Chapter 3: The Claim

The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of Alpha Asher’s private quarters, casting golden light across the massive four-poster bed.

Luna woke slowly, disoriented and confused. For a moment she didn’t know where she was. The bed was too soft. The room was too warm. The scent in the air was too masculine. Too familiar. Too Alpha.

Then it all came rushing back.

The rejection ceremony. The running into the forest. The cold. The fear. Alpha Asher finding her. The pregnancy.

Luna sat up abruptly, clutching the fur blanket to her chest as if it could protect her from what was coming next. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the expensive furniture, the polished wooden floors, the fireplace that was still glowing with embers.

She was in Alpha Asher’s bedroom.

Luna’s heart pounded in her chest. What had she been thinking, allowing him to bring her here? What had she been thinking, falling asleep in his bed? What had she been thinking, trusting him?

She had to get out of here. Now.

Luna threw the blankets off and swung her legs over the side of the bed, but the moment her feet touched the cold floor, dizziness hit her like a wave. She grabbed the bedpost to steady herself, her stomach churning with morning sickness.

Four weeks pregnant. Carrying Alpha Asher’s child. Trapped in his room. With no way out.

The door opened before Luna could take another step.

Alpha Asher walked in, carrying a tray with steaming food and a cup of hot tea. He was dressed in a black fitted shirt that showed off his broad shoulders and dark pants that hugged his muscular frame. His dark hair was slightly damp, like he’d just showered. He looked powerful. Dangerous. Irresistible.

And completely out of Luna’s league.

Alpha Asher stopped when he saw Luna standing by the bed, pale and swaying on her feet. His gray eyes immediately darkened with concern. “Luna,” he said sharply, setting the tray down on the bedside table and crossing the room in three long strides. “You shouldn’t be standing. You’re still weak from the cold.”

Luna backed away until her back hit the bedpost. “Don’t touch me, Alpha,” she said quietly, though her voice trembled. “I’m leaving.”

Alpha Asher’s jaw clenched. “You’re not leaving,” he said firmly. “Not until the pack doctor checks you and the baby.”

Luna’s eyes widened. “The baby is fine,” she said quickly, defensively. “I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor.”

Alpha Asher’s eyes narrowed. “You collapsed in the snow last night, Luna. You were freezing to death. Don’t lie to me.”

Luna opened her mouth to argue, but the words died in her throat when Alpha Asher reached out and gently placed his hand on her forehead. His touch was warm and careful, like he was afraid he might break her.

“You have a fever,” Alpha Asher said quietly, his voice rough with concern. “You need rest. You need food. You need a doctor.”

Luna swallowed hard and stepped away from his touch. “I don’t need anything from you, Alpha,” she said quietly, though her voice shook. “Especially not your pity.”

Alpha Asher’s expression hardened. “It’s not pity, Luna,” he said quietly but firmly. “It’s responsibility. You’re carrying my child. That makes you my responsibility. Whether you like it or not.”

Luna stared at him, anger and hurt warring in her gray eyes. “I don’t want your responsibility, Alpha,” she said quietly. “I don’t want your money. I don’t want your protection. I don’t want you.”

That was a lie. And they both knew it.

The mate bond might be shattered, but it wasn’t dead. It was still there, faint but persistent, pulling at Luna’s heart like an invisible thread connecting her to Alpha Asher.

Alpha Asher’s jaw clenched, and for a moment Luna thought he might lose his temper. But instead, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, regaining control of himself.

“Fine,” Alpha Asher said quietly. “You don’t want my responsibility. You don’t want my protection. But you will accept my food. You will accept my doctor. Because if you don’t, I will carry you to the pack hospital myself, and I don’t think you want the entire pack to see you like this.”

Luna’s eyes widened in horror at the thought. The entire pack seeing her being carried by Alpha Asher? The rumors would spread like wildfire. The humiliation would be unbearable.

“Fine,” Luna said quietly, defeat evident in her voice. “I’ll eat. I’ll see the doctor. But I’m leaving after that.”

Alpha Asher nodded once, his expression unreadable. “Eat,” he said quietly, gesturing to the tray on the bedside table. “Then the doctor will come.”

Luna sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at the food. There was warm oatmeal with honey, fresh fruit, warm bread, and a cup of herbal tea. Food she hadn’t had in years. Food she couldn’t afford on a waitress’s salary.

Luna picked up the spoon hesitantly and took a small bite of the oatmeal. It was warm and sweet and tasted better than anything she’d eaten in years. She realized she was starving. She hadn’t eaten a proper meal in days.

Alpha Asher watched her eat in silence, his gray eyes never leaving her face. There was something in his expression that Luna couldn’t quite read. Something that looked almost like hunger. Like desire. Like possession.

Luna ignored it and focused on eating. She needed to keep her strength up. Not just for herself, but for the baby.

When Luna had finished half the oatmeal, there was a knock on the door.

“Enter,” Alpha Asher said without taking his eyes off Luna.

The door opened and Dr. Williams, the pack’s elderly doctor, walked in carrying a black medical bag. He was in his sixties with gray hair and kind eyes, and he’d been the pack doctor for over thirty years.

