Tyler POVMoonrise Entertainment Sources close to the Alpha Council reported Nathan Lewis was pressing hard for a sanction against me as well as for a mating arrangement for himself with Rachel Flores.I could understand why he wanted Rachel. She was a desirable woman. If the rumors were to be believed, she was from an Alpha House rather than the omega house she had believed to be her home house. Her career was taking off too which would make her a wealthy bride.Her pregnancy would have made her less desirable to a human man. I'd been exposed to enough human fiction to understand their thoughts about raising someone else's child.We weren't human though---and a wolfen child with Alpha blood was valuable no matter who fathered him or her.Nathan Lewis was talking of a blood ceremony for their mating as well which would tie the child to his house before birth. His blood would course through my child's veins; I w

Rachel POVBella & Rachel's Apartment Paper surrounded us in piles stacked so high it was as if Jack and I were barricaded behind a paperwork partition. Only I didn't feel safe behind the wall. All I felt was suffocated."We need to go over what we do know."I looked at Jack, laying down the sheets I held, "Okay. I can go for a regrouping session. I need to get my head back on straight because honestly? I feel as if everything I've ever been told in my entire life has been a lie."Nathan wanted me to petition to join Full Moon Pack which was the home pack of House Lewis. He offered me the protection of his Alpha House to fight against the Alpha House claim House Wright of Moonrise Pack had on my child.Neither house seemed to have any physical ties to me; all the houses I had thought were my birthright also seemed to have no real connection to me which made me an orphan in a way I'd never been before.

Rachel POVAlpha Council Chambers "Grandmaster, please introduce the next petitioners."The Grandmaster took his place at the podium to read out our details. I felt as if I were being electrocuted, my insides vibrating with enough nervous energy to make me think I was plugged into a socket somewhere. Every word felt amplified by ten thousand, far louder than an old wolf standing behind a microphone."We have the case of Rachel Flores, no pack affiliation on record, being supported by her witnesses Bella Assante of New Moon Pack and Jack Jackson of Golden Gleam Pack. Rachel Flores wishes to petition for pack status for herself and her unborn child. In accordance with our laws, the blood father, Alpha Tyler Wright of Moonrise Pack, has been notified of this session and he has chosen to attend to speak his part. In support of Rachel Flores, Alpha Nathan Lewis of Full Moon Pack has chosen to attend to speak for his house as well

Tyler POVGiovanni's Pizzeria Every bite tasted better than the last.Garlic and tomatoes and parmigiano-reggiano. Crispy basil added a unique taste only available at Giovanni's and I almost growled as Adam picked the basil leaves off the pizza.We were the only two people in the building other than the Marino family who owned and operated the pizzeria."Don't growl at me. I told you to ask for extra basil. You know I like the basil the best.""I'm trying to eat my feelings here. You think you deserve the all the basil when I'm the one who just had to stand before the Alpha Council and listen while another Alpha tried to claim my mate?" Adam snorted, deliberately crunching a piece of basil between his sharp white teeth so I could see.I wanted to snap at him. I needed desperately to be angry.Anger was something I could understand. There was fire in anger. I could use the fire to fuel

Rachel POV1 Week LaterSt. Mary's Hospital "Are you ready to find out who we're expecting, Mama?"The nurse was cheerful to the extreme which only made me feel more alone. Bella had been called into work and I felt far too awkward to ask Jack to escort me to my ultrasound appointment.Tyler and I had been texting back and forth for days, but I didn't want to do anything to upset the fragile peace we had found together.Work was important to Tyler. He didn't need to miss any meetings or whatever else he had filling his schedule in order to hold my hand during a routine procedure. I knew there was absolutely nothing to worry about since my previous scans had all been fine."Okay! Tell me! Am I going to be meeting a son or a daughter?"I wasn't sure I was ready to know, but I needed to know. The information would come in handy when I went before the Alpha Council again. I also knew it truly mattered