The Unwanted Heir

Genevieve

Tessa stared at her reflection in the vanity mirror, her wolf Vala pacing in the back of her mind with a firm, unified stance. There was no pup growing in her womb. Neither of them wanted one. Bearing a child for a mate who was legally and biologically destined to reject them the moment his fated Goddess-Gifted mate appeared was psychological suicide. Why would any sane she-wolf incubate a pup, endure the grueling nine months of pregnancy, and forge a deep maternal bond, only to have her Alpha mate toss her out of the pack? Leaving her pups behind was not an option. Severing a mother-pup bond was a cruelty neither Tessa nor Vala would ever entertain. The pain would shatter their mind and break their wolf.

Maddox had made his snide comments over the years, testing the waters. Tessa would stare back at him, keeping her features blank, and state, "Maybe Aethelia doesn't want us to have a pup, Maddox."

He would bare his teeth, his jaw clenching as his tone dripped with frustration. "And maybe you're infertile."

Tessa hadn't taken offense. She just nodded at him. Following that specific argument, Maddox dragged them both to the pack clinic. They ran every blood test and ultrasound available. The results proved they were both healthy and capable of conceiving. Her womb was functional, ready to host a child. Maddox's sperm was strong and viable. It just wasn't meant to be, and Tessa thanked the Moon Goddess for that biological mercy. Her body was rejecting his seed out of pure self-preservation.

Yet, that didn't stop his relentless attempts to breed her. Just this morning, he had cornered her in their massive bed. The memory of it was still raw, a vivid imprint on her aching muscles. Maddox had shoved her onto her back, spreading her thighs wide and driving his hard, thick cock deep into her wet cunt. He didn't bother with gentle foreplay, letting their natural Alpha aggression take over as he pounded into her, skin slapping against skin in the quiet room. He fucked her with a primal rhythm, rutting hard against her until his climax hit him like a freight train.

As he emptied his hot semen deep into her vaginal canal, the base of his cock swelled. The bulbous knot expanded, stretching her tight opening until they were physically locked together. Maddox grunted, a deep rumble vibrating in his chest, and settled his heavy muscular weight over her. The knot throbbed inside her cunt, anchoring his cock deep in her womb. For him, being knotted to his mate was a primal comfort, a biological claim that made his wolf feel whole and satisfied. He liked the tight, binding sensation just as much as his beast did.

He rested his forearms on either side of her head, his chest heaving with exertion. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers. A rare, genuine smile touched his lips as he looked down at her, still knotted inside her body. "An heir would be nice, don't you think, Genevieve?" he murmured.

He hadn't brought up a pup in months. Hearing the soft, affectionate tone caught her off guard. For a fleeting second, he sounded like he actually cared about her. But the use of her full name snapped her back to reality. No one in the pack called her Genevieve. The wolves all called her Tessa or Luna. Only Maddox used her birth name. He did it as a calculated reminder to himself and to her that she was merely his Chosen Mate, a signed political contract, not a fated bond of love.

"I guess it would," Tessa answered smoothly. It was her standard, calculated response to his demands.

Years ago, she had dared to say the word 'no'. The rejection had triggered his Alpha beast, sending Maddox into a terrifying fit of rage. Because he didn't love her, she assumed he wouldn't care if she denied him a pup, but his fury had bled out into the entire pack. For over a week, he stomped through the packhouse, radiating hostility, barking harsh orders, and keeping every wolf on edge. The tension in the air had been suffocating. Since that week, Tessa learned how to placate him. She swallowed her defiance and fed him neutral answers. It was a small sacrifice to protect the Obsidian Moon pack from his volatile temper. The pack liked Maddox. They respected him as their Alpha, and Tessa refused to be the reason their home turned into a hostile environment.

Sometimes she wondered what the old threat of war with her home pack had really been about. She didn't remember the details, only that her father and Maddox had arranged this mating to stop an ironwolf force from crossing the borders. But she didn't want a trip down memory lane. She shook her head, clearing the thoughts, and left her suite.

Tessa made her way down to the packhouse dining room, the loud chatter and clinking of silverware washing over her. The aroma of roasted bacon and fresh coffee filled the large hall. She grabbed a plate, settling at her usual table. She offered warm smiles to the warriors and omegas eating their morning meals, feeling the comforting buzz of pack life.

A small boy with messy blond hair scrambled up onto the wooden chair beside her. He tugged eagerly on her sleeve. "Luna, mummy's going to have her baby today."

