4: Know Your Place

THREE YEARS LATER

'I'm finally pregnant!' Kyla whispered to herself. 'I'm finally gonna give my husband the child he so desires.'

Her trembling hands clutched the arms of the chair as she sat in the waiting room of the pack hospital. The sterile smell of disinfectant stung her nose. Her heart beat faster with every tick of the clock on the wall.

She dared not look up. Not with her overly dressed mother-in-law standing over her, watching her every move like a vulture circling its prey.

Tabitha's blond hair was twisted into a neat bun, not a single strand out of place. Her pale fingers toyed lazily with the off-white pearl necklace resting on her neck.

Kyla kept her eyes glued to the floor. If she dared to meet Tabitha's cold gaze, she knew the punishment would be severe.

The door to the exam room swung open and Dr. Brando entered with his coat wrinkled and faint lipstick stains smeared on the sleeve. His brown hair was messy, and Kyla immediately understood why. He was sleeping with a young omega from the pack, and she could tell by the flushed look on his face they had run into each other in the halls.

"Well?" Tabitha snapped, her sharp voice slicing through the silence. "Do you have the results or not, doctor? Or must I wait until the next blood eclipse?"

Dr. Brando's Adam's apple bobbed nervously as he held out the report. "Forgive me, Mistress, but... the test results show that Luna Kyla is not pregnant."

Kyla gasped as her hand flew to her stomach. She had been so sure this time. So certain that she had a pup inside her.

Her morning sickness had been unbearable. She had been weak and tired, plus she was falling asleep at odd hours of the day. Every symptom screamed pregnancy. She had prayed to the Moon Goddess with every fiber of her soul, begging to finally give her husband what he wanted most.

But once again, fate had betrayed her.

Tabitha's eyes darkened as her pupils got swallowed up by charcoal. Her wolf, Lilith, surged forward. With all her strength she struck Kyla across the face.

The sound of the slap echoed down the hall as Kyla's head whipped to the side. Fire stung her cheek. She bit her lip to keep the sob from escaping.

Dr. Brando flinched so hard he dropped the folder and papers scattered everywhere. He scrambled to collect them, but he didn't dare interfere. No one dared interfere when Tabitha lost her temper.

"You useless woman!" Tabitha hissed, her claws retracting. "Three years of marriage, and still no heir for Tormund. What a worthless woman you are!"

Kyla's throat closed. Tears pressed behind her eyes, but she held them back. She whispered, "I really thought I was pregnant this time around." Her voice broke as shame flooded her body.

"Well you thought wrong," Tabitha spat.

Kyla's fingers twisted in her lap. "Maybe... maybe it's not my fault. Tormund's health wasn't stable in the first year. And for the last two years he has only made love to me twice. So maybe—"

"Oh shut up!" Tabitha's roar shook the room. "Still making excuses? You claimed you could heal my son. Instead, you tricked your way into this marriage and now my son is childless! If it weren't for the fact that you are the daughter of Beta Albert, I would have cast you out long ago. Now get home and do your wifely duties!"

Kyla shrank under her glare.

Shortly after her marriage, Tabitha had shown her true colors. The mask of a refined Luna slipped away, revealing the cruel tyrant beneath. She belittled Kyla at every opportunity, whispered poison into her ear, and struck her whenever anger got the better of her.

Even now, two years after stepping down as Luna, Tabitha carried herself like royalty. And Kyla was just the burnt face Luna who was also a barren and unwanted by her husband. She was nothing but everybody's favorite target.

******

Kyla made her way back to the pack house in silence. The humiliation from the hospital was still fresh on her. Her footsteps echoed down the stone halls as whispers followed her. The barren Luna. The cursed mate. The shame of Moonveil. The ugly burnt face Luna.

But she endured. She held her head up and went about her business.

In the kitchen, she rolled up her sleeves and began preparing dinner. It was her duty to cook for her husband. The room smelled of herbs and roasted chicken. She moved quickly, slicing, stirring and tasting. She forced her hands to stay steady, even though they trembled inside.

Tabitha hovered behind her, cursing under her breath.

"Make sure when my son returns from his hunt, his food is hot and ready," she hissed. "A woman who cannot give heirs should at least learn to serve a plate properly. I'll leave you to it now."

Her perfume lingered like poison long after she was gone.

Kyla sighed. Her wolf, Gemma, had been silent for over a year now. But Kyla still tried reaching out to her every day.

'Gemma... I hope you can hear me. I miss you, girl. I'm so lonely without you.'

But as usual, there was no answer. Only silence.

Kyla continued to mashed the potatoes, adding butter and garlic. The smell turned her stomach, and she gagged. Her palm went flying to cover her mouth.

Her thoughts raced. Why was she still sick if she wasn't pregnant? Could the doctor have been wrong? Or was it something else?

She shook her head. No. She knew better. It would take a miracle for her to conceive. Tormund had only touched her twice and it was because he was drunk, plus lately he was even more distant than usual.

The last time they had sex was three weeks ago. He had stumbled home drunk, his eyes dark with lust when he saw her dancing in shorts while cleaning. Without a word, he had grabbed her, bent her over the kitchen sink, and taken her. Rough, fast, and uncaring.

No tenderness. No romance. No love.

He only wanted an heir. That was all.

And he only ever took her from behind. He never looked into her face. He said her scars disgusted him too much.

When it was over, she always felt sick, worthless and empty inside.

That night, she had sworn to herself: if by their fourth anniversary he still didn't love her, she would leave. She had already healed his body years ago. She had kept her promise, so now she owed him nothing more.