The groom was nearly half an hour late, and Moira’s ivory gown pooled around her as she kept her eyes fixed on the cathedral doors. She told herself he was simply delayed. Jonan wouldn’t miss his own wedding, not with the kingdom’s future and her father’s legacy hanging on this alliance. Her gaze drifted across the crowd and landed, against her will, on Raylan.
He sat in the front row, the Alpha King, her fiancé’s older brother, already watching her. She looked away immediately. He was the most powerful shifter ruler on the continent, brilliant and charming, and she had spent years avoiding the dangerously irresistible pull between them. The scar through his eyebrow, the jawline, the hazel eyes—he was a notorious playboy for a reason.
The doors opened. The footsteps were too quick, not Jonan’s. A young messenger in royal livery hurried up the aisle and handed her a letter. She knew before breaking the seal.
The priest read it aloud: “Lady Isolde has fallen gravely ill. His Highness Prince Jonan has been summoned to her bedside and must attend to her immediately. ”
The cathedral erupted in whispers. Isolde.
Of course. Jonan’s first love, whose illnesses always arrived with impeccable timing. This was the sixth such emergency since the betrothal was announced. “She needs me, Moira,” Jonan would always say with sad eyes.
The priest asked if she wished to postpone the ceremony. Behind her, her father’s men muttered about losing the northern trade routes if the alliance collapsed. Then the energy in the cathedral shifted. Raylan had risen from his seat, and the entire room held its breath.
Wolf pack leaders dropped their gazes as he passed. He reached the altar steps and looked up at her. “Well,” he said, “this is an interesting ceremony so far. ”
She stared at him.
“You’re supposed to be seated. ”
“I was,” he replied. “And then I thought someone ought to do something about this. ”
He glanced at the crowd, then back at her.
“This marriage was meant to secure a peace treaty. And Jonan has chosen his first love over his duty, his kingdom, and you. ” His voice lowered. “I can give you what he cannot.
”
She shook her head. “You don’t even like me. ”
“I never said that. ” His gaze was steady.
“Jonan left you at the altar, Moira. I’m offering you everything. A crown, my name, protection for your kingdom. Marry me instead.
”
The words hit her like a physical blow. She searched for a reason to refuse, but came up empty. Her father’s men were nodding. The ambassadors were waiting.
She looked at his outstretched hand and took it. “Yes,” she said. There was no love in the vow. There was no heat, no passion.
She made her promises to him in front of hundreds of witnesses, and he made his to her, his voice calm and commanding. She made herself repeat the words. Afterward, she pulled him aside in the private chamber. “This doesn’t change anything,” she said.
“This is only a political arrangement. I will not share your bed. ”
“Understood,” Raylan said. She didn’t miss the amusement in his eyes, but she chose to ignore it.
She asked him about Jessa, the woman he was rumored to have once loved. He admitted that Jessa had been his mate, but she had chosen another years ago. Moira felt an unexpected pang of sympathy. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“Don’t be,” he replied. “It was a long time ago. ”
Their new life began that night. She moved into the palace.
He gave her rooms adjoining his but never pushed. He was attentive, opening doors, checking on her meals, ensuring her comfort. When he was near, she felt a strange pull in her chest, a warmth she refused to name. A month later, she started feeling ill.
When the healer confirmed she was pregnant, her knees buckled. The timing was perfect—too perfect. Raylan’s gaze was sharp. “Jonan’s?
” he asked quietly. She nodded, unable to speak. He stayed quiet for a long moment. Then he said, “We’ll announce it as mine.
”
“You would do that? ” she whispered. “You would raise another man’s child as your own? ”
“Yes,” he said simply.
“Any child you carry is mine. ”
She was surprised by the emotion that thicked her throat. “Why not just end this now? You don’t owe me anything.
”
“Because I’ve grown to care for you,” he said. His voice was low. “And I’m not going to abandon you or this child. ”
Moira had no words.
He reached out and placed his hand over her stomach. “You don’t have to love me,” he said. “But I will protect you both with my life. ”
That night, she lay awake thinking about him.
