The morning light filtered through the heavy curtains of the Alpha's chambers, casting long shadows across the bed. I pressed my palm against my mouth, swallowing back another wave of nausea. Five years. Five years today since I'd become Luna of the Silverclaw Pack, since I'd sacrificed everything to save these wolves from certain destruction.

My wolf, usually so quiet and subdued, suddenly howled within me—a sound of pure joy that startled me.

"What is it?" I whispered internally, my hand instinctively moving to my abdomen.

*Pup. Our pup. The Alpha's heir.*

The realization hit me like a physical blow. Pregnant. After five years of trying, of hoping, of enduring the pack's whispers about my barrenness... I was carrying Alec's child.

"No," I murmured, quickly calculating. "It can't be."

But my wolf knew better. She'd sensed it before I could process the symptoms—the fatigue, the sensitivity to scents, the nausea that had plagued me for weeks.

I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Alec's side—though he hadn't slept here in months. The sheets were cold, unused. My fingers trembled as I pressed them against my still-flat stomach.

"A baby," I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. "Our baby."

This changed everything. Today wasn't just our fifth anniversary—it was the day I would give Alec the news that would bind us together forever. No matter how cold he'd been, no matter how openly he'd pined for Melina, this would change things. It had to.

I dressed carefully in a silver gown that matched the pack's colors, applied light makeup to hide the shadows under my eyes, and prepared for the day ahead. The anniversary dinner would be held in the main hall tonight. That's when I would tell him.

---

Across the pack house, in the Alpha's office, Alec stood by the window, his broad shoulders tense as he reviewed the documents on his desk.

"Are you certain about this, Alpha?" Beta Marcus asked, his weathered face creased with concern. "The Rejection papers..."

"They're necessary," Alec replied, his voice hard. "Five years is long enough. I've fulfilled my obligation."

Marcus's eyes darted to the calendar on the wall, where today's date was circled in red. "Today? On your anniversary?"

"It seems fitting," Alec said, signing his name with a flourish. "End this farce of a mating on the day it began."

I didn't mean to overhear. I hadn't meant to bring Alec his coffee only to freeze outside his door at the sound of his voice. But there I stood, the mug warm between my palms, as my world collapsed around me.

"The pack has stabilized," Alec continued. "We've recovered financially. There's no reason to continue this charade."

"And what of Luna Daphne?" Marcus asked quietly. "She's been nothing but loyal. The pack respects her."

Alec's laugh was bitter. "The pack respects strength, Marcus. Not sacrifice."

I backed away silently, my heart shattering with each step. The coffee mug trembled in my hands as I retreated down the hallway, my mind racing. Rejection papers. After everything I'd given up—my family's territory, my father's ancient treasury, my chance at finding a true mate—he was throwing it all away.

For her. For Melina.

---

In her private quarters, Melina Jordan paced nervously, her perfect features twisted with worry. Five years of waiting, of watching Daphne wear the title that should have been hers. Five years of Alec's divided attention.

"He promised," she muttered to herself. "Once the five years were up..."

But what if Alec had changed his mind? What if seeing Daphne every day had somehow awakened feelings he didn't know he had? The thought sent ice through her veins.

She reached for her phone, dialing a number she'd memorized long ago.

"I need that delivery made today," she said when the call connected. "No, earlier than planned. Make sure the roses are perfect."

She paused, listening to the response.

"More wolfsbane," she instructed. "Double the concentration. And make sure it's untraceable."

Her red lips curved into a smile as she ended the call. By tonight, there would be no Luna Daphne. No mate bond to break. Just a tragic accident that would free Alec forever.

The rogue on the other end of the line had been well-paid—first for the information about Daphne's pregnancy, now for this special delivery. Melina had always been thorough.

She checked her reflection in the mirror, adjusting her hair. Soon, very soon, she would be Luna of the Silverclaw Pack. And nothing would stand in her way.

Not even an unborn pup.

The doorbell chimed, startling me from my thoughts. I'd been sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror, trying to summon the courage to tell Alec about our baby.

"Come in," I called, expecting one of the pack servants with anniversary preparations.

Instead, a young Delta entered, carrying an elaborate wicker basket wrapped in silver ribbon—the Silverclaw Pack's colors.

