five

Chapter five 

The terrified whisper had barely left my lips before screams erupted throughout the banquet hall.

"She's bleeding!"

"Call the pack doctor!"

The world spun violently around me as darkness closed over my vision, and the last thing I felt before everything disappeared.

"Someone call the pack doctor!"

The guard shout echoed through the banquet hall, instantly replacing the whispers with frightened voices.

Guests hurried away to clear a path while several elders stood so quickly that their chairs scraped loudly against the floor. The musicians stopped playing, servants rushed toward the entrance, and panic spread through the room far faster than the rumors that had condemned me only minutes earlier.

I could barely hear any of it.

My hand remained pressed against my stomach while tears blurred everything around me.

"Please," I whispered through trembling lips. "Please don't leave me."

Another wave of pain stole the strength from my legs.

The guard could no longer support my weight alone, and I felt myself slipping despite his desperate attempt to keep me upright.

That was when I heard someone call my name.

"Valerie!" It was Darius.

His voice sounded closer than before, filled with urgency that had been completely absent only moments earlier.

Strong arms caught me before I reached the floor.

I slowly lifted my eyes until they met him.

For the first time since Selena returned, I saw anger written clearly across his face.

His hands shook as they held me.

"Stay with me."

His voice sounded strained.

"Look at me."

I wanted to tell him everything.

I wanted to tell him that I had never stolen Selena's necklace.

I wanted to tell him that I had spent the entire morning trying to surprise him.

Most of all, I wanted to tell him that the child we had prayed for for three long years was slipping away because my heart had finally reached its limit.

I parted my lips, but the words refused to come.

The only thing I managed to whisper was barely loud enough for anyone to hear.

"Our child..."

Darius leaned closer.

"What did you say?"

Before I could answer, several healers hurried toward us carrying medical supplies.

"Move back."

"Give her room."

"Carefully."

Everything became dark, and i could feel Darius squeezing my hand. 

When I opened my eyes again, the familiar scent of medicinal herbs surrounded me.

My breathing caught inside my throat as my trembling hand immediately moved to my stomach.

A single question filled my mind before I even realized I was speaking aloud.

"My baby... is my baby still alive?"

The words escaped my lips in a frightened whisper.

The door opened almost immediately.

An elderly doctor hurried inside carrying a tray of medicine before his worried expression softened after seeing that I was awake.

"Luna, you've finally regained consciousness."

I looked at him with desperate eyes.

"My child."

He quickly walked to my bedside before checking my pulse and examining me carefully.

"You need to remain calm."

His attempt to reassure me only increased my fear.

I grabbed his sleeve before he could continue.

"Please don't hide anything from me. Tell me whether my baby is alive."

He gently covered my hand with his own before offering me a comforting smile.

"Your pup is alive."

The breath caught inside my chest escaped all at once.

Tears flooded my eyes before I could stop them.

I lowered my head and cried quietly, thanking the Moon Goddess over and over again because nothing else mattered as long as my child was still with me.

The doctor patiently waited until I became calm enough to listen.

"The bleeding has stopped, but your pregnancy has become extremely fragile because your body experienced severe emotional shock. We managed to stabilize both you and the pup, yet you must understand that this pregnancy can no longer withstand unnecessary stress."

I slowly nodded while gently rubbing my stomach.

"I'll be careful."

He looked at me with unusual seriousness.

"I need you to promise me something, Luna."

I raised my eyes to meet him.

"You must avoid emotional distress at all costs. Your wolf is already exhausted from protecting the child, and another incident like yesterday could place both of your lives in danger. The medicine will strengthen your body, but no medicine in this world can protect your baby from a heart that is constantly breaking."

His words pierced me more deeply than he probably intended, I made up my mind to protect my pup and forget Darius.

"I understand."

"No arguments, no crying, no unnecessary worries, and absolutely no situations that will upset you. Your child needs peace more than anything else."

"I promise."

He smiled with satisfaction before handing me a small cup containing a bitter herbal medicine.

"Drink this slowly, then try to rest."

After making sure I had finished every drop, he quietly left the room.

Silence filled the hospital once again.

I leaned against the pillow and carefully rested both hands over my stomach.

"I'm sorry."

Lily's weak voice echoed inside my mind.

"It wasn't your fault."

"I should have protected our pup better."

"You did everything you could."

Before either of us could say another word, muffled voices drifted into the room from the corridor outside.

"I heard Alpha Darius stayed beside Miss Selena until dawn."

