5.

Selene's POV.

—

The first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was pain. But it was a little less terrible than I remembered.

My ankle throbbed beneath the bandage wrapped around it, and the back of my head pulsed with an ache that made it difficult to think clearly.

For several seconds, I lay perfectly still, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above me.

Then everything came rushing back, and my breath caught in my throat.

I sat up too quickly, and a sharp cry escaped my lips as pain shot through my body. I immediately clutched my side, squeezing my eyes shut until the worst of it passed.

"Careful, Luna!"

A woman hurried toward me from the other side of the room. She wore the simple brown dress of a pack healer's assistant, and a tray of medicine rested in her hands.

"You shouldn't be moving around so much. Your body hasn't fully recovered."

I barely registered her warning.

"Where am I?"

"Your holding chamber, Luna."

Of course.

I remembered Theon ordering me confined until the council decided what to do with me.

My gaze dropped to the blanket draped over my legs. Someone had changed me out of my wet dress while I was unconscious and dressed me in a loose nightgown instead. Fresh bandages covered the cuts on my arms, while my injured ankle had been tightly wrapped.

"Your handmaiden took care of changing your clothes," the healer's assistant explained, noticing my lingering gaze.

"How long have I been unconscious?" I asked.

"Almost six hours."

"Did..." I hesitated, suddenly uncertain whether I wanted to hear the answer. "Did Theon come to see me?"

The healer's assistant paused, and I found myself holding my breath as I waited for her response.

"The Alpha instructed us to do our best to nurse you back to health. Physician Warren was just here to check on you..."

Her words gradually faded, but I didn't need her to finish. The answer was painfully clear.

Theon hadn't come to see me.

Six hours of being unconscious, and in all that time, I hadn't received a single message from my mate.

I pressed my lips together, refusing to acknowledge the ache that realisation stirred in my chest.

"What about Lady Cora?" I asked with bated breath.

The assistant hesitated.

"She's resting in her chambers. The physician says she needs time to recover from her injuries... and the miscarriage."

I looked away.

The miscarriage. Even now, the word felt strange in my ears.

It was almost ridiculous to think that I was under investigation for such a crime. I could understand why others might think I was capable of it, but I didn't expect Theon to. He didn't. But the image of him comforting Cora like I wasn't in the room too made my heart crumple.

I closed my eyes, remembering the moment we stood at the cliff; it was clear as day now.

I remembered the look on her face as we fell.

That smile.

My fingers curled into the blanket as a chill ran down my spine.

"She's lying," I whispered.

The assistant looked up. "Pardon, Luna?"

I met her eyes, swallowing tightly. "Nothing."

She studied me for a moment before setting the tray on the bedside table.

"You should take your medicine and try to rest. The Alpha has ordered that you receive everything you need."

The Alpha. I almost laughed. How thoughtful of him.

I wondered whether he had sent the same instructions to Cora's physician. Or whether he had personally ensured that she had everything she needed.

The thought made my chest tighten, but I pushed it aside.

I couldn't afford to waste my energy wondering what Theon was doing. I had more important things to worry about.

For now, I needed to recover.

If I wanted to survive whatever awaited me, I needed a clear mind and a body that could endure it.

"Leave it," I told the assistant. "I'll take it later."

"But, Luna—"

"I said I'll take it later." My voice came out sharper than I intended. "I want to be alone."

She lowered her head. "Yes, Luna."

After she left, I leaned back against the pillows and stared at the closed door.

For the first time since the fall, I allowed myself to think about what might happen next.

The council would eventually hold a hearing. They would question Cora, listen to her accusations, and decide whether I was guilty.

But what would happen when her lies contradicted mine?

Would they believe me?

I already knew the answer.

Cora was the widow of the late Alpha. She was the woman everyone pitied, the grieving mother who had lost the last piece of her beloved mate.

And I was an Omega who had somehow risen high enough to become the Luna of IronClaw.

A woman many believed had no business standing beside an Alpha in the first place.

To them, I had everything to gain from Cora's downfall, and Cora had made it seem that way.

