POV - Elara
Victoria's knife flashed in the moonlight, and I threw myself sideways.
The blade missed my neck by inches, slamming into the doorframe where my head had been. Splinters burst everywhere. My heart hammered so hard I thought it might break through my ribs.
"You should have stayed invisible, little omega," Victoria said, yanking the knife free. "But instead, you had to get pregnant and ruin everything."
I scrambled backward, my hands protecting my stomach. "How did you know?"
"I can smell it on you." Victoria's smile was evil. "Fresh pregnancy has a unique scent. Sweet and vulnerable. Makes me want to—"
She lunged again.
I grabbed the lamp from my table and swung it hard. The glass base broke against Victoria's shoulder, making her stumble. I didn't wait—I ran.
Down the hallway. Through the servants' hallway. My bare feet slapped against cold stone as I raced toward the only place that felt safe: Kieran's office.
He'd protect me. He had to protect me. We were having a baby together, and that meant something. It had to mean something.
I burst through his office doors without knocking.
Kieran was at his desk, head in his hands. When he looked up, his eyes were red like he'd been crying. Alphas weren't supposed to cry, but the proof was right there on his face.
"Elara, you can't be here—"
"Victoria tried to kill me!" I gasped, closing the door behind me. "She knows about the baby. She came to my room with a knife—"
Kieran was on his feet instantly, his whole body radiating protective rage. "She what?" "She said I ruined everything. She tried to stab me. " I was shaking so hard my teeth chattered. "Kieran, I don't understand what's happening. Why would she—"
The door burst inward.
But it wasn't Victoria. It was six Council Elders, their faces cut from stone and judgment. Behind them stood Marcus and a dozen pack fighters.
"Alpha Kieran Blackthorn," the head Elder said officially. "You are charged with breaking your oath to the High Council. The political union was to be sealed tonight, but instead, you've been—" His disgusted look landed on me. "—consorting with an unbonded omega."
"She's pregnant," Kieran said quietly. "With my child."
The room went deadly silent.
"Impossible," the Elder hissed. "You took the Council's contraceptive herbs. You cannot father children until the political marriage is—" He stopped, his face going purple with rage. "You stopped taking them. You knowingly disobeyed Council orders."
"I didn't know she was pregnant," Kieran said, but his hand reached for mine. His fingers were warm and strong and everything I needed. "But now that I do, everything changes. I won't marry Victoria. I'm taking Elara as my true mate."
Hope burst in my chest like fireworks.
He was picking me. After everything, he was picking me.
But the Elder's laugh was sharp as broken glass. "You think you have a choice? The political union isn't an idea, boy. It's law. High Council rule that supersedes your personal wants."
"I don't care about your laws," Kieran growled, and his Alpha power filled the room like thunder. "She's carrying my child. That makes her mine to protect."
"Then you forfeit your territory," the Elder said coldly. "And we'll take every pack under your protection. Thousands of dogs will suffer because you couldn't control your—" He sneered at me. "—appetites."
The hope in my chest turned to ice.
Kieran's hand tightened around mine. Through our touch, I felt everything he was feeling—love and rage and impossible, crushing obligation. Thousands of lives on one side. Me and our baby on the other.
"There has to be another way," I breathed.
"There isn't," the Elder said. "Unless..." His eyes gleamed with something calculating. "The omega could give up the child. Sign over all rights to the Council. We'd raise it right, away from this shameful situation. Then Alpha Kieran marries Victoria as planned, and everyone gets what they need."
"No." The word ripped from my throat. "You can't have my baby."
"Then Alpha Kieran loses everything," the Elder said bluntly. "His land. His pack. His honor. All because you spread your legs for—"
Kieran moved so fast I barely saw it. His fist connected with the Elder's jaw, sending the old wolf crashing backward into the wall.
"Talk about her like that again," Kieran growled, "and I'll rip out your throat."
Chaos occurred. Warriors pushed forward. More Elders emerged. Magic crackled in the air as ancient power clashed with furious Alpha strength.
"Enough!" A voice cut through the madness like a blade.
Victoria stood in the doorway, her clothes perfect and her smile winning. But it was the woman beside her that made my blood run cold.
She looked exactly like me. Same brown hair. Same green eyes. Same height and build. But her stomach was rounded with clear pregnancy—much further along than mine.
"Who—" I started.
"My name is Lyra," the woman said quietly, not meeting my eyes. "And I'm also carrying Alpha Kieran's child."
