My Alpha Chose My Killer Over Our Unborn Child

The pack hall buzzed with excitement as I lay in my bed, listening to the commotion through the partially open door. My body had begun to heal, but my wolf remained silent within me, a hollow absence where her presence should be.

"Have you heard the news?" Samuel whispered as he checked my vitals. "The new Luna is pregnant."

I turned my head slightly, my good eye focusing on him. Pregnant? It was impossible. Rayne couldn't be—

"Alpha Gunner announced it during the morning assembly," he continued, adjusting my IV. "They're saying it's a sign from the Moon Goddess herself."

The door swung open wider, and I could see into the hallway where pack members gathered in small groups, their faces alight with joy. Rayne stood in the center of it all, her hand resting protectively over her flat stomach, wearing a flowing dress that emphasized the area.

"The future heir of the Blood Moon Pack grows strong within me," she announced, her voice carrying that practiced sweetness. "A true warrior heir, blessed by the Moon Goddess."

I inhaled deeply, filtering through the various scents in the air. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Samuel," I rasped, my damaged throat allowing only a whisper. "Her scent—"

He leaned closer, confused. "What about it?"

I couldn't explain that beneath Rayne's vanilla and amber scent lurked something else—something sickly sweet and wrong. It wasn't the rich, vibrant aroma of pregnancy. It was the scent of decay.

"She's not pregnant," I managed to whisper. "Or if she is, something's wrong with the fetus."

Samuel's eyes widened, but before he could respond, Elder Catherine Mills approached Rayne with a ceremonial robe.

"The pack will celebrate tonight," she announced. "To honor the future Alpha heir."

Rayne's smile faltered for just a moment as she glanced in my direction. Did she sense my knowledge? Did she know that I knew?

---

Three days later, I heard the commotion before I saw anything. Shouts echoed through the infirmary, followed by running footsteps.

"She collapsed during the council meeting!" someone yelled. "Get the doctors!"

The doors burst open, and Rayne was rushed in on a gurney, her face contorted in pain. Blood stained her dress where she clutched her abdomen.

"Where are the healers?" Gunner roared, following behind her. "Do something!"

I watched from my bed as the junior healers scrambled around her, their faces pale with panic. They were competent enough for basic injuries, but this was beyond their skill level.

"She's hemorrhaging," one of them said, voice trembling. "We can't stop it."

"Try something!" Gunner demanded, his Alpha aura flaring dangerously.

I could see what was happening—Rayne's body was rejecting whatever she'd done to fake her pregnancy. Perhaps she'd used herbs or spells to mimic the symptoms, but nature couldn't be fooled forever.

"The baby," she moaned, clutching Gunner's hand. "Save our baby."

His face contorted with fear and fury. "If you can't save them both, save the heir!"

The healers exchanged terrified glances. They knew as well as I did that they lacked the skill for this kind of crisis.

---

I felt him before I saw him—Gunner's powerful aura filling the infirmary as he stormed through, following an invisible trail.

"What is this scent?" he muttered, inhaling deeply. "It's... powerful."

I knew what he was sensing—my healing aura, the unique signature that had made me legendary among the packs. Even hidden beneath bandages and medications, it couldn't be completely masked.

He burst into my room, his eyes wild with desperation. For a moment, he didn't recognize me—just saw a bandaged figure in the bed.

"You," he said, his voice hard with command. "Healer. Come with me."

I turned my face away, refusing to meet his gaze. Let him think I was just a random healer they'd found. Let him beg.

"Did you hear me?" he demanded, grabbing my wrist. "My Luna needs help."

I remained still, my body trembling with the effort of resisting his presence. Never had I thought I'd be in a position where I would refuse to heal someone—but this wasn't just anyone. This was the woman who had helped orchestrate my murder.

Gunner's eyes narrowed as he sensed my resistance. Then he straightened, drawing himself to his full height.

"As your Alpha," he began, his voice dropping into that resonant frequency that bypassed will and went straight to instinct, "I command you."

The Alpha Tone. The ultimate compulsion that no wolf could resist.

"Save her," he roared, the words vibrating through my bones.

My body moved against my will, disconnecting from my conscious control. My legs swung over the edge of the bed, my hands reaching for medical supplies.

"No," I whispered, fighting against the command with everything I had.

But it was useless. The Alpha Tone was absolute.

As my body began moving toward the operating theater, I caught a glimpse of Gunner's face—and for just a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes.

Recognition? Doubt?

But it was too late. My traitorous feet were already carrying me toward the woman who had helped destroy everything I loved.