"Luna Daphne," he said with a slight bow. "This just arrived for you."

"Thank you," I replied, forcing a smile. "Please set it on the table."

The Delta placed the basket beside me and left with another bow. Alone again, I turned my attention to the gift. A small card rested on top, bearing elegant handwriting: "Happy Anniversary, Luna. Five years of loyalty deserves recognition. —M"

Melina. My stomach clenched. What game was she playing now?

I lifted the lid cautiously. Inside lay a dozen perfect red roses, their petals so vivid they seemed to glow. Their scent filled the room—sweet, floral, and...

My wolf suddenly snarled within me. *Danger! Wrong scent!*

I inhaled deeper, trying to identify what felt off. The roses smelled strange—too sweet, with an underlying bitterness that made my nose burn.

"Wolfsbane," I whispered, recognizing the distinctive odor too late.

Pain exploded in my chest. My lungs seized, refusing to draw breath. I gasped, clutching at my throat as fire spread through my veins.

"No," I choked out, doubling over as cramps tore through my abdomen. "No, please..."

My wolf howled in agony, her presence flickering within me as the concentrated toxin attacked our bond. I could feel her weakening, retreating deeper inside me to protect our core.

The baby. Our baby.

I collapsed to my knees, desperately trying to crawl toward the door. Each movement sent fresh waves of agony through my body. Something warm and wet trickled down my thighs.

"Don't leave me," I begged my wolf as darkness edged my vision. "Please don't leave me alone."

But she was fading, taking with her the tiny spark of life we'd created. I felt it slipping away—our pup, our future, our hope—dissolving like mist in morning sunlight.

---

The door to my chambers burst open with such force that it slammed against the wall.

"Daphne!" Alec's voice cut through the fog of pain. "What have you done?"

I couldn't answer. My body convulsed on the floor, blood pooling beneath me as my wolf retreated further, taking our unborn child with her.

Alec's footsteps approached, then stopped. The rustle of paper—the Rejection documents—fell from his hands.

"Luna Daphne?" His voice changed, uncertainty replacing anger. "What's happening?"

I tried to speak, to tell him about the baby, about Melina's poisoned gift. But only a whimper escaped my lips.

"Blood," he muttered, kneeling beside me. "So much blood."

His hands touched me then—the first gentle contact in months—as he turned me over. His face paled as he took in my condition.

"Get the doctor," he barked at someone in the doorway. "Now!"

Strong arms lifted me. Through half-lidded eyes, I saw Alec's face, his expression unreadable as he carried me through the pack house. Whispers followed us—concern, shock, curiosity.

"She's losing the pup," he growled to no one in particular. "She's losing our pup."

Our pup. The words pierced through my haze of pain. Did he know? Had he somehow sensed what I hadn't yet told him?

The pack hospital wing appeared in a blur. Dr. Samuel Hayes met us at the entrance, his weathered face grave as he took in my condition.

"Alpha, what happened?" he asked, helping transfer me to a bed.

"Wolfsbane poisoning," Alec replied grimly. "Someone sent her roses laced with it."

Dr. Hayes's eyes widened. "And she's...?"

"Pregnant," Alec confirmed, his voice hollow. "Or was."

The doctor's hands moved swiftly over me, his expression growing darker with each passing moment. I wanted to scream at him to hurry, to save my baby, but I could only lie there, feeling life slip away.

"I'm sorry, Alpha," Dr. Hayes finally said, stepping back. "The pup is lost."

Alec's face hardened, his eyes flashing with something dangerous—grief, rage, or perhaps both.

"And her?" he demanded.

"Her wolf is retreating," the doctor explained quietly. "If she doesn't fight to keep her connection... she could lose more than just the child."

I wanted to scream that I was fighting, that I would never give up my wolf. But darkness was pulling me under, and somewhere in that darkness, I heard Melina's laughter echoing.

White walls. Antiseptic smell. The steady beep of monitors.

I opened my eyes to the sterile environment of the pack infirmary, my body feeling hollow and empty. Something vital was missing—something beyond the physical pain that radiated through my abdomen.

"Daphne." Dr. Hayes's weathered face appeared above me, his expression grave. "You're awake."

I tried to speak, but my throat felt raw, as if I'd been screaming for hours. Perhaps I had.

