Chapter fifteen
Aria's POV.
The name "Alpha Denderick" echoed through the hall, sending a chill down my spine. Horror gripped me. Why was he looking for me? Had he discovered that I was to be Alpha Logan's Luna? How would I deal with two powerful Alphas fighting over me and my baby?
I watched Alpha Logan approach the guards, slowly. From the way he walked, from every tense muscle of his back, I knew that he was absolutely livid. He stood tall, exuding authority. "And what does your precious Alpha Denderick want with me?" He roared. "Do I look like I am keeping pregnant women hostage?"
My heart pounded in my chest. Panic surged through me. They were looking for me. What if they discovered I was not pregnant with Alpha Logan's child like I claimed?
What would Alpha Logan do to me if he discovered the truth?
Silently, I fisted my hands, trying to control the onslaught of my anxiety. My heart was hammering like a tribal drum in my chest, and a fine sheen of sweat had gathered on my forehead.
The lead guard raised his hands in pliancy. "We mean no harm, Alpha Logan. We are merely here to carry out some searching, and nothing more. We assure you that we shall not touch or do anything unless you tell us to."
The once quiet crowd that had gathered for my celebration was murmuring now. They all appeared scared and interested in the exchange at the same time.
Alpha Logan's fury was barely contained as he snapped back a reply. "Alpha Denderick has no authority here. This is my pack, and you have no right to be here uninvited. Leave now, or face the consequences."
But the lead guard stood his ground. "We are under strict orders, Alpha Logan. We must check every single pregnant woman in your pack."
My breath caught in my throat. Alpha Logan's growl resonated through the hall. "You will do no such thing! This is an invasion of our privacy and an insult to my authority. Leave! I command you to leave!"
The lead guard didn't flinch. "I am sorry, but our orders come directly from Alpha Denderick. We take orders only from our Alpha, and our orders are to check every pregnant woman for a certain one. We will have to check every pregnant woman in your pack."
Alpha Logan's anger positively radiated off him in waves. "You will not lay a hand on any member of my pack. Especially not on my Luna."
The guards exchanged glances, clearly taken aback. The tension in the room was so thick that I could see the pack members on edge, ready to defend their Alpha.
"Alpha Logan," the lead guard began, trying to reason, "we mean no harm. But we must fulfill our orders."
Alpha Logan stepped forward, his eyes blazing with determination. "You will not touch my Luna or my child, or any other woman in this pack. If you want a war, you will get one."
The hall fell silent as Alpha Logan spoke. The lead guard seemed to hesitate, realizing the gravity of the situation, but then he clapped back.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
"We cannot leave without completing our mission," the guard said firmly. "Alpha Denderick's orders were clear."
Alpha Logan's jaw clenched. "This is your last warning. Leave, or there will be bloodshed."
The guards stood resolute. "No, Alpha Logan. We're sorry."
A murmur of anger and concern rippled through the pack. I watched Alpha Logan as he took a deep breath, trying to control his temper. I sat still in my seat, hoping against hope that the guards would be terrified enough to leave us in peace. But the guard's next words sent another wave of terror through me. "We have orders not only from Alpha Denderick but from the Council of Alphas."
Alpha Logan's face twisted in rage. "You're lying!" He spat.
The lead guard, unperturbed, pulled out a scroll from his belt. He unrolled the scroll and began to read from it.
"By order of the Council of Alphas, we are to search Alpha Logan's pack for a pregnant woman of interest." He read out. "Any obstruction will be met with severe consequences."
My heart raced as I realized this was getting out of hand. Any minute now, the guards would discover the truth. They would discover that I was bearing Alpha Denderick's baby, not Alpha Logan's.
Panic flared up in my chest. I had to do something to save myself, before it was too late!
"Alpha Logan," I called out, my voice trembling, "I'm very exhausted. I would like to retire for the night."
Alpha Logan turned to glance at me, his expression softening slightly. "Yes, of course," he said, then turned to his guards. "Escort Luna Aria to her room."
Two guards approached me, and with their help, I stood from my seat. As the guards led me away, I felt the eyes of the entire pack on me. My heart pounded as I walked through the hall.
Just as I was about to leave, I caught the eye of one of Alpha Denderick's guards. He gave me a curious look, his eyes narrowing as though he recognized me. I quickly averted my gaze, hoping he didn't remember where he had seen me before.
I hurried to my room, the fear and anxiety almost too much to bear. Once inside, I closed the door and leaned against it, my thoughts spiraling into panic.
How could this be happening? I had done everything to keep my secret, and now it was all about to unravel.
My brain was a jumble of anxious thoughts as I paced the room. If the guards discovered the truth, it would be catastrophic. Alpha Logan's anger was already evident, and Alpha Denderick's involvement would only escalate things. And what about the Council of Alphas? They had the power to bring down anyone who defied them.
What was I going to do?
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I waited, the minutes stretching into what felt like hours. My mind conjured scenarios of what could happen if I was discovered, each more terrifying than the last. I felt trapped, with no way out of what was coming for me.
After a few hours, a knock on my door startled me out of my anxious thoughts. I stood up, took a deep breath, and opened the door to find Alpha Logan standing there.
"My Luna!" He called out as he saw me.
He smiled at me, a rare warmth in his eyes, and walked inside. Slowly, he made his way to the bed. I followed him and sat down beside him, my nerves still on edge.
"I'm sorry your Luna coronation ceremony was ruined by those guards," Alpha Logan started.
I nodded and forced a smile, though the coronation ceremony was the least of my worries. "It's not a problem," I replied, trying to sound convincing. "How did you send them away?"
Alpha Logan's expression hardened slightly. "I insisted that they had no right to search my pack. I told them to leave immediately."
I hesitated, then asked, "But who is the Council of Alphas?"
Alpha Logan's gaze grew distant as he explained. "The Council of Alphas is a conclave of all the Alphas in this region. There are twelve of them, and we all act as a check and balance system for each other. They hold very significant power and influence."
I stayed silent, mulling over his words. Then I asked again. "If they are this powerful, why did you call their bluff? They could punish you for disobeying their orders."
Suddenly, something dark flashed in Alpha Logan's eyes, and I immediately wished I had kept my mouth shut. But instead of anger, Alpha Logan's voice was calm, almost gentle. "All I wish for is the safety of our child. Nothing else matters." I nodded in agreement, but fear still lingered in my mind. Then something else suddenly occurred to me.
"Alpha Logan, why didn't you have a Luna before me?" I asked. "You seem old enough to have one."
A shadow fell across his face, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and anger. "I lost my mate who was pregnant with my child, in a battle a few years ago," he said quietly. "Since then, the Council of Alphas has been pressuring me to find another mate or sire an heir. If I don't, they threatened to give my pack to another Alpha. I never thought I would ever have a child, before you came along."
The weight of his words settled heavily in the room, and I felt a pang of sympathy for him. Losing a mate and a child must have been devastating. I reached out and squeezed his hand, trying to offer some comfort.
"I promise to keep you and our child safe," Alpha Logan murmured, his voice firm and determined. He leaned in and kissed me goodnight, a gentle brush of his lips against mine. Then he stood and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Despite his promises, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. There was something off about Alpha Logan, something I couldn't quite place my finger on. His anger, his determination-it all felt strange.
As I lay in bed, my mind raced with thoughts of the night's events. The confrontation with the guards, the threat from the Council of Alphas, Alpha Logan's tragic past-Everything mixed together, confusing me even more.
With a heavy sigh, I tried to push my worries aside and closed my eyes. Sleep was elusive, but eventually, exhaustion took over, and I drifted into a restless sleep.