I could explain myself until my throat bled, but without evidence, my words might mean nothing. And if everyone else were against me, it would be hard for Theon to defend me. It could be dangerous, too.

And the thought terrified me.

I dragged a hand over my face, fighting the growing unease in my chest.

I didn't know whether anyone else had witnessed our argument. I didn't know if the guards stationed near the territory had seen us or if anyone had heard my screams.

There had to have been someone. The path leading to the cliff was scarcely empty.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Warren stepped inside carrying a small leather bag.

The pack's physician looked tired. His usually neat hair was dishevelled, and dark circles shadowed his eyes.

He bowed briefly. "Luna."

"Warren."

He approached the bed and set his bag on the table beside me.

"How are you feeling?"

"Take a wild guess," I said weakly.

His expression flickered, but he quickly recovered.

"We're doing everything we can to ensure you make a full recovery."

"How severe are my injuries? And how long before I'm fit enough to attend the hearing?"

He paused before carefully examining the bandage around my arm.

"You have several deep cuts, bruised ribs, and a sprained ankle. Fortunately, there are no fractures. However, the blow to your head is more concerning. We need to monitor you for any signs of complications." He adjusted the bandage before continuing. "If your recovery progresses as expected, you should be able to move around comfortably within some days. I would advise against anything strenuous until then..."

I nodded, only half listening.

"Warren, I have a question," I cut him off.

He glanced up. "Of course, Luna."

"How far along was Cora's pregnancy?"

His hands stilled over the bandage.

For a brief moment, something unreadable crossed his face before he resumed his work.

"May I ask why you wish to know?"

I frowned. "Is there a reason I shouldn't?"

"Not at all, Luna." He straightened slightly. "However, the circumstances surrounding Lady Cora's miscarriage are currently under investigation by the council. I've been instructed to keep all medical findings confidential until the matter has been formally reviewed."

I studied his face. "Even from the Luna?"

His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

"Please understand, Luna. Revealing such information would mean disobeying a direct order from the Alpha. The council has ordered that all medical findings remain confidential until the investigation is complete."

I looked away, pressing my lips together. Of course they had.

He returned his attention to my bandages, but I wasn't finished.

"Then tell me, how is Cora? Is she alright? I mean, aside from her physical injuries."

Warren glanced up. "Lady Cora is still recovering. She's been deeply distressed by the loss of her pup, and the fall has taken a considerable toll on her physically and emotionally."

"I know, but that's not what I meant."

He paused. "What do you mean, Luna?"

I hesitated. I wanted to ask whether he had noticed anything unusual about Cora's mental state. Whether she had shown signs of instability before the fall. Whether the stress of her pregnancy, or whatever complications she had been experiencing, could have affected her judgment.

What were the chances that the woman who had pushed me and accused me of causing her miscarriage might not have been entirely in control of herself?

I wasn't trying to excuse what she had done. But something about the entire situation didn't sit right with me, and I couldn't ignore the possibility that there was more to it.

Still, I wasn't sure how much I could say without revealing my suspicions.

"Has she been behaving normally?" I finally asked. "I mean, mentally. Has she shown any signs of confusion, unusual behaviour, or anything that might suggest she hasn't been coping well before now?"

Warren regarded me for a moment, his expression difficult to read.

"Not at all, Luna."

I nodded slowly, even though I had expected a more detailed response.

Warren finished checking my injuries and packed his supplies.

"Rest as much as possible. The Alpha has instructed that you be given proper care."

There it was again— the Alpha's instructions.

"Thank you for your help, Warren."

He bowed and left.

The moment the door closed, I exhaled shakily.

Some foolish part of me had hoped Theon would come to see me. That I would wake up to him beside my bed, caressing my arms as he had done Cora

Instead, he had sent a physician.

I wiped my eyes before the tears could fall.

I wouldn't cry over this. I needed every ounce of strength I had left.

By late afternoon, I had managed to eat a little and take my medicine.

The pain hadn't disappeared, but it had dulled enough for me to move without feeling as though my body might fall apart.

I sat near the window while my handmaiden massaged my feet when the sound of approaching footsteps caught my attention.

This time, I recognised them before the person entered.

Theon.