Chapter 3
The pack council chamber felt suffocating as I stood before the semicircle of elders, my hands trembling slightly as I presented my case. The preliminary hearing had drawn more attention than I'd anticipated—pack members lined the walls, their expressions ranging from sympathy to judgment.
"For months, I've endured emotional abandonment," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "Hudson has consistently prioritized his anatomical studies over our relationship and our unborn child."
I glanced toward the front row where Hudson sat beside Vera. Her hand rested possessively on his arm, her fingers stroking his sleeve in a gesture that made my stomach clench. When our eyes met, she smiled sweetly, the expression never reaching her eyes.
"Hudson brought an anatomical model into our den," I continued, "positioning it in the center of our living space. He's spent countless hours with it, excluding me from our shared space."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Elder Thornwood leaned forward, his weathered face grave.
"These are serious allegations against a future Alpha, Jennifer. Are you certain this isn't merely a misunderstanding?"
Before I could respond, a sharp pain lanced through my abdomen. I gasped, doubling over as the room tilted sideways.
"Jennifer?" Samuel's voice cut through the sudden silence.
I tried to straighten, but another wave of pain crashed through me. My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor.
"Help her!" someone called out.
Through the haze of pain, I saw Samuel rush toward me. Dr. Nathan Cross pushed through the crowd, his healer's bag already in hand.
But Hudson—my mate, the father of my child—didn't move. Instead, he turned to Vera, who had dramatically slumped against him.
"Vera, are you hurt?" he asked, his voice thick with concern.
"I just feel faint," she whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear. "The stress of these false accusations..."
Hudson knelt beside her, examining her arms where those self-inflicted bruises had barely begun to fade. "These still look painful," he murmured, completely ignoring my medical emergency.
Dr. Cross reached me first, his hands gentle as he helped me onto a stretcher. "We need to get her to the medical facility immediately."
Samuel stayed by my side as they carried me out, his presence a steady anchor in my pain.
---
I woke in the sterile white room of the pack medical facility, monitors beeping softly beside me. Dr. Cross sat nearby, reviewing charts.
"The pup is fine," he assured me as I stirred. "But you need rest. The stress isn't good for either of you."
Relief flooded through me. "Thank you."
Dr. Cross hesitated. "Jennifer... I need to ask you something. These pregnancy complications—has Hudson been... supportive?"
The question caught me off guard. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I've noticed certain patterns," he said carefully. "And as pack healer, I need to ensure both your welfare."
Before I could respond, Samuel appeared in the doorway, his expression grim.
"Jennifer, you need to see this."
He handed me his tablet, open to the pack's social media page. Vera had been busy.
"Future Luna Attacks Innocent Pack Member," read one headline. The photo showed Vera with her bruised arms displayed prominently, her expression wounded and innocent.
Another post featured Hudson's medical equipment arranged neatly beside the anatomical model. "Future Alpha Dedicates Himself to Pack Healing," the caption read. "Despite Personal Attacks."
Comments flooded each post:
"Poor Hudson! Stuck with a jealous mate!"
"What kind of Luna rejects a blessed bond?"
"Maybe the Moon Goddess made a mistake..."
I scrolled through dozens of posts, each more damaging than the last. Vera had painted me as unstable, jealous, hormonal—everything a Luna shouldn't be.
"She's been posting for hours," Samuel said quietly. "Other packs are picking up the story."
---
"Here," Hudson said, placing a velvet box on the table between us. "I got you something."
I stared at the box without opening it. We were in our den—my temporary quarters since the collapse—and the tension between us crackled like electricity.
"Open it," he insisted.
Inside lay a diamond bracelet studded with moonstones—the traditional gift for a Luna's first pup.
"It's beautiful," I said flatly.
"You should be grateful," Hudson replied, his tone shifting suddenly. "Not all Alphas would be so generous with mates who publicly humiliate them."
I looked up sharply. "Is that what this is? A bribe?"
"A reminder of your duties," he corrected. "The Moon Goddess blessed our union. You can't just throw that away."
"Even if you've been—" I stopped myself.
"Even if I've been what?" he challenged.
"Discreet about your relationship with Vera," I finished quietly.
Hudson's expression hardened. "Other Alphas would have been far less discreet, Jennifer. You should appreciate my restraint."
The realization hit me like a physical blow. He wasn't denying it—he was normalizing it, expecting me to accept it.
"You've been gaslighting me," I whispered. "Making me question everything I see and feel."
Hudson leaned closer, his eyes cold. "You're lucky I'm still calling you Luna."
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