Luna Loses Pup to Betrayal

The diamond brooch caught my eye mid-sentence.

I was in the middle of my weekly antiques appraisal livestream, discussing the intricacies of art deco jewelry to my thousands of followers, when the comment section exploded with hearts and wolf emojis. A glamorous she-wolf had joined the chat, and there, glittering against her collarbone, was my breath caught in my throat.

"Let me zoom in on this particular piece," I said, my curator's instincts overriding my Luna duties for a moment. "The craftsmanship is exquisite—note how the diamonds are set in a honeycomb pattern, typical of 1920s design."

My fingers froze over my keyboard as I leaned closer to the screen. Something about those diamonds, the way they caught the light...

"That's a one-of-a-kind piece," I continued, my voice steady despite my racing heart. "The central diamond has a distinctive cut—what we call a 'Knight cut' in the trade. It's named after the Knight Pack's signature design."

Because it was MY design. MY brooch. The mating token Conrad had placed against my skin three years ago, promising forever.

"The setting shows historical wear patterns consistent with generational ownership," I explained, my expert eye confirming what my Luna heart already knew. "This particular piece would have been passed down through..."

I couldn't finish. My screen had gone blurry.

"Luna Elouise? Are you still there?" Isabella, my assistant, whispered urgently through our private chat.

I blinked, forcing myself back to professional mode. "Yes, sorry about that. We'll continue next week with more vintage treasures."

I ended the stream with trembling fingers and sat in silence, one hand resting protectively over my six-month pregnant belly. Our pup kicked softly, as if sensing my distress.

"It can't be," I whispered to the empty room. But my expert eye never lied.

---

The Knight Pack vault was silent except for the hum of security systems. I'd used my Luna access codes without hesitation—I still had that right, at least.

"Luna Elouise," the guard nodded respectfully. "Alpha Conrad mentioned you might be stopping by."

Of course he did. Always one step ahead.

"I'm just retrieving some personal items," I smiled, the expression feeling brittle on my face.

The vault door slid open with a heavy metallic groan. I moved purposefully toward the glass case that held our pack's most sacred artifacts. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure the guard could hear it.

There it was—or rather, there it wasn't.

The velvet cushion held a brooch that looked identical to mine at first glance. But my trained fingers knew better. I picked it up with trembling hands, turning it over.

"The weight is wrong," I murmured, more to myself than anyone else. "The real piece has a slightly heavier platinum backing."

I examined the diamonds more closely. "The clarity is off by just a fraction, but it's noticeable when you know what to look for."

And I knew everything about this piece. I'd traced its patterns while pregnant, had shared its history with our pack's youngest members. It was more than jewelry—it was my authority as Luna, passed down through three generations of Knight Pack leadership.

"This is a remarkable replica," I said aloud, my voice hollow. "But a replica nonetheless."

Conrad had stolen our most sacred symbol and replaced it with a lie.

---

"Elouise, I'm sorry, but something urgent has come up." Conrad's voice through the phone was distracted, distant.

Our anniversary dinner. The one I'd been planning for weeks, cooking his favorite meals despite morning sickness that had finally subsided.

"What could possibly be more important than your mate's birthday?" I asked, trying to keep accusation from my voice.

"A pack alliance meeting at the Moonstone Hotel. The Silver Creek Alpha is finally agreeing to our boundary terms."

I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "On my birthday."

"It's just dinner, Elouise. We'll celebrate tomorrow."

After he hung up, I sat in our empty dining room, staring at the candles I'd lit for us. The pregnancy hormones made everything worse—or maybe they just gave me permission to feel what I'd been suppressing for months.

Something wasn't right.

I closed my eyes, reaching for the Luna bond that connected me to Conrad. It felt stretched thin, almost brittle. But it was still there, and I could still track him.

The Moonstone Hotel was twenty minutes away. I grabbed my coat.

---

The hotel lobby was decorated with silver and blue balloons—not pack colors, but party colors. I followed Conrad's scent through the corridors, my enhanced Luna senses picking up everything: expensive champagne, floral arrangements, and the unmistakable scent of another she-wolf.

I paused outside a private dining room, hearing laughter inside. Through the crack in the door, I could see intimate tables decorated with candles and rose petals.

"Happy birthday, baby," Conrad's voice carried clearly.

Not to me.

I pushed the door open just enough to see her—a stunning she-wolf with flowing dark hair and a face that could launch a thousand ships. Around her neck, catching the candlelight like it was made of starlight itself, was my brooch.

My brooch. The one that should have been mine alone.

The one that marked me as Luna.

The one that marked our bond as sacred.

And there it was, glittering against another woman's skin while she laughed at something my mate had whispered in her ear.