Moonborn: Rise of the Wolfless Luna

Then she heard footsteps again. But these footsteps were different - lighter, like someone trying to be quiet.

A figure appeared in the shadows outside her cell. It was a young woman with brown hair, wearing a simple dress.

"Psst," the woman whispered. "Are you Bella?"

Bella looked up. "Yes. Who are you?"

"My name is Sarah. I work in the kitchens." The woman looked around nervously. "I heard what happened to you with the elders."

"Did you come to laugh at me too?" Bella asked sadly.

"No," Sarah said quickly. "I came to tell you something important. About Lady Lydia."

Bella moved closer to the bars. "What about her?"

Sarah looked around again, making sure no one was listening. "Lady Lydia has been telling everyone that she and Alpha Alfred are fated mates. But it's not true."

"What do you mean?"

"Alpha Alfred has never claimed her as his mate. But Lydia's family is very powerful in this pack. They've been pressuring the elders to arrange a mating between them."

Bella's heart beat faster. "So they're not really mates?"

"No. But Lydia acts like they are. She gets angry whenever Alpha Alfred pays attention to other women." Sarah paused. "That's why she hates you so much. She saw how he looked at you when you arrived."

"How did he look at me?" Bella asked.

Sarah smiled a little. "Like you were the most important person in the world."

Before Bella could ask more questions, they heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall.

"I have to go," Sarah whispered quickly. "But Bella - don't give up. Some of us believe you're not what Lydia says you are."

Sarah disappeared back into the shadows just as a guard appeared.

The guard looked at Bella suspiciously. "Who were you talking to?"

"No one," Bella said. "I was just talking to myself."

The guard grunted and walked away.

But Sarah's words gave Bella hope. Maybe she wasn't completely alone in this pack.

Alfred was in a meeting with the neighboring pack leaders, discussing border security. But he couldn't concentrate. His mind kept going back to Bella.

He had left her to rest, thinking she would be safe in his territory. But something felt wrong. His wolf was restless, pacing inside his mind.

"Alpha Alfred?" one of the pack leaders called his attention. "Did you hear what we said about the patrol schedules?"

"I'm sorry," Alfred said, standing up. "I need to cut this meeting short. There's something I need to check on."

He left the meeting room and walked quickly toward the house where he had left Bella.

But when he got there, the house was empty.

"James!" he called out for his Beta.

James appeared within seconds. "Yes, Alpha?"

"Where is Bella?" Alfred's voice was sharp with worry.

James looked confused. "I thought she was resting here, Alpha."

"She's gone. Find her. Now."

James bowed his head. "Right away, Alpha."

As James ran off to search, Alfred's phone rang. It was one of his pack guards.

"Alpha," the guard said nervously, "Lady Lydia asked me to tell you that there's been a situation with the woman you brought. She's been taken to the elders for questioning."

Alfred's blood turned cold. "What?"

"Lady Lydia said the woman was causing trouble and-"

Alfred hung up the phone and ran toward the elders' hall as fast as he could.

Bella was still sitting in her cell when she heard voices outside. They were getting closer.

"...told you she was dangerous," a woman's voice said. It was Lydia.

"You were right, my dear," a man's voice replied. "We should have never let her into our territory."

Lydia appeared outside the cell with two of the elders. She smiled when she saw Bella.

"How are you enjoying your new home?" Lydia asked sweetly.

Bella stood up and walked to the bars. "When Alpha Alfred comes back, he'll get me out of here."

Lydia laughed. "Oh, sweetie. Alfred doesn't care about you. You were just a one-night stand."

"That's not true," Bella said, but her voice shook a little.

"Isn't it?" Lydia moved closer to the bars. "Tell me, did he promise to make you his Luna? Did he mark you as his mate?"

Bella was quiet. Alfred hadn't done either of those things.

"I thought so," Lydia said. "Alfred is a powerful Alpha. He needs a strong Luna by his side. Someone with good bloodline. Someone with a wolf."

She pointed at Bella. "You have nothing to offer him."

One of the elders spoke up. "Lady Lydia is right. Alpha Alfred will understand that this girl is not suitable for our pack."

"In fact," Lydia said, her smile getting bigger, "I've already sent word to Alpha Alfred about your... situation. He should be here soon to deal with you personally."

