Mina’s hands fell to her sides, her shoulders sagging as she avoided my gaze. “Luna,” she began softly, “the trauma you endured during the attack… it was too much. The bleeding from the legs, the sharp pain, I’m afraid your body couldn’t accept it, you lost it Luna.”
Lost… Lost it? No.
Lost it. These words weren’t new to me. I had lost a child once, a miscarriage from an attack. Now… Goddess I lost my precious pup before I even knew I had it.
I didn’t even know I was pregnant.
“You lost–”
Her words broke off, but I didn’t need her to finish.
“The pup,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Mina nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Luna. There was nothing I could do.”
For a moment, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. The world tilted, a roaring sound filling my ears.
“Leave,” I said abruptly, my voice cracking.
“Luna, please let me—”
“Leave!” I snarled, the force of my command shaking the room.
Mina flinched but obeyed, gathering her things and slipping out the door without another word. The moment the door closed behind her, the weight I had been holding in crashed down on me.
I buried my face in my hands, the first sob tearing free like a howl.
I cried for the pup that could have been ours. For the life that never had a chance to begin.
I cried for the mate who wasn’t there when I needed him most, whose betrayal burned deeper than the wounds on my skin.
The image of him with Suki, the bond that had betrayed me by showing me his pleasure while I bled and howled for him, filled my mind.
I cried for the years I had wasted, for the love I had poured into someone who didn’t deserve it.
My sobs echoed in the small clinic, raw and unrestrained, until I had no tears left to shed.
Finally, when the pain became too much to bear, I curled into myself, clutching my knees to my chest. The moonlight streamed through the small window, cold and indifferent, a cruel display of the world that kept moving even as mine shattered.
And for the first time in years, I felt truly alone.
••••
“No need,” I replied flatly to Daniel’s offer.
“Suit yourself,” he muttered, swirling the amber liquid in his glass before downing the last sip.
A buzz interrupted the silence. His phone lit up on the counter, and I saw the faintest hint of a smile tug at his lips as he read the name on the screen. It was a smile I hadn’t seen in years.
I left the room, but my enhanced hearing betrayed me. From the guest room, his voice was low, his words dripping with warmth.
“Don’t worry, Suki. I’ll handle it. Just focus on yourself. I’ll make time tomorrow.”
Suki. Again.
His tone was soft, the kind of tone I never got. When he spoke to me, it was all clipped words and weary sighs, as if my presence drained him. But with her, there was warmth. Care.
I clenched my fists and left without another word.
The next morning, I prepared breakfast for one.
The cabin felt suffocating, not because of its small size but because of the emptiness it harbored. I plated a simple meal—eggs and toast—and poured a steaming cup of coffee for myself.
Daniel walked in moments later, his steps deliberate, his gaze sharp. He paused by the table, his eyes landing on the empty spot where his breakfast would’ve been.
“Nothing for me?” he asked, his voice laced with mock surprise.
Before I could answer, the front door opened, and a figure strode in. It was Rhea, one of the pack’s enforcers. Her short, jet-black hair framed a face marked by a deep scar across her left cheek. Her icy blue eyes were intense, almost predatory, as they flicked from me to Daniel.
“Alpha,” Rhea greeted, her voice steady but tinged with urgency. She was one of the few enforcers who refused to bow her head when addressing him. “We’ve confirmed it was rogues from the Bloodfang Pack that attacked Luna London yesterday.”
Daniel’s casual demeanor disappeared in an instant. His expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “Bloodfang,” he said quietly, but there was a deadly weight to his tone. “Did they leave a message?”
Rhea’s gaze flicked to me briefly before returning to him. “They marked her, Alpha. The western border’s lined with claw sigils. They’re sending a challenge.”
Daniel’s lips curled into a cold smile, one that sent a shiver down my spine. “Good. Let them think they can test us. Find their beta and bring him to me. Alive. Tonight.”
Rhea hesitated, her piercing gaze settling on me for a long moment before she spoke again. “Alpha, with all due respect, I think we should focus on shoring up our defenses first. Their attack on Luna wasn’t random. They wanted her. Maybe to bait you.”
His expression remained unreadable as he glanced at me. “You knew they were Bloodfang. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I met his gaze head-on, refusing to cower. “Because you were busy, Daniel. I didn’t think you’d care.”
Rhea crossed her arms, the tension in the room growing palpable. “Maybe the Luna didn’t think it was her responsibility to cover for you Alpha.” Her voice was cool, calm, yet the words were piercing.
Daniel’s eyes narrowed at her, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he turned back to me. “You think I don’t care?” he asked, his voice low, almost dangerous. “Do you know what would’ve happened if they’d taken you? Do you know the chaos it would cause this pack?”
“This pack,” I said bitterly, yet calmly, the words tasting like ash on my tongue. “Not me. You’re not angry because I was hurt—you’re angry because it makes you look weak. Isn’t that right, Daniel?”
Silence fell between us, heavy and suffocating. Rhea’s sharp gaze darted between the two of us, her expression unreadable.
Finally, Daniel shifted his focus back to the table. “Where’s my breakfast?” he asked, as if nothing had happened.
I forced a bitter laugh, picking up my coffee cup. “I figured you wouldn’t want eggs and toast.”
His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Rhea smirked faintly, the tension in the air shifting as she straightened. “Alpha, I’ll prepare the patrols and update you by noon.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left, leaving us alone in the cabin.
Daniel’s piercing gaze locked onto mine. “You want to keep testing me, London? Fine. But don’t think for a second I’ll keep saving you if you won’t help yourself.”
I stepped closer, my thoughts wanted to break free and come out but I left them as thoughts. I don’t need saving, Daniel. Certainly not from you.
The faint howls of the Bloodfang rogues came from the distance, but they didn’t scare me.
What scared me was how little there was left to salvage between us.
