His Curse, her Crown.

Amelia.

Mate. Mate.

Damian, the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack muttered as he sat beside his wife, Amelia inside the grand hall.

Amelia heard him and instantly, her heart pounded loudly in her chest. The smile that was on her face disappeared as she turned towards Damian.

She could feel how his wolf was restless beneath him as it's recognised the mate bond. She followed his eyes which was darting across the room and it finally landed on a woman, who was entering the grand hall with the Alpha of the Moon Crescent Pack.

The woman paused mid-step, staring at him intensely and she mouthed 'mate'.

Today was their second year wedding anniversary. Damian had planned a big celebration in order to show off his love on a full display to the woman who had stood by him against all odds.

In the two years since he has married Amelia, his life had changed drastically for the better. He has climbed up the social ladder. He had become the one of the most powerful and wealthiest Alpha in the Northern province.

Alpha Damian is my daughter's mate?The Alpha of the Moon Crescent pack echoed through the room, attracting the attention of the other invited guests who were now shifting their gaze between Damian and the woman.

Tense silence fell over the room.

Amelia struggled to calm her nerves. Then she shot up to her feet. No…. This is not right! Damian and I already planned to reject our mates incase we found them later on,Amelia said.

It was an agreement they had made. When she turned twenty-one and got her wolf, they discovered they werent fated mates. Still, they spent a year traveling across all the packs in the Northern Province, hoping to find their true mates. When none appeared, they chose to marry each other instead.

And then… Alpha Drake's daughter, Selena has been out of the province and she only got back recently.

The Alphas and Betas present stared at her like she was auditioning for a movie role.

She beckoned to Damian. Come on. Reject her.

Damian didn't say a word. Just remained seated, his expression unreadable and never leaving the woman.

She turned towards him. Come on, reject her,she screamed louder, desperation lacing her voice.

Damian finally stood up and pulled her closer. Amelia,he muttered, wrapping his arms around her waist. You know how Alpha Drake has helped our pack in the past so it would be an humiliation for him, if I just reject his daughter in front of everyone like that.

Amelia gave a small understanding nod. But she couldn't say a word. She still wished that Damian would reject her right now and here.

He continued. Go back to the pack house. I will reject her privately and come join you soon.

Her face twisted in disbelief. No….. it's our wedding anniversary and she should be the one leaving and not me.

Amelia, please,he pleaded. I will join you in the next thirty minutes

And just like that, the celebration ended before it even began.

Amelia nodded slowly. She gestured towards her personal maid, Aria and together they walked out of the grand hall and headed towards her chamber.

_______

Luna,Aria called, staring up at her as she paced the room. You have to keep calm. I trust that Alpha Damian would make the right decision.

She didn't answer. The thirty minutes Damian promised has long passed and she couldn't shake off the unease gnawing down at her.

Her hands landed on her slightly protruded stomach and her gaze fixed at the door, wishing it would open soon. She kept wishing that Damian would come back home to them—her and her unborn child.

A month ago when she discovered that she was carrying Damian's baby was the most happiest moment of their lives.

She mindlinked Damian.

'Where are you? Why is this taking so long?'

'I'm on it. I will join you soon, my love,' he answered her back.

Her mind relaxed a bit and she sat down on the edge of the bed.

A few minutes later, she suddenly started feeling a movement inside her stomach.

Ahhhhhhhhhh,she groaned, her face twisting in pain as she clutched her stomach.

Luna,Aria screamed in panic, rushing to her side. What happened?

Tears blurred Amelia's vision as the pain grew intense by each passing second.

'Damian,' she tried to mindlink him but he cut it off abruptly.

Damian, don't do this please. Please don't betray me,she whispered. Think about our baby.

Then she felt her neck region where Damian had marked her become so hot which signify that Damian was having sex with another woman.

A sharp, unbearable pain tore through her, as if her soul was being shredded from within. She gasped for breath, falling to the floor and then blood pooled beneath her.

She felt the thick liquid sliding down her thighs and her eyes widen with fear.

My baby…. Aria, please save my baby.

Let me go and get the doctor,Aria said and ran out immediately.

Amelia struggled to stay awake. Her weak hand fell to her stomach, as she prayed secretly to the Moon Goddess. Then the pain became too overwhelming and she drifted into darkness.

__________

Amelia opened her eyes on the third day to the news that she lost her baby. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she remembered the events that led to it.

She lost her baby because her husband, the man she had loved all her life couldn't control himself. Her chest twisted with pain.

The door creaked open and Damian came inside, his eyes landed on his wife who was sprawled weakly on the bed. He sat beside her.

Amelia didn't act like she saw him.

I heard about what happened from the Pack doctor,he said, trying to brush off a strand of stray hair from her face.

Amelia slapped his hands off and finally looked at him. Get your filthy hands off me,she growled, her voice trembling with unrestrained rage.

Damian sighed, rolling his eyes. Amelia, you are overreacting right now.

Overreacting?She repeated, pushing herself to sit despite the pain throbbing in her lower stomach. Really? I lost our baby because of you and you dare say I'm overreacting.

Because of me? No… it's my wolf that couldn't control itself. The mate bond was so strong that I couldn't reject her.

Really? Fine. Then reject me and let me go. Get your filthy self out of my pack,Amelia roared, her wolf raging inside her.

The room was silent for a while but Damian laughed—the sound was sharp and cruel, reverberating through the room.

Really? You think I'm really going to reject you,he sneered. Keep dreaming, Amelia. You are bond to me forever whether you like it or not! And this pack… fucking belong to me now.

Amelia looked at the man she had loved since fourteen. The pack most talented guard whose smile lights up her world after the strenuous trainings and teachings, but she found none.

All she saw was an heartless beast.

She shook her head, tears blurring her vision. You're crazy. Let's see if you can still say that when I tell the elders about everything.

Tell them…. that's if the elders hold any power anymore,he said, smirking devilishly and stepping closer to her. My dear wife, you can't do anything. You will remain by my side until I find something to do with you.

Amelia opened her mouth but she couldn't say anything.

Then he turned towards the door and started walking out. He opened the door, and turned back by the doorway.

Meanwhile…. Selena would be moving in. I need my true mate by my side.

Then the door slammed shut behind him.

Damian!