Rejected Mate's New Beginning

I stared out the window of our bedroom, watching as pack members carried Capri's belongings into the main pack house. My hand rested protectively over my still-flat stomach, the gesture becoming more instinctive with each passing day.

"They're moving her in today," I whispered to myself, though the words felt like glass in my throat.

The door opened behind me, and I didn't need to turn to know it was Mrs. Edwards. Her familiar scent—lavender and fresh linen—filled the room before she did.

"Luna Mabel," she said softly, her weathered hands gently touching my shoulder. "You should be resting."

"I'm fine," I lied, though the cramping had returned last night, leaving me pale and sweating in the darkness while Cooper slept beside me, undisturbed.

Mrs. Edwards didn't believe me—I could see it in her eyes—but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she helped me to the edge of the bed.

"Alpha Cooper has arranged for Miss Capri and her pups to stay in the east wing," she said, her tone carefully neutral. "For proper post-birth care."

I nodded mechanically. The east wing. Just down the hall from our quarters.

"Dr. Martinez says the pups need special attention," Mrs. Edwards continued, her disapproval evident only in the tightness around her mouth. "Multiple births are always risky for wolves."

"And I'm sure Capri needs special attention too," I said, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.

Mrs. Edwards's eyes flashed with sympathy. "Luna, perhaps you should speak with Alpha Cooper about—"

"About what?" I interrupted, my voice breaking. "About how he abandoned me when I was bleeding on the stairs? About how he questioned whether our pup is even his?"

She had no answer for that.

---

The pack dining hall buzzed with conversation as I took my seat at the high table. Cooper sat at the head, his expression distant as he discussed border patrols with Delta James. I picked at my food, unable to eat much with the morning sickness that had begun plaguing me.

"Luna Mabel," Beta Marcus nodded to me from across the table, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "How are you feeling today?"

"Better," I lied again, forcing a smile. "Just tired."

"Of course," he said, his gaze flicking briefly to my abdomen before returning to my face. "Pregnancy can be quite... taxing."

I froze, fork halfway to my mouth. How did he know?

Before I could respond, Marcus turned to the other pack members seated nearby, his voice dropping to a conversational tone that was still perfectly audible to my sensitive ears.

"Perhaps it's time to consider whether our pack needs a Luna who can actually contribute to our genetic strength," he said, his words casual but deliberate. "A wolfless Luna with a questionable ability to produce strong heirs..."

The table fell silent. I looked to Cooper, waiting for him to defend me, to remind everyone that I was his mate, his Luna.

He said nothing. His eyes remained fixed on his plate.

"Marcus," Elder Thomas Griffin warned, but there was no real censure in his tone.

I pushed back from the table, unable to bear another moment of their pitying glances.

"Excuse me," I whispered, though no one was listening anymore.

---

Later that evening, I sat by the window in our bedroom, watching the moon rise over the territory. The door opened quietly, and Mrs. Edwards entered with a steaming mug.

"Luna," she said softly, offering me the tea. "This will help with the nausea."

I accepted it gratefully, inhaling the soothing scent of ginger and mint. "Thank you, Mrs. Edwards."

She hesitated, then sat beside me on the window seat.

"There's something you should know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Miss Capri has been visiting Alpha Cooper's office. Multiple times each day."

My heart stuttered painfully. "For pack business?"

Mrs. Edwards's eyes met mine, filled with a sadness that made my chest ache. "They're behind closed doors, Luna. For hours at a time."

I looked down at my tea, watching the steam curl upward into the cool evening air.

"She's been sending me photos," I admitted quietly. "Through the pack communication system."

Mrs. Edwards's sharp intake of breath was the only sound between us.

"You deserve better than this," she said finally, her weathered hand covering mine. "Any wolf would be honored to have you as their mate."

I stared out at the moon, wondering if it had witnessed every betrayal, every broken promise.

"Perhaps," I whispered, one hand drifting to my stomach, "it's time I started thinking about what's best for my pup."