The Alpha's Unwanted Mate

Chapter 11: The Luna's Secret

Aria woke up to the smell of herbs and Damien's worried face.

"She's been out for hours, Alpha." The pack healer, an old woman named Mira, pressed fingers to Aria's wrist. "Pulse is weak but..."

Damien gripped Aria's hand. "But what?"

Mira's eyes widened. She looked at Aria, then at Damien. Then she fell to her knees and bowed. "Congratulations, Alpha. Luna Aria carries your heir."

Silence.

Damien froze. "What did you say?"

"She is pregnant." Mira smiled. "Two weeks. The Luna carries the future Alpha of Shadow Moon Pack."

Aria's eyes flew open. "Pregnant? But... we only..." Her face went red. The night in the cabin. The bond. Damien's curse.

Damien's Alpha aura exploded with joy. He pulled Aria into his arms and crushed her to his chest. "A baby? Our baby?"

Aria touched her stomach, still flat. Shocked. "But your curse... you kill every mate you touch..."

Damien kissed her forehead, her nose, her lips. "Not you. The Moon Goddess wouldn't give me a curse and a child. You broke it, Aria. Your love broke it."

Word spread through the pack in minutes. Wolves howled outside the window. "ALL HAIL THE FUTURE ALPHA!"

Beta Kyle burst in. "The pack demands to see Luna and the heir!"

Damien stood, holding Aria like she was made of glass. He carried her to the balcony. Fifty wolves knelt below.

"Luna Aria carries my son!" Damien roared. "The next Alpha of Shadow Moon Pack!"

The pack erupted. Howling. Crying. Bowing.

But Aria saw fear in some eyes. An elder whispered, "A half-blood heir? An omega's child?"

Aria heard it. Gold eyes flashed. Even pregnant, she was Luna.

She stepped forward, Damien's arm around her waist. "This child is not half-blood. This child is Alpha blood. Luna blood. Royal blood." She placed a hand on her stomach. "And anyone who disrespects my son will answer to me."

Damien smiled at her. Proud. Fierce. "She is right. Our child is the future. And I will kill anyone who threatens them."

Aria leaned into him. Scared but strong. "Twins?" She whispered to him only.

Damien's eyes widened. "What?"

Aria's Wolf spoke in her mind: *Two hearts beat inside me, mate.*

Damien looked at her stomach in shock, then joy. "Twins... We are having twins, Aria."

Aria smiled. Tired but happy. "Luna's don't run anymore. Luna's build dynasties."

She fainted again. This time from happiness.

Damien caught her. "I will protect you both. With my life."

Outside, the whole pack howled for the future Alphas.

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To be continued...