Under a New Moon

Evening fell, and Kane came back to the estate. He walked in with his brows relaxed, clearly in a good mood.

"Would've been easier if you'd done this from the start." His voice even softened, rare as it was. "You behave, and I won't be stingy with you. Here. The Moonspring Pass."

Moonspring—our pack's healing sanctuary. And back then, the only way to save our pup.

He set the pass in front of me. "Next month's Moon Prayer Ceremony, I'll put you back in charge of it."

I dropped my gaze and didn't reach for it.

Kane took it as me still sulking. He explained, with forced patience:

"Suspending your Moonspring access, that was my call. Selena was just following orders. You've got no reason to take it out on her. You barged into the council chamber playing the Luna card, tried to make her skip protocol. Of course I had to remind you of the rules."

He reached out and patted my head, like he was soothing a pet that had finally been tamed.

"But since you've owned up to it, this is over."

I didn't flinch. Didn't argue.

If Kane had just let me speak three days ago, maybe I'd still be enduring all this for the pup in my belly.

But he didn't.

All those tears I'd shed in the council chamber meant nothing next to Selena's soft, measured defense.

"The Luna's just got some irregular fetal heartbeat, and she wants to bypass every approval step to get into the Moonspring? The spring's monthly allocation is limited. As Beta, I can't break the rules just because of her title."

I braced myself against the council table, the cramping in my belly tightening with every wave, and tried to finish the healer's diagnosis.

"Kane, the healer said the pup's heartbeat is already..."

"Enough."

He cut me off, frowning.

"Every time Selena rejects your request, you blow it up like it's life or death?"

Selena dropped her eyes, her voice soft, wounded.

"Alpha, I'm not trying to make things hard for the Luna. If I bend the rules because of who she is, the pack will only think you're playing favorites."

Whatever patience Kane had left, that killed it.

"Do what Selena says."

For seven years, every time I questioned Selena's decisions, that was the answer I got.

I was the Luna in name only. No real power. My schedule, my gowns, my guards, even my access to the Moonspring, all went through Selena first.

And she always found something new to smile about.

"You forgot to specify the prayer time, please resubmit, Luna."

"This gown isn't right for today's event, please reapply."

"The guard count doesn't match the latest plan, please adjust and come back."

Every request, she would sit on until the last second. Then smile sweetly while I scrambled, flustered, desperate.

And when something went wrong, Kane would blame my poor time management and praise Selena for never slipping up.

This time was no different.

The healer told me my pup's heartbeat was fading fast. To save him, I had to get into the Moonspring immediately.

But Selena just smiled and pushed the application back across the table.

"Luna, your format is wrong. I can't sign off on this, I'm afraid."

I kept revising. She kept rejecting.

Finally, clutching my cramping stomach, I begged her to let me through, I would fix the paperwork after.

She ordered the guards to close the Moonspring gates.

"Sorry, Luna." Her eyes curved into crescents. "The Moonspring belongs to the whole pack. Everyone has to follow the rules. As Beta, I have to be responsible to the pack. Please understand."

And I ran out of time.

By the time she finally signed off, blood was already soaking between my thighs.

The pup was gone.

That night, I couldn't even scream. It felt like a blade carving open my chest over and over again.

"What gown are you wearing for next month's Moon Prayer?"

Kane's voice pulled me back to the present.

I looked at his eager expression. Inside, I laughed, silent and cold.

He didn't know. None of this could hold me anymore.

Three hours. That was all.

"Whatever. Anything works." I said flatly.

Kane seemed caught off guard. He studied me for a moment, a small frown forming.

"My Luna is still pouting, huh?" He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "How about I come pick one out with you?"

I was about to turn him down when the butler rushed in.

"Alpha, Luna. Beta Selena is here to see you."