The way he had stood up for her. The way he had claimed her child without hesitation. She fell asleep with his name on her lips. Two months later, on the night of the royal ball, the atmosphere was tense.
Isolde had arrived with Lord Marcus, her gaze never leaving Raylan. She draped herself over him, touching his arm, leaning into his space, her voice carrying across the hall with practiced carelessness. Jessa stood nearby, watching with open displeasure. “I see you’ve remarried,” Isolde said to Raylan, her tone cutting.
“Does she actually know you’re still chasing after your first love? ”
A heavy silence fell. Moira kept her expression neutral. Jessa shook her head.
“That’s enough, Isolde. ”
“Stay out of this, Jessa,” Isolde snapped. “You had your chance with Raylan and you picked someone else. I’m here to remind him of what he actually wants.
”
Raylan’s voice was cool. “Isolde, I think you’ve had too much wine. ”
“I haven’t had nearly enough,” she retorted. Before anyone could react, she grabbed his face and kissed him.
Moira’s body went still as stone. Her wolf stirred, a low growl rising from her chest. The Fiona heat flashed through her blood. For a moment, she saw red.
Raylan shoved Isolde back, his eyes blazing. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? ”
Isolde smiled slowly. “Proving a point.
”
“You’ve proved nothing,” Jessa said sharply, stepping forward. “Whatever you think between you and Raylan is over. It’s been over for years. ”
Isolde’s smile sharpened.
“Men always come back to their first loves, Jessa. It’s only a matter of time before Raylan comes back to me. ” She turned to Moira, her voice dropping. “You see, he’s never truly moved on.
I wonder how long he’ll keep up this little performance with you. ”
Moira’s hands curled into fists at her sides. Her control was slipping. “I’m tired,” she said, her voice tight.
“I’m going to retire for the evening. ” She walked away before anyone could stop her. Raylan caught up with her in the hallway. “Moira, wait.
” He grabbed her arm. She yanked back. “Don’t touch me. ” Her voice was raw.
“She kissed me,” he said. “I didn’t kiss her back. ”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “She’s right.
”
Raylan stared at her. “Right about what? ”
“That you’re still in love with her,” Moira said, her voice cracking. “That you’ll never love me the way you loved her.
That this whole time, I’ve just been your second choice. ”
“That’s not true. ” His jaw tightened. “Moira, that’s not true.
”
“Then what is it? ” she demanded. “Because I need to hear it, Raylan. I need to hear why you married me.
”
He opened his mouth, closed it, and looked away. “I can’t,” he said finally. “Then we have nothing more to say to each other. ” She turned and walked away, not letting him see the tears that had started falling down her cheeks.
She ran into Jessa in the hallway, who caught her by the shoulders. “Are you all right? ”
“I need your help,” Moira said, her voice breaking. “I need to know if Raylan is still in love with Isolde.
”
Jessa’s expression shifted. “Isolde is an opportunist, Moira. She’s always been jealous of Raylan’s position, of his power. ”
“But was she his mate?
”
Jessa hesitated. “She was my mate,” she said. “Once. ”
Moira blinked.
“Wait, what? ”
“Isolde chose Jonan’s brother, Raylan’s younger brother, over me years ago,” the realization hit slowly. “I thought you said she supported me? ”
“She does,” Jessa said.
“She always has. But that doesn’t mean she’s not also a jealous, manipulative woman. ” She paused. “It’s complicated, Moira.
Just promise me you won’t let her get into your head. ”
“I promise,” Moira lied. The next morning, she went to Raylan’s private chambers. She found the door slightly ajar.
She pushed it open and stopped cold. Isolde was standing over the bed, leaning down toward Raylan’s sleeping form. A vial was in her hand. “What are you doing?
” Moira’s voice cracked through the air. Isolde spun around, the vial slipping from her fingers and shattering on the floor. “Moira! I was just checking on him.
”
“Bullshit,” Moira said, her fury rising. “You were doing something to him. Tell me what was in that vial. ”
Isolde’s expression shifted.
