(Fiona's POV)
The sterile scent of disinfectant filled the hospital air, pricking at my sensitive nose as the sound of my heartbeat thundered in my ears. I sat stiffly on the chair, my fingers gripping the edge as though it could keep me from spinning out of control.
Dr. Sarah Mitchell stood in front of me with a warm smile, holding a paper that could change my life.
"Congratulations, Luna Valerius," she said, and her voice seemed to echo in the room-almost too loud compared to the drumming of my thoughts. "You're going to have a healthy cub."
I froze, my breath catching. My hands trembled as I reached out and clasped the report she handed me. "I'm pregnant?" My voice cracked, barely over a whisper.
"Yes, about six weeks along," Sarah confirmed gently. Her glasses gleamed under the flickering hospital lights as she studied my face. "The heartbeat is strong. This is a joyous moment for your pack..."
Her voice trailed off as her smile faltered slightly. "Forgive me, Luna, but... why isn't King Alpha Blackwood here with you? First appointments are usually shared between mates."
My stomach tightened, and I struggled to force a smile. "He's... busy with pack duties. Territory disputes," I lied, trying to keep my tone nonchalant. The ache in my chest told me the lie wasn't for her-it was for me.
She nodded sympathetically, misinterpreting the awkward pause as embarrassment. "Of course. Alphas are always busy. But you should tell him soon. It's big news, after all."
Big news. How often had I dreamed of a moment like this? Carrying my mate's cub, becoming the mother to the next Alpha. But reality wasn't like the fairytales I used to believe in. Black didn't love me. Our mating had been arranged-political strategy masked as destiny.
A part of me wanted to use the mate bond right there, to reach out to his mind and share this life-changing moment. But the memory of his cold, sharp words when I last used it on him stopped me. "Don't invade my thoughts without permission, Fiona," he had snapped, his eyes like steel. "I've tolerated much already, but this is too far."
I swallowed hard, forcing the memory away. "Thank you," I murmured to Sarah, clutching the papers tightly as I stood.
Leaving the clinic, the gentle drizzle of rain greeted me. I stepped onto the sidewalk and tilted my face upward, letting the cool drops land on my skin. My hand instinctively went to my stomach. Inside me, a tiny life grew-a reminder that Black and I were connected by more than just a bond we neither of us asked for.
For the first time that day, I smiled softly. "We'll be okay," I whispered, as though the cub could hear me.
The buzz of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. Pulling it out, I saw a message from Black:
"Bring me an umbrella at the Blue Moon Club."
I frowned, my heart sinking a little. The Blue Moon Club? He was supposed to be attending a pack meeting. My fingers hesitated over the screen, questioning, but I shook my head. Whatever his reasons, my role as Luna meant I supported him-always. Even when he didn't want it.