The Luna He Lost

Elena's Pov

I hummed softly as I moved around the kitchen, checking the food on the stove for what felt like the hundredth time. Everything had to be perfect.

 Tonight was special because my husband, Kael, was finally coming home after spending weeks fighting the rogue wolves at the border. I wanted to welcome him with his favorite meal and make sure he knew how much I had missed him.

The dining table was already set, and I had prepared enough food to feed half the pack. I had even gone through my wardrobe several times before settling on a green dress. It was his favorite color, and he had once told me that I looked beautiful in it. He said the color brought out my eyes, and I had remembered those words ever since.

 I wanted to look beautiful for him tonight. After all, it had been a long time since we had spent a peaceful evening together without worrying about pack duties or threats from the rogues.

There was another reason I was so excited. On the kitchen counter sat a small gift box wrapped with a golden ribbon. Inside it was a pregnancy test. I had stared at it countless times that morning, still finding it hard to believe what I had seen.

 Four weeks.

 I was four weeks pregnant. After five years of being his Luna, I was finally carrying his child. I almost cried when the doctor confirmed it.

We had tried so many times, but nothing had ever happened. Every passing month brought another disappointment, and the pack elders never allowed me to forget it. They had made it clear that a Luna who could not give the pack an heir was of little use.

 I had endured their comments because I believed things would eventually change. My husband had always told me not to listen to them. He had promised that we would have a family someday and that nothing would change how much he loved me.

Now, that day has finally come. I could hardly wait to see his face when I gave him the news. I imagined him opening the box, looking at the test, and pulling me into his arms. Perhaps he would even lift me off the ground in excitement. Just thinking about it made me smile.

"He's home! The Alpha has returned!" a warrior shouted from outside.

My heart jumped with excitement. I quickly wiped my hands on a kitchen towel and hurried toward the entrance. I wanted to be the first person he saw when he returned. I could already imagine running into his arms and telling him how much I had missed him.

But the moment I stepped outside, my smile disappeared. My husband was standing in the middle of the crowd with his arm wrapped around another woman.

 At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I blinked several times, hoping I had misunderstood what I was seeing, but the sight remained the same.

It was the Beta's daughter, his childhood friend, and one of the pack's warriors. The woman he had always described as a sister was standing so close to him that there was hardly any space between their bodies.

My gaze slowly moved down to her stomach. It was slightly rounded, enough for me to notice that something was different.

 Before I could ask what was going on, Kael spoke. "She's carrying my pup."

His words hit me so hard that I almost forgot how to breathe. I stared at him, waiting for him to laugh or tell me he was joking, but he didn't. His arm remained around her as if he had just announced something perfectly normal. The woman I had spent years believing was only his childhood friend was pregnant with his child.

A wave of whispers spread through the crowd. I could hear people talking, but I wished I couldn't.

"Five years as Luna, and she still hasn't given the Alpha an heir."

"What kind of Luna can't even give birth to one pup?"

 "The Beta's daughter would have been a much better choice."

"At least she has given the Alpha what he needs."

 Every word felt like another slap across my face. I stood there, unable to move, while the people I had served and protected for five years discussed my failure as though I wasn't standing right in front of them.

Some of them didn't even bother to lower their voices. The pack elders soon stepped forward, their faces bright with excitement as they approached my husband and his pregnant companion. "Congratulations, Alpha! At last, the pack will have an heir!" one of them exclaimed.

 Another elder looked in my direction before shaking his head. "It is a shame that things had to come to this. A Luna who cannot give birth is like a hen that cannot lay eggs. What use is she to the pack?"

My fingers curled into fists. I wanted to say something, anything, but my throat felt too tight. I looked at Kael, hoping he would put an end to their insults. He frowned at the elders and said, "Enough. She is still your Luna. I will not have anyone disrespecting her."

For a brief moment, I thought he would finally stand up for me. He left the woman beside him and walked toward me, reaching out as though he wanted to pull me into his arms. But I stepped away before he could touch me.

"Don't touch me!" I cried before turning around and rushing back inside. I could hear him calling after me, but I didn't stop. I made my way straight to our bedroom, shut the door, and leaned against it as tears filled my eyes.

I had spent the entire morning preparing a special welcome for him. I had cooked his favorite food, worn the dress he loved, and wrapped the biggest news of my life in a little gift box. I had been so excited to tell him that we were finally going to have a child together.

Yet, here I was, standing alone in our bedroom after discovering that he had gotten another woman pregnant. The door opened moments later, and my husband walked in. The Beta's daughter followed closely behind him. I looked at her and then at him, wondering why he had brought her into our bedroom.

 Wasn't it enough that she had humiliated me in front of the entire pack?! Did she also have to follow him into the one place where I was supposed to feel safe?

 "What is wrong with you?" Kael demanded. "Why are you throwing a tantrum? I just returned from dealing with the rogue wolves at the border. I have been away for weeks, and instead of welcoming me home, you chose to embarrass me in front of everyone.”