"The baby?" I finally managed, though I already knew the answer.

His eyes softened with compassion. "I'm sorry, Luna. We couldn't save the pup."

A tear slid down my cheek. Our baby. Our future. Gone.

"And your wolf..." he hesitated, checking the monitors beside my bed. "She's retreated deep within you. The wolfsbane was concentrated—designed to cause maximum damage."

I closed my eyes, reaching inward for that familiar presence. She was there, but distant, curled into a tight ball of grief and pain.

"She'll come back," I whispered, more to myself than to him. "She has to."

Dr. Hayes nodded, but his expression remained troubled. "There's something else, Luna. Alpha Alec was here earlier. He left these."

He gestured to a folder on the bedside table. With trembling hands, I reached for it, opening it to find official documents bearing the Silverclaw Pack seal.

Rejection papers. Signed and dated today—our fifth anniversary.

"He knew," I whispered, the betrayal cutting deeper than any physical wound. "He planned this all along."

"The Alpha was quite clear about his intentions," Dr. Hayes said quietly. "He believes the pack is stable enough now to proceed without... your contribution."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Five years of loyalty, and this is how he repays me."

I thought of Melina's gift—the roses laced with wolfsbane. It hadn't been a random attack. This had been planned, coordinated. She knew about the baby. She'd meant to kill not just my child, but any chance of me ever bearing Alec an heir.

"Where is he?" I asked, my voice suddenly steady.

"Preparing for the evening ceremony," Dr. Hayes replied. "He believes you'll sign the papers without contest."

Something shifted inside me then—a cold clarity replacing the fog of grief and pain.

"Help me up," I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed despite the protest of my body.

"Luna, you need to rest—"

"I need to fight," I cut him off, standing on shaky legs. "Get me to the Council Chamber. Now."

---

The Ancient Pack Laws were older than any living wolf could remember. Written in blood and magic, they were the foundation upon which all pack hierarchies were built. And they were clear about one thing: contracts made under the Moon Goddess's witness could not be broken without consequence.

I stood before the Council of Elders, my hospital gown replaced with a simple gray dress, my hair pulled back severely from my face. The five oldest wolves of the Silverclaw Pack sat in a semicircle before me, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright hostility.

"Luna Daphne," Elder Thornton spoke, his voice crackling with age. "You've called us here on a matter of grave importance."

"Yes," I replied, my voice stronger than I felt. "I invoke the Ancient Right of Contractual Review."

Murmurs rippled through the chamber. Alec, who had been summoned as Alpha, stood to the side, his face darkening with each word I spoke.

"The marriage contract between Alpha Alec Lewis and myself was sealed with specific conditions," I continued, pulling out a copy of the original document. "Conditions that have been violated."

"Luna," Elder Thornton warned, "be careful with your accusations."

I met his gaze steadily. "I'm not making accusations. I'm stating facts. The contract clearly states that in the event of rejection, all territories and assets transferred from the Richards Pack to the Silverclaw Pack shall revert to the Richards bloodline."

Alec stepped forward, his eyes flashing dangerously. "That's not—"

"It is," I cut him off, turning to face him directly. "You signed it yourself, Alpha. My father's northern territory, the mountain passes, the silver mines—all of it returns to me."

The Elders exchanged glances, clearly uncomfortable with the implications.

"This would leave the Silverclaw Pack vulnerable," Elder Thornton pointed out. "The northern border is your primary defense against rogue incursions."

"That's no longer my concern," I replied coldly. "The contract is clear. Either honor it, or face the consequences of breaking a blood oath."

Alec's face contorted with rage. "You would destroy this pack out of spite?"

"I'm not destroying anything," I said, my voice eerily calm. "I'm simply claiming what's mine by right."

The largest of the Elders, a white-haired woman named Margot, leaned forward. "The Luna speaks truth. The contract does indeed stipulate these conditions."

A collective gasp filled the chamber as the full implications sank in. Without the Richards territories and resources, the Silverclaw Pack would be half its current size and wealth.

"The review is complete," Elder Margot declared. "The Luna's claim is valid."

Alec's roar of fury shook the walls, but it was too late. The law was ancient and binding.

And for the first time in five years, I smiled.