GWEN “This fight will not be like the training you have done before,” Lucas said, his voice carrying a tone that demanded my full attention. “You must remember at all times that you are not only fighting for yourself. You are fighting while carrying a child, and that means your style must be different. You cannot go into this thinking about attack first. You must stay on defence, control the pace of the fight, and watch for the right moment to strike. If you risk too much and leave yourself open, you will not only lose but you could harm your baby. Do you understand?”I nodded slowly, my hands resting lightly over my stomach. “I understand. I have been thinking about that since I accepted the challenge. I will be careful.”“Good,” he replied, stepping closer. “We will spend most of today on defensive manoeuvres and counterattacks. You have one day left. I need you to be sharp but also aware of your limits. The moment you feel something is wrong, you stop. Do not ignore your body.”“I
GWEN "Anaya."Raya and I looked at each other as soon as we heard the voice outside the door. Her tone was quiet, almost hesitant, but there was no mistaking who it belonged to. Raya raised one eyebrow at me as if asking whether she should open the door. I gave her a silent nod, and she moved toward it without another word.When the door opened, Anaya stood there, her hands clasped in front of her. She did not look as sharp or confident as usual. Her eyes flicked toward me and then shifted away for a brief moment before settling back on my face."Can I speak with you?" she asked, her voice low and careful.I looked at her for a moment before answering. "Yes. Come in."Raya turned toward me. "I will wait outside," she said softly, as if she understood this conversation was one I needed to have alone. Without waiting for a response, she stepped out and closed the door behind her.Anaya walked in slowly and stopped a few steps away from me. I could see she was struggling to find her wor
GWENThe healer’s question did not surprise me in the slightest. I had been expecting it from the moment I stepped inside her chamber, because news travels fast in every pack, but I had not really formed the answer in my mind before she asked me the question. I kept my eyes on her calm but searching expression and said in a firm tone, “I had no choice. If I refused, I would have been forced to endure challenges over and over again until the day I gave birth, maybe even after birth. This is not about pride. It is about ending it now so I can have some peace for myself and for my child. I cannot spend the rest of this pregnancy in fear or constant defense. I need to do this once and for all.”The healer did not respond right away. She continued arranging the small bowls of herbs on the table, then turned back to me and studied me carefully. “You are asking if you will be able to fight?” she said, almost as though she already knew my next words.“Yes,” I replied without hesitation. “I n
GWENThe moment the door clicked shut, I pushed back quickly, my body pressing against the door as if Conan might try to force it open. I could still hear the heavy sound of his breathing on the other side, deep and uneven, like he was fighting the urge to break in. My heart was racing, my body tense, but I kept my back to the door.I stayed there, silent, until the sound of his footsteps faded away. Only then did I let go of the push against the door. I pressed my palms against my thighs and exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself. My stomach felt tight, my chest heavy. I was scared, there was no point in denying it. But under that fear was something else,a stubborn and burning certainty that I had to do this.I was not going to let anyone humiliate me. Not in front of the pack. Not when my child’s future was at stake.I moved toward the bed and sat down, gripping the blanket in my hands. My mind kept going over the confrontation, the way the warrior’s voice had dripped with disdain w
GWEN The entire hall was still buzzing after the uproar from the warrior’s outburst. I stood stiff beside Conan, my hands clasped together so tightly my fingers hurt. My heart was beating fast, but my face remained calm. It was then that an old lady stepped forward and cleared her throat, her eyes scanning the room before settling on the female warrior.“It must be stated,” she began in a firm and steady voice, “that when a challenge is issued in the pack, not even the Alpha can interfere. It is a right that has been honoured for generations. The one being challenged has the final say in whether it proceeds or not.”My stomach tightened as the reality of those words sank in. Everyone’s eyes turned to me, and I could see the warrior who had just called me out standing tall, waiting. Her mouth was curved into something between a smirk and a glare, like she already believed she had won.I glanced at Conan. His jaw was set, and I could see the tension in his shoulders. I could also see s
GWENWhen Conan looked out at the gathered pack members, I knew he was about to speak. His voice was firm and commanding when he said, “We have an announcement.”The hall went completely silent, and I felt every eye on us. My stomach tightened as my thoughts raced, wondering how they would take the news. Conan’s expression stayed steady, his eyes scanning the crowd as though he was weighing each person’s reaction before even speaking. Then, in that same strong tone, he said, “Gwen is pregnant. There will finally be an heir to the Mystic Pack.”The words seemed to hang in the air for a moment. No one moved, no one spoke, and the silence made my skin feel icky. I tried to keep my breathing calm, but the stillness felt too heavy for me to handle. My mind told me that perhaps they were unhappy about it, that maybe they still did not want me or my baby here.Then I saw Rian, standing toward the left side of the hall at the far back. His hands came together in loud claps, breaking the tensi