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EMMA'S POV I waddled up the stairs slowly, my large belly making upward movements. Seven months and a few weeks gone, and my belly already felt like a home for every pack member. Voluminous. Clutched in my hands was the old Alpha Noah's tiny medicine bowl. Ever since his health deteriorated, I tended to him daily, but it became more of a chore, and right now, I desperately wanted to get my little nightly routine over with. "Uh." I heaved a sigh of relief and rubbed my belly once I reached the end of the stairs. Somehow, my mind drifted to Grayson, my mate, and my heart sank. He was mad at me, and it hurt. Lately, I got lots of gifts-cards, flowers, etc.-from an anonymous sender. As silly as I was, I assumed it was all Grayson trying to be naughty. When Grayson found out, he accused me of cheating; sadly, I couldn't fault him, not when I had a stack of gifts staring at me mockingly. And we drifted apart because of it, to the extent of him moving out of our room. He no longer spoke to me, or even the baby in my womb, or touched my belly to feel for kicks. Neither did he massage my feet when I couldn't sleep; all this was what he did before, and now he seems like a distant memory. I hope the goddess will bring him back to his senses. Soon, I reached the dark oak door that always seemed to be as formidable as the man inside the room had once been and turned the lock. The room was extremely dim, the only sliver of waning light coming from the slightly open drapes at the window. Predictably, Alpha Noah was asleep, limbs weak with disease and age strewn haphazardly across the vast bed. I cleared my throat softly, alerting him to my presence. "I have your medicine, Father," I said respectfully, keeping my head slightly bowed. This was usually the point where he made a weak joke before asking me to come forward, but this time, he remained silent. I looked up and cleared my throat again. Anyone in his shoes would be tired of the weird-smelling tablets and syrup. "Alpha?" I called out. The silence that followed the sound of my voice was almost eerie, and my nose scrunched up. There was a slightly metallic tang to the air. It reminded me strongly of... I stiffened as a horrible realization settled over me. Blood. Lots of it. My senses had once again belatedly caught up with me, making me not recognize the smell of spilled blood for the full fifteen seconds I was in the room. My grip on the ceramic bowl loosened, and it clattered to the floor as I hurried forward to see the multiple splotches of blood on the top sheet pulled over Alpha Noah's body. Judging from the numerous red maps on the sheet, it was obvious he was stabbed multiple times. My mouth fell open with a soundless gasp as I gazed at the lifeless face that stared back up at me. "No, no, Father..." I stuttered; my mind was thrown into a frenzy. I stumbled forward, my legs weak and unsteady, kneeling beside him, reached out to touch his cold, still hand, desperately hoping for any sign of life. But there was none. Horror and anguish consumed me, my trembling hand instinctively reached out to hold my growing belly, seeking comfort and reassurance in the life growing inside. The expression of frozen horror on his face was identical to the one on mine. Bile welled up in my throat, threatening an uproar as I gagged. I clutched my abdomen tightly, as if trying to shield my unborn child from the pain and tragedy that had unfolded. Alpha Noah?! The rational part of my brain told me to scream for help, but I was too paralyzed to summon my strength. "Grayson..." I whimpered with a shaky frame. I needed him to tell me this was all a dream-to hug me and cuddle me till this nightmare was over. "Breathe, Emma," I whispered to myself. "He cannot be dead. He isn't dead," I muttered in denial. Do something-any freaking thing! My messed-up brain screamed... Succumbing to the surge of adrenaline, I tilted with my hands interlocked. My shaky hands moved to his chest Cold. Numb. A gasp escaped my throat as I startled backward a bit, with the realization that nothing could be done. "He's dead, Emma..." I whispered to myself, perhaps it would put my scattered brain into one piece. "No..." I groaned, beyond terrified. Gawking at the dead alpha's blood on my trembling hands, I was petrified. Suddenly, I heard the creak of the doorknob being turned. Eyes wide, I whirled around. Grayson's face stared back at me questioningly at my expression, before slowly, his gaze dropped to my hands. Suddenly realizing my hands were as red as those of a butcher, I swiftly dropped them beside me, shielding them from him, which was technically useless. His brow furrowed for a second as he stared uncomprehendingly at me, then stepped fully into the room. Suddenly realizing whose blood it could be, he looked at his father. The door remained open