My Mate Watched His Mistress Murder Our Unborn Child

The morning sun filtered through the trees as Charles assembled the pack in the courtyard. His voice carried across the gathered wolves, strong and commanding.

"Today we will have a mandatory Pack Run," he announced, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. "It's been too long since we've shown our unity as a pack."

My heart sank as I stood at the back, my body still aching from the Wolfsbane Joint Syndrome. Luna stirred weakly within me.

*Brooke, we can't shift fully,* she whimpered. *It hurts too much.*

I raised my hand tentatively. "Charles, I don't think I can participate. My wolf is still damaged, and I'm pregnant."

A ripple of whispers spread through the pack. Charles's jaw tightened as he stared at me.

"Every member of this pack will participate," he said coldly. "Your pregnancy is no excuse."

From beside him, Mrs. Wright spoke up, her voice carrying deliberately. "If she can't even keep up with a simple pack run, how will she serve as Luna?"

Sara nodded in agreement, her eyes gleaming with malice. "A Luna must be strong enough to lead alongside her Alpha. Perhaps Brooke needs to prove her worth."

Charles's expression hardened further. "You will shift partially or run in human form," he commanded, his Alpha tone pressing down on me. "There will be no exceptions."

I felt the weight of his command like a physical force. Luna cried out in pain as we attempted to shift, but only my nails elongated into claws, my teeth sharpened slightly. Not enough to run with the wolves.

"Let's begin," Charles ordered, already stripping off his shirt.

One by one, the pack members shifted into their wolf forms, powerful muscles rippling beneath fur as they howled in unison. Charles's wolf was massive, silver-gray with amber eyes that didn't even glance in my direction.

Sara's wolf pranced beside him, her russet fur gleaming in the sunlight. She looked back at me, her wolf's mouth pulling into what looked disturbingly like a smile before they bounded into the forest.

I followed on foot, my human legs no match for their powerful strides. The pack disappeared into the trees, leaving me alone to struggle over the rocky terrain. Sharp stones cut into my bare feet as I ran, my lungs burning with exertion.

"Please," I whispered to Luna, "just a little more strength."

But she could give no more. The damage from the blizzard had weakened her too severely.

By the time I reached the steep ridge where the pack had gathered, I was exhausted, sweat soaking my clothes despite the cool morning air. The wolves waited above me, their forms silhouetted against the sky.

Charles's wolf growled impatiently as I struggled up the incline. "Hurry up," he snapped through our weakened mind-link.

I pushed myself harder, my hand protectively covering my stomach. "I'm trying," I gasped.

That's when I saw Sara's wolf moving toward me, her amber eyes fixed on my midsection. Something in her gaze sent ice through my veins.

"Sara, no," I pleaded, backing away.

But she was already lunging forward, her powerful body slamming into mine with calculated precision. I felt myself falling backward, my arms windmilling frantically as I lost my balance.

"No!" I screamed as I tumbled down the rocky embankment.

My body bounced against sharp stones, each impact sending shockwaves of pain through me. I tried to curl protectively around my stomach, but a particularly vicious rock caught me squarely in the abdomen.

The pain was blinding, white-hot and all-consuming. I lay at the bottom of the slope, mud and blood mingling beneath me as I screamed Charles's name.

Through tear-blurred vision, I saw the pack above me, watching impassively as I writhed in agony. Charles's wolf disappeared from view, and moments later he appeared at my side in human form.

"Charles," I sobbed, reaching for him. "The baby... please help me..."

His face was a mask of irritation rather than concern. "What have you done now?" he demanded, looking at the disruption to the pack run rather than my injuries.

"I didn't—" I gasped, another wave of pain cutting off my words.

"It's just a run," he snapped. "How could you be so clumsy?"

Only then did his eyes register the blood pooling beneath me. His expression shifted, confusion replacing anger.

"The pup," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "Charles, our pup..."

In the medical room, Elena's face confirmed my worst fears before she could speak. "I'm sorry, Luna," she said softly, her eyes filled with tears. "The pup is lost."

Charles stood at the foot of the bed, his face unreadable. When he finally spoke, his words cut deeper than any physical wound.

"This is your fault," he said flatly. "Your weak body couldn't sustain our heir."

I stared at him in disbelief, too shocked to speak.

"If you had been stronger," he continued, his voice devoid of emotion, "this wouldn't have happened."

As he turned to leave, something inside me hardened – a small spark of rage amid the ocean of grief. This wasn't just the loss of our pup. This was the death of whatever remained of our bond.