Pregnant and Banished by Alpha

I woke to the sterile scent of antiseptic and the steady beep of monitors. The pack infirmary's white walls seemed to close in around me as consciousness returned in painful increments. My body felt hollow—not just from the physical loss, but from something deeper, more profound.

My hand moved instinctively to my stomach, finding it flat and empty. The tiny life I'd harbored was gone, washed away in the storm like my dreams.

"The sedative is wearing off," a voice noted clinically. The pack healer avoided my eyes as she checked my vitals. "You need to rest."

I turned my face toward the window, watching raindrops trace patterns down the glass. Each drop represented something I could no longer hold onto.

The door opened with a soft click. Wilder's scent—once so comforting—now made my wolf recoil inside me.

"You're awake," he stated flatly, remaining near the door. He wouldn't come closer, wouldn't touch me.

I said nothing, couldn't speak through the knot in my throat.

"Elder Thorne visited while you were unconscious." Wilder's voice was businesslike, devoid of the tenderness that once made me feel safe. "He believes the Moon Goddess has spoken."

Finally, he looked at me—not in the eyes, but at some point above my head.

"The miscarriage is a sign that our union was... cursed." He swallowed hard. "A chosen bond that went against the Goddess's plan."

I closed my eyes, unable to bear the emptiness in his gaze.

"Kaylee is waiting," he added, glancing at his watch. "We're attending the Northern Pack's gala tonight."

Of course they were. Even now, even after this loss, Kaylee came first.

Wilder reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle of pills. He placed it on the bedside table without touching me.

"For the pain," he explained, already turning to leave. "The healer says you'll need them."

Then he was gone, the door closing softly behind him.

I stared at the bottle, at the cold white pills inside. They could ease physical pain, but what about the ache spreading through my chest?

---

A month passed in a blur of servitude and isolation. I moved through the pack house like a ghost, invisible to most, despised by others.

The dining hall buzzed with activity as I cleared plates from the midday meal. My hands moved mechanically, my mind elsewhere.

A sharp cry cut through the chatter.

"Help! Someone help me!"

All eyes turned to Kaylee, who had collapsed onto the floor, her body convulsing violently. Foam bubbled from her lips as she thrashed against the polished wood.

"She's been poisoned!" someone shouted.

Wilder was at her side instantly, cradling her head in his lap. "What happened?" he demanded, his voice thick with panic.

"Check her food," Elder Thorne suggested, his ancient eyes narrowing with suspicion.

They did. And somehow—impossibly—a vial of wolfsbane was discovered tucked into my apron pocket.

"I didn't—" I began, but Wilder's roar cut me off.

He was on his feet in an instant, his hand closing around my throat as he lifted me off the ground.

"You dare?" he snarled, his eyes flashing gold with rage. "You dare try to kill my mate?"

I couldn't breathe, couldn't speak to defend myself. Black spots danced before my eyes as his grip tightened.

"Wilder," someone cautioned, "you'll kill her."

He released me suddenly, letting me crumple to the floor. I gasped for air, clutching at my throat.

"Take her to the dungeon," he ordered, his voice cold with disgust. "She's no longer worthy of pack status."

---

The dungeon cells were damp and cold, the walls lined with silver that burned my skin even through my clothes. I huddled in the corner, trying to escape its effects.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor. I looked up, expecting Wilder or perhaps Elder Thorne.

Instead, Kaylee stood before my cell, her perfect face illuminated by the dim light.

"Poor Diana," she cooed, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "All alone in the dark."

"How did you plant it?" I asked quietly. "The wolfsbane."

She laughed then, the sound like breaking glass. "So easy. You never even noticed."

"It was you," I whispered.

"Of course it was me." She leaned closer, dropping all pretense. "I bought it from a rogue trader. Paid him extra to make it look like something a pack healer would use."

My stomach turned as she described how she'd orchestrated everything—the seizure, the discovery, my downfall.

"That half-breed mistake of a pup was never meant to be born," she hissed, her beautiful face twisting with malice. "The Moon Goddess knew it. I merely helped her will along."

"I never hurt you," I said, my voice breaking.

Kaylee laughed again, running her fingers through her perfect hair. "You existed. That was enough."

She pulled a small vial from her pocket—identical to the one found in my apron.

"Witch's herbs," she explained casually. "Cost me a fortune, but worth every penny. They create the perfect fated mate scent."

"Wilder will figure it out eventually," I said.

Kaylee's smile widened. "He won't. He's too desperate for validation, too eager to believe in his divine right as Alpha." She leaned closer to the bars. "And if he ever does suspect, I'll just cry pretty tears and remind him how the Moon Goddess blessed our union."

As she turned to leave, she paused. "Enjoy the dungeon, Diana. It's where you belong—with the other unwanted things."