Chapter 31

“Eeek! Juliane! Look at this!” Christine exclaimed loudly as she ran towards me, waving a small plastic stick around in the air.

My heart sank even lower than it already had. Christine had been Paul's chosen mate, the man I undoubtedly loved with all my heart. The Moon Goddess had other plans for me, taking him away from my life. And now, here they were, beginning a new chapter together, while I was expected to be happy for them. 

“Ahh! No way!” I squeaked, trying to make my enthusiasm sound genuine, but it was anything but. “Is it true? Is it positive?”

"Yes! Yes!" Christine exclaimed, thrusting the white stick under my nose to reveal two dark lines. "Paul and I are going to be parents! We're going to have our very own pup! I can't believe it! I'm so happy!"

"I'm really happy for both of you," I smiled, forcing a lump of sadness down my throat. "It's really good news! Congratulations!"

The memory faded into smoke as I returned to my senses and found myself back in the dark, dingy cell where I was imprisoned. I had been doing a lot of reminiscing lately; there wasn't much else for me to do at this point. Libby had thrown me to the wolves and left me to die. Literally. 

My body was weak, and I had lost all connection to Rhea. I just knew she was gone—the only friend I had ever had. James's pitiful pleas and screams had also faded into silence, and I could no longer connect with him through the mind link. Was he just as weak as I was? Not that I really cared. James just filled the massive hole in my heart where Paul's love should have been before it was brutally ripped away from me and dangled in front of my nose on a piece of string.

I never stopped caring about Christine. She was my best friend. It wasn't her fault that she was paired up with Paul, but she could have rejected him since she knew how much I loved him. However, she didn't. Then she went and got pregnant and I knew that their child was going to be as obnoxious and callous as their parents. This was when I started to put my plan into action. I knew I had to get rid of Christine, one way or another, to win Paul back. What I didn’t realize was that it would take me years to carry it out. I thought that if I could get Christine out of the way, and break Paul's heart, my love and affection would heal him and he would fall back in love with me. It was just too perfect! Unfortunately, Paul and Christine moved around our territory frequently due to work commitments as Paul advanced through the ranks. As a result, we lost contact for a while, only briefly exchanging texts and emails on birthdays and special holidays.

Sixteen years later, my phone pinged with an email from Christine, titled "Great News!" Sighing, I opened the email, curious about what Christine wanted this time. As my eyes quickly scanned the screen, my expression changed to a broad grin. They were finally coming back to live in this area after Paul received his promotion to Lead Warrior. This new job meant that he would be spending most of his time at the Packhouse, where I also worked as a healer. Finally, he was close enough for me to get my claws into him and win him back. Did I care about his nearly grown daughter? Not really. I could handle being a stepmother. I already had my daughter Louisa from a failed relationship, so what was another kid on the scene? If she became too much, I could always find a way to get rid of her too!

I had become estranged from my Mother after entering that relationship. Louisa's dad, Brett, was a rogue. I met him on a booze-filled night out in the town, deep within the dark, illicit alleyways of the slums. After one too many whiskies, I found myself in an unexpected position, down a dark alleyway with this handsome stranger, our bodies entwined as we danced together as one. 

Not my proudest moment. 

For weeks afterwards, we met up and hung out, often down at the darkest, dingiest bars where all manner of sleaze occurred away from prying eyes. It was here that I first discovered Brett was a rogue, and it was also here that I informed him of my pregnancy. I didn’t know that werewolves could go into shock, but as I shared my happy news, Brett seemed to freeze, his eyes turning black like a nighttime thunderstorm. This is where he told me our relationship wouldn't work and that he was, in fact, a rogue and needed to go. He made up some excuse and promptly left. I never saw him again. My mother discovered what had happened, and she was disgusted that I could do this, not only to myself but also to her and the Pack. That same night, I found myself hauling my belongings up to the Packhouse and moving into the staff quarters. And here I remained until I gave birth to my daughter and got my own house. Three weeks after I moved into the Packhouse, Christine and Paul made an impromptu visit. Silently, here we were as we smiled at one another while standing awkwardly in the Lobby of the Packhouse. My love for Paul had never faltered as I hungrily gazed at his toned muscular physique. As I glanced across at Christine, my smile faltered. Her penetrating gaze was staring at me, looking slightly disgusted as her eyes hovered over me while resting on my belly. 

"So it's true then? The rumours?" Christine whispered, biting her lip nervously. "You got pregnant by some rogue and you have the audacity to keep it!"

"Yes!" I snapped angrily as I realized someone had revealed my secret. "What does it matter to you?"

"Everything matters Jules!" Christine hissed, shaking her head sadly. "You're my best friend and I want to protect you. But you have dirtied yourself by letting a rogue inseminate you like this. You should have cleansed yourself and got rid of it at the earliest opportunity!"

"It is my daughter or son!" I retorted angrily, wrapping my hands over my belly protectively. "It's just a little baby!"

"Fetus! That thing isn't good for the pack!" Christine responded dryly, looking disgusted. "It's got dirty blood. Mixed blood! They won't be pure!"

"The Alpha has accepted what has happened!" I screamed, feeling my blood rage. "My child's blood has nothing to do with you!"

"Christine, hang fire," Paul intervened, putting up his hand, before Christine could respond. "Don't be so harsh. Jules has made a mistake. Yes, but half of wolves nowadays are of mixed blood. We would have all died out if we remained pure. I think you're being a tad too harsh on her!"

As Paul and Christine silently eyed one another, arguing through the mindlink, I silently walked away from the pair of them. It was a done deal. The decision had been made!

Christine had dug her own grave!