The Runaway Luna's Heartless Mate

2-The Surprise Pregnancy

Love Cameron:

The bar wasn't particularly crowded that evening. I had been stationed behind the well-polished wooden bar, observing couples and friends as they came to enjoy the night. The soft jazz music set the evening's mood.

I gave my high ponytail one final adjustment before a young lady approached to place an order. Fortunately, Mindy took care of the customer. Mindy Clover was my only true friend within the pack.

We had grown up together, studied together, and were now working side by side at the same bar and she was an omega with an active wolf.

Our pack, The Nightfall Pack, was located right next to the largest pack, the Red Mist Pack, led by the Alpha King, Lord Henry R.

"You've been lost in thought way too often these days," Mindy remarked while wiping down the bar. Her sleek black hair was pinned up, and her beautiful hazel eyes sparkled as she observed my expression.

"I need to talk to you about something," I cleared my throat, and to avoid meeting her gaze, I swiftly reached for a martini glass. I proceeded to fill a cocktail shaker with ice, followed by two ounces of top-shelf tequila and one ounce of triple sec.

"Go on," she encouraged, assisting me by squeezing a lime.

"I'm in trouble," I whispered, ensuring that my voice wouldn't carry to anyone else's ears. I sealed the shaker and gave it a good shake, the ice clinking against the glass gently.

"Love, look at me and tell me what's wrong," she took the shaker from my hands to make sure I focused on her.

"Please, don't judge me," I added, and when she narrowed her eyes, I could tell I was starting to annoy her. "I'm pregnant."

I bit my tongue as her eyes widened, and she nearly overfilled the glass. "What?" she hissed under her breath, leaning over as if she could hide behind the bar.

"Are you out of your mind!" she scolded, gripping my arm and swiftly pulling me to the back bar.

"I know I'm in a lot of trouble, but... it's not like I slept around. I slept with someone who even marked me," I rushed to explain before she could lay into me, knowing how challenging life could be for omegas like us.

Her grip on my arm loosened, and the expression of worry on her face shifted to relief. "You scared me for a second. But tell me, why haven't you told me about him? That's so unfair. I share everything with you, and you kept such a major secret from me," she said, looking quite upset and continuing to talk without giving me a moment.

"Mindy, take a breath!" I interjected, but she didn't stop talking.

"No, I'm really upset with you. When am I going to meet him?" She placed her hands on her hips and finally let me speak.

"Once I get in touch with him, I'll introduce you to him," I replied, feeling desperate. It had been two months, and I hadn't heard from him. I hadn't seen him around, and he hadn't attempted to contact me either.

It was as if he had vanished from the face of the Earth. What devastated me the most was that I had given him my address, my name, and told him everything about myself and my life. So, if he wanted to, he could have reached out to me.

"What do you mean by that?" The worried expression returned to her face, and she held my hand, pulling me further to the side.

The last two months had been incredibly challenging for me. Alice hadn't given me a moment's peace, constantly pressuring me to reveal the name of my mate. As for Livia, she had been spending time with Gavin, my ex-boyfriend. She couldn't bring herself to believe that I had a powerful and wealthy mate; she was just thrilled that my mate had marked me and vanished.

I spent the next few minutes explaining to Mindy how I had ended up at the border and how I hadn't heard from my mate since then.

"Oh, my Goddess, that's so complicated," Mindy said, instantly offering me comfort by holding onto my arm.

"It won't be long before the entire pack finds out that I'm pregnant, and then all hell will break loose. I'll be in deep trouble," I expressed my fear to her, noticing that she had started to zone out.

"Don't you worry. Before anyone finds out, I'll locate him," she said with an unusual level of confidence. Although I wanted to trust in her determination, I wasn't entirely sure how much she could assist.

"Mindy, how are you planning to do that?" I asked, puzzled.

"Remember, the owner of our club listens to me," she winked at me. "I'll go through the register and identify which elite visitor from that night could afford such a generous tip."

I felt relieved hearing her words. She appeared incredibly determined to help me.

