The Luna He Threw Away

The calming herbs slipped from the corners of my mouth, one by one.

Raymond pried my jaw open, his eyes red, and crammed the rest of them in.

I didn't cry. I didn't scream.

I swallowed them down, quiet, and even tried to soothe him. "It's okay."

That was when our pup wailed.

"Sorry, Mommy. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get hurt."

Raymond went rigid. The fog cleared from his eyes in an instant.

He moved on instinct, helping me throw the herbs back up, then turned and scooped the pup into his arms.

"I'm sorry, Aurora. I didn't mean to do that…"

The guilt in his eyes cut me deeper than anything.

Ever since I was diagnosed with postpartum depression, Raymond had let almost every pack matter slide.

He cared for the pup. He cared for me. He stretched himself thin between us.

And little by little, I became the burden the Blood Moon Pack whispered about.

"Raymond's the Alpha. He's supposed to lead this pack to greatness. He can't pour everything he has into one woman."

"What woman doesn't bear children? What makes her so special? Plenty of us have given birth without falling apart."

"Exactly. She's just milking it. The Alpha's wasting all his time on her."

They were right. I wasn't a fit Luna. I wasn't a fit mother.

I was the one who needed taking care of.

That was when the door swung open and Charlotte walked in.

The moment Raymond saw her, something flickered in his eyes. Guilt.

But the girl gave him a long, pitying look, then turned to me with tears already streaming down her face.

"Luna, it was just a pup. Plenty of she-wolves have them. The Alpha is being driven mad by you. When are you going to stop?"

"He's exhausted. Please, just let him be."

My breath came short. The walls were closing in.

Raymond saw it and waved the maid over to take the pup. Without thinking, he reached for more calming herbs.

But Charlotte caught his arm.

"Luna, the Alpha has a pack to run. Stop using these little stunts to steal his attention. If you won't think of him, I will."

The herbs scattered across the floor.

Raymond's hand fell back to his side. He turned and walked out with her.

At the door, his eyes flicked to me one last time. Disappointment.

That was when I remembered what the High Priestess had given me.

A single sprig of wolfsbane.

Once swallowed, the poison would work slowly. Three days, and it would be over.

I'd hidden it away.