Chapter 3

The Sterling Pack council chamber fell silent as Alexander called the meeting to order. I sat in my designated seat as Luna, hands folded protectively over my still-flat stomach. Three weeks had passed since discovering my pregnancy—and Alexander's betrayal with Sophia—yet he still refused to acknowledge our child. My wolf paced anxiously within me, sensing the tension in the room.

Alexander stood at the head of the long oak table, his commanding presence filling the space. "We need to discuss the northern territory expansion. The Blackwood Pack has shown interest in negotiating—"

A sharp gasp cut through his words. All heads turned toward Sophia, who had doubled over in her chair, one hand clutching her stomach, the other gripping the table edge.

"Alexander," she whimpered, her voice deliberately fragile. "Something's wrong."

In an instant, Alexander was at her side, his face transformed by concern I'd never seen directed at me. "What is it? What's happening?"

Sophia's eyes met mine across the table, a flash of triumph in them before she winced dramatically. "The baby... I think something's wrong with the baby."

The room went deadly quiet. My blood turned to ice in my veins. Baby? Her baby? My wolf howled in anguish within me as the implication became clear.

"Everyone out," Alexander commanded, his Alpha tone brooking no argument. "Except Dr. Hayes."

The pack members filed out, casting curious glances between Sophia, Alexander, and me. I remained frozen in my chair, unable to process what was happening.

"That includes you, Isabella," Alexander growled when he noticed I hadn't moved.

"Is she pregnant?" I asked, my voice barely audible. "With your child?"

Sophia moaned again, leaning into Alexander's chest. "It hurts, Alex."

"Get out!" he roared, his Alpha aura slamming into me with physical force.

I stumbled to my feet, steadying myself against the table. "How could you? I'm carrying your heir—"

"More lies," he snarled. "While Sophia has been suffering in silence, afraid to tell me about our child because of you."

Dr. Hayes entered hurriedly, medical bag in hand, her eyes carefully avoiding mine as she approached Sophia.

"This is ridiculous," I said, finding strength in my anger. "She's manipulating you. I'm the one who's actually pregnant—"

"Enough!" Alexander's Alpha tone hit me like a physical blow, making my knees buckle. "Your jealousy is pathetic. Sophia needs me now."

As I backed toward the door, Sophia caught my gaze over Alexander's shoulder. The pain in her expression vanished, replaced by a cold smile of victory. She wasn't in pain. There was no baby. This was all an elaborate performance—and Alexander had fallen for it completely.

---

Later that night, I paced our bedroom, waiting for Alexander to return. Dr. Hayes had confirmed hours ago that Sophia's "emergency" had been nothing more than stress and dehydration—no pregnancy. Yet Alexander hadn't come to apologize or even acknowledge the humiliation he'd put me through.

When the door finally opened, Alexander entered with a cold, detached expression that sent chills down my spine.

"Pack your things," he said without preamble.

My heart stuttered. "What?"

"You're moving to the guest quarters. Tonight."

I stared at him in disbelief. "This is our room. I'm your Luna, your mate—"

"And you've been nothing but trouble since Sophia's incident," he cut in. "She needs rest, away from your hostility."

"Hostility?" I echoed incredulously. "Alexander, she faked a pregnancy scare to manipulate you! Can't you see what she's doing?"

His eyes darkened dangerously. "The only manipulation I see is coming from you. Claiming to be pregnant, trying to turn me against my sister—"

"She's not just your sister anymore, is she?" I challenged, my voice breaking. "I know about the affair. I saw your messages, Alexander."

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—guilt, perhaps—but it was quickly replaced by cold fury. He stepped toward me, his Alpha aura expanding until it pressed against me like a physical wall.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Room," he growled, each word laced with his Alpha command.

When I didn't move fast enough, he grabbed my arm, his fingers digging painfully into my skin. With a forceful push, he propelled me toward the door, his supernatural strength sending me stumbling into the hallway.

"Alexander, please," I begged, one hand protectively covering my stomach. "Think about our baby."

"There is no baby," he said flatly, tossing my nightgown and a few personal items after me. "Just more of your lies."

The door slammed shut, the lock clicking with chilling finality.

I stood in the hallway, clutching my belongings to my chest, tears streaming down my face. Through the mate bond, I could feel nothing from him—just a cold, empty void where his love had once been.

---

The full moon hung heavy in the night sky, its silver light filtering through the small basement window. I pulled desperately at the door handle, panic rising in my throat.

"Alexander!" I screamed, pounding on the door. "You can't do this! Let me out!"

The basement walls seemed to close in around me, the silver-lined room designed to contain rogue wolves now becoming my prison. I could feel my wolf clawing desperately within me, the primal need to shift under the full moon becoming unbearable.

"Please!" My voice broke as pain rippled through my body. The full moon called to my wolf, demanding transformation, but the silver-infused walls suppressed it, creating an excruciating internal battle.

"It's for your own good," Alexander's voice came through the door, devoid of emotion. "Sophia says the stress of your false pregnancy claims could make you unstable during the shift. This is safer for everyone."

"She's lying!" I cried, another wave of pain doubling me over. "The silver... it's hurting the baby. Our baby, Alexander!"

Silence was his only response.

I collapsed to the floor, my body convulsing as my wolf fought against both the silver and the need to protect our unborn cub. Each wave of suppressed transformation sent daggers of pain through my abdomen.

"Moon Goddess, please," I whispered, curling into a ball as tears streamed down my face. "Protect my baby."

As the night wore on, the pain became unbearable. I felt something warm between my legs and looked down in horror to see blood staining my pants. A primal scream tore from my throat—not just from physical agony, but from the terrible knowledge of what was happening.

"ALEXANDER!" I howled, the sound more wolf than human despite my trapped form. "I'm losing our baby! Help me!"

Only silence answered as darkness began to close in around me, the mate bond between us stretched so thin I could barely feel it anymore. In that moment, as consciousness slipped away, I made a silent vow to the Moon Goddess:

I would survive this. And I would never forgive him.