The Luna Who Burned The Crown

Episode 03

Jessica's POV

“Don't die on me, Crystal,”

My hands were trembling by the time I pressed the damp cloth to Crystal’s burning forehead for the fifth time that night. Her little cheeks, normally rosy and bright, were flushed a deep red, and her breaths came out in ragged, shallow pants.

“Mommy... it hurts...” she whimpered weakly, barely able to open her eyes.

“I know, sweetheart. I know,” I whispered, forcing my voice to remain steady even though I felt like screaming. “Just hold on, okay? Mommy’s going to fix this.”

I ran to the heavy wooden door and pounded against it with both fists. “Someone! Please! My daughter needs a healer! She has a fever—she’s burning up!”

No response.

I pounded again, harder this time. “You can’t ignore this! She’s a child!”

Silence. I staggered back to Crystal’s side, wiping the sweat from her brow. Her skin felt like fire beneath my fingertips.

I tried calling again, using the emergency pack link this time. To any healer—anyone. Crystal is sick. She needs help immediately. She’s running a dangerously high fever. Please!

There was no dial tone. Of course, what was I thinking? It was dead. The small opening on the iron gate opened and a guard peeped inside.

“All healers are currently attending to Luna Tiffany. She’s unwell with stomach pains. Orders from the Alpha.”

“Stomach pains? Stomach pains?” I repeated, but before I could say more, he had shut the opening.

“My daughter is seven! She has a fever that could cook her brain! And you’re telling me no one can come because Tiffany has a stomachache?”

No reply.

“Unbelievable,” I hissed under my breath, pacing the room like a caged animal. “I’ve helped birth half the children in this pack and I get all of these?”

I gripped the metal bed frame to steady myself as dizziness hit me. My blood was boiling hotter than Crystal’s fever. “They all worship her like she’s the Moon Goddess just because she’s supposedly pregnant with a boy…”

I spun around and glared at the door.

“I’m warning you all!” I shouted, hoping someone beyond it could hear. “If anything happens to my daughter, I will make you regret every second of your silence!”

Still nothing. Just the echo of my voice bouncing off the stone walls.

I rushed back to Crystal’s side, pressing my forehead to hers. “You’re going to be okay, baby,” I whispered, rocking her gently. “Mommy’s here. Mommy’s not going anywhere.”

Hours passed. She was tightly close to my chest, as I held her and whispered stories to keep her conscious. I’d already torn up one of my dresses to wrap around her to keep her dry, but her breathing grew shallower. Her skin went from burning to frighteningly cold.

I lost track of how many times I had begged. I even screamed toward the tiny window high above the wall, hoping the Moon Goddess herself would take pity on us.

Then… I heard footsteps. I stood, my body aching from the hard floor, and faced the door. It creaked open slowly and soon, light flooded into the dark room.

Then, I saw him. Asher.

“Asher,” I breathed. “Thank the goddess. Crystal—she’s not okay. She’s burning up. I’ve been calling for help for hours. Please, we need a healer right now—”

He didn’t move. He just stood there, arms crossed over his broad chest, eyes scanning the room like he’d walked into a foreign area.

My relief was beginning to disappear, and I saw why—Tiffany. She followed immediately after him, placing a firm hand on his arm, as if walking had become difficult for her.

She was dressed in silk—soft pink, loose enough to hide the slight curve of her stomach. The gleam in her eyes betrayed the real reason she’d followed him here.

“Jessica,” she said sweetly, feigning surprise. “You look awful.”

A healer excused himself through their midst and went to check on Crystal. I turned to confirm he was on her case, before I decided to answer Tiffany.

“You were never sick,” I said, my voice struggling to come out. “Were you?”

Tiffany tilted her head, fake innocence all over her eyes. “What are you saying, Jess? I was in pain. You heard the healers—”

“No,” I cut her off. “The healers were told you were in pain. By you. You knew Crystal had a fever and still—still—you called every healer in this pack to your side for a fake stomach ache.”

“Jessica,” Asher growled, stepping forward. “Watch your tone.”

I turned to him slowly. “You came here… not because you were worried about your daughter, but because she said I was hogging the pack’s resources.”

His eyes narrowed. “Tiffany is carrying my heir. She told me she was in agony and that no one was attending to her because you made a scene and dragged everyone to this side of the compound.”

I felt like the air had been knocked out of me. “So you believed her?” I whispered. “Without even checking Crystal first? You didn’t ask if your daughter was alive or dead?”

“She’s sick,” he snapped. “Not dying.”

“How would you know?” I said, taking a step forward. “You haven’t even looked at her.”

Tiffany coughed delicately. “It’s not my fault if the entire medical team chose to prioritize me. I didn’t force them. Maybe if you weren’t so dramatic—”

“You lied,” I shouted. “You knew she had a fever and you still acted like your baby was more important—”

“I am carrying the next Alpha!” she cried, her eyes holding fake tears.

“Not yet you’re not!” I snapped. “Crystal is still his daughter. Or have you both decided she’s no longer worth that title because of me?”

Tiffany’s lips trembled. Then, with perfect theatrics, she suddenly clutched her belly and gasped. “Ahh—Asher! I think—oh goddess—it hurts—”

Her knees buckled as if rehearsed, and she collapsed into his arms.

“Tiffany!” Asher’s voice turned soft, frantic. “Don’t push yourself. You shouldn’t have walked here—guards! Get help!”

“Unbelievable,” I muttered, backing away.

“You’ve done enough damage tonight,” he snapped at me, not even looking back. “Get out of my sight.”

Before I could respond, the healer called my attention from behind me. We all turned.

“Luna,” his face sour. “I managed to bring her fever down, but…”

“But what?” I fired immediately.

He hesitated. “She’s unconscious now. And… because of the delay in treatment, there’s a high chance she may not wake up again.”