The Alpha’s Barren Luna

Elara barely slept.

She remained beside the nursery window long after the servants had left, her fingers resting protectively over the secret hidden beneath her nightgown. The house had grown quiet, but the silence did nothing to calm the thoughts racing through her mind. Cassian had brought Seraphina into their home, moved her belongings into the nursery Elara had spent months preparing, and openly acknowledged that the child growing inside another woman belonged to him.

Yet beneath all of that was something Elara could not ignore.

The succession law.

If Seraphina’s child was recognized before hers, the child could stand ahead of hers in the line of succession. Her baby would enter a world where its position had already been decided by a woman who had been given the room Elara had built for it.

She could no longer afford to remain silent.

By dawn, Elara had made her decision.

She would tell Cassian.

But she would not tell him as the frightened woman who had once believed her pregnancy would save their marriage. She would tell him because her child had a right to be protected, and because she needed to know exactly what he intended to do with that right.

She had barely finished dressing when the bedroom door opened.

Cassian stepped inside alone.

His expression was tired, his dark hair still slightly disheveled from the night, but there was something guarded in his eyes that made Elara straighten immediately.

He closed the door behind him and studied her for several seconds before speaking.

“Are you still angry with me?” Cassian asked, his jaw tightening as he watched her guarded expression.

Elara gave a quiet, humorless smile and folded her arms across her chest.

“You moved another woman into the nursery I built for my child, told the elders her baby may inherit this pack, and expected me to sleep peacefully beside you,” she replied, her eyes steady despite the ache beneath them. “What answer were you expecting?”

Cassian’s expression hardened, but he did not immediately argue.

“I expected you to be hurt,” he admitted, lowering his gaze briefly before meeting hers again. “I did not expect you to understand overnight.”

“You’re right,” Elara said, her voice controlled as she stepped closer. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand how you can stand there and tell me that I am still your Luna while everything that should have belonged to my family is being handed to someone else.”

Cassian drew a slow breath, his shoulders tense.

“Seraphina is carrying my child, Elara. Whatever happened between us, I cannot pretend that child does not exist,” he explained, his expression solemn as he held her gaze.

“And what about mine?” Elara demanded, her voice breaking through the restraint she had fought to maintain.

The question left her mouth before she could soften it.

Cassian froze.

Elara reached into the drawer beside the bed and pulled out the pregnancy test she had hidden there the night before. Her fingers tightened around it as she held it between them.

“I am carrying your child too,” she said, her voice trembling despite her effort to remain composed. “Four weeks.”

For several heartbeats, Cassian did not move.

His eyes dropped to the test.

Then slowly returned to her face.

“Elara…” he whispered, the shock in his voice unmistakable as his eyes widened.

She watched as the meaning settled over him. His rigid posture broke, his lips parted, and something almost painfully human crossed his face.

“You’re pregnant?” Cassian asked, staring at her with stunned disbelief as his eyes dropped instinctively toward her stomach.

Elara nodded, her eyes glistening.

“Yes,” she confirmed softly, lowering her gaze as her hand moved protectively over her abdomen.

Cassian crossed the space between them so quickly that she instinctively stepped back, but he stopped himself before touching her. His eyes remained fixed on her stomach as if he could somehow see the tiny life growing there.

“Five years,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion as he shook his head in disbelief. “We waited five years.”

Elara’s chest tightened.

For a brief moment, she saw the man she had loved before everything had become complicated. The man who had once promised her that their child would be the strongest heir Nightfang had ever known. The man who had held her through every failed attempt and told her that being wolf-less did not make her less worthy of his love.

But the moment passed.

Cassian’s expression changed as the reality of the situation caught up with him.

“You should have told me immediately,” he said, his brows drawing together as he looked at her with restrained frustration.

Elara stared at him in disbelief.

“I wanted to,” she answered, her lips pressing together as hurt flickered across her face. “But yesterday you told me another woman’s child was yours, and before I could tell you about mine, you left with her.”

Cassian’s face tightened with guilt.

“I didn’t know,” he replied quietly, lowering his eyes as remorse crossed his features.

