All Chapters of THE BARREN LUNA: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

POV: ElvaThe war horns sounded from the south tower while I was still scraping the bottom of the stew pot, and the pregnancy test in my apron pocket felt like a live coal I'd been warned not to drop."That's him," Marta said. She had cooked for the Alpha House for thirty years, and she took the spoon out of my hand the way she'd once taken knives from toddlers. "You've been scraping that same spot for ten minutes, girl.""I haven't been counting.""I have." She tasted the stew and clicked her tongue. "Too much salt. He'll think you're nervous.""I am nervous.""Then add honey. A man forgives a bad stew faster than a bad face."I laughed, and the sound startled us both, because neither of us had heard it in months. Marta looked at me for a long moment, then at the hand I kept pressed flat against my apron."You've told no one," she said."Four weeks. I read the healer's packet four times this morning, Marta, as if the words might change their minds.""Five years you've prayed for this

POV: Elva"If Pell didn't ride with the army," I said that evening, "who told you Saskia was pregnant?"Eriq had come in without knocking again. He stopped in the middle of the room with his arms folded, and I could see him deciding whether to be patient."What are you talking about?""Ask the kitchen. Ask Marta. Doctor Pell hasn't left the Morrow estate since midsummer, so he couldn't have confirmed a thing on the road.""You've been collecting servants' gossip.""I've been collecting facts.""And you want me to question a healer who's served this pack for thirty years because you're angry." He shook his head. "You've never been petty, Elva. Don't start now.""I'm not asking you to question him because I'm angry. I'm asking you because I'm pregnant, and if your word is going to cost me my child's home, I'd like your evidence to be better than a cousin's signature."His gaze flicked to my stomach and back to my face. "Are you sure?""I'm sure.""We tried for five years, sweetheart. Is

POV: Eriq"My daughter is the natural match for you, Alpha," Corwin Morrow said, leaning back in his chair with the ease of a man who had already won.I had been listening to him for an hour, and every sentence ended at the same place. The Omega was too frail. A pregnant warrior needed servants, midwives, a larger wing, and a Luna with an unbroken bloodline. He had spent ten minutes on the quantity of meat a pregnant wolf required."Saskia and I are comrades, Corwin. I'll take responsibility for the child. I won't take another Luna.""You're making a mistake.""Elva is my Luna." It came out harder than I'd planned. "She's my only Luna."That was when my wolf woke. It didn't stir gently. It tore up through my ribs with a snarl that set my teeth on edge and made the bond in my chest burn like a brand left too long against skin. Something was wrong with my mate.I was on my feet before Corwin could finish his sentence. "This meeting is over.""Your Luna has made her own choices, Alpha. L

POV: EriqThe elevator doors began to close. I caught them with one hand, and for three full seconds neither of us moved.“You’ve mistaken me for someone else,” she said again. Her voice cracked on the last word, and her face was working hard to hide it.“Five years, Elva. I’ve had hunters in four territories. Lucan has been through every human clinic within two hundred miles. I stopped sleeping in our bed because it still smelled like you. And you want me to believe I’m wrong about my own mate?”“I don’t know what a mate is supposed to feel like.” Her chin came up. She used to do exactly that right before she lied to an elder’s face, and it nearly broke me. “Would you let the doors close, please? Sir.”Sir. I almost laughed. It came out low and rough instead, and she flinched back against the glass.The lift chimed, impatient. Down the corridor a nurse cleared her throat. I let my hand drop, and the doors slid shut between us. I stood there with my palm still raised like a fool, star