“Alpha,” Dr. Williams said respectfully, bowing slightly to Alpha Asher. Then his eyes fell on Luna and his eyebrows raised in surprise. “Luna? What are you doing here?”

Luna’s face flushed with embarrassment. “I… I’m not feeling well, Doctor,” she said quietly, looking down at her hands.

Dr. Williams nodded and set his bag down on the bed. “Alpha told me you were found in the forest last night,” he said gently. “Let me examine you.”

Luna looked at Alpha Asher, panic flashing in her eyes. She couldn’t let the doctor examine her. The doctor would find out about the pregnancy. And once the doctor knew, the entire pack would know.

“Doctor,” Luna said quickly, her voice trembling. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I just need some rest and I’ll be fine.”

Dr. Williams looked at Alpha Asher, who nodded once. “It’s necessary, Luna,” Alpha Asher said quietly but firmly. “For the baby’s sake.”

Luna’s eyes widened in horror. So Alpha Asher already knew. Of course he knew. He was an Alpha. He could smell the pregnancy on her.

Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. There was no point in hiding it anymore. “Fine,” she said quietly. “Examine me.”

Dr. Williams nodded and pulled out his stethoscope. He asked Luna to lie back on the bed, and Luna obeyed reluctantly, pulling the blanket up to her chest for modesty.

Dr. Williams listened to Luna’s heart and lungs, checked her blood pressure, and then gently placed his hand on Luna’s stomach. Luna held her breath, waiting for the doctor’s reaction.

Dr. Williams’s eyes widened slightly, but his expression remained professional. “You’re approximately four weeks pregnant, Luna,” he said quietly. “The baby appears to be healthy, but you’re malnourished and you have a mild fever from exposure to the cold.”

Luna closed her eyes and nodded. She’d suspected as much.

Dr. Williams turned to Alpha Asher. “Alpha, she needs rest, proper nutrition, and prenatal care,” he said seriously. “And she needs to avoid stress. The pregnancy is still in the early stages and could be at risk if she’s not properly cared for.”

Alpha Asher’s jaw clenched at the word “risk.” His eyes flashed red for a moment before he regained control. “Understood, Doctor,” he said quietly. “What else?”

Dr. Williams hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Alpha… with all due respect… Luna is wolfless. Pregnancy can be dangerous for wolfless women. Their bodies aren’t built to carry wolf pups.”

Luna’s heart sank at the doctor’s words. She’d been afraid of this. Wolfless women rarely survived pregnancy. And if they did, the child rarely survived birth.

Alpha Asher’s expression darkened dangerously. “Then you will make sure she survives, Doctor,” he said quietly, but there was a threat in his voice that made Dr. Williams swallow hard. “Do whatever it takes. Spare no expense.”

Dr. Williams nodded quickly. “Of course, Alpha,” he said. “I’ll prescribe vitamins and bed rest. And I’ll check on her daily.”

Alpha Asher nodded once. “Thank you, Doctor,” he said quietly. “You can go now.”

Dr. Williams packed up his bag and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

The moment the door closed, the tension in the room thickened. Luna sat up on the bed, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

“So now you know,” Luna said quietly, her voice shaking. “Now you know I’m carrying your child. What are you going to do about it, Alpha?”

Alpha Asher walked to the window and looked out at the pack grounds below. His shoulders were tense, his jaw was clenched, and his hands were fisted at his sides.

“I’m going to claim you, Luna,” Alpha Asher said quietly, his voice firm and decisive. “I’m going to claim you as my mate and I’m going to claim our child as my heir.”

Luna’s heart stopped. “You can’t,” she said quietly, shaking her head. “You already rejected me in front of the entire pack. You can’t just take it back.”

Alpha Asher turned to face her, his gray eyes intense and serious. “I can,” he said quietly. “And I will. The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, Luna. You are my mate. This child is my child. And I will not let anyone take you away from me.”

Luna stared at him, stunned. “The pack will never accept me, Alpha,” she said quietly. “I’m wolfless. I’m nothing. They’ll laugh at you. They’ll think you’ve lost your mind.”

Alpha Asher’s eyes flashed red. “Let them laugh,” he said quietly, his voice dangerous. “Let them think whatever they want. I am the Alpha. What I say goes. And I say that Luna Monroe is my mate and the mother of my child.”

Luna shook her head. “You don’t understand, Alpha,” she said quietly. “If you claim me now, after publicly rejecting me, the pack will see it as weakness. They’ll think you’re weak. They’ll challenge you.”

Alpha Asher walked toward the bed until he was standing right in front of Luna. He reached out and gently cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him.

“Let them challenge me, Luna,” Alpha Asher said quietly, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ve been Alpha of five packs for ten years. No one challenges me and survives.”

Luna stared into his gray eyes and saw something there that made her heart race. Determination. Possession. Love.

“I don’t want you to get hurt because of me, Alpha,” Luna said quietly, tears welling up in her eyes. “I don’t want you to lose everything because of me.”

