4: Burnt Face Luna

KYLA’S POV

THREE YEARS LATER

“I'm finally pregnant!” I whispered to myself. “I'm finally gonna give my husband the child he so desires.”

My trembling hands clutched the arms of the chair as I sat in the examination room of the pack hospital. The sterile smell of disinfectant stung my nose. My heart beat faster with every tick of the clock on the wall.

I dared not look up. Not with my overly dressed mother-in-law standing over me, watching my 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.

I kept my eyes glued to the floor. If I dared to meet Tabitha's cold gaze, I 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 I immediately understood why. He was sleeping with a young omega from the pack, and I could tell by the flushed look on his face that they had just 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."

I gasped as my hand flew to my stomach. I had been so sure this time. So certain that I had a pup inside me.

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

But once again, fate had betrayed me.

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

The sound of the slap echoed off the wall as my head whipped to the side. Fire stung my cheek. I bit my 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!"

My throat closed. Tears pressed behind my eyes, but I held them back. I whispered, "I really thought I was pregnant this time around." My voice broke as shame flooded my body.

"Well you thought wrong," Tabitha spat.

My fingers twisted in my 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 go do your wifely duties!"

I shrank under her glare.

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

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

******

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

But I endured. I held my head up and went about my business.

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

Tabitha hovered behind me, 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.

I sighed. My wolf, Gemma, had been silent for over a year now. But I 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.

I continued to mash the potatoes, adding butter and garlic. The smell turned my stomach, and I gagged. My palm went flying to cover my mouth.

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

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

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

No tenderness. No romance. No love.

He only wanted an heir. That was all.

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

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

That night, I had sworn to myself: if by our fourth wedding anniversary he still didn't love me, I would leave. I had already healed his body years ago. I had kept my promise, so now I owed him nothing more.