The Child She Claimed

The announcement came at dawn a weeks later.

I knew something was wrong the moment I heard the bells.

They weren’t the ceremonial chimes used for gatherings or celebrations. These were sharper, urgent—summoning the pack to the Alpha hall.

My chest tightened as I joined the others, a familiar dread curling low in my stomach.

Finn stood at the front of the hall, rigid and tense. Delilah was beside him, cloaked in soft white, one hand pressed delicately to her abdomen as if it belonged there.

The room fell silent.

Finn cleared his throat. “The Moon Goddess has blessed us.” My breath hitched.

Delilah lowered her head shyly, lashes damp, lips trembling into a fragile smile. “I’m with child.”

The world tilted.

Gasps rippled through the hall—shock, awe, loud congratulations. Wolves bowed their heads instinctively, joy flooding the space.

She is with Finn’s child? An heir? Finn’s heir?.

I stood frozen, the mate bond between us screaming in confusion and pain. He didn’t look at me—not when the words were spoken, not when the pack erupted into celebration.

Delilah leaned into him, and he let her.

“She’s been unwell,” Finn continued. “The pregnancy is fragile. From now on, her safety comes above all else.”

Above all else?. The words settled over me like a sentence.

Later, he summoned me. I hurried down there, because i had thousands of questions to ask.

But instead, i was escorted to her chambers by two guards, their expressions unreadable. Inside, Delilah sat near the window, bathed in pale sunlight, happiness etched into every line of her face.

“Congratulations,” I said quietly.

She smiled softly. “Thank you. I was hoping it was true.”

I kept my gaze steady. “You didn’t know? I knew something was wrong?” I said, hope creeping into my heart.

"What could be possibly wrong?" She smirk.

"This child isn't Finn’s? You know that, don't you? Why don't you tell him the truth?" I said, and she scoff. 

"Why don't you tell him yourself and see if he believes you over me?! The Moon Goddess may have chosen you but you can never replace me in his heart" 

Her fingers tightened briefly on the fabric of her dress. “I suspected your jealously. But after everything I’ve been through… I want to end whatever anger you have for me”

She studied me carefully, then said gently, “Finn has never looked happier.”

The lie slid easily from her tongue.

“I won’t harm your child,” I said. “No matter what you think of me.”

Her eyes darkened for a fraction of a second.

“Oh, I know,” she replied sweetly. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Then she leaned closer, lowering her voice. “But others might believe you would.”

My heart skipped.

“After all,” she continued softly, “what rejected mate wouldn’t want the obstacle gone?”

I stepped back as if struck. “That’s not—”

She pressed a hand to her stomach and sighed. “You should go. The smell of herbs makes me nauseous.”

Juat like that. Dismissed like a servant. I need to see Finn.

Finn had forbidden me from coming closer to his study room, but i couldn't possibly wait for him to me summmon me wherever he wishes.

On getting there, the study room was closed and the guards withheld me from going further. 

But when he finally came to my chamber, that same night, hope flared stupidly, and painfully.

But he didn’t sit. Not even a smile at me.

“You’ll continue preparing Delilah’s meals,” he said. “But you’ll no longer give her remedies without supervision.”

“Because you think I’d harm her,” I said.

His jaw tightened. “Because I won’t risk my child.”

The words i had planned telling him, died silently in my mind—unspoken, erased before they could come out.

“I am your mate for goodness sake Finn!” I yell,“The bond—”

“I know what the bond says,” he snapped. “But this—” He gestured sharply toward the hall. “This is reality.”

Reality?... 

I nodded, because if I didn’t, I would break.

Three nights later, Delilah screamed loudly.

The pack was thrown into chaos as other healers rushed to her chambers. I followed instinctively—only to be stopped at the door.

“She’s bleeding,” one of them whispered.

Time slowed.

Finn burst past me, fury and fear etched into his face. Moments later, a cry tore through the corridor—raw, broken, unbearable.

Then silence.

When Finn emerged, his face was carved from stone.

Delilah lay behind him, pale and trembling, tears streaking her cheeks.

“She lost the child,” he said hoarsely.

My knees buckled. Something is definitely not right?

Delilah turned her head weakly toward me, her eyes hollow.

“She poisoned my food,” she said in a weak, coarse voice.

The accusation fell like thunder.