(Audrey’s POV)
Saturday morning arrived with a strange heaviness in the air. The kind that made my chest feel tight and every step a little heavier. As I walked into the wolf healer’s den, my hand moved instinctively to my stomach.
It was a small, protective gesture I couldn’t seem to stop. A secret I hadn’t yet found the courage to share.
The healer had me lie on the examination bed, her gloved hands gentle as she touched my abdomen.
“Your pregnancy is right on track,” she said kindly, writing notes with a steady hand. “Five weeks in, and everything looks healthy.”
Her words filled me with a quiet relief, one that Grace shared. But they also brought another wave of anxiety.
“Would you like me to call your mate in? Some prefer their partners to hear everything firsthand,” she offered, setting the chart aside.
I tensed, knowing I wasn’t ready. “No. Not today,” I said quickly, earning a curious glance from her.
The healer didn’t press. “Of course. If you need anything else, let me know.”
As I stepped out into the warmth of the late morning sun, I felt Grace stir. My thoughts wandered to theMemorial Gardens where my parents rested, along with countless pack members lost over the years. It had been too long since I visited them.
The urge to go was strong, but telling Arthur about my pregnancy loomed larger in my mind. And I couldn’t decide what weighed heavier-his reaction or my own nerves.
The piercing chime of my phone pulled me back from my thoughts. I fished it out of my bag and saw Sarah’s name flashing across the screen.
“Well?” she asked the moment I picked up, her excitement palpable even through the phone. “Did you tell him? What’d he say about the pups?”
My breath caught slightly. I leaned against a tree for support, trying to steady my voice. “I didn’t tell him yet.”
There was a pause. Then her voice cut through sharply. “Audrey, why not? You said after the healer confirmed everything, you’d tell him.”
“I said I’d try,” I corrected softly. My free hand went to my stomach again, a movement Grace didn’t let me forget. “It’s just… not the right moment.”
“Not the right moment?” Sarah’s frustration was clear now. “If you keep waiting for the perfect moment, one might never come! Look, has he done something again? Is this about Victoria?”
Her directness caught me off guard. I could hear the unspoken anger in her voice, and it made my chest tighten. I didn’t want to admit it, but maybe Sarah already knew the answer.
“It’s not just about her,” I murmured. “Everything is unstable. It feels like… like I’m constantly standing on thin ice.”
Sarah softened her voice, but her persistence didn’t waver. “The necklace-didn’t that get resolved at least?
You’ve mentioned it’s been dealt with.”
I let out a tired breath, shifting where I stood. “Almost resolved,” I said reluctantly. My mind flashed back to the memory of Victoria’s smug smile as she returned the diamond necklace. “But honestly? That feels minor in the grander scheme of things now.”
Another pause. Then, quieter, she said, “You’re scared, aren’t you?”
I closed my eyes, the words hitting far too close to the truth.
“Wouldn’t you be?” I whispered.
ーー
By the afternoon, I was back at the Moonstone Therapy Center, busy with patient appointments and scholarly work. Everything should’ve felt routine, even calming. But instead, I found my mind drifting as I walked into the break room to grab a quick cup of herbal tea.
Inside, two pack members were deep in conversation, their tones low and conspiratorial. I recognized them as lower-ranked wolves, frequent office gossips I usually tried to avoid. Their words, however, made me freeze mid-step.
“Did you hear about Luna Audrey and Alpha Arthur?”
The second woman leaned closer. “What now?”
“They say the mate bond between them is weakening.
Victoria has been spending such a suspicious amount of time at the pack house…”
Before they could continue, I cleared my throat loudly, stepping fully into view. Both women snapped their heads toward me, their faces paling as they found me standing there. The guilt was written all over their expressions.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” I said evenly, moving toward the herbal tea on the counter. I kept my tone calm, but inside, Grace growled in disapproval.
The break room door creaked open, and the familiar scent of lavender hit me before her voice.
“You certainly know how to command a room, Audrey,” Victoria said lightly, walking in with her ever-perfect poise. She looked at me like I was some sort of puzzle that refused to solve itself.
I didn’t respond, focusing instead on pouring honey into my tea. These little rituals grounded me when I felt the walls closing in.
“How do you do it?” Victoria pressed, her tone curious now, but not the good kind of curious.
I turned to face her. “Do what, exactly?”
“Stay so composed,” she replied, tilting her head as if genuinely pondering the question. “Whether you win or lose, you always seem so… unaffected. It’s fascinating. I can’t figure out if it’s strength or something else entirely.”
Her words hit a nerve. I clutched my tea tighter and took a steadying breath. “Not everyone needs to turn every little thing into a performance,” I said plainly.
Her smile remained, but her blue eyes darkened. “The game isn’t over yet, you know.”
She was baiting me-that much was obvious. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction.
It was Daniel Hayes. “Just a detail about the new pack contract, Luna. But this issue can wait for Monday if Arthur’s busy.”
I nodded firmly. “We’ll handle it then.” Hanging up, I handed the phone back to Arthur without a word.
Later that night, the day’s events finally caught up with me. The pregnancy fatigue I had been battling finally took over, and I sank into the bed almost immediately after dinner.
But I woke in the middle of the night, puzzled by the empty space beside me. The distinct sound of Arthur’s voice carried in from the balcony.
…l don’t care what she’s threatening!” he growled angrily. His tone was sharp, commanding-undeniably the Alpha speaking.
Curiosity and unease got the better of me. I crept closer, standing just inside the doorway to hear him more clearly.
“Silver poisoning herself? Don’t let her do anything drastic, but don’t indulge her, either. Get medical attention if needed!”
His frustration filled the air like a tangible force.
“And make sure she understands this. I will not sever my mate bond with Audrey-end of discussion. Relay that message clearly to Victoria.”
Grace whined softly somewhere in the back of my mind, the sound tearing through my chest as I mover silently back to bed.
Arthur rejoined me minutes later, sliding under the covers and pulling me into his arms.
When morning came, Arthur was gone. Whatever comfort his presence had provided during the might was fleeting.
Mary Bennett met me in the hallway as I searched for him. Her kind eyes held just a hint af cancem as ste spoke
“The Alpha left early, Luna. Something urgent from the pack council came up.”
Still uneasy from the night before, I called his phone
“Audrey,” he answered immediately, his voice steady yet apologetic.
“Arthur, where are you?”
He sighed heavily. “I’m sorry. I should’ve let you know earlier. I won’t be able to accompany you to the healer today.”
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