Rejected While Carrying His Heir

The doorbell chimed, startling me from my thoughts. I'd been sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror, trying to summon the courage to tell Alec about our baby.

"Come in," I called, expecting one of the pack servants with anniversary preparations.

Instead, a young Delta entered, carrying an elaborate wicker basket wrapped in silver ribbon—the Silverclaw Pack's colors.

"Luna Daphne," he said with a slight bow. "This just arrived for you."

"Thank you," I replied, forcing a smile. "Please set it on the table."

The Delta placed the basket beside me and left with another bow. Alone again, I turned my attention to the gift. A small card rested on top, bearing elegant handwriting: "Happy Anniversary, Luna. Five years of loyalty deserves recognition. —M"

Melina. My stomach clenched. What game was she playing now?

I lifted the lid cautiously. Inside lay a dozen perfect red roses, their petals so vivid they seemed to glow. Their scent filled the room—sweet, floral, and...

My wolf suddenly snarled within me. *Danger! Wrong scent!*

I inhaled deeper, trying to identify what felt off. The roses smelled strange—too sweet, with an underlying bitterness that made my nose burn.

"Wolfsbane," I whispered, recognizing the distinctive odor too late.

Pain exploded in my chest. My lungs seized, refusing to draw breath. I gasped, clutching at my throat as fire spread through my veins.

"No," I choked out, doubling over as cramps tore through my abdomen. "No, please..."

My wolf howled in agony, her presence flickering within me as the concentrated toxin attacked our bond. I could feel her weakening, retreating deeper inside me to protect our core.

The baby. Our baby.

I collapsed to my knees, desperately trying to crawl toward the door. Each movement sent fresh waves of agony through my body. Something warm and wet trickled down my thighs.

"Don't leave me," I begged my wolf as darkness edged my vision. "Please don't leave me alone."

But she was fading, taking with her the tiny spark of life we'd created. I felt it slipping away—our pup, our future, our hope—dissolving like mist in morning sunlight.

---

The door to my chambers burst open with such force that it slammed against the wall.

"Daphne!" Alec's voice cut through the fog of pain. "What have you done?"

I couldn't answer. My body convulsed on the floor, blood pooling beneath me as my wolf retreated further, taking our unborn child with her.

Alec's footsteps approached, then stopped. The rustle of paper—the Rejection documents—fell from his hands.

"Luna Daphne?" His voice changed, uncertainty replacing anger. "What's happening?"

I tried to speak, to tell him about the baby, about Melina's poisoned gift. But only a whimper escaped my lips.

"Blood," he muttered, kneeling beside me. "So much blood."

His hands touched me then—the first gentle contact in months—as he turned me over. His face paled as he took in my condition.

"Get the doctor," he barked at someone in the doorway. "Now!"

Strong arms lifted me. Through half-lidded eyes, I saw Alec's face, his expression unreadable as he carried me through the pack house. Whispers followed us—concern, shock, curiosity.

"She's losing the pup," he growled to no one in particular. "She's losing our pup."

Our pup. The words pierced through my haze of pain. Did he know? Had he somehow sensed what I hadn't yet told him?

The pack hospital wing appeared in a blur. Dr. Samuel Hayes met us at the entrance, his weathered face grave as he took in my condition.

"Alpha, what happened?" he asked, helping transfer me to a bed.

"Wolfsbane poisoning," Alec replied grimly. "Someone sent her roses laced with it."

Dr. Hayes's eyes widened. "And she's...?"

"Pregnant," Alec confirmed, his voice hollow. "Or was."

The doctor's hands moved swiftly over me, his expression growing darker with each passing moment. I wanted to scream at him to hurry, to save my baby, but I could only lie there, feeling life slip away.

"I'm sorry, Alpha," Dr. Hayes finally said, stepping back. "The pup is lost."

Alec's face hardened, his eyes flashing with something dangerous—grief, rage, or perhaps both.

"And her?" he demanded.

"Her wolf is retreating," the doctor explained quietly. "If she doesn't fight to keep her connection... she could lose more than just the child."

I wanted to scream that I was fighting, that I would never give up my wolf. But darkness was pulling me under, and somewhere in that darkness, I heard Melina's laughter echoing.