LUNA ELARA

Chapter 3

The room fell silent at Kaelen's accusation. His words hung in the air. Elara felt as if she'd been slapped.

"How dare you?" she whispered, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. "I have been faithful to you, even when you cast me aside. This child is yours, Kaelen, whether you want to believe it or not."

The Alpha Mother scoffed. "Convenient timing, isn't it? Just when you're about to be replaced, you suddenly claim to be pregnant."

Elara turned to her, her eyes blazing. "I didn't choose this timing. If you recall, I was cast out weeks ago. I've been living in the servants' quarters, treated like less than nothing. Why would I lie now?"

Lyra, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Maybe... maybe we should hear her out?" Her voice was small, uncertain.

Kaelen shot her a glare before turning back to Elara. "Fine. Explain yourself, Elara. How can you be so sure?"

Elara took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Dr. Alaric confirmed it. I'm ten weeks along. You can ask him yourself if you don't believe me."

A murmur ran through the council. Kaelen's face paled slightly at the mention of the timeline. He knew as well as she did when this child was conceived.

"If this is true," one of the elder council members spoke up, "it changes everything. The pack laws are clear. The first-born child of the Alpha pair is the heir, regardless of... other circumstances."

The Alpha Mother sputtered in protest, but Kaelen held up a hand to silence her. His eyes were fixed on Elara, searching her face for any sign of deception.

"We'll need to confirm this with Dr. Alaric," he said finally. "And if it's true..." He trailed off, leaving the implications hanging in the air.

Elara lifted her chin, meeting his gaze steadily. "When it's confirmed, I expect to be reinstated as Luna. This is my child, Kaelen. Our child. And I won't let anyone take that away from me."

The room erupted into chaos again. The pack council kept whispering at each other. Through it all, Elara stood firm, one hand protectively over her stomach.

As the shouting reduced drastically, a sharp pain suddenly cut through her abdomen. She gasped, doubling over.

The room fell silent once again as all eyes turned to her. Kaelen half-rose from his seat, an unfamiliar look of concern on his face.

Lyra, who had been quiet until now, spoke up with a sneer, "Oh, how convenient. Feeling ill just when things aren't going your way, Luna?"

Elara glared at her, trying to straighten up despite the pain. "This isn't... an act," she managed to say through gritted teeth.

Her former friend's eyes were cold as she looked at her. There was no trace of the girl Elara once considered her closest friend. "Of course not," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've always had impeccable timing, haven't you?"

Elara scanned the room, looking for a friendly face, but found none. Even the council members who seemed sympathetic earlier now regarded her with suspicion.

"I need to see Dr. Alaric," she said, her voice stronger now despite the pain. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her weak.

Kaelen nodded curtly. "Fine. But you'll be escorted. We can't have you... collaborating with the doctor."

As if on cue, two burly pack guards appeared at her side. Elara straightened her spine, refusing to lean on them despite the pain still coursing through her. As they left the room, she caught a final glimpse of Lyra's triumphant smile and Kaelen's conflicted expression.

The walk to Dr. Alaric's clinic felt endless. With each step, Elara was aware of the precariousness of her situation. This baby was her only hope, her only leverage. She couldn't let anything happen to it.

The examination with Dr. Alaric was tense, with the guards watching every move. Despite their presence, Dr. Alaric maintained his professionalism.

"Well, Luna," he said after a thorough check-up, "I can confirm that you are indeed pregnant, about ten weeks along. The pain you experienced was likely due to stress, but the baby appears to be healthy."

Elara nodded, relief washing over her. "Thank you, Doctor."

As they made their way back to the council chamber, she steeled herself for what was to come. The guards flanked her closely, as if she might try to escape at any moment.

When they entered, all eyes turned to them. Kaelen stood, his face unreadable. "Well?" he demanded.

One of the guards stepped forward. "Dr. Alaric confirmed it, Alpha. She is pregnant."

A hush fell over the room. Elara lifted her chin, meeting Kaelen's gaze steadily.

After what felt like an eternity, Kaelen spoke. "Very well. The child is the heir to this pack." He paused, his jaw clenching. "However, this doesn't change the fact that I've chosen Lyra as my mate."

Elara's heart sank, but she kept her face neutral. She wouldn't let them see how much his words hurt.

"Luna Elara will be moved to suitable quarters befitting the mother of the future Alpha," Kaelen continued. "She will receive all necessary care and protection. But Lyra remains by my side as Luna."

Lyra smirked triumphantly, linking her arm through Kaelen's. Elara fought the urge to look away.

"Is that understood?" Kaelen asked, his eyes boring into hers.

She nodded stiffly. "Yes, Alpha."

"Good. You'll be escorted to your new quarters immediately. The pack will be informed of the situation."

As she was led out of the room, Elara caught a final glimpse of Lyra's smug face and Kaelen's impassive expression. The door closed behind her with a finality that felt like a physical blow.

The new room they took her to was indeed nicer than the servants' quarters - spacious, with a comfortable bed and large windows overlooking the Silverridge forest. But it felt like a gilded cage.

As soon as the door closed behind the guards, leaving her alone, the emotions she'd been holding back crashed over her. She sank to the floor, her back against the bed, and finally let the tears fall.

She cried for the love she'd lost, for the future she once dreamed of, for the child growing inside her who would be born into this complicated, painful situation. But even as she wept, a small part of her felt a flicker of determination.

This wasn't over. She might not be Luna in name anymore, but she was carrying the future Alpha. And for her child's sake, she'd find a way to navigate this new reality.

As her tears slowly subsided, she placed a hand on her stomach. "It's you and me now, little one," she whispered. "And I promise, I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."