Maeve's POV
"Run!" I gasped, dodging Ariana's grab for my arm. I ducked under a low branch and raced deeper into the forest.
"You can't escape me, little omega!" Ariana's voice called from behind. "This forest belongs to the pack. To MY pack soon!"
My heart hammered in my chest as I ran faster than I ever had before. One hand clutched my stomach, guarding my tiny secret. The baby. Raiden's baby. Our baby. The thought gave me strength to push forward.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed my shoulder. I screamed, spinning around with my hands ready.
"Maeve, it's me!" Luca's familiar face appears in the shadows. "What's happening?"
Before I could answer, he pulled me behind a giant oak tree, pressing a finger to his lips. We held our breath as Ariana rushed past, her golden hair flying behind her like angry flames.
When she was gone, Luca turned to me. "What did you do to make the future Luna chase you through the forest?"
"She knows," I mumbled, tears filling my eyes. "About me and Raiden. About... about the baby."
Luca's eyes widened. "Baby? Maeve, are you—"
"Pregnant? Yes." The word still felt strange on my tongue. "But Raiden doesn't want us. I heard him talking to Marcus. He called us a 'complication.'"
Luca's face hardened with anger. I'd never seen him look so fierce.
"We need to get you back to the pack house," he said, taking my hand. "There's an announcement happening soon. Everyone must attend."
"I can't face him," I begged. "Not now."
"You have to," Luca urged. "If you don't show up, it will look strange. Trust me, Maeve."
The walk back felt like marching to my death. Each step took all my strength. By the time we reached the pack grounds, wolves were already gathering in the center clearing. I kept my head down, finding a spot at the back of the crowd. Luca stood beside me like a silent guard.
Alpha Raiden emerged on the large rock platform that jutted from the pack house. My breath caught in my throat. Even now, knowing what I knew, my heart still jumped at the sight of him. He looked powerful standing there, his silver eyes scanning the room. Did they stay on me for a moment? I couldn't tell.
Beside him stood Ariana, somehow looking perfectly calm despite chasing me through the forest minutes earlier. Her smile gleamed like a cleaned knife.
"My pack," Raiden's words boomed across the clearing. "Today I bring you important news."
My stomach twisted, and not from the morning sickness this time.
"To strengthen our territory and ensure our future, I have made an alliance with the Northern Pack."
Murmurs spread through the crowd. The Northern Pack was known for their wealth and fighting strength, but also for their cold-blooded ways.
"To seal this alliance," Raiden continued, "I will take Ariana, daughter of Alpha Darius, as my Luna."
The words hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled backward, and only Luca's steady hand stopped me from falling.
"Our mating ceremony will take place in two weeks, under the blood moon," Raiden declared. "This union will bring prosperity and power to both packs."
The crowd exploded in cheers, but all I could hear was the sound of my heart breaking. My view blurred with tears. Through the wet haze, I saw Ariana step forward, her hand now linked with Raiden's.
"I'm honored to join your strong pack," she said sweetly. "And I look forward to serving as your Luna."
Her eyes found mine in the crowd, and her smile grew bigger. She knew I was watching. She was enjoying my pain.
"As my first act," she added, "I would like to request a personal healer. Someone to tend to me as I adjust to my new home." Her eyes never left mine. "I choose the omega healer, Maeve."
Gasps and whispers spread through the crowd. Everyone knew that personal healers were bound to their charges, needed to be available day and night. It was a "honor" that would keep me stuck at Ariana's side.
My legs trembled beneath me. This was her plan—to keep me close, to watch me suffer, perhaps even to harm my baby.
"A wise choice," Raiden agreed, though something flashed in his eyes. Doubt? Regret? It vanished too quickly to tell. "Maeve will attend to you starting tonight."
I couldn't move. Couldn't think. The cheers of the pack sounded far away, like I was underwater. Before anyone could stop me, I pushed through the crowd and ran toward the pack house. I didn't care who saw my tears now.
I found a quiet hallway and leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. How could this be happening? Just yesterday Raiden had held me in his arms, saying that I was special. That I wasn't like the others. Had it all been lies?
"Maeve."
His voice made me freeze. Slowly, I turned to face him. Raiden stood at the end of the hallway, his face a mask of conflicting feelings.
"Why?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Why did you lie to me?"
"I didn't lie," he said, moving closer. "What we had was real."
"Real?" I laughed bitterly. "You're marrying another woman!"
"It's not that simple," he growled, running a hand through his dark hair. "I'm the Alpha. The pack comes first."
"And what about this?" I pressed my hand to my stomach. "Does the pack come before your own child?"
Raiden's eyes widened. For a moment, he looked truly shocked. Then his face hardened again.
"You're pregnant?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," I whispered. "With your baby."
He closed his eyes briefly, as if in pain. When he opened them, they were cooler than I'd ever seen them.
"No one can know," he said simply. "The alliance with the Northern Pack is too important."
My heart shattered all over again. "So what am I meant to do? Pretend this baby doesn't exist?"
"For now, yes." His voice was firm, but his hands were clenched at his sides. "Maybe after the mating ceremony, we can find a way—"
"A way for what?" I cried. "For you to have your Luna and your secret omega on the side? For our child to grow up hidden away, knowing their father picked a political alliance over them?"
Raiden stepped forward, grabbing my arms. "You don't understand the pressure I'm under. The Northern Pack has been threatening our lines for years. This marriage stops a war!"
"And what about our child?" I asked again. "What happens to them?"
His grip on my arms relaxed. "I'll provide for you both. In secret."
I pulled away from him as if his touch burned. "No. I won't lie. I won't be your dirty secret."
"Maeve, please—"
"I loved you," I whispered, tears running down my face. "I actually thought you cared about me."
Something flashed in his silver eyes—pain, maybe even truth. "I do care about you. More than I should."
"Not enough," I said, backing away. "Not nearly enough."
I turned and ran, ignoring his calls to come back. My feet carried me through the pack house and out into the cool evening air. I didn't stop until I reached my house, slamming the door behind me.
Inside, I fell on my bed, sobs shaking my entire body. How had everything come apart so quickly? Yesterday I was special. Today I was nothing.
A soft knock on my door made me sit up. Had Raiden followed me?
"Maeve?" It was Luca's voice. "Are you okay?"
I wiped my tears and opened the door. Luca stood there, worry etched on his face. Behind him was Evelyn, her eyes equally worried.
"We saw what happened," Evelyn said, stepping inside and hugging me.
"Everyone did," Luca added grimly. "The whole pack is talking."
I pulled away from Evelyn's hug. "I don't care anymore. Let them talk."
"What will you do?" Evelyn asked. "About the baby?"
Before I could answer, another person appeared in my doorway. The tall, intimidating form of Marcus, Raiden's loyal guard.
"The Luna-to-be requests your presence," he said coldly. "Now."
"I'm not going," I stated, crossing my arms.
Marcus's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a request, omega. It's an order."
Luca stepped between us. "She needs rest. Tell Ariana she can wait until morning."
"Move aside," Marcus growled. "This doesn't concern you."
"Actually," said a new voice from behind Marcus, "it concerns all of us."
We all turned to see Ariana herself standing there, her blue eyes glinting with venom and something else—something that made my blood run cold.
"Especially," she said, stepping into my cottage uninvited, "when it involves a blood moon, an unborn child, and a ritual that requires..." she looked directly at my stomach, "a very special sacrifice."