behind him as he rushed to the bed where his father lay. "Father..." He cried out and reached down to shake his still frame before checking his carotid pulse. Like he was jinxed, he turned to look at me with crimson eyes. My gulp as I swallowed was loud in the eerie stillness of the room. "I..." "What did you do?" Grayson asked. His voice was quiet with deadly intent, and his eyes burned with a fire so intense that I took an involuntary step back before catching myself. We had a strain, and his reaction wasn't totally out of place. Regardless, I demanded a chance to defend myself. I shook my head dumbly, my throat refusing to work. Nature was always against me. There was a bunch of gifts as evidence, and now, my bloodstained hands say otherwise. "What," Grayson enunciated, "did you do, Emma?" He prowled towards me menacingly. "Dear goddess..." I whimpered with trembling, dried lips. "I didn't do anything." Even to my ears, my voice sounded false and whiny. I cleared my parched throat painfully, feeling faint. "I found him this way, Grayson, I promise you." "You found him this way," Grayson repeated flatly, his voice slowly rising. "You found my father dead, Emma? You expect me to believe that?" "I...yes, Grayson. I'd just brought him his medicine and" I gestured helplessly to the pieces of broken ceramic on the floor and the pills that must've been crushed when either Grayson or I stepped on them. He advanced on me slowly, his eyes slowly turning black, meaning his wolf was close to surfacing. "Am I next?" He groaned; the coldness of his voice was piercing. I merely trembled, confused as the word was spelled boldly. "Eliminate my father, bear me a child, and get rid of me so your lover can fully step in." "What?!" I exclaimed. "How am I sure the child you are carrying is mine?" This was ridiculous. It was silly of me not to think he would bring that up. I was doomed, and it would only take tampering with the hands of time for the goddess herself to intervene. "Tell me!" He demanded it forcefully. "Babe..." I broke down, sobbing like a child. "I thought as much." He scoffed. "Grayson, I don't know what you mean, but please..." He seized my arm in a vice-like grip, and pain bloomed where his hand wrapped itself around me. I winced, tugging at him. "Let me go," I begged, tears running down my cheeks. "You're hurting me. Please." With a rough growl, he yanked me towards him, and I stumbled forward with a cry. This was a side of Grayson. I had never seen them before, not even after discovering the gifts. I didn't know what to make of it. "Why?" he hissed. "Why did you choose to betray me, Emma, twice?" Undoubtedly, there were raw emotions in his voice-sad emotions. "You cheated on me as if it wasn't enough; you do this to me?" Circulation was slowly cutting off from my fingers, and I could barely feel them. "Grayson, you have to believe me. I would never..." Suddenly, he tossed me away from him, and I landed on the floor, my back hitting the back of the dresser hard. "Ain't you tired of your shenanigans?!" Grayson shouted, his alpha pheromones seeping through. Now, I noticed that a small crowd had gathered at the door, and a few pack members peeked in. Tears ran down my face unendingly at the thought that Grayson would believe I was capable of such a heinous act. All I needed was a chance and his unbiased side, of course, but it was obvious I was greedy. With a pained gasp, I struggled to my knees, groaning when a sudden pain shot from my belly. Ignoring it, I hurried to Grayson and gripped his arm. "Grayson, baby, I..." His arm went up and came down on my cheek in a flash, bathing my face in a flash of pain that left me dumbstruck. I staggered backward from the shock of the blow, more than a little dumbfounded. Unconsciously, my hand traveled up to cup my stinging face. I barely even noticed the wetness of tears beneath my fingers. The pain in my stomach was mounting, but I could ignore it in the face of the heartbreak I was feeling. "G-Grayson? Why...?" I questioned. My mate shut his eyes as though he couldn't bear to look at me. He gestured to two men behind him, which I hadn't noticed before. I recognized them as pack security. They stepped forward. "Take her away," Grayson said, his voice thick with unshed tears. "Lock her up in the dungeons, and don't let her out until I say so." "What?" I shrieked disbelievingly. "You can't do that, Grayson." My voice quivered as I desperately tried to explain, but my body ached from the previous altercation with him, the sharp pain in my abdomen serving as a constant reminder of the fragile life I carried within. No matter how much I pleaded or argued, it would only further strain the already fractured relationship. With the rationality that comes from protecting my unborn child, I chose to conserve my strength, both physically and emotionally. The two bulky men looked