Bella's heart sank. What did "deal with her" mean?

But then they heard running footsteps in the hallway. Someone was coming fast.

"BELLA!"

It was Alfred's voice.

Lydia's smile disappeared. "He's early," she muttered.

Alfred appeared in the hallway, breathing hard from running. His eyes were wild with anger when he saw Bella in the cell.

"What the hell is going on here?" he roared.

The elders took a step back, intimidated by his fury.

"Alpha Alfred," one of them said nervously, "Lady Lydia brought some concerns to our attention about this woman-"

"Her name is Bella," Alfred said coldly. "And why is she in a prison cell?"

Lydia stepped forward, putting on her sweet act again. "Alfred, darling, I was just protecting the pack. This woman has been causing trouble-"

"Protecting the pack?" Alfred looked at her like she was crazy. "By locking up an innocent woman?"

"She's not innocent!" Lydia's sweet mask slipped for a moment. "She's a spy! She's wolfless! She doesn't belong here!"

Alfred walked right up to the bars of the cell. "Are you hurt?" he asked Bella gently.

Bella shook her head, but tears were running down her face.

Alfred turned back to the elders, his voice deadly quiet. "Open this cell. Right now."

"Alpha Alfred," one of the elders said, "we think you should reconsider-"

"OPEN IT NOW!" Alfred's Alpha voice echoed through the hall, and everyone felt the power behind it.

One of the guards quickly unlocked the cell with shaking hands.

Alfred went inside and gently helped Bella stand up. He checked her for injuries, his touch soft and caring.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered to her. "I should never have left you alone."

But Lydia wasn't done. "Alfred, you're making a mistake! She's manipulating you! Can't you see that?"

Alfred turned to face her, and his eyes were so angry that even Lydia took a step back.

"The only mistake I made," he said slowly, "was trusting that my pack would treat a guest with respect while I was gone."

He looked at each of the elders. "You will answer for this."

But then something unexpected happened.

The eldest elder stepped forward. "Alpha Alfred, there's something you need to know about this woman."

"What?" Alfred asked, still holding Bella protectively.

The elder's next words would change everything.

"She's not just wolfless," the elder said. "According to our ancient laws, she's cursed."

Everyone went quiet.

"What are you talking about?" Alfred asked.

The elder continued, his voice grave. "A woman who reaches the age of twenty without her wolf awakening is considered cursed by the Moon Goddess. And according to our laws... a cursed woman cannot bear healthy children."

Bella gasped, her hand instinctively going to her stomach.

The elder looked directly at her. "If she is indeed pregnant, as Lady Lydia suspects, the child will either be born dead... or will bring destruction to our pack."

Alfred's face went pale. "That's just superstition."

"Is it?" Lydia said, suddenly looking hopeful again. "Alfred, the laws are clear. You cannot risk the future of our pack for one woman."

Bella felt like the world was spinning. Was it true? Would her baby bring bad luck?

But then something strange happened.

A warm feeling spread through Bella's body, starting from her stomach and moving outward. For just a moment, her eyes flashed with a strange light.

Everyone in the room felt it - a power that was both ancient and strong.

The elder who had been talking about curses suddenly looked afraid.

"What... what was that?" he whispered.

But before anyone could answer, Bella collapsed.

"Bella!" Alfred caught her as she fell.

Her eyes were closed, but she was breathing. Alfred picked her up in his arms.

"I'm taking her to the pack doctor," he announced. "And when she's better, we're going to have a serious discussion about how my pack treats people."

He started to walk away, but Lydia called out desperately.

"Alfred! You can't choose her over your own pack! Over me!"

Alfred stopped and looked back at her.

"I'm not choosing anyone over the pack," he said calmly. "But I'm not going to let innocent people be hurt because of fear and jealousy."

He continued walking, carrying Bella toward the medical wing.

But as he walked away, none of them noticed the small smile on Bella's unconscious face.

She hadn't really fainted. She had felt her wolf stirring inside her for the first time in her life. And her wolf had told her something important.

Something that would change everything.

But that secret would have to wait.

For now, she would let Alfred take care of her. And she would watch to see who in this pack could be trusted.

Because her wolf had also told her something else: there were enemies everywhere.

And some of them were much more dangerous than Lydia.