Chapter 1"When I'm born, I'll find my REAL mom—and KILL YOU."
The voice in my head wasn't my pup. It was HERS.
I stumbled to my Alpha mate's office, hands shaking.
Through the cracked door, I heard him laugh:
"Used dark magic to bind her womb to Natalia's kid."
"For the pack. Rhiannon should be grateful."
Grateful?
I should be GRATEFUL you turned me into a breeding tool?
GRATEFUL you threw HER a champagne party on MY birthday?
Fine. I'll show you grateful.
When the truth came out, he fell to his knees, BEGGING.
I looked down at him:
"You wanted me grateful? Here's your gift."
---
The nausea had finally stopped.
After months of hell, my body had learned to live with the pressure against my ribs.
I rested a hand on my stomach, feeling the faint movement beneath my palm.
Soon, there would be real kicks. Real life.
Our pup.
The thought made me smile—until the voice cut through my head.
"You're not my mother."
I froze.
"When I come out, I'll find my real mom. And I'll kill you."
My breath caught.
The mindlink— every Luna shared with her unborn pup—was supposed to be warm. Protective.
This felt like venom.
I'm not—
The realization hit like ice water.
I'm not this baby's mother.
I didn't remember walking. Didn't remember my feet carrying me down the hall toward my Alpha mate Dorian's office.
But suddenly I was there, standing outside the door.
It was open just a crack.
"I can't believe you actually pulled it off." Beta Finn's voice. Low, almost impressed.
"You used dark magic at the altar while Luna Rhiannon was unconscious. Bound her womb to Natalia's pregnancy."
Finn’s words hung in the air like something toxic.
Then Dorian laughed.
Quiet. Unbothered. Almost bored.
"Natalia couldn't handle it. You've seen her. She's delicate. I wasn't about to let her go through that kind of pain."
"So you made Rhiannon do it instead."
"She's strong. She can take it." Dorian's tone was so casual it made my stomach turn. "Besides, it's for the pack. She should be honored."
Finn chuckled. "I heard you're the father, too."
"Of course I am." No hesitation. "I needed strong bloodline. Natalia and I have history—I wasn't going to say no."
My hand slipped against the doorframe.
I bit down hard on my lip to keep from making a sound.
The pup I prayed for. The one I begged the Moon Goddess to give us.
It's not mine. It's hers.
Natalia Vaugh.
A rogue. A liar. A ghost from his past.
"Just keep Rhiannon in the dark," Dorian said. She's fragile right now. Let her carry the pup and stay quiet. That's all she needs to do."
The voice in my head shrieked.
"You hear that, moron? Dad loves me and Mom. You're just the incubator. I'm cold. Fix it. Now. Or I'll make you pay."
I stumbled backward, pressing both hands to my stomach.
Even the baby hated me.
The pain came out of nowhere.
A sharp, twisting burn—right where the silver poisoning had scarred my insides years ago. The wound that never fully healed.
I collapsed against the wall, gasping, vision blurring.
Somehow, I made it back to my room.
I yanked open the freezer and grabbed a pint of vanilla ice cream. My hands shook as I dug the spoon in, desperate for anything to numb the fire spreading through my gut.
The pup screamed inside my skull.
"What are you doing? Stop. STOP. It's freezing in here. You're hurting me, you psycho!"
I took another bite. Then another.
"Good," I whispered. "Let's both feel it."
The door flew open.
"Rhiannon!"
Dorian rushed in—but his eyes didn't land on me.
They went straight to my stomach.
"Are you serious right now?"
He crossed the room in three strides and snatched the carton out of my hand.
"The pup feels everything you feel. Everything you eat. You know that."
I looked up at him.
I wanted to scream.
"I have silver burns. They flare up. You used to bring me ice cream yourself."
He blinked. For a second, something flickered across his face. Then it was gone.
"That was before you were pregnant."
He didn't say before you were carrying my pup. He said before you were pregnant.
The difference sat between us like a wall.
Now he only saw the baby.
A baby that isn't even mine.
I couldn't answer. Couldn't breathe.
He knelt beside me, lifting me into his arms.