at me apologetically, intent on restraining my hands and escorting me to durgeon. I met their approach with a calm and steady gaze, my voice unwavering as I spoke, "I can walk on my own. Lead the way." They were momentarily taken aback, exchanged uncertain glances, and then led the way. "Stop," I heard Greyson's ordering the men. I turned around and met Grayson's gaze with a silent resolve, filled with a mixture of sadness and resignation. His eyes squeezed tightly shut for a moment before he abruptly opened them. "Emma Smith," the man in front of me said solemnly. "I strip you of your title and any authority that comes with it. From henceforth, you are no longer recognized as the Luna of the Blackwood Pack." My heart shattered into irreconcilable pieces. "Gray..." I swallowed dryly; I was exhausted. He nodded to the men behind me. "Lock her up." My limbs went numb as my mind went blank. The two men left me in the dungeons, my new home. Grayson's name was like an echoing charge in the emptiness of my mind. He betrayed me. Regardless of anything, I still demanded a second chance. I barely registered as the men arrived in front of my cell and tried to push me in as gently as they could, which did nothing at all since my legs had stopped working. I crumpled to the ground in a heap and pulled my limbs towards me, curling up around my aching stomach. I'd never felt the harsh burn of a betrayal so thick as this. And Grayson... Grayson would regret this. From the heart of a scorned woman... Oh, he would! EMMA'S POV I didn't know how many hours had passed since I lay curled up on the ground, but a guard had begrudgingly brought me some bread and water earlier. They lay untouched on a small wooden tray in front of the bars of my cell. I'd exhausted my tears, rousing myself only when the dull ache in my belly transformed quickly into sharp jabs of pain. With a gasping cry, I crawled over to the thick steel bars and yanked, shaking the cell door. "Is anyone there?" I rasped. "I need help, please." I heard the shuffle of moving feet but failed to see anyone appear. I rattled the bars again, more urgently, as my belly gave a sharp contraction, and I belatedly realized what was happening. "Help me!" I groaned, half screaming as my belly clenched. My vision went white for a second before warm wetness slid down my thighs, pooling into my dress as my water broke, signifying my worst fears at a time like this. I was going into labor. Prematurely. At first, the contractions were bearable, but with each preceding minute, the intensity spiked, searing through my soul like a spell. The pain was like no other I had ever felt, and in a fleeting moment of clarity, I wadded up the hem of my dress and shoved it between my teeth, muffling the incoherent noise I was making and preventing myself from inadvertently biting my tongue. I shuddered through the suddenly strong contraction and sagged against the grim wall of my little cell, feeling weak and drained. I hadn't eaten anything in a while, and the rational part of my brain knew I needed as much energy as I could get for what was to come, and that meant food. Shakily, I sniffled, then reached for the platter of rough bread and the pitcher of lukewarm water that had been set out for me. There was a glob of something unrecognizable that could have been butter or cheese. After a poke with my finger revealed nothing of its nature, I decided to let the strange mass be and instead broke off a chunk of the coarse brown bread and shoved it between my lips. At that moment, another contraction took hold, and I bent forward with a loud groan, clutching at my belly and just barely remembering to shut my mouth before my meager nutrition tumbled out. I gave off small whimpers of pain for the duration of the contraction, which I noticed was longer than the first. As soon as it let off, I forced my jaw to chew furiously, swallowing the dry, flaky dough and topping it off with a messy slurp of water that spilled across my chin. A guard's tentative face appeared in the door that led to where I was, and before I could cry out for help, it disappeared again. I clenched my jaw against the frustration I felt and forced myself to choke down more bread that really would have been suitable for use as a bathing sponge instead. For the first time since I was so gracefully thrown in here by Grayson, I allowed myself to take stock of my surroundings while doing the breathing exercises the pack doctor had taught me. Remembering that I had to keep moving in any way possible to help with the pain, I painfully clambered to my feet, hunched forward slightly, and was not able to stand straight up. My left cheek was still swollen from Grayson's slap, and the light brush of my sleeve over it reminded me of the events of the evening. I slowly made my way around the tiny space, pausing every few steps to draw deep