“No,” Elara said, shaking her head slowly as tears gathered in her eyes. “You didn’t, I was about to inform you.”

Silence settled between them.

Then Cassian moved closer, his expression conflicted.

“Does anyone else know?” he asked, his gaze sharpening as he studied her face.

“No,” Elara answered firmly, her fingers tightening around the pregnancy test.

“Not even the healer?” Cassian asked, his brows furrowing with concern.

“No,” she replied, shaking her head.

Cassian looked toward the door, thinking.

Elara noticed the change immediately.

“You’re already thinking about the council,” she said, her expression falling as she watched his attention shift away from her.

His eyes returned to hers.

“I have to,” Cassian answered, his face tense with the weight of the decision.

The answer hurt more than she expected.

“You just found out that I’m carrying the child we’ve waited five years for, and your first thought is the council?” Elara asked, her voice trembling as disbelief and disappointment battled across her face.

Cassian’s face softened, but his voice remained firm.

“Because I am Alpha before I am anything else. If I make a decision based only on what I feel, I could put the entire succession at risk,” he explained, his expression troubled as he tried to make her understand.

“And if you make every decision based on the pack, what am I supposed to be?” Elara asked, her brows drawing together as she fought back tears. “Your Luna when it is convenient? Your mate when you need loyalty? Or the woman you expect to step aside while another woman gives you the heir everyone wants?”

Cassian’s jaw clenched.

“You are my mate and my Luna,” he replied firmly, his eyes holding hers as though he expected those words to settle the matter.

“Then prove it,” Elara demanded, her chin lifting as she refused to look away.

He looked at her silently.

Elara took another step toward him.

“Send Seraphina away,” she said, her voice steady despite the pain in her eyes.

Cassian’s expression immediately changed.

“No,” he answered, his face hardening as he shook his head.

The single word landed heavily between them.

Elara stared at him.

“You didn’t even think about it,” she said, her voice cracking as disappointment flashed across her face.

“I don’t need to think about whether I will abandon my child,” Cassian replied, his voice firm as he shook his head. “I won’t.”

“I didn’t ask you to abandon the child,” Elara said, her eyes burning with restrained anger as she stepped closer. “I asked you to stop treating its mother like she belongs in the center of our marriage.”

“Seraphina is carrying my child. She has protection under pack law,” Cassian explained, his expression becoming guarded as he tried to hold his ground.

“And I am carrying yours,” Elara shot back, her hand pressing against her stomach as her voice trembled.

“I know,” Cassian replied, his expression pained as he looked toward her abdomen.

“Then why isn’t that enough?” Elara asked, tears finally gathering in her eyes.

Cassian looked at her for a long moment before answering.

“Because it changes nothing about the fact that both children are mine,” he said, his voice low and conflicted as he watched the hurt spread across her face.

Elara felt something inside her sink.

There it was.

The answer she had been afraid of.

Her pregnancy had not erased Seraphina.

It had only created two heirs.

And suddenly, she understood why the succession law mattered so much.

“If both children survive,” she said quietly, her brows tightening as she searched his face, “what happens?”

Cassian’s expression became guarded.

“The council will determine succession according to pack law,” he answered, his shoulders stiffening.

“And the first recognized heir gets priority,” Elara said, her voice growing quieter as realization settled over her.

Cassian did not answer immediately.

That silence was enough.

Elara’s hand moved instinctively toward her stomach.

“So my child could be born into this world already second,” she whispered, her face paling.

Cassian’s face tightened.

“That is not what I want,” he said, his expression pained as he took a cautious step toward her.

“But it is what the law allows,” Elara replied, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at him.

He stepped toward her, his voice softening.

“Elara, listen to me. I will not allow anyone to strip you of your position,” Cassian promised, his gaze steady as he tried to reassure her.

“You keep talking about my position,” she said, her eyes shining with tears. “I am talking about my child.”

Cassian reached for her hand.

This time, she pulled it away.

His expression fell.

“You’re afraid,” he said quietly, watching her with concern as his hand slowly dropped back to his side.

“Yes,” Elara admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she pressed a hand over her stomach. “Because I finally have something precious enough to lose.”

