THE ALPHA WHO REJECTED HIS LUNA

Luna screamed. The sound got stuck in her throat.

Kade covered her mouth with his hand. Pulled her close to him. He dragged her back into the shadows of the terrace wall just as the doors opened and the guests started pouring out to see what was happening. Luna's body was still changing, her bones shifting under her skin in a silent way that didn't make any sound.

"Don't look at her, " Kade growled at the guests. He was low and commanding like an Alpha giving an order. Every wolf present looked down instinctively. "Get back inside. Now."

They obeyed. Pack rules are pack rules, even if they were all a bit drunk on champagne.

The moment the terrace was clear, Kade turned to Luna. What he saw made his heart stop.

Her eyes had turned black. Not yellow like a wolf's or brown like a human's, just black. Veins that looked like ink were spreading under her skin like something was moving under there trying to get out. She was barely breathing.

"Luna," he said. He took her face in his hands, making her look at him. "Fight it. Whatever this is, fight it."

For a moment nothing happened. Then slowly the black started to go first from her eyes, then from her throat. She gasped for air like she'd been drowning. She collapsed into Kade's chest, shaking hard.

"It stopped," she whispered. "Why did it stop?"

"I don't know, " Kade said. He held her close. "It stopped when I touched you. Both times."

Luna pulled back, looking at him. Something dangerous and hopeful showed on her face. She quickly hid it. "That doesn't mean anything."

"Luna…"

"It doesn't," she said. Her voice cracked. "You can't fix this by holding me, Kade. You can't be the cure for a problem you helped create."

Before he could answer, the terrace doors opened again. Priya came out looking angry and upset.

"There you are, " Priya said. She looked at Luna and Kade close together. She saw Luna's torn dress and her expression turned cold. "You're missing your engagement announcement, darling."

"Priya, now isn't…"

"Is the time? " Priya said. She took Kade's arm like she was staking a claim. "I already told them you'd be back. They're waiting."

She pulled him toward the doors. Kade looked back at Luna, torn and guilty. Luna straightened her dress, wiped her face clean, and said nothing.

The ballroom was quiet when they got back. Glasses were. Four hundred faces were looking at the small stage. Priya climbed the steps, smiling, and pulled Kade up beside her.

"Thank you all for being here tonight, " Priya began. She was smiling, under the lights. "To celebrate not my engagement to Alpha Kade Ashworth…"

Luna stood at the edge of the crowd, her arms around herself. She could still feel the change happening under her skin.

"But something, " Priya said. Her hand moved to her stomach deliberately. "Something we weren't planning to share until after the wedding." She smiled directly at Luna. "I think it's only fair everyone knows exactly where things stand."

The room made a sound. A gasp, a murmur. Four hundred people realized they were about to witness something.

"I'm pregnant," Priya said. She was smiling at Luna. "Kade's child. Due in six months."

The silence that followed hurt Luna. It had nothing to do with Dravens' serum and everything to do with two years of grief.

Kade's face was pale. "Priya, that's not…"

"Not what, darling?" Priya's smile didn't waver. Her eyes were locked on Luna. "Not true? Or not something you wanted announced in front of your ex-mate?"

Every wolf in the room turned to look at Luna, waiting for her reaction.

Luna didn't fall apart.

She smiled. Slow, sharp, and calm. The black crept back into her eyes for a moment before she blinked it away.

"Congratulations," she said clearly. Her voice carried across the room. "Truly. Because if that's your baby, Priya, you'll want to check the paternity."

Priya's smile faltered. "Excuse me?"

"I can smell a lie from across a room now," Luna said softly. She stepped forward into the light, her eyes fully black. "It's one of the things they gave me.. That baby doesn't smell like Kade at all."