breaths in. My cell would barely be enough for a large wolf to stand straight in, but for me and my petite figure, it was no problem. The air was musty down here and tasted of mildew and misery. It matched perfectly with the mood I was in, with clashing emotions coursing through me. Anger. Pain. Betrayal. Pain. Hurt. More pain. A sob tore out of my throat as another contraction took hold, and this time, I couldn't hold on to the large scream that left me. I slid down to my knees, still screaming as blood pooled down below me from my body. Blood?! It was a bad sign! The door to my cell was barged open, and two guards rushed in, their faces going ashen as they saw me kneeling in pain. "Lun... What's happening?" one of them asked urgently. To my addled mind, the fact that he'd slipped and almost called me by my former title made me want to laugh unbearably, but my body had other things going on. Sweat poured from my pores like rain, and the tendons on my neck stood out as I tried to keep from screaming again. "Help," I gritted out, my head bent and my vision slowly waning. "Doctor. Get. Labor!" My voice was barely coherent, but the guards seemed to know what I meant, turning and hurrying out of the room. I existed on a plane where my physical surroundings had faded. One where I felt, saw, and knew nothing else but the pain that was slowly chipping away at the edges of my sanity. So when a gentle hand touched my shoulder, I unthinkingly lashed out, screaming, until the voice got through to me and I stared into the comforting eyes of the pack doctor. When had she gotten there? I hadn't even heard the heavy keys on the bars of my cell being opened. Her mouth moved, but with the loud ringing in my ears, I didn't hear a thing. Strong hands pushed me backward, lifted me, and transferred me onto sturdy leather. A stretcher. I barely noticed the dirty walls of the pack dungeons give way to the marble, clinical ones of the hospital. I was hooked up to an IV and given a shot of something that cleared some of the fog from my head enough that I could hear the nurses shout that I was fully dilated. It was through a daze that I heard the words that came after that. "Okay, Emma. You have to be strong for your baby. Push!" My belly clenched unbearably, and I bore down, blindly following instructions that were hazy to me. Even through the pain, my eyelids felt heavy, and I just wanted to rest them. Someone slapped me lightly, so my lashes fluttered back up. "Don't fall asleep, Emma. Not yet. You can do this." The next contraction came quicker, in mere seconds. "Push, Emma!" I pushed, and with a guttural groan from me, my birth canal forced itself wider, and my womb expelled its contents. A squalling cry filled the room as my baby was brought into the world. I'd read somewhere that childbirth was excruciating until you delivered. Once the baby came out, you would forget everything that had happened prior, even the pain. That wasn't the case with me. I cried out again as my belly twisted again, and I felt hands on me as I was examined. "Hold on, we aren't done yet!" An urgent voice called. "We have another in here!" Another? Another what? My head lolled to the side tiredly, and I barely noticed the hand feeling me up. "We're losing her!" Someone shouted. A needle pierced my skin as they struggled to rouse me. Another contraction rolled through me, and instinctively, I pushed again, feeling the smooth relief I'd been craving to find me. Another angry cry joined the chaos of the room, and the doctor's smiling face entered my field of vision. "Congratulations, Emma. You did it." I managed to manage a weak smile as my vision faded around the edges. "You have healthy twin boys," she said. Finally. I smiled again. I was slowly losing consciousness, but I couldn't bring myself to care. "Are they alright?" I managed to say. I didn't stay awake long enough to hear her reply; I only slid into a deep sleep reminiscent of the daze I was in after Grayson's betrayal. Dimly, I wondered if he was aware he was now a father. And if he would push his hate aside and see them as his... Hopefully, he wouldn't ship them off to my allegedly anonymous lover. "Dear goddess, please..." I cried within me. "Change their fate." With that, I slipped into oblivion. EMMA'S POV The blinding lights and the stark sterility of the room I was in were the first things I noticed when I woke up. The second was the person beside me. "Ah, good. You're awake," the nurse said. "How do you feel?" I took stock of the throbbing in my cheek, the soreness of my lower body, and my overall tiredness. Broken was the only word that came to mind, but I managed a small smile that hurt my cheek. "Tired," I said instead, my voice sounding hoarse from screaming. The woman grinned at me. "It's always like that." She seemed nice. I wondered if she'd heard about my fall from grace yet. In