Chapter 17: Uneasy Alliance

The power that had surged through Mira suddenly ebbed like a retreating tide, leaving her swaying on her feet. She had felt this energy before—that night with Lucian when something had awakened within her—but never like this, never so raw and uncontrolled. The clearing spun around her, faces blurring together as exhaustion crashed over her like a physical blow. She had pushed too hard, let her emotions drive the power beyond what her pregnant body could handle.

"I can't—" she gasped, then darkness claimed her.

"Mira!" Lucian's voice cut through the sudden chaos as she collapsed.

He lunged forward, catching her before she could hit the ground, his arms cradling her unconscious form against his chest. Through their bond, he felt the echo of her exhaustion, the way the uncontrolled power surge had drained her completely.

"What happened to her?" Rowan demanded, rushing to their side, his protective instincts overriding everything else.

"She lost control," Lucian said, his voice tight with concern. "The power—she doesn't even know what it is, let alone how to control it. And with the pregnancy..."

"What power?" Rowan demanded, his silver eyes sharp with confusion and concern. "What are you talking about?"

Around them, both packs stirred uneasily, the strange atmosphere from moments before now replaced by urgent concern. Several wolves pressed closer, but Lucian's protective growl kept them at bay.

"The Luna blood awakened when we bonded," Lucian said tersely, his arms tightening protectively around Mira's unconscious form. "She's my true mate, but she has no training in controlling the power. Raw Luna magic without guidance—it's dangerous for her and the baby."

"She's been having episodes like this?" Elena asked, appearing at Rowan's shoulder with worry etched on her features.

"Not episodes like this," Rowan said slowly, pieces falling into place. "But I've noticed... moments when the air seems to change around her, when her emotions run high. I thought it was just..."

He trailed off, understanding dawning on his face.

The declaration hung in the air between them, a clear statement of claim that made Rowan's jaw tighten but also explained the intensity of Lucian's protective response.

"We need to get her inside," Rowan said, pushing aside his personal feelings in the face of Mira's need. "Now."

For a moment, the two Alphas locked eyes over Mira's unconscious form, years of pack rivalry and personal conflict warring with their shared concern for her wellbeing. Then Rowan nodded toward his cabin.

"This way. Elena has the most experience with difficult pregnancies."

They moved quickly through the camp, both packs parting before them. Elena led the way to Rowan's private dwelling, a comfortable cabin tucked among the pines. Inside, Lucian laid Mira gently on the bed, his hands reluctant to leave her.

"Her pulse is strong," Elena said, checking Mira's vital signs. "But her body is exhausted. The power drain combined with pregnancy..." She looked up at both Alphas. "She needs rest, but more than that, she needs to learn control before this happens again."

"Luna blood," Rowan said quietly, as if testing the words. "I've heard the old stories, but to see it..."

"The way every wolf in the clearing responded to her," Lucian said grimly. "That display of power will be felt for miles. The other Alphas who are already hunting for her will know exactly where to find her now."

Rowan's expression darkened with understanding. "Other Alphas are already hunting her?"

"Three packs, maybe more," Lucian confirmed. "Word of a rogue Luna spread quickly. They'll come for her. A pregnant Luna with awakened power—"

"Is the ultimate prize," Lucian finished. "Political strength, magical authority, the ability to unite territories under one rule."

A soft moan interrupted them. Mira's eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding her features as she tried to focus on the faces around her.

"What happened?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.

"You overextended yourself," Lucian said gently, moving to sit beside the bed. "The power you used—it drained you completely."

"Power?" Mira struggled to sit up, both Alphas moving to help her. Their hands briefly touched as they steadied her, the contact awkward but necessary. "You mean what happened in the clearing? The way everyone just... stopped?"

"That was Luna magic," Rowan said carefully. "Ancient bloodline power that awakened in you."

The revelation hit her like a physical blow. "That's impossible. Luna bloodlines are royal—they don't just abandon their children at pack borders."

"Unless they were trying to protect you," Lucian said gently. "Luna families often hid their daughters from those who would exploit their power. What you experienced today, what we all felt—that was your birthright."

Mira stared between them, processing this information. "And now every time I get emotional, this happens?"

"Until you learn control," Elena said from where she was preparing herbs. "The pregnancy makes it worse—your body is already under stress, and strong emotions can trigger the power involuntarily."

"We need to prepare," Lucian said, rising from the bed. "Defenses, allies, training for Mira—"

"We?" Rowan's eyebrow rose, though his tone was less hostile than before.

"She's my mate," Lucian said firmly. "My true mate, carrying my child. That makes her safety my responsibility, regardless of whatever exists between you and me."

Rowan studied him for a long moment, seeing something in Lucian's expression that made him reassess the situation. This wasn't just possessive instinct—this was genuine love and desperate concern.

"Then we work together," Rowan said slowly. "For her sake, and for the child's."

It wasn't friendship, wasn't even a true truce. But it was a beginning—two Alphas united by their shared need to protect the woman who had changed everything.

Outside, the first shadows of evening were falling, and with them came the scent of distant wolves on the wind. Mira's display of power would pinpoint her location for those already searching, drawing them like moths to flame.

The hunters were closing in, and neither Alpha was prepared for what was coming.