The Alpha's Rejected Pregnant Luna

Chapter 4: The Contract

Celeste's POV

Dead. Garrett told everyone I was dead.

I stared at the ceiling of the unfamiliar room, processing Alpha Frost's words. My hand rested on my stomach where my pup grew, still alive despite everything.

A soft knock interrupted my spiraling thoughts.

"Come in," I called, expecting the doctor.

Instead, a young girl peered around the door. Sixteen, maybe younger, with the same black hair as Alpha Frost but softer features.

"You're awake!" She smiled, stepping inside. "I'm Luna. Yes, I know, confusing name given the situation."

"You're Alpha Frost's..."

"Sister." She sat on the edge of my bed uninvited, studying me with curious eyes. "Zane doesn't know I'm here. He thinks I'm resting."

"Should you be up?" Something about her seemed fragile, like glass about to break.

"I have good days and bad days." She shrugged. "Today's good because you're here."

"Why would that matter?"

Luna smiled mysteriously. "You smell like herbs. Like healing. We haven't had a real healer since..." Her face clouded. "A long time."

I noticed the slight tremor in her hands, the paleness of her skin. My healer instincts kicked in immediately.

"How long have you been sick?"

"Since I was seven." She pulled her knees up, making herself smaller. "No one can figure out what's wrong. Zane's spent a fortune on doctors."

Nine years. This girl had been sick for nine years.

"Would you let me examine you? I'm a healer, or was, in my old pack."

Hope flickered in her eyes. "Would you? Zane would be furious if he knew I was bothering you."

"You're not bothering me." I sat up carefully, fighting dizziness. "Come here."

She scooted closer. I placed my hands on her arms, letting my healing energy flow gently. What I found made me gasp.

"Your wolf," I breathed. "She's... locked?"

Luna's eyes went wide. "You can feel that?"

"Someone bound your wolf. That's why you're sick. Your body is fighting itself." I'd never seen anything like it. "This is old magic."

"Can you fix it?"

The hope in her voice broke my heart. "I can try. But it would take time. Multiple sessions."

"Then stay." She grabbed my hands. "Please. Take Zane's deal and stay."

Before I could respond, the door burst open. Alpha Frost filled the doorway, his ice-blue eyes furious.

"Luna, what are you doing here?"

"Talking to our guest." She lifted her chin defiantly. "She's nice. I like her."

His expression softened slightly. "You need rest. Go."

Luna squeezed my hand before leaving. "Think about it," she whispered.

Alone with the Alpha, the room felt smaller. He moved to the window, tension in every line of his body.

"My sister is off limits," he said quietly.

"She's sick. I could help her."

He turned, something dangerous flashing in his eyes. "Many have promised that. All have failed."

"I'm not them." I met his gaze steadily. "I felt something in her. Something wrong. If you let me try…"

"Is this your negotiation? Help Luna in exchange for protection?"

"No." I stood carefully, using the bed for support. "I'll help her regardless. No child should suffer like that."

He studied me for a long moment. "You mean that."

"I'm a healer. It's what I do."

"Did. Past tense. You're packless now, remember?"

The words stung, but I didn't flinch. "Healing doesn't require a pack."

A knock interrupted us. Sam, the Beta, entered with papers.

"The contract, as requested," he said, eyeing me curiously.

Alpha Frost took the papers, setting them on the bedside table. "One year. You act as my Luna. Public appearances, pack functions, the works. In return, I protect you and your pup. After one year, you're free to go wherever you want with a new identity."

I picked up the contract, reading carefully. It was thorough. Professionally done.

"What about my pup?"

"Will be raised as pack. Protected. Given every opportunity." He paused. "I won't claim to be the father, but I won't deny it either. Let people assume."

"And intimacy?"

"Not required. Separate rooms. This is business, nothing more."

I thought of Luna's hopeful eyes, of my pup growing inside me, of Garrett declaring me dead.

"One condition," I said.

His eyebrow raised.

"I want to train. Combat, defense, everything. I won't be weak anymore."

Something like approval flashed in his eyes. "Done."

I signed before I could change my mind. He signed after, the ink barely dry when another knock came.

"Alpha," a guard said urgently, "Silver Moon wolves at the border. Beta Storm demands proof of the trespasser's death."

My blood ran cold.

Alpha Frost's expression turned lethal. "He demands?"

"He says she was his mate. He has rights to the body."

"The body he created?" The temperature in the room seemed to drop. "Bring him to the main hall. Let's discuss his 'rights.'”

He turned to me. "Can you walk?"

"I…what?"

"Can you walk? Simple question."