"Is she now?" Tessa smiled, her eyes softening as she looked down at the six-year-old.

"Yes," Toby nodded, swinging his little legs back and forth. "Daddy took her to the hospital just a minute ago."

"Are you excited to meet your little sister, Toby?" Tessa asked, reaching over to playfully ruffle his hair.

"Yes!" He beamed up at her. "Aunty Jess is watching me."

Right on cue, Tessa looked up to see Jessamine waddling toward their table. Jessamine was pregnant herself, her hands resting anxiously on her swollen belly. "Flora just went into labor, Luna," Jessamine said, her voice tight with worry as she reached them.

"I just heard. Toby is very excited," Tessa said, keeping her tone calm and steady. "How are you doing today, Jess?"

"Alright, but... will you be going to the hospital soon?" Jessamine shifted from foot to foot.

"Yes, right after breakfast," Tessa assured her, standing up to place a comforting hand on Jessamine's arm. "Everything will be fine with your sister. I haven't lost a pup yet, and I'm not about to start today."

Jessamine's shoulders dropped, a heavy wave of relief washing over her face at the Luna's medical confidence. Tessa's bond with the pack wasn't just an empty title; it was forged through blood, sweat, and late nights delivering their children, healing their wounds, and keeping their families safe.

Her medical duties kept her grounded, especially during the chaotic swings of her own biology. Six months ago, her heat had hit out of nowhere in the middle of the night. It was an unexpected cycle. Maddox had been away on pack business. The first night was pure agony. She locked herself in her suite, her body burning with a relentless fever, her cunt slick and aching for a mate to fill her, unable to sate the primal needs ravaging her system.

When the border guards informed Maddox of her condition, he rushed back in record time. The second he stepped through her bedroom door, Tessa lunged at him. She didn't wait for him to speak. She ripped his pants down, freeing his hard cock, and shoved him against the entryway wall. Her Alpha aggression flared, demanding immediate relief. She rode the hell out of him right there by the door, grinding her wet cunt down on his thick shaft with brutal force. Maddox didn't mind the ferocity. He reveled in it. For the duration of her heat, they had raw, relentless sex for hours every day and half the nights. It was rough, feral, and driven by their dominant bloodlines. There was no romance, just two Alpha wolves aggressively taking what they wanted from each other, fucking until their bodies were exhausted and bruised. It was unavoidable. Just a byproduct of their strong bloodlines clashing.

Finishing the last bite of her breakfast, Tessa cleared her plate and walked the familiar path to the pack hospital. The crisp morning air cleared her head. Once inside her private office, she swapped her casual clothes for her work uniform. Today, she pulled on a pair of soft blue scrubs covered in a cute pattern of hanging sloths.

When Tessa first arrived at the Obsidian Moon pack, the hospital staff wore rigid black scrubs. She had banned them immediately. The dark color felt cold, unwelcoming, and intimidating. Pups coming in for their first checkups used to cower away from the nurses and doctors, terrified of the grim figures leaning over them. Tessa mandated a permanent change. Now, the medical staff wore fun, bright patterns, swapping them out for different holidays and seasons. The simple shift worked wonders, helping the children relax and feel comfortable during their treatments. The only exception was the standard mint green and white uniforms. Those were reserved strictly for mourning periods following rogue attacks or border wars, worn as a sign of respect when the wolves were grieving the loss of loved ones.

Tessa tied her hair back into a tight bun, adjusting the sloth scrubs in the mirror. She knew Maddox expected her to perform all her Luna duties without a single flaw, and she executed them with precision. He could never fault her work ethic. A few years ago, he had even offered a rare compliment, telling her she made a good Luna to his pack.

She remembered nodding and accepting his words, masking her survival instincts behind a polite smile. Compliments from him were few and far between. "I like the pack members," she had told him in return. "They're nice to me. I'll always do my best for them, Maddox."

And it was the honest truth. The Obsidian Moon pack treated her with a genuine warmth and respect she never received from her own birth family. Her home pack had viewed her as a political pawn, a bargaining chip to prevent a war. Here, despite her calculated survival tactics with her demanding mate, the people embraced her. They trusted her with their lives, their health, and their pups. As Tessa grabbed her stethoscope and headed out the door to check on Flora's labor, her heart felt steady. She didn't need Maddox's love, and she certainly didn't want his child, but she would move mountains to protect this community. They were her true pack now.