Chapter 1

Juno's POV

"I'm pregnant."

The moment those four words fell, the Silver Moon Pack's great hall plunged into dead silence. I could hear my own heartbeat thundering like war drums.

Deep in the Colorado mountains lay a thousand-year-old werewolf dynasty—the Silver Moon Pack. As the only human, I'd married the second son Darren just two months ago, and now I had to announce this news to a werewolf family struggling with a dying bloodline.

I gripped Darren's hand so tightly my knuckles turned white. The Alpha—my father-in-law and leader of Silver Moon Pack—shot to his feet from the main seat. His deep eyes burned like hot coals, locking onto me with searing intensity.

"How long?"

I swallowed hard. "Two months."

The hall EXPLODED. Some gasped, others whispered excitedly, and more stared in disbelief.

Darren spun around, cupping my face in his hands, eyes blazing with wild joy. "Juno, baby, is this real?"

I nodded, tears instantly welling up. "It's real, Darren. We're going to be parents."

"DOCTOR!" The Alpha's voice thundered through the hall. "GET OVER HERE NOW!"

The pack doctor practically sprinted over, his white coat flying behind him. The gray-haired middle-aged man's hands trembled with nerves.

"Yes, Alpha." He respectfully extended his hand toward me. "Ma'am, may I examine you?"

I looked nervously at Darren.

"Relax, sweetheart." Darren stroked my hand, giving me a reassuring smile.

The doctor placed his hands on my belly and closed his eyes. I knew werewolves possessed extraordinary senses that could detect the faintest signs of life.

Please, please, let him feel them...

After a few seconds, he opened his eyes. His expression shifted from concentration to shock, then to pure ecstasy.

"My God..." he gasped, immediately covering his mouth. "Sorry, Alpha, I mean—"

"SPEAK!" the Alpha roared.

The doctor turned toward the main seat, voice trembling. "Not just one, Alpha! TWINS! Two healthy little lives!"

Twins?!

Time seemed frozen. Then the hall erupted completely.

"Incredible!"

"TWINS!"

"The Moon Goddess has blessed us!"

My legs went weak, barely able to stand. Twins? I'm actually having twins?

The Alpha slammed his fist on the armrest, splintering the wood. His eyes blazed with unprecedented light—excitement, euphoria, and deep relief.

"The Moon Goddess has finally shown us mercy!" His voice rang throughout the hall. "The Silver Moon bloodline will continue!"

The pack members lost complete control. Some began partial shifts, claws extending from fingertips, howls echoing and making the windows buzz.

Darren pulled me tightly into his arms, his body trembling violently with excitement. "Juno, my love," he choked in my ear, "thank you. Thank you for giving us this miracle."

I held him close, feeling his warmth and strength. In that moment, I felt like the luckiest woman alive.

"I'll protect them with my life," I whispered firmly in his ear. "Our children. Our hope."

The Alpha strode toward us, his towering figure even more imposing in the firelight. I saw tears glistening in his eyes.

"Juno, my dear daughter-in-law," his voice was thick with gratitude, "you've brought hope to our family and light to our entire pack."

He paused, his voice booming: "I promise—the ten-million-dollar valley estate will be their welcome gift!"

Ten million dollars? This was beyond my wildest dreams.

More deafening cheers erupted. I stared in shock, speechless.

"Thank you, Alpha. Your generosity..." I choked up, unable to continue.

Just then, a familiar voice cut through the celebration.

"To the future heirs of Silver Moon!"

I turned to see Martin raising his glass, wearing a perfect smile. As the eldest son, he genuinely seemed happy about my pregnancy.

But Serena, standing beside Martin, was pale as death.

She forced a smile. "Yes... what an... unexpected... blessing."

That's when pack members began talking freely:

"Looks like the next Alpha is decided..."

"Poor Serena, five years and still nothing..."

"Twins! Darren's definitely the next leader!"

"Martin can never catch up now!"

I watched Serena's face turn from pale to purple, biting her lip until blood appeared. Martin gently placed his hand on her shoulder, whispering something in her ear, but her expression only grew more twisted.

Succession rights. Right, the succession battle. In Silver Moon Pack, whoever birthed healthy heirs first had the best chance of becoming the next Alpha. And Serena had married Martin... five years ago, still childless.

A chill ran down my spine like ice water. Despite the celebration, I sensed dangerous undercurrents.

"Juno? You okay, baby?" Darren looked at me with concern. "You look tired."

I shook my head. "Just can't believe it. And a little exhausted."

"Come on, let's go to our room." He said thoughtfully. "You need rest."

The Alpha nodded, joy still on his face. "Go ahead, children. Juno needs to rest, and our little heirs need a peaceful environment."

As we left the hall, I couldn't help but look back. The celebration continued, but Serena had vanished.

An ominous feeling took root in my heart.