The Barren Luna: A Curse or a Blessing?

Kate

"Silverfang, can I have your attention?" Tyson's voice silenced the entire room.

I entered the dining hall, hearing lively laughter, the clinking of wine glasses, and the rich aroma of roasted beef and spiced stew. The entire Silverfang Pack was in high spirits, celebrating an accomplishment I had no idea what. It stunned me, but nobody noticed my wide eyes and jaw-dropping. It screamed a red flag to me.

As Luna, I must be informed of any event or announcement involving the pack before it even happened. But today was the first time they left me in the dark. I sat at the table, waiting for Alpha Tyson, my mate, to explain the reason for the feast.

I sipped my wine slowly just as everyone waited for Tyson's big announcement. My wolf stirred, and she growled in the back of my mind, signaling something was wrong. I set my glass down, and my eyes went to Tyson, who looked surprisingly beaming with pride and anticipation, not the usual powerful and authoritative aura he was known for.

Everyone turned to him with faces full of curiosity and anticipation. My stomach twisted when Tyson scanned every face but avoided looking at me.

"I called for a celebratory dinner tonight for a reason. As we all know, our pack thrives out of unity and strength. And tonight, we celebrate a new chapter for Silverfang."

Whispers began among the crowd. I sat with my heart pounding and wolf alert. Whatever it was, it wasn't good.

Before Tyson could continue, the door opened. Every head turned, and the room went silent. My heart sank as Stella walked in, heels clicking towards Tyson, her hand resting on a barely visible bump on her stomach.

No.

Tyson's face lit up as Stella reached his side. He wrapped an arm around her to pull her close. My wolf snarled in rage, and I gripped my chair to control myself from letting her out to murder them. How could he?

Tyson cleared his throat and smiled wide as he quickly glanced at Stella, who was all smiles, then back to the pack.

"I'm thrilled to announce that Stella and I... we're expecting a child."

The news hit me like a blow, and I couldn't move. But the rest of the pack erupted in loud cheers and howls, clapping, and congratulating each other as if it were the best news they'd ever heard in years.

I couldn't breathe. My mate, the man who was supposed to cherish me, betrayed me, and announced that another woman was carrying his child. He did it proudly in front of the entire pack.

Stella gazed at me with a smirk. She looked victorious and amused at how humiliated I was. I struggled to control myself, repeating in my head, "Don't react. Not here."

Tyson silenced the crowd again.

"This is a momentous occasion. We finally have a leader on the way."

"So, this was this all about. Ensuring that there is an heir?" I thought, but devastated remembering how I tried but couldn't give him a child.

"I'm honored to carry Alpha Tyson's heir. This is for the good of the pack, to ensure that the lineage will continue," Stella said with a smile.

My chest felt like exploding from anger, but I forced myself to say, "Congratulations!"

All eyes went on me. Stella let out her cute smile, trying to look innocent when not.

"Thank you, Luna Kate! Your support means everything."

Tyson looked at me; a flicker of guilt crossed his face, but it quickly disappeared. He raised his glass, smiled, and said, "To new beginnings."

The pack roared in approval, not caring about how my heart was shattered into pieces. But I raised my glass with a smile and said, "To Silverfang!"

The celebration continued, but I suddenly felt Stella behind me. She leaned close and whispered, "You should thank me for giving what you couldn't. This is what the pack needs."

I wanted to slap her, but I only turned to glare at her.

"Be careful, Stella. Just because you could get pregnant doesn't mean you will get elevated with your status."

"Don't worry, Luna. I'm just here to do what you couldn't."

"Stella, that's enough," Tyson interrupted with a firm voice.

He thought it would appease my heart, but it didn't. Stella walked away and went to sit beside him. I stood abruptly, drawing attention, but it didn't matter. I couldn't stand them anymore.

"Excuse me. I need some air," I said.

I left without Tyson's response, and the pack went quiet. Once outside, I leaned on the stone wall, trying to catch my breath. My wolf was livid, snarling and clawing in my head.

The sound of footsteps approaching took me back to the present. I turned to find Tyson standing in the doorway with an unreadable expression.

"Kate..." he began with a soft voice.

I raised a hand to cut him off. I understand why he did it, but it was still betrayal, and it hurt.

"Don’t. Not tonight.”

"It's for the pack," he insisted, almost pleading for me not to make a fuss about it.

But I let out a laugh.

"The pack? Or for yourself?"

Tyson's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. He stepped closer to touch my shoulder.

"I didn’t want it to happen this way.”

I stepped back as his betrayal cut deep, and my anger boiled.

“Then you shouldn’t have let it happen at all.”

Suddenly, a crash echoed from the hall, followed by a scream. We both sprinted back to the dining hall. Wolves were on their feet with fear in their eyes. Stella was on the floor, clutching her stomach, her face pale and in pain and bleeding.

"Get the healer," Tyson shouted.

Everyone panicked, but I focused on Tyson. I saw fear in him for the first time, not only for the child but for Stella. And I wondered, was she there to give an heir only or something more?