Luna's POV
I'm standing in front of the mirror, staring at the dress Elena picked out for tonight's council meeting.
It's a simple blue dress, nothing fancy. But my hands shake as I smooth it down over my small baby bump.
Tonight, I'm walking into a room where someone wants me dead.
You don't have to do this, Elena says from behind me. She's been trying to talk me out of it all day.
Yes, I do. I turn to face her. If we don't stop Sienna tonight, she'll just try again. And next time, I might not survive.
Elena hugs me tight. I've prepared the fake poison. It looks and smells exactly like wolfs bane. When you drink it, you'll feel dizzy and weak, but it won't actually hurt you or the baby. Just pretend to collapse and don't move until Kael gives the signal.
What's the signal? I ask.
He'll say 'The truth is revealed.' That's when you open your eyes and show everyone you're alive.
My stomach twists with nerves. So many things could go wrong.
There's a knock at the door. Tobias enters, looking serious. It's time. The council is gathering.
I take a deep breath. Okay. Let's do this.
We walk to the pack council building a huge stone structure in the center of Silverpine territory. My heart pounds harder with each step.
Tobias stays close to my side. Remember, I'll be right behind you the entire time. If anything goes wrong, I'll get you out.
Thank you, I whisper.
Inside, the council room is packed. Fifty pack members sit in rows of chairs, all staring at me as I enter. I see familiar faces wolves who knew me as a child, wolves who believed I was a traitor's daughter.
And there, sitting in the front row with a cold smile on her face, is Sienna Graves.
She looks perfect as always red hair sleek, green eyes sharp. When she sees me, her smile grows wider.
She thinks she's already won.
Kael stands at the front of the room behind a large wooden podium. When our eyes meet, something passes between us. A silent promise: I'll protect you.
Let's begin, Kael announces, his Alpha voice commanding attention. Tonight's council meeting addresses several pack matters, including the status of Luna Hartley's pregnancy claim.
Whispers ripple through the crowd. Everyone is watching me.
Sienna stands up. Alpha Kael, as your Beta, I must voice my concerns about this situation. Luna Hartley has made serious accusations about paternity without proof. The DNA test results won't be available for months. How long this pack must be disrupted by her presence?
Luna is under pack protection as a pregnant she-wolf, Kael says firmly. That's pack law, Beta Sienna. Or do you question pack law?
Sienna's eyes flash with anger, but she keeps her voice sweet. Of course not, Alpha. I simply think we should discuss all options for handling this delicate situation.
What options? I ask, surprising myself by speaking up.
Everyone turns to stare at me.
Sienna looks at me with fake concern. Well, Luna, you must be exhausted from the stress of waiting for test results. Perhaps you'd like some refreshment while we discuss?
A young omega wolf approaches me carrying a tray with a glass of water.
This is it. The poisoned drink.
My hands shake as I reach for the glass. I can smell wolfs bane mixed with the water sharp and bitter, disguised with lemon.
Except its not real wolfs bane. It's Elena's fake poison.
Thank you, I say to the omega, who looks nervous.
I bring the glass to my lips.
Kael's eyes lock on mine across the room. I see fear there, quickly hidden.
I drink.
The liquid is cold and bitter on my tongue. I swallow, then take another sip to make it look real.
Then I wait for Elena's fake poison to take effect.
Nothing happens at first. Then my head starts to spin. The room tilts. My legs go weak.
Luna? Tobias catches me as I stumble.
I don't... I don't feel good, I gasp, letting my body go limp.
She's collapsing! Someone shouts.
Tobias lowers me to the floor. I keep my eyes half-closed, watching through my lashes.
Sienna is smiling. Actually smiling as she watches me die.
A man pushes through the crowd Dr. Marcus Reynolds, the doctor working with Sienna. Let me through! I'm a doctor!
He kneels beside me, pretending to check my pulse. She's not breathing, he announces loudly. The child is dead. The mother is dead.
Gasps fill the room.
No! Kael's voice roars with pain that sounds terrifyingly real. Is he acting, or does he actually think I'm dead?
This is a tragedy, Sienna says, her voice dripping with fake sadness. But Alpha Kael, I must inform the council of something shocking. I have evidence that you ordered this poisoning.
The room explodes with noise. Wolves shouting, gasping, demanding answers.
What? Kael snarls. That's impossible!
Is it? Sienna pulls out a folder. I have text messages from your phone ordering Dr. Reynolds to poison Luna Hartley. You wanted to eliminate her before the DNA test could prove the baby was yours. You wanted to avoid the shame of having rejected your true mate.
Those messages are fake! Kael shouts.