The room spun. Kieran's hand dropped from mine like I'd burned him.
"That's impossible," he whispered. "I never—I haven't touched anyone but Elara in months—"
"Oh, you did," Victoria purred. "Remember that night three months ago? When you drank the formal wine at the Council meeting? When everything felt a bit... fuzzy?"
Horror dawned on Kieran's face. "You drugged me."
"I gave you a bride gift," Victoria amended. "Lyra here was more than happy to help secure our political union. And unlike your little omega, she's actually important. Her father owns the Western Territories. Her pregnancy seals a three-way agreement that will make the Northern Territories untouchable."
I couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't do anything but stare at this woman carrying Kieran's child—a child created through drugs and lies but still real. Still growing. Still a life that would need its father.
"The choice is simple," the Elder said, climbing back to his feet. "Marry Victoria, claim Lyra's child as your heir, and secure peace for everyone. Or throw it all away for an omega nobody who will destroy everything you've built."
Kieran looked at me, and I saw his heart breaking in real time.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "Luna, I'm so sorry, but I can't let thousands die. I can't be that selfish."
"So you're choosing them," I said numbly.
"I'm choosing my duty." Tears ran down his face. "But I'll provide for you. Money, safety, anything you need—"
"I don't want your money." My voice sounded dead even to my own ears. "I want you to be a father to our child. But I guess that's too much to ask."
I turned and walked toward the door. Every step felt like death.
"Elara, wait—" Kieran started.
"Let her go," Victoria said sweetly. "She's nothing. Just another omega who forgot her place."
I made it three steps into the hallway before my knees gave out.
Sara found me there, collapsed and crying. She helped me to my room and held me while I cried until there were no tears left.
"What are you going to do?" she asked quietly.
I looked at the positive pregnancy test still sitting on my bathroom desk. Two pink lines that had promised joy but brought only pain.
"I'm leaving," I said. "Tonight. Before anyone can stop me."
"Where will you go?"
"Anywhere that isn't here." I started throwing clothes into my bag with shaking hands. "I won't raise my baby in the shadows while Kieran plays happy family with his political women. I won't be the shameful secret he visits when he's bored."
Sara helped me pack, sneaking food and supplies from the kitchens while I collected everything that mattered. Photos of my parents. The books Kieran had given me. The blanket that still smelled like him.
We were almost done when someone knocked on my door.
Three soft taps. Kieran's style.
"Don't answer it," Sara hissed.
But I couldn't help myself. I opened the door a crack.
Kieran stood there looking wrecked. "Please. Five minutes. That's all I'm asking."
Against my better sense, I let him in.
"I love you," he said instantly. "I know that doesn't fix anything, but I need you to know. These three months with you were the only time in my entire life I felt like a real person instead of a tool."
"But not enough," I said angrily. "Not enough to fight for."
"If it was just me, I'd burn down the whole world to keep you." His voice cracked. "But it's not just me. It's thousands of harmless wolves who'll suffer if I'm selfish. How do I choose between you and them?"
"You already did choose." I put my hand over my stomach. "And your child will grow up knowing that political alliances mattered more than family."
Kieran flinched like I'd stabbed him. "What if I could find another way? Give me time—"
"I'm out of time." I showed him the bag. "I'm going. Tonight. And I'm not coming back."
"No." His Alpha order rolled over me, but I fought against it. "You can't take my child—"
"Watch me."
I pushed past him into the hallway, Sara right behind me. We made it to the servants' exit before Kieran caught up, his hand catching my wrist.
"At least tell me where you're going," he begged. "So I know you're safe."
"You gave up the right to know anything about us when you chose duty over family."
I yanked my hand free and fled into the night, leaving behind the only man I'd ever loved and the life I'd dreamed of building.
Behind me, Kieran's anguished howl echoed through the territory—a sound of pure sadness that would haunt my dreams for years.
I didn't look back.
But three steps into the forest, a figure melted out of the darkness.
Tall. Dark-haired. With eyes that glowed amber in the darkness—eyes that looked strangely familiar even though I'd never seen this man before in my life.
"You're Elara," he said softly. "Kieran's omega."
My wolf senses screamed danger, but I was too exhausted to run. "Who are you?"
"My name is Cassian." His smile was sad and knowing. "And I'm here to save you from my cousin's mista
kes."
Before I could ask what he meant, he touched my forehead—and everything went black.