That evening, I went home feeling much more at ease. However, I had to contend with the same old nonsense. I grabbed a small portion of lasagna for my plate while everyone watched my every move.

My dad barely said a word, not wanting to upset his beloved chosen mate, and Alice raised an eyebrow while tapping her long acrylic nails on the table.

Filling my plate, I couldn't help but feel like I was stealing something from the table.

"So, you're not going to spill the beans about your little secret then?" I heard Livia speak up with a taunting tone.

"What secret?" I furrowed my brows at her words, studying her with a puzzled expression. She wore a self-satisfied smile and gave her head a slight shake. Her mother observed her carefully before returning her focus to me, suggesting she was oblivious to her daughter's comment.

"I found something in the trash today and thought I'd give you some time to share the news. But it seems like you're well aware of the consequences this news might bring. Hence, you're too ashamed to tell us," she shrugged, making no effort to conceal her lack of interest in the meal any longer.

Nonetheless, my heart flipped within my chest.

"What's happening? What did she do now?" Alice questioned her daughter, but my gaze remained fixed on Livia. I was well aware of what she might have discovered while rummaging through my trashcan.

"How could you--" I began to say, but my words stuck in my throat when she forcefully placed the pregnancy test on the table, making it visible to the curious onlookers.

"What is this?" Alice exclaimed, springing up from her seat, while my dad hung his head, hiding his face in his hands.

"You shouldn't have been going through my things," I gritted my teeth, attempting to reach for the test, but Alice slapped my hand to prevent me.

"You've brought this disgrace upon us, and you're not even remorseful?" she shouted, attempting to grab my arm, but I continued to pull myself out of her grip. I couldn't deny that I was under immense stress at this point. I had initially thought Mindy would locate my mate, and I would then reveal my pregnancy. But now it would seem as if I had been sleeping around.

"I didn't bring any shame. I was with my mate that night--," I protested, taking a step back when Alice raised her hand, but she stopped when I had moved out of her reach.

"The mate who supposedly left you a substantial sum of money?" Livia sneered, secretly amused by my explanation.

"The only thing he did to you was take your virginity and abandon you at the border. He was probably a rogue who had his fun and then fled to the human world," Alice screamed, and this time, she slapped my father's head to make him scold me as well.

"Why did you do this to us?" my father finally gave in to her demands, rising from his seat and muttering the words under his breath.

"I'm not lying. He is my mate, and I'm pregnant with my mate's child," I nearly whimpered, watching the hatred in my father's eyes. The fact that he had never shown any care for me, yet he felt he had the right to question me, shattered me.

"You will get rid of this thing," he hissed, issuing a harsh command. My heart sank in my chest at his words. I had expected the council to say something like that, not my father.

"I think that's a great idea," Alice chimed in, showing her agreement. There was a myth that if a she-wolf terminated her first pregnancy from her mate, she would never conceive their child again. I was certain that Alice wanted me to get rid of the baby, even if there was a slight chance I was pregnant from my mate.

"No!" My response abruptly silenced them.

"I'm done listening to you two. Have either of you ever been a parental figure to me?" I raised my voice, staring into my father's eyes, shocking him with my outburst.

"I won't let anyone harm my child," I muttered through trembling lips, on the verge of breaking down.

"How shameless!" My dad lunged at me, delivering a hard slap that sent me crashing against the wall.

My ear rang from the impact of his hand against my cheek, but he continued to yell insults at me.

"I wish I had known you would do something like this; I would have killed you with my own hands," he screamed, but Alice managed to pull him away. Her concern wasn't for me but for making sure my father would punish me severely by handing me over to the council.

"Stop it," my dad yelled at Alice and wrested his arm from her grip. "If you want to apprehend someone, apprehend her. Either she terminates the pregnancy, or we report her to the council."

My dad's orders left me frozen and speechless. The council wouldn't only terminate my baby but would also subject me to the harshest punishment--being sold to the wealthiest old werewolves. How could a father be okay with such a punishment for his daughter?