"Gods—how bad is it? Come on, we need to get you to the healer. The baby—"
His phone rang.
A soft, trembling voice filled the silence.
"Dorian... I crashed my car. My wrist... I think it's broken. Please, I... need you."
His entire body went rigid.
"Don't move. I'm coming."
He looked at me. Hesitated.
I forced my voice to stay even. Forced a small, understanding smile onto my face.
"Go. She needs you. I'll be fine here."
He pulled out his phone and typed quickly.
Then he was gone.
The engine roared to life outside.
He didn't look back.
I sat there, alone on the floor, clutching my stomach.
Because when it came to Natalia, I was nothing.
Chapter 2
Back at the pack house, the burn in my abdomen hadn't eased.
Finn cornered me in the hallway, arms crossed.
"Dorian said you were heading to the pack hospital earlier. What were you planning to do?"
I'd been on my way to end it. To get rid of the thing growing inside me that wasn't mine.
But Finn had stopped me before I even made it to the door.
I met his eyes, expression flat.
Dorian appeared behind him, placing a hand on my shoulder. His voice went soft the way it used to.
"Rhiannon... are you happy about this baby?"
I looked down, hiding the contempt twisting in my chest.
"Why wouldn't I be, Dorian?" I kept my tone steady. "This is what we prayed for. For three years. Why would you even ask me that?"
His shoulders relaxed. Relief smoothed the tension from his face.
"Shit. I'm sorry. I've just been stressed." He exhaled. "Look—once you deliver safe, I'll make it up to you. You've been dying to see the auroras up in Winterfell, right? We'll go. Just me and you."
I nodded. Quiet. Obedient.
"I'm counting on it."
He gestured toward the doorway, and a woman stepped inside. Middle-aged. Sharp-eyed.
"You've got old injuries," Dorian said. "And you haven't been taking care of yourself. So I hired someone experienced to watch over you."
I stared at her. Something about her face felt familiar, but I couldn't place it.
Dorian stepped out into the hall. I heard his voice drop low.
"Moira, you're in charge of Luna Rhiannon's meals from now on. Everything is for the baby. I don't care if you have to get rough with her. Make sure she eats. Got it?"
"Yes, Alpha. She won't be a problem."
I lay back on the couch, pretending to sleep. My nails dug deep into the cushions.
Now I got it.
This wasn't care.
This was a fucking guard dog.
All for the baby.
His and Natalia's baby.
Morning came too fast.
Moira walked in carrying a covered dish. The smell alone made my stomach turn.
"Luna, I made your nutrient meal. Alpha's orders—high protein for the baby."
I ate without looking at her.
Halfway through, I stood.
Moira blocked my path instantly.
"Luna, you're not done. Your bloodwork shows you're deficient. You need to finish."
She slid the plate back.
I stood anyway.
"I can't stomach any more of this."
"You can and you will." Her voice went sharp. "Or do you wanna starve the Alpha's kid?"
She grabbed my shoulders and shoved me back toward the chair.
I jerked away from her.
"Get your fucking hands off me! I said I'm done. You think you can touch a Luna like this?"
Moira lifted her chin, eyes gleaming with something cruel.
"Alpha said the baby comes first. And if I gotta shove this down your throat myself, I will."
"Touch me again and I'll—"
Her hand flew across my face.
I tried to move, to fight back—but a sharp, twisting pain seized my stomach.
I froze.
All I could do was take the hit.
My face burned.
I stared at her in disbelief.
She hit a Luna.
Did she think Dorian wouldn't kill her for this?
But Moira wasn't scared. She smiled.
Before I could move, she locked both arms around me from behind—her grip unnaturally strong—and grabbed the dish.
I thrashed, but she pried my mouth open and forced the food down my throat.
She didn't let go until half the bowl was gone.
I stumbled to the sink and vomited violently.
The voice in my head shrieked with laughter.
"HAHA! That's what you deserve, you stupid Luna!"
"YES! Good job, Grandma! Maybe now she'll learn to behave!"
Grandma.
I whipped my head around and stared at her.
Now I saw it—the shape of her eyes, the curve of her mouth.
Natalia.