I nodded, confused.

"Good. Get dressed. Something nice. We're about to give your former mate the shock of his life."

"You want me to face him? Now?"

"No." His smile was predatory. "I want to present my new Luna to a visiting Beta. Unless you'd rather hide?"

The challenge in his voice sparked something in me. "I'll need a dress."

"Sam will have one sent up. Twenty minutes, Luna Celeste."

Luna Celeste. The title felt foreign but somehow right.

As they left, I touched my stomach. "We're going to be okay, little one. This Alpha might be dangerous, but he's our savior now."

Fifteen minutes later, I stood before the mirror in a beautiful emerald dress that somehow fit perfectly. My hair was pulled back, revealing the bruises on my neck from the rejection.

"Ready?" Sam asked from the doorway.

"Yes," I admitted.

"Good. Honest Luna. That's refreshing." He offered his arm. "Fair warning, the Alpha's about to make a scene. He lives for the dramatic."

We walked toward the main hall, my heart pounding. Through the large doors, I heard Garrett's voice.

"...know she came this way. Her blood was at your border."

"Many die at my borders," Alpha Frost replied coldly. "Be specific."

"Celeste Winters. My... my former mate."

"The one you rejected while pregnant? That Celeste Winters?"

Silence.

Sam pushed open the doors. "Luna Celeste Frost, as requested, Alpha."

Every head turned. Garrett's face went white as death.

"Hello, Garrett," I said, surprising myself with how steady my voice was. "I heard you were looking for my body."

He stood frozen, mouth open. Behind him, several Silver Moon wolves looked equally shocked.

Alpha Frost moved to my side, his hand settling possessively on my lower back. The touch sent unexpected warmth through me.

"As you can see, Beta Storm, your former mate is very much alive. And very much mine now."

"That's... that's impossible," Garrett stuttered. "The rejection…"

"Failed," I said simply. "Turns out, the Moon Goddess doesn't approve of rejecting pregnant mates."

His eyes dropped to my stomach, still flat but holding life. "You were pregnant? And the pup?"

"Is under Crimson Shadow protection," Alpha Frost cut in. "As is its mother. My Luna."

"Your Luna?" Garrett's voice cracked. "She can't be your Luna! She's mine…"

"Was yours." The Alpha's voice turned deadly. "Until you threw her away like trash. Rather publicly, I heard."

Vera appeared in the doorway behind the Silver Moon wolves, her perfect face twisted with rage. "You're supposed to be dead!"

I smiled sweetly. "Sorry to disappoint."

She stepped forward, but Alpha Frost growled… a sound that made everyone freeze.

"Touch my Luna," he said softly, "and I'll return you to Silver Moon in pieces."

The threat hung in the air like ice.

Garrett finally found his voice. "This isn't over. She's carrying my pup…"

"Allegedly," Alpha Frost interrupted. "But even if true, you signed rejection papers. You have no claim."

"I'll fight this," Garrett snarled. "Pack law…"

"Pack law protects pregnant Lunas from harassment." Elder Meredith emerged from behind a pillar where she'd been watching. "Or did you forget that part, Beta Storm?"

What was the Silver Moon elder doing here?

She winked at me before addressing Garrett. "I've come to serve as witness. Luna Celeste is now officially under Crimson Shadow protection. Any action against her will be considered an act of war."

Garrett's face turned purple. "You betrayed your pack!"

"No, young fool. I upheld sacred law. Something you forgot when rejection mattered more than honor."

She turned to me, bowing slightly. "Luna Celeste. May you find here what Silver Moon denied you."

Alpha Frost's hand tightened on my back as Garrett took a threatening step forward.

"Leave," the Alpha commanded. "Now. Before I forget the peace between our packs."

Garrett's eyes met mine one last time. For a moment, I saw something crack in them. Regret? Or just wounded pride?

"This isn't over, Celeste," he said quietly.

Then they were gone, Vera dragging him out while shooting poisonous looks my way.

I sagged against Alpha Frost, exhaustion hitting like a wave.

"Well done, Luna," he murmured, steadying me.

"Did I really just do that?"

"You did." Was that pride in his voice? "Now, let's get you back to bed before you collapse and ruin our dramatic exit."

As he guided me away, I caught Elder Meredith's knowing smile.

"The Moon works in mysterious ways," she said softly.

I touched my stomach, thinking of the strange turn my life had

taken. From rejected and dying to protected Luna in one night.

Maybe the elder was right. Maybe this was always meant to happen.

But as I glanced at the dangerous Alpha beside me, I wondered what price I'd really pay for this protection.