Chapter 2 - Moonstone

Seraphine's POV

The pack doctor held the glowing moonstone before my eyes.

I hadn't believed him. It was simply too good to be true.

But now, looking at the transparent stone, pulsing with a bright light at the tip, it was all the confirmation I needed.

I hadn't been poisoned. I was pregnant.

The doctor's voice was soft, almost reverent.

"H-how..." My voice was thick with emotion. "How far along am I?"

"One week, Luna."

One week.

I pressed a trembling hand to my stomach, as if I could already feel the spark that had taken root the last time Fael had filled me with his seed.

That night had made a baby.

Two years ago today, Fael had carried me over the threshold of this house, the pack howling outside, the mating mark fresh and burning on my neck. I had worn white and my father had been pardoned of all he owed.

Two years, and I had spent every single day waiting for him to look at me the way an Alpha looks at his Luna. Instead he looked through me, past me, into the bodies of every she-wolf who could give him things I couldn't.

Until now.

This pup would change everything.

He would have to claim me publicly. He would have to crown me. He would have to wash the blood and tears from my skin after my heats, because the heir growing inside me would be his.

He would have to love me.

I closed my eyes and let the moonstone's glow paint the inside of my lids silver.

The doctor wrapped it carefully in velvet.

"You must tell him soon, Luna. An Alpha senses these things eventually."

I planned to.

I would walk into the pack hall tonight with every ranking wolf in attendance, and I would place Fael's palm over the place where his child slept. I would watch the shock turn to pride and devotion.

He would fall to his knees this time.

He would beg me to forgive him for the sake of our unborn little one.

And I would let him.

Because this pup was proof the Goddess had not abandoned me after all.

"Doctor Cuwan." I grinned so hard it almost hurt. "Don't tell anyone about this. Please, I... I want to surprise him."

He bowed.

My eyes widened for a fraction of a second.

No one here has ever bowed to me before today.

"As you command, Luna."

{THREE HOURS LATER}

Fael wasn't here yet.

There was some political squabble going on and the staff said he was still in talks with the other Alphas.

I was pacing around our bedroom, hand on my stomach.

The table had been set for our anniversary celebrations.

Candlelight. Wine, and food.

"Maybe I should go to him?"

I asked no one in particular.

"But he never likes me present during his meetings."

My wolf purred lightly. She was ecstatic and eager for our mate to hear the good news.

Enough waiting around, Seraphine.

If Fael wouldn't come to you, go to him.

"Excuse me," I waved to his Beta, Anton. "Is Fael in?"

He grumbled with a gruff snort.

"The Alpha is indisposed at the moment."

I held onto the basket of moon cakes I had baked and brought.

"He's been in there for quite a while. I brought some food for him."

Anton crossed his arms.

"The Alpha is well fed, and not hungry. Liora has made sure of that."

My eyes narrowed and I had to purse my lips together to avoid saying something that could get me punished.

"B-but Beta Anton, please, just let me in. It'll only be a minute."

He shook his head, standing firm.

I attempted to bypass him but no sooner had I tried when I found myself with my face flattened on the cold ground. The basket broke and the cakes I had so dutifully baked scattered across the ground.

"Anton!"

I screamed, pounding my small fist against the ground.

Don't cry in front of him, Seraphine, don't. Everyone knew Anton was a big meanie, especially to me.

"Scram, runt. Or I'll rid Fael of you, permanently."

Something in me was triggered and I found myself holding onto Anton's collar, yelling hysterically and trying to push him out of the way.

"I am your Luna! You will respect me!"

He laughed mockingly and I felt my eyes sting.

Still I didn't give up.

"Luna? More like a recipe for a complete disaster."

I didn't budge. I kept trying to push him away and he let me, until he had enough.

Anton flung me away from his collar like a ragdoll and my head collided against the wall.

Just as I was about to tumble to the ground again, the door opened, and in a quick blur, Fael stood behind me.

"Anton. What are you doing?"

His eyes were narrowed. Angry, even.

I felt a flutter of hope in my stomach.

"Disciplining the omega, cousin. She was doing too much, yelling, causing a scene and insisting on seeing you—"

"Enough."

Anton stayed silent, bowing without remorse, a snarky smirk still painted across his lips. But I didn't care. Fael had defended me, for the first time in forever. Maybe he could already sniff out our little one? His senses were sharp after all.

"Fael..."

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the corridor. Out of earshot or eyesight from the other wolves.

"What is it, Seraphine? You know I don't want you anywhere around the pack hall during political meetings."

I nodded and grabbed onto his shoulders.

"I know, I know... but, but it was an emergency."

His eyes lit up.

"Did... Did you finally..." His fingers crawled under my dress and found my folds. The light in his eyes receded.

"I still can't feel any slick."

I shook my head, rambling.

"No, that's, that's not it. You see, when you left I felt this... internal pain, and I assumed it was another involuntary shift, but then it felt different in a way. My stomach felt fuzzy, like water was flowing inside it, but around a huge stream... no that's not right. Like, the stream was blocked by a stone and I coughed up this gooey whitish—"

"You have three seconds to go straight to the point, Seraphine."

I inhaled deeply. Grabbing his palm, I placed it on my stomach.

"I'm pregnant with our pup, Fael."