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Elara woke up before the sun rose.

Her back hurt, and her stomach felt tight. She didn’t know if it was from sleeping on the thin straw mattress or… from the baby growing inside her.

She placed a hand on her belly. Still flat. No one would notice yet. Not for a few more weeks. Maybe longer, if she wore loose clothes.

She sat up slowly, careful not to make noise. The pack didn’t like lazy wolves. If she was late for chores, she wouldn’t get food.

Outside, the wind was cold. Elara wrapped her scarf tighter and walked toward the well to fetch water. Her steps were slow, her body tired, but she forced herself to keep moving.

No one could know.

If anyone found out she was pregnant,especially with an Alpha’s pup they’d question her. Who was the father? Why didn’t she tell? Did she sneak away during the Moon Festival?

And if the wrong wolf found out…

Her hands shook.

What if he found her?

The masked Alpha. The one from that night. The one who touched her like she was precious, only to disappear into the crowd before dawn.

What if he came to take the baby?

Or worse… force her to be his mate?

She shivered at the thought. Not because he was cruel. She didn’t know that. But because he was powerful. An Alpha. And she was just a servant omega with no family, no rank, no mate mark.

She had nothing. Except the small life growing inside her.

So she would keep it secret.

Hide it well.

She filled the buckets and carried them to the kitchens. Her arms ached, and her stomach turned from the smell of raw meat, but she kept her face still.

“Faster, Elara,” one of the older she-wolves snapped. “You’re moving like a snail.”

“Sorry,” she said quietly, bowing her head.

“Always sorry,” the woman muttered. “Useless girl.”

Elara didn’t answer. She just kept scrubbing pots, trying not to gag.

Later, while she was hanging laundry, she felt something sharp twist inside her. Not pain, exactly. Just… tightness. She stopped and held her breath, one hand pressing gently to her belly.

Still flat.

Still hidden.

“You okay?” a soft voice asked.

Elara turned. It was Mira, another low-rank omega. One of the few kind ones.

“I’m fine,” Elara said quickly. “Just tired.”

Mira looked at her, frowning a little. “You’ve been pale for days.”

“It’s nothing.”

Mira didn’t push. Just gave her a little smile. “If you need anything… I can help.”

Elara’s chest tightened. She nodded, too scared to speak.

That night, she didn’t eat dinner. Her stomach wouldn’t take it. Instead, she went to the river alone and sat on a rock, watching the water move under the moonlight.

She pressed her hands to her belly again.

“I’ll protect you,” she whispered. “I don’t know how yet. But I will.”

The wind blew gently through her hair. Somewhere far away, a wolf howled.

Elara hugged herself, small and quiet and hidden in the shadows.

She didn’t know how long she could keep the secret.

But she had to try.

Because if anyone found out, they might take the baby away.

And Elara knew that this child was the only thing truly hers.

That night, Elara had trouble sleeping.

She lay on her side, curled tightly on her thin mattress, surrounded by the quiet breathing of the other omega girls. The sleeping hut smelled of damp wood and old furs, but it was the only place she had.

She kept one hand on her belly under the blanket. It was still flat, but it felt different now. Warm. Like something was alive in there. And that thought made her both scared and… a little comforted.

Was she a bad person for not wanting the Alpha to find her?

Should she try to search for him?

No. She couldn’t. What if he didn’t want her? What if he was mated already? Or worse, what if he tried to claim the pup and leave her behind?

Tears touched the corners of her eyes again. She bit her lip and looked at the wooden ceiling.

"Please," she whispered softly, "let me keep my baby."

The next morning, one of the older omegas, Lena, pulled her aside.

“Elara. Come with me. The patrols brought back meat, and we’re skinning it now. You’re on blood-cleaning duty.”

Elara followed without complaint. But as soon as she stepped into the stone shed, the heavy smell of blood hit her like a wave.

Her stomach grumbled..

Before anyone noticed, she rushed behind the shed and bent over, throwing up what little tea she had in her belly.

“Elara?” Lena called.

“I’m okay!” she called back weakly. “Just dizzy from standing up too fast!”

She heard a scoff. “Don’t be soft. You’ve got work.”

Elara wiped her mouth with her sleeve again and stood up. Her legs shook.

She had to be more careful.

No more slipping away to be sick. No more crying in corners.

She washed her face in the stream before going back, hoping the cold water would hide her pale cheeks.

But by the end of the day, the whispers had started again.

“She’s always tired.”

“She’s not eating much.”

“She’s getting strange.”

“She looks like she’s hiding something.”

Elara heard it all. And she tried to stay calm. But every word felt like a dagger.

At night, when the camp was asleep, she crept out again and sat near the trees. The moon was full, and the forest was quiet. A few fireflies danced in the grass, glowing gently like stars on the ground.

She closed her eyes and let the night sounds calm her.

Then she heard footsteps behind her.

Her body stiffened.

She turned slowly.

It was Jasper.

One of the rogue guards. Young. Strong. And always watching everyone too closely.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked.

Elara stood quickly, hiding her hands behind her back. “I couldn’t sleep.”

He stepped closer, nose twitching.

“You smell different.”

Her heart stopped.

“No, I…. I just washed them with mint leaves,” she said quickly. “To cover the meat smell.”

Jasper narrowed his eyes. His gaze dropped to her belly. Her dress was loose, but his stare made her feel naked.

“Hmm.”

Elara stepped back. “I should go. I’ll get in trouble.”

“Too late,” he said, voice low. “You’re already in trouble.”

Her eyes widened in fear, but before she could answer, another voice called out from the distance.

“Jasper! Patrol change. Get over here.”

Jasper gave her one last long look, then walked away.

Elara’s knees almost gave out.

Back in her hut, she sat in the dark, hugging herself.

She had to do something. Soon.

The healer.

Maybe the old she-wolf would help her again.

Maybe she had something to hide the scent. Or slow the changes.

But sneaking out to the forest again was risky.

And the baby… would it be safe?

The next day, she begged Mira to switch chores. “Please. Can you take my washing turn? I need to go out. Just for an hour.”

Mira frowned. “Why?”

Elara couldn’t explain. She just grabbed Mira’s hand. “Please. I’ll do two of your chores tomorrow.”

Mira sighed. “Fine. But don’t get caught.”

Elara nodded and ran as soon as no one was watching.

She didn’t stop until she reached the healer’s hut deep in the woods.

The door creaked open like it had been waiting for her.

“You shouldn’t be here,” the healer said right away.

“I had to come.”

The old she-wolf studied her. “You’re showing, even if they don’t see it yet.”

“I need something,” Elara whispered. “To hide it. The smell. The signs.”

The healer shook her head. “You can only hide a storm for too long.”

“Please,” Elara begged, tears in her eyes. “They’ll take the baby. Or worse.”

Then the healer moved toward the back of the hut and returned with a small pouch.

“Drink this tea every morning. It won’t stop the pregnancy, but it will calm the scent. For a little while.”

Elara clutched the pouch. “Thank you.”

The healer grabbed her wrist before she could leave. “You can’t hide forever, Elara. When the truth comes out because it will, you'll need to be brave.”

Elara didn’t feel brave. She just felt tired. And scared.

But she nodded anyway.

Because for her baby, she would try.