Cassian’s eyes lingered on her face.

“I won’t let them hurt you,” he promised, his expression filled with determination.

Elara gave a bitter smile.

“You already did,” she whispered, turning her face away as a tear slipped down her cheek.

He flinched.

Before he could respond, a sharp knock sounded against the door.

Cassian turned toward it.

A guard stood outside when the door opened, his posture rigid.

“Alpha, the Beta is waiting in the council chamber,” the guard reported, keeping his eyes lowered respectfully. “He wants to discuss Seraphina and the succession issue before the council gathers.”

Cassian’s expression hardened.

“I’ll be there,” he replied, his jaw tightening as he glanced back at Elara.

He turned toward her.

“I need you to remain here until I return,” Cassian said, his expression troubled as he tried to keep his voice calm.

Elara’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re ordering me to stay?” she asked, her arms folding across her chest as suspicion replaced the sadness in her expression.

“I am asking you to stay,” Cassian replied, his brows drawn together as he fought to keep his voice gentle. “The council will need to know about your pregnancy, and I need time to decide how to present this without turning the pack against you.”

“You mean without letting them know that your Luna is carrying the heir you spent five years waiting for,” Elara said, her voice edged with bitterness as she stared at him.

Cassian’s mouth tightened.

“That isn’t what I meant,” he answered, his expression troubled as he shook his head.

“Then what did you mean?” Elara demanded, her eyes fixed on him.

He had no answer that could satisfy her.

Elara turned away from him.

“Go,” she said quietly, her face hardening as she refused to meet his eyes.

Cassian remained still for another moment, clearly reluctant to leave.

Then he walked toward the door.

“Elara,” he said, pausing with his hand on the handle, his expression troubled as he looked back at her. “Whatever happens in that council chamber, you are still my mate.”

She turned to face him, her eyes cold with disappointment.

“Then stop using the bond as a reason to keep me trapped in a life I no longer recognize,” she replied, her voice steady despite the pain in her expression.

Cassian’s expression tightened.

He left without answering.

The door closed.

A second later, Elara heard the unmistakable sound of the lock sliding into place.

Her heart dropped.

She crossed the room and tried the handle.

It did not move.

“Cassian,” she called, her voice rising as she stared at the locked door. “Open this door.”

No answer came.

She knocked again, harder this time.

“Alpha!” Elara shouted, her palm striking the wooden door as anger and fear tightened her voice.

A guard finally spoke from the other side.

“Forgive me, Luna, but Alpha ordered that you remain inside until the council session is over,” the guard said, his voice uncomfortable as he shifted outside the door.

Elara’s fingers curled around the handle.

“I am your Luna. You are not supposed to imprison me,” she said, her breathing becoming heavier as she fought to keep her composure.

“You are not being imprisoned,” the guard replied uneasily, his voice hesitant as he remained outside. “You are being kept here under the Alpha’s direct order until the succession matter is settled.”

The distinction meant nothing to her.

Elara stepped away from the door, her anger giving way to exhaustion. She had eaten almost nothing since the previous evening, and the stress of the past two days had left her body trembling.

She pressed a hand against her stomach.

“Please,” she whispered, closing her eyes as her other hand rested protectively over her abdomen. “Just stay with me.”

A wave of dizziness suddenly swept over her.

She grabbed the edge of the table.

The room tilted.

Elara tried to steady herself, but her knees weakened beneath her.

She reached for the door.

“Guard…” she called weakly, her voice barely carrying through the room.

Outside, the guard shifted closer.

“Luna?” he asked, his expression tightening with concern as he listened to her weakened voice.

“I need water,” Elara whispered, her breathing becoming shallow. “And something to eat.”

There was a pause.

“I’ll see what I can do,” the guard answered, his voice uncertain as he moved away from the door.

Elara tried to remain standing.

But she failed.

Her shoulder struck the edge of the table before she crumpled onto the floor, one hand instinctively covering her stomach.

The last thing she heard before darkness swallowed her was the guard shouting for someone to summon the healer.

And somewhere beyond the locked door, the future of Nightfang Pack was already being decided without her.