The Lycan King's Accused Luna

Aria POV Another plague had reached our territories again. I stood, among the quarantined pups in Tauris, quill in hand as I jotted down observations on my scroll. The little ones played around me despite being sick, their energy endless. Elias, the Beta of Tauris Pack, stood beside me, trying to hold the kids climbing on top of the walls and destroying everything around us. One pup had chewed through a wooden post. Another had knocked over a water bucket and was now rolling in the mud. A third was halfway up the roof. The plague was common among young pups. It made their wolves more aggressive and hyperactive. It was kind of cute, if you didn't think about the deadly aftereffects. "You're really struggling with them," I said, laughing as a little girl latched onto his leg while he carried a small boy in his arms. Elias shot me a tired smile, his shirt torn at the sleeve, sweat on his brow. "Aren't they meant to be crying and sleeping? Why are they so happy?" “That's what I want to observe.” I ruffled the ears of one of the pups in wolf form. “Their wolves seem more hyperactive than usual. Aggressive, too. Did you see how that one snapped at the other?” Elias nodded, finally dropping the kids down. "Logan hasn't given you the resources we need yet. We need them now to find a cure." "He's busy with our travels. The letter won't reach him very soon, Elias. Relax." I scolded him, knowing he was about to go on a rant. Elias's jaw tightened. "Logan. He is always traveling, Aria. Always leaving you alone to care for this pack while he chases whatever it is he chases." I shot him a sharp look. "That is no way to talk about your Alpha." He sighed, looking away. "I'm sorry. I'm just stressed from having to deal with these little gremlins." He said it, but I knew that was a lie. He just didn't like Logan for some reason, despite them working hand in hand. Logan also didn't like Elias. But ironically enough, Logan respected him. They knew how to set their differences aside when they had to work together. A little girl ran past me, clutching a small doll to her chest. Her mother sat nearby, watching with a soft smile. I looked down at my belly, at the flat curve of my stomach that had remained stubbornly empty for five years. "Besides," I added, "I haven't given him any pup. He has every right to be disappointed. This is the least I can do for him." Elias's jaw tightened. "Aria..." "Five years." I forced a smile. "Five years of trying. Five years of hoping. And still nothing." Elias ran a hand through his hair. "That's not your fault. You know that, right?" I didn't answer. Because I didn't believe it. I turned back to my scroll, forcing myself to focus on my work. I reviewed my notes from yesterday, comparing them to today's observations. But I could feel Elias watching me from the corner of my eye. His gaze lingered on me, solemn and unreadable. I had never been able to read him. Not really. Being surrounded by the pups made my inadequacy feel so much worse. Logan's words from last month returned to me. “What's the point of your research if you can't figure out why you're barren?” If I had given him a pup by now, maybe he would be happier with me. Maybe he would actually appreciate the knowledge I had spent years building. A little boy latched onto my leg, looking up at me with wide eyes, almost shifted. I chuckled softly, dropping my things down and picking him up. Even with everything, there were still moments when I felt happy I was Luna. And I would prove that I deserved the title. ---- By the time I made it back to the estate, the sun was setting. I was exhausted, my back aching. I couldn't wait to sink into a warm bath with sweet honey-scented candles. Then I saw it. Logan's wagon was parked in front of the estate. My heart leaped. He was home. He was finally home. I smiled, my steps quickening. "He's here! I wasn't expecting him until next week." Elias said nothing. His jaw tightened, but I didn't notice. I was too happy. I laughed and waved over my shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow, Elias. Go rest!" I ran inside, eager to see my mate. Logan may have been disappointed in me, but he also respected me. He knew how much I had done for this pack. He would be glad to see me. I entered the estate and made my way to the main parlor. And I froze. Logan was seated in the chair by the fire. My sister Natalia was beside him. His hand was wrapped around her shoulder, his arm draped over her stomach. My parents were there too, seated together, their faces bright with pride. My brother Victor stood nearby, looking smug. "Finally, a beautiful heir for the pack!" my mother exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "I knew Natalia was the right choice." Natalia smiled, one hand resting on her rounded belly. "I'm sorry I ran away all those years ago," she said softly. "I should have stayed." Victor placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault, Natalia. Aria stole what was supposed to be yours. You were supposed to be Luna." I froze. My voice was gone. But I forced myself to speak. "What are you talking about?" Everyone turned toward me. My mother's smile faded. My father's eyes went cold. Victor looked annoyed. Logan stood up slowly. "Good. You're here." His voice was flat. "Let's get this over with. We're severing the bond." "What?" The word came out as a whisper. Logan sighed and pulled Natalia closer. "Natalia is carrying my child, Aria." I stared at him. At my sister in his arms. At her rounded belly. "But... she wasn't here. You were traveling." Natalia