She wasn't just some hired healer.
She was Natalia's mother.
Sent here to guard the baby. To torture me. To make damn sure I stayed in line as their personal incubator.
The humiliation.
The abandonment.
My wolf clawed at my insides, trying to rip free.
I pressed both hands to my stomach and closed my eyes.
I'm nothing but a fucking womb to them.
Chapter 3
Dorian's voice came through the door.
"Rhiannon. Open up. Moira says you've been locked in there since breakfast."
I stayed pressed against the door. Didn't move.
He sighed. His voice went soft, the way it did when he thought I was being difficult.
"Look, Moira already told me what happened. She feels bad about getting rough with you, but come on—you're pregnant. You can't just skip meals because you're pissed off."
I turned and ripped the door open.
He stumbled back a step, clearly didn't expect that.
His eyes landed on my face—the side still red and swollen—and his expression shifted.
"The hell happened to your face?"
He reached for me. I jerked away.
"For fuck's sake, Rhiannon. Can you stop acting like a kid? You're mad, fine—but don't punish the baby for it. Is eating really that fucking hard?"
Eating.
I turned, grabbed the medical report from the drawer, and threw it at his chest.
"Read it, Dorian. I still have silver poisoning in my system. You want to tell me how I'm supposed to 'eat more'? Go ahead. Explain it to me."
The paper fluttered to the floor.
He picked it up. Scanned the line about residual toxicity and partial organ damage.
His face went blank.
"Shit. I... I forgot."
Years ago, I'd taken silver blades meant for him. Over and over. Rogue attacks. Ambushes. By the time my body started shutting down, the damage was permanent.
The healer had been blunt.
"Alpha, the Luna's silver poisoning is severe. Especially in her stomach. She must watch her diet closely. No extreme energy drain. No forced feeding.
Back then, Dorian had held my hand. Tears in his eyes.
"I'll never let you go through this again, babe. Rest. Heal. Once things settle, we'll have a kid. I promise."
I'd believed him.
This was my reward.
Guilt flickered across his face.
"That's on me. I've been swamped. I wasn't thinking."
My voice came out flat.
"Moira assaulted me. A Luna. Fire her. Now."
"No."
The word left his mouth before I finished speaking.
He must've realized how that sounded, because he softened his tone immediately.
"Come on. Don't blow this out of proportion. She made a mistake. I'll talk to her—she won't step out of line again."
He reached into his bag and pulled out a sleek black box.
"Tomorrow's your birthday. I've got meetings all day, so I'm giving this to you now."
I stared at the box. Inside was a small sculpture carved from moonstone—three wolves curled together. A family.
The Alpha who was always "too busy" had commissioned custom artwork for this.
My hands shook as I took the box.
"You had this made... for a decoration?"
Dorian smiled—proud of himself.
"It's blessed at the altar. Moon Goddess protection for our family. Thought you'd like it."
Tears burned hot behind my eyes.
It was my birthday.
And he gave me a sculpture of a family that wasn't even real.
Of a child that wasn't mine.
And he looked so fucking proud of himself.
I raised my eyes and stared directly at him.
"Do you love me at all, Dorian Crane?"
He flinched when I used his full name. Panic flashed across his face.
"Of course I do. What kind of question is that? Rhiannon, you're spiraling. Hormones are messing with your head."
He checked his phone.
"I need to go. Early flight tomorrow. Get some sleep, okay?"
The door closed behind him.
I heard his voice in the hallway—muffled but clear.
"Keep her on small portions. Frequent meals. And watch her moods—stress affects the baby."
Moira's voice answered.
"Understood, Alpha. Shame I'm stuck here though. I'm missing Natalia's birthday."
Dorian chuckled. "Don't worry. I booked the entire rooftop at Silvermoon Grand. Live music, champagne tower, fireworks at midnight. She's going to lose her mind."
Moira gasped, delighted.
"Oh my god, you're the best! She's going to cry happy tears!"
Their voices faded down the hallway.
I stood there in the dark, holding a moonstone sculpture of a family I'd never have, listening to my mate plan a birthday party for another woman.
My birthday.
For her.