Alpha Asher’s thumb brushed gently across Luna’s cheek, wiping away a tear. “You’re worth it, Luna,” he said quietly. “You and our child are worth everything.”

Luna’s breath caught in her throat. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. No one had ever made her feel like she was worth something. Like she mattered.

“I don’t deserve you, Alpha,” Luna whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t deserve your protection. I don’t deserve your love.”

Alpha Asher’s expression softened. “Don’t say that, Luna,” he said quietly. “You deserve everything. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

Luna closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, just for a moment. Just for one second of feeling safe. Feeling wanted. Feeling loved.

Then she remembered everything. Remembered the public rejection. Remembered the humiliation. Remembered the pain.

Luna pulled away from Alpha Asher’s touch and looked up at him, her gray eyes filled with determination. “I need time, Alpha,” she said quietly. “I need time to think. I need time to trust you again.”

Alpha Asher nodded slowly, understanding flashing in his eyes. “Take all the time you need, Luna,” he said quietly. “But know this - I’m not going anywhere. I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”

Luna nodded slowly and looked down at her hands. “What about the pack, Alpha?” she asked quietly. “What are you going to tell them?”

Alpha Asher’s expression hardened. “The truth,” he said quietly. “That you are my mate. That you are carrying my child. And that anyone who disrespects you will answer to me.”

Luna’s eyes widened in shock. “You can’t just announce that to the pack, Alpha,” she said quickly. “They’ll riot. They’ll demand you step down.”

Alpha Asher’s lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. “Let them try,” he said quietly. “I’ve faced challenges before, Luna. I’ve won every single one.”

Luna stared at him, fear and admiration warring in her eyes. “You’re insane, Alpha,” she said quietly. “You’re risking everything for me. For us.”

Alpha Asher reached out and gently tucked a strand of Luna’s hair behind her ear. “You’re worth the risk, Luna,” he said quietly. “You’re worth everything.”

Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay,” she said quietly. “Okay. I’ll stay. For now. For the baby’s sake.”

Alpha Asher’s eyes flashed with relief and something else. Something that looked almost like hope. “Thank you, Luna,” he said quietly. “Thank you for giving me another chance.”

Luna nodded and looked down at her hands again. “What happens now, Alpha?” she asked quietly. “What happens when the pack finds out?”

Alpha Asher’s expression turned serious. “Now we prepare for war, Luna,” he said quietly. “Because there will be war. There will be challenges. There will be people who try to hurt you. But I promise you this - I will protect you. I will protect our child. No matter what it takes.”

Luna nodded slowly and looked up at Alpha Asher. “Okay,” she said quietly. “Okay. I trust you. For now.”

Alpha Asher’s eyes flashed with something dangerous and possessive. “Good,” he said quietly. “Because I won’t let you down, Luna. I swear it on my wolf, on my pack, on my life.”

The door opened again and a young maid walked in carrying a tray with fresh clothes. She stopped when she saw Luna sitting on Alpha Asher’s bed, and her eyes widened in shock.

“Alpha,” the maid said hesitantly, bowing her head. “I brought fresh clothes for Luna.”

Alpha Asher nodded once. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “You can leave the clothes and go.”

The maid set the clothes down on the chair and hurried out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Alpha Asher picked up the clothes and held them out to Luna. “These should fit you,” he said quietly. “They’re mine, but they’ll be warmer than what you’re wearing.”

Luna looked at the clothes and then at Alpha Asher. “I can’t wear your clothes, Alpha,” she said quietly. “It’s not proper.”

Alpha Asher’s lips curved into a small smile. “Nothing about this situation is proper, Luna,” he said quietly. “And I don’t care. Wear my clothes. Stay warm. That’s all I care about right now.”

Luna hesitated for a moment before taking the clothes from Alpha Asher’s hands. The fabric was soft and warm and smelled like him. Pine and snow and something uniquely masculine.

“Thank you, Alpha,” Luna said quietly, holding the clothes to her chest.

Alpha Asher nodded once and walked toward the door. “I’ll give you privacy to change,” he said quietly. “The doctor will be back in an hour to check on you again.”

Luna nodded and watched as Alpha Asher walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

The moment the door closed, Luna let out the breath she’d been holding. She looked down at the clothes in her hands and then at the massive bed she was sitting on.

She was in Alpha Asher’s bedroom. Wearing his clothes. Carrying his child. Under his protection.

Luna didn’t know what the future held. She didn’t know if Alpha Asher could protect her from the pack. She didn’t know if she could trust him again.

But for now, for this moment, Luna felt safe. She felt protected. She felt like she might actually have a chance at happiness.

Luna changed into Alpha Asher’s clothes quickly, the soft fabric feeling strange against her skin after years of wearing rough, cheap fabric. She then climbed back into bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin, exhaustion finally catching up to her.

As Luna drifted off to sleep, she couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when the pack found out about her pregnancy. What would happen when Alpha Asher publicly claimed her as his mate.

What would happen when war came to Moonlight Pack.

But for now, Luna allowed herself to rest. Allowed herself to feel safe. Allowed herself to hope.

Because tomorrow, everything would change.

And nothing would ever be the same again.