Rejecting the False Alpha

I stood outside Thaddeus's office, my hand trembling as I raised it to knock. The image of him with Brooke in the garden played on repeat in my mind—his hand on her belly, his whispered promises. My own stomach churned with morning sickness and raw betrayal.

I pushed the door open without knocking. Thaddeus looked up, irritation flashing across his face.

"What is it now, Grace?" he asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

"I saw you with Brooke this morning," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "In the garden."

Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. "And?"

"And I heard everything." I stepped closer, one hand instinctively moving to my still-flat stomach. "She's pregnant with your child, isn't she?"

Thaddeus rose slowly from his chair, his Alpha aura filling the room like a physical force. "You're making serious accusations, Grace."

"I'm stating facts," I countered, refusing to back down despite the pressure building in my chest. "Our pack deserves to know their Alpha has been—"

"Enough!" His voice cracked like a whip. "Stop acting like a jealous child."

He circled the desk, towering over me. "Brooke is my Beta assistant. We discussed pack business this morning. Nothing more."

"You lied to me," I whispered. "You're having an affair."

Thaddeus's eyes hardened. "Be very careful with your next words, Luna." The title sounded like a mockery on his lips. "These accusations are groundless and damaging to pack morale."

I felt something inside me crack. "And what about your duty to me? To our baby?"

His laugh was cold. "If you continue to spread these lies about Brooke, I'll have no choice but to reconsider your position as Luna."

The threat hung in the air between us. I staggered back, his words striking harder than any physical blow.

"Get out," he said quietly. "And stop embarrassing yourself."

* * *

Morning sickness hit me with a vengeance three days later. I barely made it to the bathroom before emptying what little was in my stomach.

"Luna Grace?" Dr. Sarah's concerned voice came from the doorway. "I heard you were unwell."

I wiped my mouth with trembling hands. "It's just morning sickness. Normal, right?"

Dr. Sarah helped me to my feet, her healer's touch gentle. "Let me examine you."

Her hands glowed with a soft blue light as she placed them on my abdomen. Her brow furrowed slightly.

"The baby's fine," she assured me. "But you're dehydrated and stressed. I can give you something for the nausea."

"Thank you," I whispered, grateful for her kindness.

"I should inform Alpha Thaddeus about your condition," she said, already reaching for her phone.

"No!" I grabbed her wrist. "Please don't."

Dr. Sarah hesitated. "He should know about your health."

"He doesn't care," I admitted, the words bitter on my tongue.

But Dr. Sarah was already dialing. I watched her face fall as she spoke.

"Yes, Alpha... She's experiencing severe morning sickness... No, it's not uncommon in the first trimester..."

She lowered the phone, her expression troubled. "He says to handle it quietly. He doesn't want to be bothered with... female issues."

The dismissal cut deeper than I expected. Dr. Sarah squeezed my hand apologetically.

* * *

"Another meeting?" I groaned, looking at the schedule Brooke had just delivered to my quarters.

"I'm sorry, Luna," Brooke said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "The Alpha insists on daily updates on the northern border situation."

I glanced at the time—right in the middle of my worst morning sickness hours. This was no coincidence.

"I'll be there," I managed, though my stomach was already churning at the thought.

But when the time came, I couldn't make it. The nausea overwhelmed me, and I barely managed to reach the bathroom before losing what little breakfast I'd managed.

By the time I arrived at the meeting, it was nearly over.

"Ah, Luna Grace," Brooke announced loudly as I slipped in. "We were just discussing how unfortunate it is that you've missed so many important meetings lately."

All eyes turned to me. Through the pack mind-link, I could feel their judgment.

"Is it true you've been unable to fulfill your Luna duties?" someone asked aloud.

"Perhaps the pressure is too much for her," another suggested through the link.

"Poor Alpha Thaddeus," a third voice added. "Having to handle everything while his mate is... indisposed."

Brooke's smile was razor-sharp. "We've been managing just fine without you, Luna. Some of us are stronger than others."

I stood frozen, feeling the weight of every judgmental stare. In that moment, I realized this was just the beginning of Brooke's plan to undermine me completely.

And Thaddeus was letting her do it.