sighed, looking at me with false sympathy. "Logan has been visiting me, Aria. I hope you're not mad." "Visiting you," I repeated. My legs were shaking. My father spoke from his seat, his voice cold. "You know your sister always wanted to be Luna. She and Logan were in love. But you came and took it away." "Took it away?" My voice rose. “The pack chose me. Natalia left years ago. I stayed. I ruled. I handled every crisis that came to our region, sat through endless council meetings, and found resources when our merchants were struggling. The elders chose me!” "But you couldn't bear a child," Logan cut in. "That's all that matters to me. If we can't have children, who will lead my pack in the future?" I stared at him, my throat tight. Logan sighed. "I appreciate what you did while I was gone. But it's over. Natalia will be Luna now." Victor laughed from his seat, shooting me a look of pure contempt. He was a lazy man who lounged around the estate and ordered the staff around. I'd sent him away for his behavior. Seeing him sitting there now, smug as ever, I could only assume Natalia had convinced Logan to bring him back. I looked at Logan and stepped closer. "Logan, please. You can't do this. Natalia doesn't understand the responsibility. And my parents, Victor, when they lived here, they—" "Shut up." My father's voice was sharp and panicked. He was trying to cut me off. It was clear they didn't want me to tell Logan about the gambling—the reason my family had gone bankrupt. They had used Natalia to get close to Logan's family when we were children, hoping to secure themselves a place of power through her. I tried again. "Logan—" Logan raised his hand. "Aria, don't beg. Just accept this. We sever the bond tomorrow." I looked at my family. My mother, who had never been proud of me. My father, who had always favored Natalia. My brother, who had always resented me. And I saw nothing but strangers. Logan loved Natalia. His desire for a child had blinded him. I couldn't recognize the logical man I had loved. He would regret this. And hopefully, when he did, he would come running to me. I held back my tears. I turned to walk away, but Natalia's voice stopped me. "Oh, Aria?" Her smile was sweet. "Don't worry. You can still help me raise my child when I get too busy acting as Luna." I stumbled out of the estate. My legs gave way beneath me, and I collapsed onto the cold stone floor of the courtyard, tears streaming down my face. Elias rushed toward me, his face pale. He dropped to his knees beside me, gripping my shoulders. "What happened?" His voice was urgent. "Aria, what happened?" "L-Logan," I choked out. "He wants to sever our bond. He got my sister pregnant." Elias's eyes widened. "Natalia is back?" He shook his head. Then he pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. "He can't sever your bond, Aria. It will hurt you. Breaking a bond with a wolf is dangerous. It could kill you." I leaned into him, my heart shattering. "Just take me away from here," I whispered. "Please, Elias. Just take me away." His expression hardened. He helped me to my feet, keeping an arm around me as he led me away from the estate. "I will not let them destroy you," he said, his voice low and fierce. "We will fix this. I swear it on my life." — I was seated in an armchair in a simple cabin, holding a cup of tea. The warmth of the cup seeped into my cold fingers, but I barely felt it. Elias stood before me, pacing restlessly. His boots scuffed against the wooden floor, and I could see the tension coiled in his shoulders. "The elders will not agree to Logan severing your bond," he said, his voice sharp with barely contained fury. "You were the chosen Luna. The whole pack respects you. The soldiers revere you." I stared down at the tea, watching the ripples form as my hands trembled. "While Logan was traveling to impregnate your sister, you were here helping our pack, Aria." Elias's voice cracked with emotion. "So stop crying. No one is letting you leave your post." I sighed. "He's the Alpha. When Logan wants something, he gets it." I sniffled as my tears spilled faster. "I couldn't give him a pup, and he has been in love with Natalia since we were pups, Elias. I cannot do anything. There is nothing I can do. I just have to make sure I survive the severing of the bond. A lot of people have survived it." "You could die, Aria!" Elias dropped to his knees before me, his hands gripping mine around the cup. His eyes burned with desperation. "If you sever your bond, your wolf will grow weak and cold. You could die. Do you understand that? The bond breaking could kill you. I will not allow this. The elders will not allow this. We will fight this together." I looked down at him. He had always been so devoted to me. I had never understood why. He was Logan's right-hand man, not mine. "Elias, please," I whispered. "Remember, he is still your Alpha." Elias's jaw tightened. His eyes burned with something fierce and protective. His grip on my hands tightened. "He may be my Alpha," he said slowly, his voice dropping to a low growl. "But you are my Luna. And I will protect you with my life. I do not care what title he holds. I do not care what the pack says. You are the one who has earned my loyalty, not him." I stared at him, startled by the intensity in his voice. "Elias..." He released my hands and stood. "I will speak with the elders tomorrow," he said firmly. "Rest for now, Aria." I watched him walk away. The door closed behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts. All I could do was hope Logan would come back to me when he realized his mistake.