Kai's POV
The coffee mug burst against the wall, sending brown liquid splashing everywhere. Kai stared at the mess he'd made, his hands still shaking with anger.
"Alpha, your grandfather is here," his Beta Marcus said carefully from the doorway.
Kai didn't turn around. He couldn't face anyone right now, not even Elder Marcus. "Tell him I'm busy."
"He says it's about the Cross Pack meeting. He won't leave."
Kai closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The meeting. The news. The thing that was going to destroy the best part of his life.
"Send him in."
Elder Marcus walked into Kai's office like he owned the place, which he basically did. The old man had been Alpha before Kai, and everyone still respected him more than they respected Kai sometimes.
"You look terrible," Marcus said frankly.
"Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear today."
Marcus sat down without being asked. "Having second thoughts about the engagement?"
Kai's laugh was bitter. "Second thoughts? Try hundredth thoughts."
"Then don't do it."
"It's not that simple!" Kai exploded. "The Cross Pack has been threatening our lines for months. Their Alpha has twice as many fighters as we do. If I don't marry Victoria, he'll declare war."
"And if you do marry her?"
Kai slumped into his chair. "Then I lose the only woman I've ever loved."
The words hung in the air between them. Kai had never said it out loud before, but there it was. He loved Maya Rose. He loved her smile, her laugh, the way she fell asleep in his arms. He loved how she made him feel like he was more than just an Alpha - like he was a man worth loving.
"Maya doesn't know yet," Kai said quietly.
"You haven't told her?"
"How can I? How do I look at the woman I love and tell her I'm marrying someone else? How do I explain that I have to choose the pack over her?"
Marcus leaned forward. "Maybe you don't have to choose."
"What do you mean?"
"Marry Victoria for politics. Keep Maya as your secret mate. Lots of Alphas have done it."
Kai's stomach turned. "You want me to make Maya my secret? To hide her away like she's something to be ashamed of?"
"It's better than losing her completely."
"No." Kai stood up fast, his chair falling over. "Maya deserves better than that. She deserves to be someone's first choice, not their hidden secret."
"Then what are you going to do?"
Before Kai could answer, another knock came at the door. This time it was Victoria herself, walking in like she owned the world.
"Hello, darling," she said, her voice sweet as poison. "Ready for our big announcement?"
Victoria Cross was beautiful, Kai couldn't deny that. She had perfect blonde hair, perfect blue eyes, and a perfect smile that never reached her eyes. She was everything an Alpha's wife should be - strong, smart, and linked to other powerful families.
She was also cold as ice and about as loving as a snake.
"Victoria," Kai said stiffly. "You're early."
"I wanted to talk before the pack meeting." She looked at Marcus. "Alone."
Marcus stood up slowly. "I'll see you at the meeting, Kai. Remember what we talked about."
After Marcus left, Victoria moved closer to Kai. Too close. Her perfume was expensive and overwhelming, nothing like Maya's soft, natural smell.
"You don't look happy," Victoria said, running her finger down Kai's chest. "A man should be excited about his engagement."
Kai stepped back. "I'm fine."
"Are you thinking about her?"
Kai's blood turned cold. "Who?"
Victoria's smile turned mean. "The little omega who's been warming your bed. Maya something. Rose, I think?"
"How do you-"
"Please, Kai. Did you really think no one would notice? You disappear every night, you smell like her in the mornings, and you get this dreamy look whenever someone says her name."
Kai's hands curled into fists. "Maya has nothing to do with this."
"Doesn't she? Because I heard some interesting stories today. Apparently, your little girlfriend has been throwing up every morning for the past week."
The words hit Kai like a physical blow. Throwing up every morning. Morning sickness. Could Maya be...? "I see from your face that you didn't know," Victoria continued sweetly. "How sweet. The great Alpha Kai, taken by surprise by a pregnant omega."
"You're lying."
"Am I? Sarah Jenkins was talking about it at the market. Said Maya looked pale and sick, running to the bathroom every few minutes. Does that sound familiar?"
Kai's mind was racing. When was the last time he'd seen Maya during the day? He always came to her at night, leaving before dawn. He wouldn't know if she was sick in the mornings.
"Even if it's true," Kai said slowly, "it doesn't change anything."
"Oh, but it does. You see, I can't marry a man who has a bastard child running around. It would be embarrassing for my family."
"What are you saying?"
Victoria's smile was pure evil now. "I'm saying that if you want this marriage to happen, if you want to save your pack from war, then your little problem needs to disappear."
"Problem?" Kai's voice was deadly quiet. "You're talking about Maya."
"I'm talking about Maya and whatever kids she might be carrying. They need to go away, Kai. Far away. Forever."
Kai grabbed Victoria by the throat so fast she didn't have time to respond. His eyes flashed gold with his wolf's rage.
"If you touch her," he growled, "if you even look at her wrong, I will tear you apart with my bare hands."
Victoria laughed even with his hand around her neck. "Empty threats, darling. You need me more than I need you. And we both know you'll do whatever it takes to protect your precious pack."
Kai released her, his hands shaking with the effort not to hurt her.
"The meeting starts in ten minutes," Victoria said, smoothing down her hair. "Time to announce our happy engagement."
She walked to the door, then turned back. "Oh, and Kai? Your little omega is in the crowd today. She came to hear the news. How romantic - she'll get to watch you choose someone else right to her face."
Victoria left, and Kai fell into his chair. Maya was here. She was in the crowd, waiting to hear him announce his engagement to another woman. If she really was pregnant...
Kai put his head in his hands. He was about to destroy the woman he loved, and she was going to watch him do it.
The door opened again, and Marcus poked his head in. "It's time, Alpha."
Kai stood up on shaking legs. He had to do this. He had to choose his pack over his heart. But as he walked toward the door, one question kept beating in his head: What if Maya really was carrying his child?