Chapter 5

MIRA'S POV

I couldn't answer Finn's question. My throat burned and my body shook uncontrollably.

Mara dropped to her knees beside me, her hands gripping my shoulders. "Mira, look at me. Look at me right now."

I tried. I really did but my vision was swimming with dark spots dancing at the edges.

"She's going to pass out," Elara said, her voice sharp with panic. "Finn, carry her to the infirmary. Now."

Finn's arms wrapped around me, lifting me off the cold floor. I wanted to tell him I was fine. That they didn't need to fuss but my body had other plans.

And the world went dark.

When I woke up, I was in the infirmary.

The familiar smell of dried herbs and antiseptic filled my nose. I was lying on one of the narrow cots, a thin blanket pulled up to my chin.

Elara was sitting beside me, her face etched with worry.

"You're awake," she breathed relief flooding her face "Thank the Moon Goddess."

I tried to sit up but she pushed me back down gently.

"Don't move. You need to rest."

"What happened?" My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.

"You collapsed," Mara said, stepping into my line of sight. She looked pale, the goofy smile on her face gone."Finn carried you here. You've been out for hours."

Hours. I'd lost hours.

Finn stood by the door, arms crossed, his face unreadable. "Elara checked you over. She said you were dehydrated and malnourished. You haven't been eating."

"I wasn't hungry," I mumbled.

"Says the one who is malnourished," Mara shot back.

Elara placed a gentle hand on my arm. "Mira, there's something else. Something I need to tell you."

Something in her tone made my stomach clench. "What?"

She exchanged a look with Mara and Finn. A look I didn't like.

"Elara," I said, my voice trembling. "What is it?"

Elara took a deep breath. "When you collapsed, I ran some tests. Standard procedure for anyone who's been as sick as you have. I needed to make sure there wasn't something seriously wrong."

"Ok And?" I pressed.

She hesitated then she reached for my hand and squeezed it gently.

"Mira, you're pregnant."

The words hung in the air and I waited for them to break character and start laughing but they didn't.

Elara won't joke like this .

"What?"

"You're pregnant," Elara repeated softly. "About six weeks along, from what I can tell."

"No." The word came out before I could stop it. "No, that's not possible. I can't be…."

"I'm sure, Mira. I've done this long enough to know."

"No, no, no." I shook my head, pulling my hand away from hers. "You're wrong. You have to be wrong. I can't be pregnant. I can't…"

"Mira…"

"I CAN'T BE PREGNANT!" I screamed, the words ripping out of me.

I scrambled backward on the bed pressing myself against the wall. My heart was pounding so hard I could barely breathe. My hands flew to my stomach, pressing against it like I could push the truth away.

"No, no, no, no, no.Why me? Why"

"Mira, please calm down," Elara said gently. "You're going to hurt yourself."

"Hurt myself?" I laughed, the sound hysterical. "I'm pregnant with his baby. With Kael's baby and you want me to calm down?"

The room went silent that you could hear a pin drop.

Mara's face went pale. "Kael's baby?"

I clapped my hands over my mouth. I hadn't meant to say that. I hadn't meant to tell anyone.

"Mira," Finn said slowly. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing," I said quickly. "I didn't say anything."

"You said Kael," Mara said, her voice sharp. "You said the baby is Kael's.The Alpha’s Son?"

"I didn't…..No no no"

"Mira." Finn stepped closer, his voice unusually gentle. "What's going on? What happened between you and Kael?"

I stared at them. My friends. The only people who had been there for me.

And I broke down

I told them everything.

The words tumbled out of me in a rush. Three years of secrets. Three years of stolen nights and three years of believing I was his mate.

"When I was seventeen," I started, my voice shaking. "Kael found me in the library late one night. I was hiding from the other servants because they'd been cruel to me. He just... sat with me. It was the first time we talked after my father's death.."

I paused, wiping at my eyes.

"After that, he kept coming back. He said I was special and he felt drawn to me.When we kissed for the first time, he told me I was his mate. His fated mate."

Mara's jaw dropped. "His fated mate? And he didn't tell anyone?"

"He said it had to be a secret," I continued. "His father wouldn't approve. I was wolfless. The Beta's fallen daughter. Not good enough for the Alpha's son. So we hid it. For three years, we hid it."

"Is that why you sneaked around all the time?" Finn asked softly. "All those nights?"

I nodded. "He'd climb through my window. He told me he loved me. That one day he'd tell everyone. That we'd be together."

Elara's face was filled with pain. "But he didn't."

"No." I shook my head. "He was suppose to tell his father on the night of his engagement that was what he promised me but instead……." My voice broke. I didn't need to complete it they already knew"And now I'm carrying his baby. What am I supposed to do?"

"You're going to tell him," Mara said firmly. "Right now."

"No." I shook my head frantically. "I can't. He'll think I'm trying to trap him. He'll think I'm using the baby to…."

"Mira, he needs to know."

"Please," I begged. "Please don't tell anyone. Not yet. I need time to figure this out."

"Mira—"

"Please. I'm begging you. Keep this between us. Just for now."

They all looked at each other before agreeing

"Okay," Elara said softly. "We won't say anything but you need to tell him eventually, Mira. He deserves to know."

I nodded, tears streaming down my face. "I know. I just... I can't right now. I can't face him. Not after everything.What if she takes my pup….what if…"

Finn pulled a chair close to the cot and sat down. "Shsssh it okay We're here for you. Whatever you decide to do."

Mara squeezed my hand. "Always."

Elara smiled gently. "You're not alone in this, Mira. You never were."

I looked at my friends, my heart aching with gratitude and grief.

"I don't know what I'd do without you."

That night, I lay in my bed in the servants' quarters staring at the ceiling.

My hand rested on my stomach.

There's a baby in there. His baby. His child.

I couldn't believe it “hey baby if you're listening, just know that mommy loves you and my love is enough for you ok? We don't need daddy we will be fine just on our own”

The next morning, I woke to the sound of shouting.

I sat up in bed, my heart racing. The voices were coming from the corridor. Loud. Angry.

"Mira! MIRA!"

I scrambled out of bed and opened the door.

Finn was there, his face pale. Behind him, Mara and Elara stood frozen.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"It's Kael," Finn said, his voice tight. "He's outside. He's demanding to see you."

My blood went cold. "What?"

"He found out you were sick and taken to the infirmary ," Mara said. "Someone must have told him."

"Or he's been watching you," Elara added quietly.

I shook my head. "I can't see him. I can't—please"

But it was too late.

"Let me through," I heard his voice. Angry. Desperate. "I said LET ME THROUGH!"

Mara grabbed my arm. "Come on. There's a back way out. You can hide in the—"

She didn't finish when the door to the servants' quarters burst open.

Kael stood there with wild eyes. Behind him, a group of warriors stood with expressions of shock and confusion.

"Mira."

I didn't move, I couldn't move.

"I need to talk to you," he said. "Alone."

"No," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Mira, please—"

"You need to leave," I said, louder this time. "You don't get to come here, not after everything."

"Mira—"

"I said LEAVE! Go back to your fiancee, the pack needs you, Your Highness" Then I turned and ran, not caring if he followed or not.

I didn't stop running until I reached my room. I slammed the door and locked it.

And then I slid down against it, crying so hard I couldn't breathe.