“It’s just a healing tonic. I brought it for Raylan. ”
“You were pouring it into his mouth like water,” Moira said, stepping closer. “Don’t lie to me.
”
Isolde’s eyes flicked to the shattered glass. “I was helping him. ”
“You were poisoning him! ” Moira’s voice was shaking now.
“Raylan! ” She rushed to the bed, shaking him. “Raylan, wake up! Raylan!
”
Raylan stirred weakly, his eyes fluttering open. “Moira? What’s going on? ”
Isolde took a step back.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just got here. ”
Moira spun around, pointing at the empty vial on the floor. “That’s what I’m talking about!
You were trying to kill him! ”
Isolde’s face went pale. “That’s ridiculous. ”
The door opened again.
Jonan stood in the doorway, taking in the scene. “What’s happening? ”
“Isolde drugged him,” Moira said, her voice turning cold. “She was trying to kill Raylan.
”
Jonan’s eyes went dark. “Is this true? ”
Isolde’s composure cracked. “I didn’t know what it was!
I found it and brought it to him! ”
“You’re lying,” Moira said. “You planned this. ”
“No, I didn’t!
” Isolde’s voice was desperate now. “I don’t know what was in that vial! ”
Moira caught the faint scent on the air. Her wolf instincts flared.
A smell she recognized. “You’re lying,” she said again. “How do you know? ” Isolde demanded.
“Because I know what that spells is,” Moira said slowly. “It’s a poison that only the royal family of your kingdom knows how to make. ”
Isolde’s face went white. “How do you know that?
”
“Because your sister told me,” Moira said. “Your sister, who ‘fell ill’ on your wedding day, who was always conveniently sick whenever Jonan needed to be somewhere else. She told me everything, Isolde. ”
Jonan’s expression was hard as stone.
“Is this true? ”
Isolde’s face crumbled. “I didn’t want him to die! I just wanted to slow him down, to make him weak, to make you come back to me!
”
Jonan stared at her. “You tried to poison my brother? ”
“He took my place! ” Isolde screamed.
“He took everything from you! The kingdom, the crown, all of it! I just wanted to make you see that! ”
Jonan’s voice was ice.
“Guards! Arrest her. ”
“You can’t do this, Jonan! ” Isolde shouted as the guards moved in.
“You can’t do this to me after everything we had together! ”
“After you tried to kill my brother? ” Jonan shook his head. “Take her away.
”
“You can’t do this! ” Isolde screamed as the guards dragged her away. “Jonan, please! ”
Jonan stood staring after her, his shoulders slumped.
Moira watched him, then looked back at Raylan, who was barely conscious. She knelt beside the bed and took his hand. “I need you to stay awake, Raylan. Please.
”
Raylan’s eyes fluttered. “Did you save me? ”
“You’re going to be fine,” she said. “I need you to stay awake.
”
Jonan turned around. “Moira, I’m so sorry. I had no idea she would go this far. ”
“It’s okay,” she said quietly.
“We’re going to fix this. ”
The healer arrived and took over. Moira stepped back, her hands shaking. She looked at Jonan.
“You knew she was unstable. ”
Jonan’s jaw tightened. “I knew she was jealous. I never thought she would try to kill anyone.
”
“Well, she did,” Moira said. “And she almost succeeded. ”
Jonan swallowed. “What do we do now?
”
“We wait,” Moira said. “And we hope he pulls through. ”
The healers worked through the night. Over the next few days, Raylan slowly recovered.
Moira stayed by his side. She barely slept, barely ate. She refused to leave his bedside. “You don’t have to stay,” Raylan whispered one morning, his voice weak.
“Yes, I do,” she said. “You saved me. I’m not leaving you. ”
A week later, Raylan was well enough to sit up.
Moira was beside him, watching him carefully. “Are you comfortable? Do you need more pillows? Water?
”
“I’m fine,” he said, a faint smile touching his lips. “You’ve been taking care of me in this. ”
“Of course I have,” she said. “I’m your wife.
”
“In name only,” he said quietly. “That doesn’t matter,” she said. “You’re the father of my child. I’m going to take care of you.
