Chapter 2

The needle pierced my neck.

"No—"

The wolfsbane was liquid fire in my veins.

Every drop of my blood burned. Every nerve screamed.

My vision blurred instantly.

My body started to convulse.

"This is what happens when you betray your Alpha," Kira said, pulling the empty syringe out. She admired my agony. "Enjoy it, bitch."

"Do you know why you went into labor today?" Her laughter echoed in the cellar. "The Alpha only wanted to slow your labor. But I wanted to end it. I added my own little surprise to your morning dew. I wanted him to see the real you. The conniving bitch who defies his every command!"

Her voice grew more frantic, but all I felt was a deeper despair.

So, the two people who were kindest to me during my pregnancy... it was all a lie.

"No one is coming to save you. Just die."

She turned and left.

Her footsteps faded away.

I collapsed on the cold floor.

The wolfsbane ravaged my body, destroying everything.

Including my child.

The curse runes were eating away at my wolf's spirit. I had no strength left.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my hand trembling on my belly. "Mommy couldn't protect you."

The baby was still kicking, but it was getting weaker.

He was fighting. He wanted to live.

"I want to live, too," I sobbed, tears tracing paths on my cheeks. "But nobody believes us."

Darkness crept in at the edges of my vision.

Just as I was about to give up, a tiny whimper echoed in my soul.

Not a sound in the room, but a feeling. My pup.

"Mommy..." his fading spirit cried out to me.

"Mommy's here." I gritted my teeth, using every last bit of my strength to crawl toward the feeling. "Don't be afraid. Mommy's coming."

Every inch was agony.

The wolfsbane was a thousand knives, flaying me from the inside out.

But I couldn't stop.

My child was calling for me.

"Mommy will never leave you. Never."

Again.

Footsteps from upstairs.

Hurried footsteps.

"Why does it smell like blood in here?" a young voice asked.

The lights flashed on.

"Goddess, Luna!" The voice was full of shock. "What are you doing here?"

I barely lifted my head.

It was Marcus, the pack's youngest warrior.

"Marcus," I held out a trembling hand. "Save my baby."

Marcus saw the blood covering me. "Who did this to you?" He snarled, his eyes blazing with fury. "Who dared?"

"Kira... she injected me with wolfsbane." Every word was like swallowing glass. "My baby is dying."

Marcus's face went white. "Wolfsbane? Dammit!"

He immediately closed his eyes to mind-link Alistair.

I watched his brow furrow, a final sliver of hope rising in my chest.

Maybe Alistair would believe Marcus.

Maybe he would save us.

Ten seconds.

Twenty.

Marcus opened his eyes, his face a mask of disbelief.

"What did he say?" I asked, my voice tight with nerves.

Marcus opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

"Tell me!" I was begging now. "What did Alistair say?"

"The Alpha... he said you're faking it." Marcus's voice trembled. "He told me not to fall for your tricks."

My heart shattered completely.

"He said you probably injected yourself. A small dose of wolfsbane, just enough to get sympathy."

Injected myself?

I didn't even have the strength to argue.

Is there any greater agony than this?

To have the man you love question your very soul?

I closed my eyes and let the tears fall.

I stopped hoping. I just waited for the footsteps to leave again.

But Marcus didn't leave.

"But I don't believe him." Marcus suddenly clenched his fist. "I can see you're innocent."

What?

"Your vitals are dropping fast. You can't fake this." He walked toward the cage's control mechanism. "I have to save you."

"Marcus, don't," I struggled to say. "You'll be in trouble. Defying an Alpha's order—"

"To hell with his orders," he snarled. "Saving an innocent life is more important!"

"You'll be banished from the pack."

"Then banish me!" he roared. "I won't stand by and watch you die!"

CRACK!

His fist slammed into the core runestone.

It fractured, but didn't break.

"Damn thing is solid!" Marcus swung again.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

His knuckles split open, painting the stone in his blood. But he didn't stop.

"Why are you doing this for me?" I asked.

"Because my mate was trapped by vampires when she went into labor," he choked out. "She died. If someone like me had been there for her, I wouldn't have lost her."

One last punch.

The runestone shattered. The silver light of the cage vanished.

The door swung open.

"Hang on, Luna," Marcus said, gently lifting me into his arms. "The pack hospital isn't far. You're going to be okay."

I faded in and out of consciousness in his arms.

The last thing I heard was a conversation in the pack hospital:

"Hurry! Prep an OR! The Luna's been poisoned, she needs moonpetal!"

"Healer, there is no moonpetal. The Alpha ordered it all sent to Lady Livia for her recovery."

"What? There isn't a single stalk left?"

"Not a single one."