Damien's POV
I was going to destroy my wife's life, and I couldn't stop it.
"You're gripping the steering wheel too hard," Selene said softly from the passenger seat. "Your knuckles are white."
I forced my fingers to relax. Three hours until we reached Silvermoon. Three hours until I broke Aria's heart.
My wolf paced inside me, torn between two directions. Behind me—toward the woman sitting calmly in my car. And forward—toward the woman waiting at home who'd loved me when I was shattered.
"We could turn around," I said. The words tasted like ash. "You could go back to your pack. We could pretend—"
"That won't make the bond disappear." Selene's violet eyes held understanding. "Trust me, I've tried. I didn't ask for this either."
The fated mate bond hummed between us like electricity. Always there. Always pulling. It had been three weeks since it snapped into place, and I still couldn't breathe around it.
*Three weeks ago—Northern Pack Territory*
The memory hit me like a punch:
I'd walked into the Northern Pack's Great Hall for treaty negotiations. Boring political stuff that Alphas had to handle. My mind had been on Aria the whole time. How much I missed her laugh. How she always fell asleep reading and I'd find her with books on her face.
Then Selene Moonshadow entered the room.
The bond slammed into my chest so hard I actually stumbled. Golden light exploded behind my eyes. My wolf roared to life, lunging toward her like he'd been waiting his entire existence.
*MATE!*
No. That was impossible. I already had a mate. I'd chosen Aria. We were happy.
But the bond didn't care about happiness. It just *was*.
Selene's eyes had widened, her hand flying to her chest. She felt it too. Everyone in the room felt it—that crackling energy that screamed fated mates.
I'd run. Actually turned and ran like a coward. Locked myself in my room and tried to mind-link Aria, but we were too far apart. The connection was fuzzy, weak.
For two days, I avoided Selene. Refused meetings if she'd be there. Ate in my room. My Beta Marcus called me pathetic.
"You can't hide from a fated mate bond," Marcus had said through my door. "It's sacred, Damien. The Moon Goddess herself chose this."
"I chose Aria!"
"Then reject Selene. End the bond."
I'd tried. Goddess knows I tried. But every time I opened my mouth to speak the rejection words, my wolf snarled and my throat closed up. Like my body refused to let me do it.
On the third day, Selene found me in the Northern Pack's garden.
"I know you're married," she'd said quietly. "I know you love her. But we can't ignore this forever."
"Watch me."
"The bond will drive us both insane." She stepped closer, and my whole body lit up like fire. "I've seen it happen. Mates who reject the bond without properly severing it—they go mad. Violent. Dangerous."
"So what do you suggest?" My voice had been harsh. Angry at the universe for doing this.
"Come home. Tell your wife the truth. Maybe... maybe we can all figure this out together."
That's how Selene ended up in my car. Heading toward the home I shared with Aria. Toward the woman who'd saved me from drowning in grief.
*Present moment*
"What are you thinking?" Selene asked now.
"That this is going to kill her." My hands tightened on the wheel again. "Aria gave up everything to be my Luna. She was an omega. She had no training, no experience. But she learned. She became the best Luna Silvermoon has ever had because she loved me."
"And you love her."
"Yes." The word came out broken. "So much."
"Then why not reject me?" No accusation in Selene's voice. Just honest curiosity.
"I don't know!" The confession exploded from me. "Every time I try, I physically can't. My wolf won't let me. It's like... like the bond is stronger than my will."
Selene nodded slowly. "Fated mate bonds are powerful. They're meant to be. The Moon Goddess designed them that way."
"The Moon Goddess can go to hell."
She didn't respond. What could she say?
My phone buzzed. A text from Marcus: *Pack's ready for your arrival. Aria planned a huge welcome. She looks happy. Don't ruin this.*
Too late. I was about to ruin everything.
"Tell me about her," Selene said. "About Aria."
I shouldn't. Talking about my wife with my fated mate felt wrong. But maybe Selene deserved to know who she was hurting.
"She makes me laugh," I said quietly. "Even when I don't want to. After Elena died—my first mate—I was dead inside. Couldn't feel anything. Aria changed that."
"How?"
"She was working in the pack kitchen. I'd forgotten to eat for two days because I was drowning in Alpha work. She made me a sandwich and said, 'You can't lead if you don't take care of yourself.'" I smiled at the memory. "No fear. No submission. Just... caring."
"She sounds brave."
"She is. And kind. She turned a storage closet into a healing room so pack members didn't have to go to the hospital for small injuries. She remembers everyone's names. Their birthdays. Their favorite foods." My chest ached. "She made Silvermoon a home instead of just a pack."
"You really love her."
"More than anything." The truth hung in the air like a weight. "But I can't reject you either. What does that make me?"
"Torn," Selene said simply. "It makes you torn."
We drove in silence after that. The miles disappearing beneath our tires. Each one bringing us closer to the moment everything changed.
My phone buzzed again. This time, a mind-link from Aria broke through the distance: *Almost home? I can't wait to see you!*
Her joy punched through our connection. Pure and bright and trusting.
I couldn't respond. My throat closed up with guilt.
*Damien? Are you okay?*
*I'm fine. See you soon.* The lie tasted like poison.
The mind-link went quiet. But I felt her excitement buzzing like electricity. She had no idea what was coming.
"We're here," Selene whispered as Silvermoon's territory border appeared ahead.
My heart hammered against my ribs. My wolf pulled in two directions—toward Selene beside me, and toward Aria ahead. Both felt like home. Both felt right.
How could they both feel right?
The packhouse came into view. Pack members lined the driveway. Banners hung from the trees. A celebration.
And there—standing at the front in her blue dress—was Aria.
My wife. My Luna. My choice.
She looked so happy. So hopeful. Her amber eyes shining as our cars approached.
I was about to shatter her.
"I can stay in the car," Selene offered. "Give you time to explain first."
"No." I put the car in park. "Hiding makes it worse. She deserves the truth immediately."
Even if the truth would break her.
I opened my door. Stepped out. Aria's face lit up like sunrise.
Then Selene opened her door.
The pack felt it immediately. The fated mate bond blazing between us like visible fire. Gasps rippled through the crowd. Wolves backed away instinctively, sensing the power.
Aria's smile died. Her face went pale. Her hand moved to her stomach in a strange, protective gesture.
Our eyes met across the driveway.
I watched her heart break in real-time.
"Aria," I started, my voice cracking. "I need to tell you something."
But before I could say more, Selene stepped beside me. Her hand touched my arm—just a light touch, but the bond flared bright gold where we connected.
Every wolf saw it. Undeniable. Unmistakable.
Aria swayed like she might faint.
"Hello," Selene said, her voice gentle. "I'm Selene Moonshadow. Damien's fated mate."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
Aria's hand pressed harder against her stomach. Her eyes met mine, and in them I saw trust dying. Love turning to confusion. Hope crumbling to dust.
Then she whispered four words that destroyed me:
"I'm pregnant, Damien."