The Vow He Broke

Chapter 2 The Omega's Parasite

Warriors shouted beyond the chamber while boots struck the temple floor in every direction. Kaelen moved to the doorway and began issuing orders.

"Seal the inner halls. Keep the curse-beasts away from the temple."

Lyra, the oldest pack healer, hurried past him with her herb satchel. Kaelen caught the doorframe and looked at her.

"Do whatever it takes. Save my son."

He left before Lyra reached the altar.

She checked the four wounds, then pressed both palms to my stomach. Her hands stayed there for several seconds. When she pulled them away, she was crying.

"Hush, child. I still have one thing to try."

From the bottom of her satchel, she took a small vial that gave off its own pale light. The pack had guarded that single dose for generations.

"The final drop of Moon-petal Nectar," she said. "If any part of him remains, this may call him back."

Lyra broke the wax seal. I held still, afraid even a breath might make her spill it.

Wooden wheels whispered over the floor. Lyra covered the open vial with one hand and turned toward the sound.

Selene rolled into the chamber in a polished oak wheelchair. Her hands rested neatly in her lap, and her eyes moved from Kaelen's empty place to the vial.

"Is she all right?" Selene asked. "I heard the alarms. I was worried for Kaelen and for the Luna."

Lyra turned her body between Selene and the altar. "Go back to your rooms."

"I only wanted to make sure."

Selene pushed forward. One wheel struck the altar base. Lyra's wrist jerked, and Moon-petal Nectar poured across the four punctures in my stomach.

The wounds began to burn. My back came off the stone before Lyra could pin my shoulders down. The Nectar hissed against my skin and left angry red trails through the black blood.

Selene leaned close while Lyra reached for clean cloth.

"A waste who can't protect her heir doesn't deserve to be Luna," she whispered. "Your bloodline is mine now."

Zane heard her. He crossed the chamber with his silver blade aimed at her throat.

"You witch!"

Kaelen appeared in the doorway and knocked him sideways. Zane hit the wall hard enough to c***k the stone, and his sword spun under the altar.

Kaelen planted himself in front of the wheelchair. "You dare threaten her?"

Zane pushed up on one arm. Blood ran from his mouth. "Alpha, you didn't hear what she said."

"I saw you draw on a helpless omega."

"Listen to Lyra!"

The healer was still holding my stomach. Her sleeves were soaked black.

"The pup is gone, Alpha," she said. "The curse has taken the Luna's womb as well. She can bear no more."

Kaelen looked at the place where our son had been. His fingers lifted toward me, then stopped. For a second, his eyes moved to the moonstone on my wrist.

"Kaelen." Selene let out a small cry behind him.

He bent and gathered her into his arms. Her wheelchair rolled backward and struck the wall.

At the door, he gave Lyra one last order. "Keep Elara alive."

Then he added, "We can have another child."

The temple answered with a c***k from far below. Every remaining ward stone went dark at once. The sound traveled through the foundations and shook the altar.

The last sacred ward had been bound to the pack's heir. With our son dead, the curse-beasts had a clear path inside.