Are they? Sienna's eyes gleam with triumph. The council will investigate. But according to pack law, when an Alpha is accused of murder, they must be detained immediately. She signals to several wolves who stand up her loyal followers. Seize the Alpha.
This is spiralling out of control. This isn't how the plan was supposed to go.
I want to open my eyes, to stop this, but Kael hasn't given the signal yet.
The wolves move toward Kael. He doesn't back down, his eyes flashing gold.
I wouldn't do that if I were you, a new voice says from the doorway.
Everyone turns.
Elena walks in, carrying medical equipment. Because Luna Hartley isn't dead. She's not even poisoned.
Sienna's face goes white. What?
Stand up, Luna, Elena says calmly.
This isn't the signal we planned, but I trust Elena. I open my eyes and sit up.
The room goes completely silent.
She's alive! Someone shouts.
It's impossible, Dr. Reynolds stammers. I checked her pulse
You checked nothing, Elena interrupts. You pretended to check because you're part of Sienna's plan to kill Luna and frame Alpha Kael.
Sienna backs toward the door. This is ridiculous. You have no proof
Actually, we do, Tobias says. He holds up the folder we found with Diana Cross. We have your messages to Diana Cross planning Luna's murder. We have financial records of payments you made to rogues. We have everything, Beta Sienna.
Sienna's mask finally cracks. Her face twists with rage. She doesn't deserve him! I've served this pack for five years! I've been loyal! I've been perfect! But Kael chose HER a traitor's daughter who brings nothing but shame!
Luna is not a traitor's daughter, Kael says quietly, and everyone turns to him. I've been investigating her parents' deaths. Marcus and Elise Hartley were innocent. They were framed and executed by my father to cover up his own crimes.
Shocked murmurs fill the room.
My father was the traitor, Kael continues, his voice heavy with pain. Not Luna's parents. And I'm formally clearing their names and restoring honour to the Hartley family.
Tears stream down my face. My parents were innocent. After twenty years, everyone will finally know the truth.
Sienna laughs a wild, broken sound. You think this changes anything? You think clearing her family name makes her worthy? She's still nothing! Just a weak she-wolf who trapped you with a baby!
She's my mate, Kael says, and the room goes silent. Luna is my true mate. I rejected her three years ago, and it was the worst mistake of my life. But that baby is mine. I don't need a DNA test. I know my own child.
My heart stops. Did he just acknowledge our bond publicly?
You rejected a true mate bond? an elder wolf gasps. That's forbidden!
I know, Kael says. And I'll face consequences for it. But right now, Beta Sienna needs to answer for attempted murder.
Sienna pulls out a knife silver, deadly. I'm not going down alone.
She lunges at me.
Everything happens at once. Tobias jumps in front of me. Kael shifts into his black wolf. Enforcers rush forward.
But Sienna is fast. The knife slashes across Tobias's arm as he blocks her. He goes down with a cry of pain.
Sienna raises the knife again, her eyes locked on my stomach. On my baby.
Die, traitor! she screams.
Kael's wolf hits her like a freight train, knocking the knife from her hand. They crash to the ground, Kael's teeth at her throat.
Don't kill her! I shout. We need her alive to testify about my parents!
Kael's wolf snarls but doesn't bite down. Enforcers grab Sienna and drag her away, still screaming threats.
Dr. Reynolds tries to run, but more enforcers catch him at the door.
It's over. We did it. We stopped them.
I sink to the floor in relief. Kael shifts back to human form and runs to me, pulling me into his arms.
Are you okay? he demands. The baby
We're fine, I assure him. We're both fine.
The council members are talking all at once, shocked by everything they've witnessed.
An elder wolf stands up. Alpha Kael, you've admitted to rejecting a true mate bond. The council must discuss
I know, Kael interrupts. I'll accept whatever judgment you decide. But first, I need to make sure Luna and our daughter are safe.
He helps me to my feet, and we start to walk toward the door.
That's when my phone buzzes.
I pull it out and my blood runs cold.
It's a message from an unknown number: Congratulations on surviving tonight. But you've only stopped one enemy. There are others. Check your brother's office. He's not who you think he is.
Below the message is a photo.
Of my brother Jason.
Meeting with Alpha Cyrus Thorne Kael's dead father.
The photo is dated three weeks before my parents were executed.
Oh my God, I whisper. Jason...
Kael reads the message over my shoulder. His face goes pale.
Your brother knew my father, he says slowly. Before your parents died.
What does this mean? I ask, but I'm afraid I already know.
Another message comes through: Jason Hartley helped frame your parents. Ask him why. If you dare.
The room spins. My brother? My own brother betrayed our parents?
No, I whisper. No, this can't be real.
But Kael's face tells me it might be.
My brother the only family I have left might be the real traitor after all.