terms of gossip, the pack hospital was secluded from the rest of the pack. My eyes darted around the room inquiringly. Though I wondered about what my state in the pack was, what I wanted was to see my babies. "Where...?" I started to inquire. "Oh, right. I'll bring him to you," the woman said, then bustled out of the room before I could say anything else. Him? My brow furrowed confusedly, but I waited anyway, in ill-disguised impatience. A moment later, the nurse returned, cradling a blanket-wrapped bundle and cooing to it. "There you go," she said, passing him to me. I looked down at the tiny baby in my arms, and my breath caught in my throat at the delicate features on the little face. He looked almost identical to me. I breathed out a tiny sigh of relief that he hadn't turned out like his father. I didn't think I would be able to handle looking into Grayson's face every single time I looked at my baby. The feeling of falling in love was as instant as snapping my fingers. Those who said a mother's love could never be explained were right. However, something else was bothering me. I looked up at the nurse and forced myself to smile. "Where's his brother? I had twins, right?" The change in expression on her face was immediate. Where she had looked warm and friendly before, she now looked shuttered, her face carefully blank. "I'll send in the doctor for you," she murmured, picking up her clipboard and turning to leave the room. My heart thundered in my chest as I clamped a firm hand on her arm. "Where is he?" I demanded. "Where's my baby?" She cringed backward, and at that second, the door to my room opened. The pack doctor strolled in. The nurse looked relieved as she fled. I turned my horrified gaze on the doctor. "Is he dead? Is he?" My voice was slowly becoming shrill. The woman shook her head. "Not to my knowledge, Emma. His father has him." It was like all the wind was knocked out of my chest. "Grayson?" I asked shrilly. "Grayson was here?" The doctor nodded. "Why did he take my baby? Why didn't anyone wake me up? I want my baby now!" The doctor winced at my shriek, and in my arms, my son began to fuss. "The Alpha will be down to see you shortly," she replied. "Just be patient for a while." "Patience?" I cried. "What kind of man would take a woman's child from her while she's unconscious? And for that matter, what kind of hospital would let him? I hadn't even set eyes on him." The doctor looked torn as to whether she should console me or not. Finally, she stepped back a bit. "You have a visitor," she told me instead. "May I send her in?" I bowed my head over my baby, wiping away a tear that had fallen from my eyes onto him. Let her do what she wants. I cared nothing for any visitor. The door shut with a snick as I was left alone. "Dylan," I whispered, stroking the soft-down fuzz that covered the smooth skin of his head. "That's your name, baby." Dylan released a little squall, turning his head towards my chest and trying to root. I giggled softly. "Aw," a voice said wickedly. "How cute." My head shot up to glare at the intruder, and my eyes narrowed as I saw who it was. I hadn't heard her come in. "What are you doing here?" I asked the mean woman standing in front of me. "Oh, Emma," Charlotte said. "Is that any way to greet your future Luna?" I scowled. "I've always known you were after my position, Charlotte, but this is a bit brazen. Have some shame." She laughed-cackled, rather. Everything about this woman screamed witch. For as long as I'd known Grayson, Charlotte had been pinging after him, hoping he would choose her as his mate. When Alpha Noah had blessed my union with Grayson, she'd turned fully green with envy. Since then, she's tried to make my life miserable, even disrespecting me as her Luna. Well, now that the title was no longer mine, she was gleeful, without a doubt. "It's a bit too late to do your Luna routine, Emma. News spread fast." She pouted at me, examining her blood-red nails. I sighed tiredly. "What do you want, Charlotte?" "Lots of things, if you must ask," Charlotte answered flippantly. I rolled my eyes, instinctively rocking Dylan when he began to squirm. "Why are you here? We both know wishing me well is far from the reason, so spit it out." Charlotte cackled again. "Oh, aren't you just entertaining? Well, if you absolutely must know, I came to offer my condolences. I'm not unfeeling, you know." My eyes narrowed, and I forced my lips into a sneer, even though, at that moment, my heart started racing. "Condolences, Charlotte? You must have the wrong room. Try to keep a proper note of your enemies. Making blunders such as this is extremely unbecoming." Charlotte scoffed. "Big words, Emma. How cute. But I have it under good authority that you just lost someone very close to you. You didn't even get to see him, did you?"

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