CHAPTER 7
1226 Words
"Seraphina!"
With genuine terror, the type he seldom showed the pack, Alaric's voice pierced the cacophony.
It was barely audible to me.
Stone ran up to me, cold and uncompromising, and suddenly powerful arms held me before my knees reached the floor, and the world tilted, and the sound stretched and shifted like if I were going under.
There was a lot of hubbub in the council room.
"Remove yourself!""
"Call the healer right away!"
"What is the matter with her?""
I grabbed my stomach and took quick breaths. The word "pain" wasn't appropriate. Stress was the cause. warmth. I became acutely aware that the bond's powerful surge was causing a reaction in something weak within of me.
My wolf, frightened and protective, said, "Easy." *You're frightening them.
I didn't feel scared for myself.
I was afraid of what he might discover.
Alaric grasped my face and opened my eyes, saying, "Look at me." His hand trembled. "Stay with me, Seraphina."
I said, "I... I'm here," despite the fact that my eyesight was hazy around the edges.
I felt overwhelmed and safe as his scent enveloped me. Alpha. A friend. At home. Weakly, the bond flashed as though it were attempting but failing to respond to him.
He was more afraid of that than he was of my disintegration.
Someone remarked, "She's on fire,"
Alaric's Alpha voice shook the room as he yelled, "I told you to call the healer!" Fear immediately caused everyone to pay attention, and the room became silent.
Strong hands lifted me, and I barely sensed the movement as Alaric carried me out, his heart hammering against my cheek despite his steady, fast feet.
Silently, and more to himself than to me, he muttered, "You should have told me,"
What did you say?
That I was shattering?
That *we* were?
Moonspire's corridors smudged by, and I concentrated on breathing, on avoiding fainting, on hiding the truth for a few more seconds.
---
I was awakened by the scent of moonwater and plants.
I lay on a large bed, the covers too tight about me, the healer's room dimly lighted, the runes on the walls glowing with a gentle light.
I immediately became frantic.
I was pushing myself too hard.
"Don't." murmured a composed voice, "You'll make it worse."
I halted my motion.
Dr. Elias Rowan stood by the bed, his black eyes full of concern; he was one of the few who could enter Moonspire without issue, having been taught by a pack yet born human.
Then he remarked, "You fell down," "Once more, if you're not careful."
"Once more?""My voice was hoarse.
He gave me a look and said, "You've been pushing your body for weeks, Luna." Stress like that produces scars.
I took a swallow. "Where's the Alpha?"
Elias paused to reflect.
I could tell everything from that pause.
"He's outside." Elias added cautiously, "And he wants answers."
My chest constricted. "Have you spoken to him?"
He said, "Not yet." "But I can't lie to my Alpha if he asks the right questions."
Someone knocked on the door before I could respond.
Without a question, it opened.
Alaric took over.
I was halted in my tracks by his face.
This was definitely not distance, nor was it rage.
There was hardly any control over this anxiety.
Silence rushed through the room as the healer bowed and slipped out, shutting the door behind him.
Alaric did not approach.
"That pain," he uttered softly, "that bond rise." Elowen wasn't there.
I remained silent.
My hands, curled protectively over my stomach, caught his attention.
Then my face again.
"You're keeping something from me." "Something real." Something, he wrote. alive.
I halted breathing.
"I felt it," he murmured softly, "but not out of guilt. via the connection. Another heartbeat was heard.
The space seemed more intimate.
Saying in a whisper, "You're making things up."
He took a step forward. "Don't."
The single word was laden with caution. "Don't lie to me again; it's an insult."
Tears were burning in my eyes. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
He clenched his jaw. "To happen?" “
The words became trapped in my throat as I shook my head. "I was waiting for the moment when you used to give me that look.
He yelled, "That's not an answer," but he paused and inhaled. "Seraphina." Please.
Please.
Anger was not as bad as that.
I said, "I was afraid that you would see this as a show of weakness. worried that Elowen would accept it. I was worried that the relationship might entirely shatter if I told you while it was already weak.
I was more frightened by the softening of his eyes than by his rage.
His question was, "How long?"
I considered it for a moment.
"How. "Long."
"Long enough that it has a heartbeat." I closed my eyes.
The hush that followed was awful.
Alaric's breath shook and he stepped back, leaning against the wall for support.
"What you're saying is that you're—" he whispered.
The door swung open.
With ease, she said, "Elowen Ravaryn doesn't wait outside like a servant," entering as though fate had summoned her.
Turning around, Alaric said, "Get out."
Instead of listening to him, she fixed me with a piercing, calculating gaze, her eyes settling on my tummy, and for a minute, a dark expression appeared on her face.
I understand.
She said, "Oh," "so that's why the bond isn't working."
Alaric became motionless.
"What just did you say?"," he inquired.
Elowen grinned and said, "You were unaware? How sad.
Fury pierced my frailty as I forced myself to stand. "Go away." "Now."
"She can't," Elowen stated simply. "Not anymore."
Alaric's expression alternated between shock and bewilderment as he glanced between us. "What is she talking about?"
Elowen c****d her head to the side and said, "Alpha, the council's rules are extremely clear. A Luna who conceals information that might lead to problems for the pack—
"I told you to leave!" screamed Alaric.
However, it was too late.
"Well done, Seraphina." You just disobeyed the law, Elowen said, turning to face me with a voice like poison wrapped in silk.
My heart pounded.
"Traitor?""I repeated.
"Yes," she replied. "By hiding an heir while the Alpha's bond is in question."
Alaric looked directly into my eyes.
"Heir?" he said, his voice harsh this time.
The word hung like a knife in the air.
I stared at him—the man I loved, the Alpha who struggled with duty and love, the mate whose world I was about to ruin.
I said, "I wanted to tell you," and tears began to fall. "I just didn't want it to be this way."
It was difficult to hear him because he spoke so softly.
"Tell me what, Seraphina?"
I parted my lips—
Before I could respond, the healer returned to the room, his face pallid.
Elias hurriedly said, "Alpha," "The council has used an emergency order."
With haste, Alaric turned. "What order?""
Elias inhaled deeply. "People are calling for the Luna to be taken down from Moonspire right away, pending an investigation."
Elowen grinned still wider.
The bond screamed, and I heard it.
Alaric gazed at me as if he were going to make a decision that would be impossible—
One that would permanently alter our lives.
- Writer