"He never left her room."

"Well, she blamed herself for what happened to Luna."

"I heard she cried all night because she felt guilty."

"The Alpha kept comforting her and told her none of this was her fault."

"I've never seen him so gentle with anyone."

My fingers slowly tightened around the blanket covering my legs.

Another voice joined the conversation.

"Miss Selena even told the elders not to press charges against Luna."

"She's far too kind."

"Anyone else would have demanded punishment after having such an expensive necklace stolen."

"The Alpha is lucky to have someone like her around."

The voices gradually faded as they walked farther down the corridor.

I closed my eyes.

A soft knock broke the silence.

Before I could answer, the hospital room door opened.

Darius walked inside.

Selena followed one step behind him, carrying a basket filled with fresh fruit and flowers. Her expression was gentle, almost guilty, as though she truly felt sorry for everything that had happened.

"I'm glad you're awake," she said quietly.

I looked at her without replying.

Darius stood beside the bed with his usual calm expression, his hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers. If I had not known him for years, I would never have guessed that I had collapsed in his arms only hours earlier.

"The doctor said you're recovering well," he said.

"I'll live."

A brief silence settled between us.

Neither of us knew where to begin anymore.

I lowered my eyes to my stomach before gathering every ounce of courage I had left.

"I want a divorce."

The words were quiet, but they echoed through the room.

Selena's eyes widened.

Darius's expression hardened almost immediately.

"No."

I slowly looked up at him.

"No?"

"I'm not divorcing you."

His answer came without hesitation, as though the possibility had never even existed.

"I've made my decision."

"So have I."

He folded his arms across his chest.

"You're emotional because of everything that happened yesterday. You're letting jealousy cloud your judgment."

A bitter smile touched my lips.

"Jealousy?"

"You've never behaved like this before Selena returned."

He spoke as though he were explaining something obvious.

"You embarrassed yourself at the banquet because you allowed your emotions to control you. I'm willing to overlook that because I know this situation has been difficult for you."

My heart felt strangely empty.

"So that's what you think happened?"

"What else am I supposed to think?"

I laughed softly, although there wasn't the slightest trace of happiness in it.

"I asked for a divorce because I don't think we have a marriage anymore."

"You are my mate."

His voice became firmer.

"You are the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, and that isn't going to change simply because you're upset."

"I'm not upset, Darius."

I looked directly into his eyes.

"I'm tired."

For the first time since he entered the room, uncertainty flickered across his face.

Before he could speak again, Selena stepped forward.

"Darius..."

She looked at me with practiced sympathy.

"Please don't argue because of me. I never wanted to come between the two of you."

I almost admired how convincing she sounded.

Darius gently shook his head.

"This isn't your fault."

He turned back to me.

"I care about this pack more than anything else."

His words were steady and absolute.

"I'm responsible for thousands of wolves. I won't allow gossip or personal emotions to weaken the Blood Moon Pack. A divorce between the Alpha and Luna would create instability, encourage rival packs, and make the council question our leadership. That isn't happening."

For a moment, I simply stared at him.

He hadn't said he wanted to save our marriage.

He hadn't said he loved me.

He hadn't even said he wanted me.

He only cared about protecting the pack.

Our marriage had become nothing more than another political responsibility.

"You don't want me," I whispered.

"You want the position I hold."

His jaw tightened.

"I want what's best for the Blood Moon Pack."

The answer hurt more than if he had rejected me outright.

He continued as though the matter had already been settled.

"When you're discharged, you'll return home."

I remained silent.

"You'll apologize to Selena."

My fingers tightened around the blanket.

"What?"

"She convinced the elders not to press charges against you."

I looked at Selena.

She lowered her eyes with false humility.

"I didn't want anyone to punish you, Valerie."

Darius nodded approvingly.

"She showed you mercy when she didn't have to."

"I should thank her?"

"Yes."

My breathing became slow and deliberate.

"I expect you to apologize sincerely and thank her for preventing this matter from becoming even worse."

He looked at me with the same authority he used during council meetings.

"And as for this divorce..."

His voice left no room for discussion.

"Forget it."

"I will not reject our mate bond."

"I will not sign any divorce papers."

"You are my wife, you are Luna, and this conversation is over."

He turned toward the door.

"Rest today."

"When the doctor discharges you, come home."

Without waiting for my reply, he walked out of the room.

Selena paused beside my bed for only a moment.

"I'm sure I'm going to have what is mine back," she said with a gentle smile that never reached her eyes