The Forgotten Twin Princess Found Her True Pack Chapter 09

The Forgotten Twin Princess Found Her True Pack Chapter 09

When the next summer rolled around, I found out I was pregnant.

Morgan built me a swing himself, right next to the sycafnore tree below our window.

After tying off the last rope, he sat on it first to test it.

“Solid enough. Vanessa, your turn.”

He stood behind me and pushed the swing in slow, gentle arcs.

The evening breeze carried the scent of grass and flowers.

In that moment, something clicked into place.

So this is what happiness feels like. It really can be this simple.

From then on, I sat on that swing every evening for a while.

Killian started texting me regularly.

[Mom keeps sitting in your room staring at nothing. Can you call her? Just to make her feel better?]

[Leona’s not doing well. She keeps running back to Shadowmaw Pack.]

[Vanessa, are you ever coming home?]

I was reading that last message when a hand reached over my shoulder and plucked the phone away.

“Stop reading these. They’ll ruin your mood.”

Morgan handed me a glass of warm water. “Is the pup kicking again?”

I shook my head and looked down at the gentle swell of my belly, my heart full of quiet anticipation.

One day, Morgan came home to the pack house with two figures trailing behind him.

Our Luna mother’s back was more stooped than I remembered. Father had his hand on her arm, steadying

her. They both looked uneasy.

I shot to my feet.

Morgan’s mother hurried over to support me, then followed my gaze and spotted my parents immediately.

Her smile cooled slightly. After a brief, polite exchange, she and Morgan stepped away.

Mother wanted to come closer but shrank back.

She forced a smile, her voice a little hoarse. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have only taken care of Leona.”

“There’s something I never understood until now. The well-behaved child hurts just as much.”

Father’s lair had gone mostly white. He still didn’t say much.

After Mother finished, he added quietly, “Vanessa, I made you two new redwood chests.”

If this had been before, those words would have moved me deeply.

But now, strangely, I felt nothing at all.

“I know.”

Maybe my tone was too cold. Mother couldn’t hold back her tears.

My fingers twitched, but I couldn’t bring myself to comfort her.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do what Leona does, clinging to her arm, acting sweet and playful like it’s the

most natural thing in the world.

“Leona’s mate bond has been dissolved. We spoiled her too much growing up. Alpha Dean didn’t want a mate who’d never grow up.

Mother told me many things after that, including advice about pregnancy.

Before she left, she asked, “Vanessa, will you come home this year?”

I didn’t answer.

Mother turned away, deflated, and left with Father.

After they’d disappeared completely from sight, I turned my head and looked at Morgan.

“When did you go behind my back and contact them?”

He raised both hands. “I didn’t do a thing. They’re the ones who tracked me down.”

Then his expression shifted, turning serious. “But Vanessa, you’ll have to face them eventually. You can’t keep running from this forever.”

Lately I’d been getting more emotional about everything. That one sentence from Morgan made my eyes

sting.

I was about to throw myself into his arms when Morgan’s mother intercepted me.

“You can hug later. Come eat some cherries first.”

I caught the exasperated look on Morgan’s face and burst out laughing.

“I’m listening to Mom. Hugs can wait.”