense of peace. The comforting hum of
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activity during the day was replaced by an eerie stillness. I walked into the kitchen, where Martha Wilson, the pack house manager, was overseeing staff as they cleaned up from dinner service.
She spotted me immediately, her sharp eyes softening when they landed on my face. “Luna, you’re up,” she said kindly, walking toward me. “Are you feeling any better? You still look tired.”
I forced a thin smile. “I’m fine,” I said, though my voice lacked conviction.
Martha hesitated, her gaze lingering on me. It was clear she didn’t believe me, but thankfully, she didn’t press further. Instead, she folded her hands and straightened her posture. “Oh, before I forget–James Morrison called earlier. He said Alpha Aaron won’t be returning tonight. He’s handling important pack matters.” Her tone was apologetic, as if she could sense how those words would sting.
Sure enough, the pit in my stomach deepened. Of course, he wasn’t coming home. Why would he? Even after I told him the most life–changing news, I meant nothing more than just another obligation to him. My throat tightened, but I nodded faintly, trying to keep my expression neutral.
“Thank you, Martha. I understand,” I replied softly. I didn’t want her or the staff to see how deeply those words
hurt me.
Without waiting for more small talk, I turned to head back to the sanctuary of my room. But before I could take more than three steps, my phone buzzed in my hand. My heart jumped, hope surging for the briefest moment. Aaron. Maybe it was finally Aaron.
I answered quickly. “Hello?”
But the voice on the other end wasn’t his. It was her. Caroline. Her overly sweet, perfectly balanced tone poured through the line like honey laced with venom, making my fingers tighten around the phone.
“Luna Freya,” she said with an elegance that only deepened my dread. “I hope I’m not disturbing you. My voice stuck in my throat, but I forced myself to reply. “No… of course not,” I muttered, though my tone betrayed my growing discomfort.
“Perfect,” she said, that sickly sweetness never faltering. “I just wanted to pass along a quick message from Alpha Aaron. He asked me to let you know that he won’t be home tonight. Important matters, you know. He thought you might still be resting and didn’t want to disturb you himself.”
I froze, her words slicing through my composure like a blade. He asked her to call me. Of all the wolves in his life–Beta James, Daniel, anyone–he asked her.
Bella howled fiercely in my mind, her frustration mirroring the storm of emotions in my chest. My lips quivered as I struggled to respond. “Okay,” I finally whispered, my voice barely audible.
“Oh, and do rest well,” Caroline added, her tone faintly dripping with sarcasm. “The pack needs you healthy.”
I didn’t reply. I didn’t trust myself to say anything more. Instead, I ended the call abruptly, cutting her off mid–sentence. My hands trembled as I set the phone back down, my breathing uneven.
Caroline’s voice still echoed in my head: her concern, her perfect delivery. She handled Aaron’s words like they were her own, as if she had the right to act as his messenger. As if she were already the Luna.
My knees felt weak, and I leaned against the wall, my chest heaving as nausea bubbled in my stomach. Bella cried softly inside me, consumed by helplessness. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but I was too drained to do anything.
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Back in my room, I collapsed onto the bed, wrapping my arms protectively around my stomach. The weight of the day had drained every ounce of strength I had left. Bella, usually a pillar of confidence and ferocity, whimpered softly now, her voice breaking. For the first time in my life, even my wolf felt defeated.
(Caroline’s POV)
I ended the call, a satisfied smirk tugging at my lips. I tapped a few buttons on Aaron’s phone, saving Freya’s number without hesitation. A resource like that could prove useful later.
Slipping the phone back into my pocket, I returned to Aaron’s side. He was seated at his desk, his golden eyes scanning over a stack of reports that I pretended not to care about. His focus was sharp, his expression. calm, yet I could sense the faint undercurrent of tension in his movements.
“Well?” he asked without looking up. “Did you speak with her?”
I kept my voice light, as if this wasn’t a significant moment. “Yes. I passed along your message. She sounded … tired, but she’ll rest.”
Finally, Aaron looked up. His brows creased slightly, his lips turning downward in faint concern. “Still not resting even though she’s sick. She’s something else.”
My wolf growled low in my mind. That tender tone, that unconscious worry–why did he reserve it for her? I’m the one who saved his life, I’m the one who’s always been here. But jealousy quickly gave way to strategy. I couldn’t let him see my irritation.
“She pushes herself too hard,” I said simply, pouring just enough concern into my tone to sound genuine. “I could check on her if you’d like. Perhaps invite her out to take her mind off her duties?”
Aaron nodded, his expression softening again. “Save her number and do that. She needs something to cus on other than the pack.”
I smiled, though it felt tight at the edges. “Of course, Aaron.”
(Freya’s POV)
The next morning, the sun pierced through the curtains, dragging me from what little sleep I’d managed. My reflection in the mirror was almost unrecognizable. Puffy, red–rimmed eyes stared back at me.
I grabbed an ice pack from the fridge, pressing it against my swollen lids. At least this small act felt like control. But I knew no amount of cold would ease the pain twisting inside me.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Emily’s name flashed alongside another message from Daniel.
Emily: “Did he respond? Are you okay?”
Daniel: “Luna, how are you? Let me know if there’s anything you need.”
I stared at the screen, my hands numb. It was all too much. I typed out a simple reply to both, keeping it short. “I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”
But Daniel didn’t take my dismissal lightly. Not even five minutes passed before my phone lit up with his name. The moment I answered, his concern was evident in his voice.
“Freya,” he said, the warmth and worry wrapped tightly around my name. “Tell me the truth. Are you really
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Chapter 14 Sailence and S
okay? Sarah mentioned you weren’t feeling well yesterday”
I hesitated. “It’s nothing, Daniel. I promise. I’m okay”
There was a pause, and I could almost see him frowning on the other end. “You’ve always been good at hiding what’s bothering you,” he said quietly. “But you don’t have to hide from me”
I closed my eyes, the words catching in my throat. Tl be fine,” I replied softly, ending the call before he could press further.
Barely a moment later, another call came through–Emily. Her voice was frantic, her words spilling over one
another.
“Freya, what happened? Did he say anything? Please, tell me.”
I glanced at the empty space beside me on the bed–the place Aaron should have been. The entire weight of
his absence crashed down on me again.
After a long pause, I finally answered her. “He didn’t respond“My voice was soft, almost lifeless. “Emily. I’ve decided to terminate the pregnancy.”
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