Morning light filtered through the infirmary windows as I sat on the examination table, my hands instinctively resting on my stomach. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils, mingling with the faint metallic smell of medical instruments.
"Your blood pressure is concerning, Bella," Dr. Evelyn Cross said, her experienced eyes narrowing as she reviewed my chart. "Have you been under unusual stress lately?"
I almost laughed at the understatement. "You could say that."
She didn't press further, her professional demeanor masking any curiosity about the failed ceremony. Instead, she placed the Doppler on my abdomen, moving it in slow circles.
"There," she said softly, adjusting the volume. "Strong and steady."
The rapid heartbeat filled the room—tiny but fierce, my little fighter. Tears pricked my eyes at the sound.
"Everything looks normal," Dr. Cross confirmed, "but I'm worried about your stress levels. They're not just dangerous for you; they could affect the pup."
"I know," I whispered, my fingers splaying protectively over my still-flat stomach. "I'll try to... manage things better."
Dr. Cross's eyes flickered with something that looked suspiciously like pity. "You know where I am if you need anything."
I nodded, gathering my purse as she printed out some prenatal care information. "Thank you."
As I stepped out of the examination room, the hallway seemed to tilt beneath my feet. I steadied myself against the wall, drawing a deep breath.
That's when I heard his voice.
"Careful with her!" Alex's commanding tone echoed down the corridor. "She's delicate!"
I froze, then slowly turned.
Alex stood at the other end of the hallway, cradling Skye in his arms like she was made of glass. Her small frame nestled against his chest, her face buried in his neck. A tiny drop of blood stained her fingertip—the only visible injury.
"It's just a papercut," I said, unable to stop myself from speaking as they approached. "Does she need to be carried for that?"
Alex's eyes narrowed at my tone. "She fainted from the pain."
"I didn't faint," Skye corrected softly, her voice trembling perfectly. "I just got dizzy. The pain was... overwhelming."
Alex's expression softened as he looked down at her. "I've got you now. You're safe."
Something inside me snapped. The decade of waiting, the humiliation at the ceremony, the pregnancy I was hiding—it all crystallized into a single moment of clarity.
I turned to leave, but Alex's voice stopped me.
"Stop following me!"
The words weren't just spoken—they were commanded. The Alpha Tone hit me like a physical blow, vibrating through the air with supernatural force.
My knees buckled instantly. The magical compulsion of an Alpha command was impossible to resist, especially when directed at someone who wasn't yet officially Luna.
"Alex!" Dr. Cross gasped from behind me.
But he wasn't looking at me. His attention remained fixed on Skye's finger as he gently blew on it.
"You are suffocating me," he continued, his voice still laced with Alpha power. "Always watching, always waiting. Can't you see I need space?"
I collapsed to my knees, one hand instinctively clutching my stomach as the other braced against the floor. The pressure of his command crushed down on me, making it hard to breathe.
"I wasn't following you," I managed to gasp.
But Alex had already turned away, carrying Skye toward an examination room. "Let's get this properly bandaged," he murmured to her. "I don't want it to scar."
As the door closed behind them, I remained kneeling on the cold floor, the weight of his command still pressing down on me. Dr. Cross rushed to my side, helping me to a chair.
"He didn't even see," I whispered, more to myself than to her. "He didn't even see me fall."
---
That evening, I found Alex in his office, papers spread across his desk. He looked up when I entered, irritation flashing across his face.
"What is it now?" he asked, already returning his attention to the documents.
I closed the door behind me, leaning against it as I gathered my courage. The memory of his Alpha command still burned in my chest.
"I'm done," I said simply.
That got his attention. He looked up, eyebrows raised. "Done with what?"
"Being your second choice."
He scoffed, setting down his pen. "Is this about yesterday? I told you, Skye needed—"
"I reject you," I interrupted, my voice steady despite the thundering of my heart. "I, Bella Hughes, reject you, Alex Diaz, as my mate."
The formal words hung in the air between us. Alex's expression shifted from annoyance to amusement.
"You can't reject me," he said with a dismissive wave. "We're fated. The Moon Goddess herself—"
"The Moon Goddess gives us choices," I cut in. "And I choose myself."
Alex laughed then, the sound harsh and mocking. "You're being dramatic, Bella. Go sleep it off."
He turned back to his papers, dismissing me entirely. But I didn't move from the doorway.
"You'll regret this," I said quietly.
His pen paused mid-signature. "No, I won't."
As I turned to leave, I felt something inside me shift—the mate bond stretching thin as gossamer, ready to break at the slightest pressure.
