Chapter 4

Freya’s POV

I skipped dinner that night. The maids had changed our rooms and I was now in the guest room. Mira was right; there was no sunlight. I missed my old bedroom.

Someone knocked gently on the door.

“Freya?”

I never expected it to be Ethan who peeked his head through the doorway.

“Can I come in? I brought supper,” he said, as he sidled through the door. Sure enough, he was carrying a silver tray. The scent of pancakes wafted through the room. My stomach betrayed me and growled.

“I don’t have the appetite,” I lied.

Ethan walked over and perched on the side of the bed, tray in hand.

“I made you dinner,” he said. “To apologize.”

It was a sweet gesture, and I couldn’t help but feel surprised. He stabbed one of the pancakes with a fork and lifted it to my mouth. Reluctantly, I took a bite.

“I know this is hard for you,” he told me as I chewed. “But as Luna, I’m sure you can understand my position. You can’t give me an heir. And I have an obligation to the pack. The pack can’t survive without an heir.”

“I know,” I mumbled. It wasn’t his fault I was barren. He was in a tough spot. 

“You’ll always be my Luna.” His voice was soothing. The sincerity in his eyes caused my breath to hitch. “It was just one night, Freya. It was a mistake. But something good came out of it. The pack is happy. It’s not ideal for you, but I’m asking you to be patient.”

He patted my hand. He was trying to make things right between us. I appreciate that. A part of me was still torn, and still angry that he’d asked Mira to live with us. But it wasn’t easy being Alpha. Maybe I’d been too hard on him. 

“Did you really make these yourself?” I asked. “Because I don’t think pancakes are on Mira’s approved lists of food.”

He chuckled. “Actually, Mira really likes pancakes,” he started. But I stopped him with a deep frown.

“Sorry,” he said. “Let’s not talk about her now. Look, I even topped them with your favorite rose syrup.”

He knew how much I loved rose syrup. I couldn’t help but smile.

“They smell good,” I confessed.

“Not as good as you,” he teased. My mood was lightening. Maybe this whole week had just been an adjustment period. Maybe things would go back to the way they were. He was having dinner with me, after all, not Mira. So clearly he cared.

“They taste great, but they look terrible,” I teased back. He looked down at the lopsided stack of pancakes and laughed.

“I mean it, Freya. You’re my Luna. And nothing’s going to change that.”

I started happily eating the pancakes. I felt like a weight had lifted off my chest. Everything was going to be okay. Mira wasn’t taking Ethan away from me. He was still mine. 

But I was barely through a bite when Mira walked in.

“There you are,” she said. Her smile froze when she saw us sitting side by side on the bed. “Ethan brought you some dinner, I see?” Her voice was tight and high.

“He made me my favorite pancakes,” I quipped, unable to hide the edge of smugness in my voice. Mira clicked her tongue. Then she smiled at Ethan.

“Well, I was looking for you. The baby’s kicking. It’s very uncomfortable. I was hoping you could come sit with me.”

Ethan looked awkwardly at me. Now that we’d had our little talk though I didn’t mind as much. I had nothing to worry about. I was Ethan’s Luna. I was the one he made dinner for.

“It’s okay,” I nudged him. “Mira needs you. Go ahead.”

I offered him a smile. He nodded once, then he left with Mira.

The next morning, I woke up feeling a lot better than I had in days. Ethan was right. We needed to support Mira. As Luna, I should be modeling grace and patience. So, I decided to let go of my grudge and show Mira kindness.

I remembered Ethan mentioning that Mira liked pancakes. So I made her some myself. Ethan and Mira were already in the dining room when I came in.

Her hair was pinned on top of her head, accentuating her high cheek bones. She really was very pretty.

“Good morning,” I said brightly, setting down the plate of pancakes. She eyed me suspiciously. “I made these for you. Ehtan mentioned you like them?”

She nodded.

“That was…very kind of you,” she said.

Sunlight flooded through the dining room window. Birds chirped outside.

“It’s a beautiful day,” I exclaimed. Mira bit into her pancakes. “Would you like to go for a walk with me after breakfast?”

Mira started to nod, but then her eyes widened. Her cheeks became blotchy. She started coughing.

Ethan abruptly pushed back his chair. It scraped across the floor and fell to the ground in a loud clatter. 

Mira’s skin was breaking out in small, red patches. She began scratching at them. Ethan rushed to her side.

“I think you’re having an allergic reaction,” Ethan said. “What did you put in these pancakes?” he asked me sternly.

“I…just normal stuff. I…Nora!” I called out. Nora appeared. “Quick. Get the ointment. Mira’s having an allergic reaction.”

Nora scurried off.

“I’m sorry,” I said. I felt awful. I was trying to do something nice and now Mira was covered in hives. She scratched at her arms.

“Don’t scratch,” Ethan said. “You’ll make it worse.”

Moments later, Nora rushed back in, brandishing a tube of ointment.

“Here,” I said, passing it to her.

She quickly removed the cap and started smearing it onto her arms. Within seconds, the red rash got worse. Right before our eyes, her red rash started blistering and oozing.

  

“It’s not ointment. Look what it’s doing! Oh god, Ethan. It hurts!” Mira cried out.

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” I gasped. Nora and I stood, wide-eyed in shock.

“It’s wolfsbane,” Mira declared. “You gave me ointment with wolfsbane!”

“What?” I shook my head. “No..I…I…”

I froze. It was definitely a wolfbane rash. There was no denying it. Horrified, I exchanged a glance with Nora, but she quickly looked away.

Ethan glared at me. “What have you done?” He seethed. There was fire in his eyes.

“I don’t feel well. I think…I’m going to…faint…” Mira’s eyes rolled back in her head and she slumped to the side. Ethan caught her. He scooped her up.

“This is low, Freya. Really low. I know you’re jealous. And I’ve been trying to be patient. But lacing ointment with wolfbane?” He carried Mira towards the door.

How did this happen? I was just trying to make her a nice breakfast. I would never poison someone.

“Ethan, I didn’t-”

“I don’t want to hear it,” he snapped at me. He paused at the door. Mira was in his arms, awake but weak, like a life-sized doll. “I swear to the Moon Goddess, Freya, if anything happens to her or this baby, you will pay for it.”

His fury was palpable. I recoiled. He kicked the door open with his foot.

“Guards,” he called out as he left the dining room. “Take Freya to the dungeon!”