Chapter 1: Talon's POV

Staring back at me from the mirror was the reflection of an anxiety-ridden face. I honestly couldn't remember the last time I had been this nervous.

Hell, even the nerves I had felt on the day of my marriage to my Willow hadn't been as wracking as this.

My stomach was in a knot as I paced the well-polished floors of my bedroom over and over in agony.

Was this it? Was I finally going to get the news I'd been dreaming of for so long? Was my willow going to come out here with the best news of my life? Of both our lives?

To the goddess, I really prayed so. We deserved nothing but good news at this point in our lives. We had tried for so long to not get this blessing now.

I chuckled as memories of our grand mating came flooding into my mind. It had been the happiest day of my life, the day I claimed Willow as mine, the day I became a mated Lycan ruler; whole and able-bodied to lead an entire territory of werewolves. I could still remember the whistling and celebration from the different pack members as Willow and I completed the mating ritual.

She was so beautiful, clad in a traditional garb that brought out those curves that made betas go crazy. I was one lucky werewolf to even be considered hers.

It had been a thing of tradition for our type to produce pups immediately after mating. Being werewolves, it was supposed to be an easy enough feat, even easier than an average human being.

That was not my case.

After the first two years of excuses from willow and I on how we weren't ready to produce a pup yet, my people was starting to get worried. And I honestly couldn't blame them, even though I was starting to get worried, after all, I needed an heir to secure my lineage. I needed an heir for peace to continue reigning in my territory.

It had started as one miscarriage after the other. We had tried everything we could, even the pack mage had cooked up potion after potion with promises of a child but all to no avail. I could tell Willow was losing hope and so was I, but I had to be strong for the both of us.

I was tossed back into real-time when the sound of the door clicking open brought me out of my musing. I looked up and there stood Willow with a blank look on her face.

She approached me slowly as if she was cautiously approaching a wild animal, afraid of startling it. I should have seen the tell-tale signs of distraught on her perfect features. The sudden change in her heartbeat should have been a sign to prepare me for the bad news.

I let out a low sigh as the very familiar feeling of anxiety swirled in the pit of my stomach –But no, I had to be hopeful. If not for myself, then for my mate.

"Well?" I croaked wearily. The anxiety-laced voice I heard didn't sound like mine but I could care less at this moment.

Willow took a moment before whimpering in a shaky voice, "I'm sorry Talon."

She shook her head erratically like that would suddenly change the current state she was in. "Talon I'm so sorry. I've done everything, sh-she said this would be it... I... I don't know why n-nothing is working... I c-can't..."

"Shhh, it's fine my love." I quickly strolled to her, pulling her into a warm embrace and stopping her rambling. "It's all right, we can always try another time." I tried to assure her, shoving down my own disappointment and despair to comfort my distressed wife. "It's all right my moon."

"But it's not all right Talon!" Willow sniffed, burying her face into my chest. "People are talking. I'm sure they're saying things about me… about us. Your people are getting worried and if I can't do this they'll-"

"Stop it." I chastised pulling her face closer to mine. I wiped away her tear-stained cheeks with my thumb and looked deep into her eyes.

"I will cut off the head of anyone that dares disrespect my mate and their queen. That I promise you!" I growled threateningly.

Willow had to understand that we were in this together, any insult hurled at her was an insult hurled at me. Nobody from my land would question my mate and go scot-free. I wasn't given the title of the Lycan King for nothing.

"But you need an heir... and I can't produce one for you," she cried.

"We'll deal with it. We'll work through this together." I assured, frustration clawing at my heart at her distress. I could tell Willow had perceived it with the way she was looking at me with doubt staining her feature.

"But how Talon? How are we supposed to produce a pup when I'm defective-?"

"Bite your tongue!" I growled. A look of shock on my mate's face at my sudden outburst.

How could she say that? Call herself defective.

For all we knew, the problem could be coming from me. I could be the main reason we were struggling to conceive a child –not hers! "Talon, listen to me... please listen to me," Willow whispered gently as she held my hands tightly. "We have to do this. You know deep down inside of you that we have to do it... we have to."

I looked away stubbornly, pulling my hands away from my mate's tight grip.

How could willow expect me to be okay with this?