REJECTED BY FATE, CURSED BY PROPHECY

"You are walking too freely."

Naira stopped.

The Luna's voice came from behind her, calm and sharp at the same time.

Naira turned slowly. "I walk where I am told."

The Luna studied her. From head to toe. From face to stomach.

"Your steps are light for someone carrying shame," the Luna said.

Naira lowered her head. "Shame does not make legs heavy."

"Do not be clever with me."

Naira said nothing.

The Luna stepped closer. Her scent was cold. Her eyes did not soften.

"They say the child belongs to my husband's brother," she said. "Do you believe that lie yourself?"

Naira's fingers tightened around her cloak. "It is not a lie."

The Luna smiled. "Then why does your heart beat like a thief's?"

Naira swallowed. "Because people look at me like prey."

"They should."

Silence spread between them.

"You should have hidden," the Luna continued. "Women like you disappear better in shadows."

"I am not hiding."

"That is why I am here."

The Luna reached out and placed her fingers near Naira's stomach. She did not touch. She only hovered.

"This child does not smell like his brother," she said softly.

Naira's breath stopped.

"It smells like power," the Luna added.

Naira stepped back. "You imagine things."

"I rule things," the Luna replied.

Footsteps came closer.

The Alpha appeared at the path edge.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Your disgrace," the Luna said without looking at him. "And her miracle."

The Alpha's eyes moved to Naira. Then to her stomach.

"She swore," he said.

"She always swore," the Luna replied. "So did you."

The Alpha said nothing.

The Luna turned back to Naira. "You will come with me."

"Where?"

"To someone who can smell truth."

Naira's heart fell.

The hut was small and dark.

An old woman sat inside. Her eyes were white, but her face turned toward them.

"The lie walks," the old woman said before anyone spoke.

Naira froze.

The Luna crossed her arms. "Look at her."

The old woman leaned forward slowly. "The blood is wrong."

Naira shook her head. "No."

"The blood does not match the name," the woman continued.

"Enough," the Alpha said.

The woman smiled with no joy. "You already know."

The Luna looked at him sharply. "You knew?"

"I suspected," he answered.

The woman raised a finger. "This child carries the storm."

Silence.

"The storm does not belong to the brother," she said. "It belongs to the throne."

Naira cried out. "You lie!"

The woman turned her face to Naira. "You lie louder."

The Luna stepped closer. "What does it mean?"

The old woman leaned back. "It means the pack will bleed."

Naira felt the walls closing in.

The Alpha spoke. "Enough."

The woman laughed softly. "Truth always makes kings afraid."

The Luna looked at Naira. "Get out."

Naira did not wait.

Outside, her sister found her.

"They know," her sister whispered.

"They smell it," Naira said.

"You should run."

"I cannot."

"Then hide."

"I already failed."

That night, the Alpha came.

"You should not have spoken," he said.

"They pulled truth from me."

"They smelled it."

"I did not break."

"You cracked."

Naira met his eyes. "You will kill me."

"No."

"Then the child."

"Not yet."

She laughed once. "Coward."

He did not deny it.

"You will stay in the lower lands," he said. "No one will see you."

"They already see me."

"They will forget."

"They never forget."

The Alpha turned away. "Sleep."

"I do not sleep."

The Luna watched from the window.

"That child will ruin you," she said to the dark.

The moon rose.

And somewhere inside Naira, something moved.

Not gently.

Not quietly.

Something awake.