The mask slips

The next few days were unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

The entire pack revolved around Lily.

Every morning, the healer visited her.

Every afternoon, the cooks prepared special meals to satisfy whatever cravings she claimed to have.

Fresh berries, wild honey, fresh fish, and goat’s milk.

If she wanted something, someone fetched it. No one complained.

She was carrying the future Alpha and even I understood that.

One morning, I walked into the kitchens to thank the cooks for preparing breakfast.

Before I could speak, one of the younger maids rushed past me carrying a tray piled high with fruit.

“Be careful,” the head cook warned.

“Miss Lily has been sick all morning.”

The maid nodded frantically. “I’ll hurry.”

Everyone seemed eager to help.

I couldn’t fault them for it. Still…Watching the excitement surrounding Lily left an emptiness inside me that I couldn’t explain.

It wasn’t jealousy. At least, I didn’t think it was. It was grief.

Grief for the future I’d imagined. Grief for the child I’d dreamed of placing in Kael’s arms. Grief for the family that would never belong to me.

A week later, I decided to visit Lily myself.

Perhaps if I treated her kindly…If I reminded myself that none of this was truly her fault…The ache in my chest would lessen.

A servant knocked on her chamber door.

“Come in,” Lily called.

She looked pale as she sat near the window with a blanket draped over her knees.

The moment she saw me, she smiled warmly.

“Luna.” She smiled.

“I hope I’m not disturbing you.” I said softly.

“Not at all.” She motioned toward the chair opposite hers. “I’ve been so bored.”

I sat carefully. “How are you feeling?”

She placed a hand over her stomach.

“The healer says everything is progressing well.”

“I’m glad.” I cleared my throat.

“So am I.” She beamed.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then she looked at me with eyes full of guilt.

“I know this must be painful for you.”

I forced a small smile. “We both have responsibilities we didn’t choose.”

She lowered her gaze. “I never wanted to come between you and Alpha Kael.”

“I know.” I looked at her intensely.

“I only came because my family asked me to.” She acted like an innocent pigeon.

“I know.” I said again:

She looked genuinely relieved. “I’m grateful you understand.”

Maybe…Just maybe…I had judged her too quickly.

When I left her room that afternoon, I felt lighter than I had in days.

Perhaps we really could coexist.

Perhaps this arrangement didn’t have to destroy us.

That evening, Kael joined me for dinner.

He looked more relaxed than he had in weeks.

“You visited Lily.” He said between mouthfuls of food.

“I did.”

“How did it go?” He asked

“Better than I expected.” I shrugged.

He smiled. “I’m relieved.”

“So am I.”

He reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I know this isn’t the life either of us imagined.”

I smiled faintly. “I promised I’d stand beside you.”

“And you have.” He looked at me for a long moment. “I don’t deserve you.”

“Don’t say that.” I smiled shyly.

“It’s true.” His thumb brushed over my knuckles. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making this up to you.”

I laughed quietly. “You’d better.”

“I intend to.” He laughed loudly.

For the first time since Lily arrived…Dinner almost felt normal.

********

As the weeks passed, Lily’s pregnancy became the center of every conversation.

The elders stopped questioning Kael, the warriors seemed more confident, and the pack itself felt… hopeful.

Kael remained attentive to me.

He still ate every meal he could with me, he still walked beside me through the gardens in the evenings whenever his duties allowed.

But there was one change I couldn’t ignore.

Whenever someone called for him from Lily’s room…He left immediately with no hesitation or delay.

I understood why.

If anything happened to the baby…Everything we’d sacrificed would have been for nothing.

Still…Each time I watched him disappear down that hallway…A tiny crack formed inside my heart.

Not because he loved me less, but because another person now needed him in ways I never could.

**********

I suddenly became restless all day. My wolf was becoming increasingly agitated, and by evening i knew my heat has arrived. I tries to endure it alone, but every instinct calls for my mate.

I finds Kael just as he was leaving for a council meeting.

“Kael…” I called out to him.

He immediately notices something is wrong, and stops walking immediately.

“ What’s wrong? You’re pale.” He said, feeling my temperature.

I grip his arm, trying to steady myself.

“ It’s started.” I whispered.

His expression softens instantly.

“ Your heat?” He asked.

I nod, a bit embarrassed. “I… I need you.”

He brushes a hand against my cheek, concern evident in his eye.

“Let’s get you back to our room.”

For a brief moment, I think everything will be okay.

Before we can leave, a servant rushes into the hallway

“Alpha!”

Kael turns. “What is it?”

The servant bows. “Miss Lily has been vomiting since this afternoon. The healer says she’s extremely weak and keeps asking for you.”

I immediately sees the conflict on his face. He looks at me, then toward Lily’s chambers, then back at me.

He gently cups her face. “I’m so sorry.”

I already knew what was coming.

“No…”

He closes his eyes briefly. “The healer says stress could harm the pup.”

Tears sting my eyes. “I’m your mate. My wolf needs you.”

“I know.” He says, looking a bit confused.

“Then stay.” I pleaded.

His voice breaks. “I’ll come as soon as Lily settles down.”

I shake my head. “That’s not how heat works. I could get sick.”

“I know.” He cups my face again . Every answer is the same.

Yet he still takes a step backward.

“I have to make sure they’re both safe.”

My heart drops. “So… she needs you more.”

He doesn’t answer, and he doesn’t deny it either.

That silence hurts more than any words.

He whispers one last apology before turning away.

I watches him walk toward Lily’s room, and notice he never looked back.

I run into our chamber and locks myself inside the room.

My wolf whined constantly, distressed that my mate is absent.

I curls beneath blankets, trying to distract herself. I cry myself to sleep, wondering when I had stopped being Kael’s first choice.

By morning, I am exhausted.

When Kael comes to check on me, he still has that guilty look.

He apologizes repeatedly, but I smile weakly and say that I am fine, even though I wasn’t

A few days later, i bring soup to Lily as a gesture of goodwill.

The servants leave the room, and the door closes.

Lily’s warm smile disappears. She sets the bowl aside without touching it.

“You really thought he’d choose you over his child?” She asks scornfully.

I froze. “What?”

Lily leans back comfortably. “You begged him, didn’t you?”

“I knew he wouldn’t come.” small smile curls on Lily’s lips. “He’s going to be a father.”

She places a hand on her stomach.

“I’m giving him something you never could.”

I stare at her and realizes that the sweet, timid omega is gone.

Standing before me is someone entirely different.

Before I can respond, footsteps echo outside. Instantly, Lily’s eyes fill with tears.

Her shoulders slump, and her voice becomes soft again.

“Luna… I hope you don’t hate me.”

Kael enters just in time to see the frightened expression on Lily’s face.

He walks straight to the bed.

“Is everything alright?” He asks.

Lily smiles weakly. “Yes, Alpha.”

She glances toward the Luna.

“The Luna was just checking on me.”

Kael smiles gratefully at me. “Thank you.”

I simply nod, and say nothing because who would believe me?