”
Raylan’s eyes searched hers. “Why? ”
“Because you claimed this baby,” she said, her voice gentle. “Because you stood up for me when I needed it most.
Because you’re a good man. ” She paused. “Because I care about you. ”
Raylan’s throat worked.
“I care about you, too. ”
The moment stretched between them. Moira felt the pull, that familiar, impossible pull. She pushed it aside.
“I should let you rest. ”
She turned to leave, but his hand caught her wrist. “Stay. ”
She looked back.
His eyes were earnest. “Please. ”
She hesitated, then sat back down. She took his hand.
“Okay. ”
Months passed. Raylan’s health recovered fully. Life settled into a routine.
He was kind, attentive, always near her, always watching her. She let herself lean into the warmth of his presence. The baby—their son—was born in the late autumn. He was perfect.
Dark hair, hazel eyes. Raylan held him with an expression of fierce wonder. “Hello, little one,” he whispered. “You’re going to be a king someday.
”
Moira watched them, and her heart ached with a feeling she refused to call love. One evening, she found Raylan standing on the balcony, looking out at the gardens. She joined him. “What are you thinking about?
”
“The future,” he said. “Our son’s future. ”
“He’s going to be loved,” she said. “That’s all that matters.
”
Raylan turned to her. “Do you ever think about what it would have been like if things were different? ”
She swallowed. “Every day.
”
“I used to think about you,” he said quietly. “Before you married Jonan. I used to wonder what it would be like to have a chance with you. ”
“I used to wonder about you, too,” she admitted.
“But I was engaged to your brother. ”
“I know,” he said. “I know I shouldn’t have asked you to marry me. I know it wasn’t fair.
”
“It wasn’t fair,” she agreed. “But I made that choice. I chose you. ”
A long silence stretched between them.
“Raylan,” she began, her voice barely a whisper, “do you feel it? ”
“Feel what? ”
“The bond,” she said. “The pull.
The thing that makes my wolf restless every time you’re near. ”
Raylan’s expression went still. “You feel it too? ”
“Since the first moment I met you,” she said.
“I thought it was just attraction. I thought everyone felt it. But it’s more than that, isn’t it? ”
Raylan’s eyes were bright.
“It’s the mate bond, Moira. ” His voice was thick. “I felt it the first time I saw you. Four years ago, at that diplomatic function.
”
“You never told me,” she said, her voice cracking. “You ran,” he said simply. “You avoided me. You accepted Jonan’s proposal without looking back.
What was I supposed to do? ” He pulled her close, his forehead against hers. “It shattered me, watching you plan a wedding to him. So, when he didn’t show up at the altar, I saw my chance.
”
She let out a shaky breath. “You made me fall in love with you,” she said. “You made me choose you. ”
“I love you, Moira,” he said.
“I’ve loved you for four years. I’ll love you for the rest of my life. ”
Her heart pounded. “I love you, too,” she said.
“I chose you, and I’ll keep choosing you. ”
He kissed her, deep and long, and in that moment, she knew she’d found her home. Sarah did walk down the aisle. Raylan was his brother’s best man.
Jonan looked at her with genuine admiration, no trace of resentment. When asked, “Who supports this couple? ”, Raylan stepped forward without hesitation. “I support them,” he said.
And the audience believed it. Moira watched Raylan’s feet as he went still. She swallowed. “Raylan?
”
His voice was low, barely audible. “Don’t lie to me, Moira. Please. ”
Her heart was racing.
“I wouldn’t. Jonan is…”
“Is what? ”
“He’s the father,” she repeated. She looked at him, her eyes meeting his.
“The night we were married, you said…”
“I said I would raise the child as mine,” she repeated. “Whether it was his or mine. ”
Raylan’s voice was clipped. “You’re lying.
I can feel it. ”
“Why would I lie? ”
“Because you’re protecting him,” Raylan said, his jaw tight. “Because you think I’ll do something drastic if I know the truth.
”
“I’m not protecting him,” Moira said. “I’m protecting you. ”
“From what? ”
“From the truth,” she said.
She took a deep breath. “We were together. On the night before my wedding to Jonan. ”
Raylan’s face drained.
“What? ”
“It was a mistake,” she said, her voice trembling. “I was upset about the wedding. I was scared.
And you were there, and you were kind, and I fell apart. I didn’t plan it. ”
Raylan’s hands were clenched at his sides. “You slept with me and didn’t tell me?
”
“I didn’t know it mattered,” she said. “I thought…” She shook her head. “I don’t know what I thought. ”
“You thought I wouldn’t want to know I have a child?
” Raylan’s voice was rising. “You thought I didn’t deserve the truth? ”
“You already had your own life,” she said. “You already had Isolde, and you were planning to have your own family with her.
I didn’t want to burden you. ”
“Burden me? ” Raylan laughed, a bitter sound. “You don’t get to decide what’s a burden for me.
”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have told you. ”
“Yes,” he agreed. “You should have.
”
The silence stretched between them, heavy and painful. Finally, Raylan spoke. “Is that why you married Jonan? Because you were hoping I would leave and he would take me back?
”
“No,” she said. “I married Jonan because I felt obligated. Because I owed him. Because I thought that was what I was supposed to do.
”
“So you ran from me,” Raylan said. “You ran from the truth. ”
“I ran from the fear,” she said. “The fear of what you would think of me, the fear of what I would feel if I stayed.
”
Raylan closed his eyes. “I have loved you for so long,” he said. “I have dreamt of you, of this child. For years.
”
Moira’s throat was tight. “Then why does it feel so hard now? ”
“Because love is hard when it’s built on secrets,” he said. He looked at her, his eyes raw.
“But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying. ”
He reached for her hand. “We’re going to get through this, Moira. I promise you.
”
One year later, morning in the palace gardens was quiet and honest. Moira sat on a stone bench beneath the old oak tree, watching her son grip her finger with determined seriousness. He was eight months old now, all chubby cheeks and fierce concentration. “He’s got a good grip,” Raylan said, crouching beside them.
“Future warrior, this one. ”
The baby squealed, and Moira’s chest tightened with a warm, happy ache. She had never imagined this. This ease.
This contentment. “Moira. ” She looked up. Jonan stood at the garden path, no longer carrying the wounded pride he had worn for months after she turned him down.
Just present. Part of their lives in a way that was careful, but genuine. “Jonan,” she said, her voice kind. He approached and knelt to the child’s level.
“Hello, nephew. ”
The word was clean, uncomplicated. Jonan accepting his place in the boy’s life—not as father, but as uncle—and being grateful just to be part of it. The baby reached for him immediately, and Jonan caught the small hand with surprising gentleness.
“He’s getting big,” Jonan said. “He’s eating constantly,” Moira said. “Takes after his father in that regard. ”
Raylan snorted.
“Our son has excellent taste. ”
Jonan looked up at his brother. Something passed between them. Acknowledgement, respect, the particular understanding of men who had fought over the same woman and come out the other side as family.
“Your Majesty,” Jonan said. Raylan extended his hand. “Brother. ”
They shook hands firmly, a gesture of peace that had taken months to build but now felt solid.
Later, Raylan moved behind Moira, his hands settling at her waist with familiar gentleness. “You’re quiet today,” he murmured. She placed her hand over his. “I’m tired.
”
His grip tightened immediately. “Do I need to call the healer? ”
“Raylan, I’m not sick,” she laughed. Then she paused.
“But I am pregnant. ”
“Again? ” For a moment, Raylan looked stunned. Then his expression broke into pure, unguarded joy.
“Moira,” he breathed, pulling her close. Their son squealed between them, apparently objecting to being squished. Raylan pulled back with a laugh and lifted the baby into his arms. “You’re going to be a big brother.
”
The baby grabbed his father’s nose and shrieked. Moira watched them, her family, and felt the quiet triumph of a life she never thought she’d be allowed to have. This wasn’t duty. This wasn’t arranged for politics.
This was choice. And, most importantly, love.
