Emerald narrowed her eyes, watching the heavily pregnant Alia wander toward the forest. ’Where is she going in her state?’
From the packhouse balcony, Emerald had a perfect view of the territory. Her mate often used it to his advantage when checking his territory.
"Viola, can you sense her? I lost her for a split second," she asked her wolf.
"She’s up to no good again and—"
Emerald’s eyes flew open instantly. She scanned the area; only a few omegas were visible, going about their chores.
Though she disliked interfering, she knew Alia couldn’t transform in her current state.
Emerald’s body reacted before her mind could catch up. She vaulted over the railing, shifting midair—claws extending, hair bristling, muscles coiling as she hit the ground running.
She followed Alia’s scent, darting into the trees.
"Left, Em!" Viola urged.
Emerald’s emerald-green eyes flashed red as she zeroed in on the scene, just one black-furred werewolf baring his fangs at a terrified Alia.
A snarl ripped from Emerald’s throat.
Before she could act, a wolf lunged at Alia’s head, shocking Emerald. Alia evaded just in time, but the wolf slashed her arm.
Blood dripped down Alia’s arm, mingling with the mud and staining her light blue maternity gown.
’I was sure it was just one wolf. Did the other mask its scent?’ Emerald wondered.
"Em, he is aiming for her again," Viola’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
Her breaths came out unevenly as she balled her fingers into fists.
The wolves lunged together now.
Without considering her actions, she knocked Alia aside as she raised both hands to block the attack.
A sharp pain drew her attention to the other wolf, clawing at her back. Immediately, she turned to face him, the one in front slashed her thighs.
"Grrrrr..." Emerald growled angrily.
The fact that she could take both wolves head-on without breaking a sweat, but couldn’t right now, was frustrating.
She gritted, masking her rage as she turned around, aiming for the wolves. One way or the other, they were going to pay for what they did.
However, they never came. Just as suddenly as they’d appeared, the wolves vanished, leaving no scent, no trace.
Instead, Alia’s cry rang out.
Emerald turned just in time to see her stumble, her body tumbling down the steep hill, limbs flailing.
She let out another loud cry as her stomach collided with a tree stump when she fell face down onto the hard ground, coming to a stop near a tree at the bottom of the steep slope.
The sound both ladies made pulled the attention of the pack members around the area.
Emerald leapt after her, crashing down the slope, ignoring her own pain as she landed beside her.
Blood pooled beneath Alia’s legs.
Emerald reached for her, shaking her gently. "Alia, wake up."
Blood stains marred Alia’s dress, but Emerald was most troubled by the one pooling around her legs.
Gasps echoed from above.
The noise and scent of blood had drawn some of the pack members.
They recognised the two figures below. One of them was Alia, the former Alpha’s mate and ex-Luna, while the other was Emerald, the current Alpha’s mate and present Luna.
"The Luna and Lady Alia need help!" someone yelled.
Everyone hurried into the forest. Emerald attempted to carry Alia but noticed her deep wound and the pain that followed. She was healing slowly as she masked her true powers.
The sight of the pool of blood around Alia sent panic among her pack members.
"Someone call the Alpha!"
"He’s in a meeting with the Silverline Pack’s Alpha and one of the Council of Elders. He’s not to be disturbed!" another voice responded.
"But it’s his Luna and Lady Alia. He should be..."
"Make way, everyone. The Alpha is here!"
The crowd parted as Rick stormed in. His gaze swept past Emerald, landing on Alia. "Alia," he breathed, relief flashing across his face as he knelt beside her.
Emerald took a step back, her body trembling.
"What happened?" Rick demanded. "Talk to me, Lia."
Alia let out a weak sob, clutching his hand. Tears fell freely down her cheeks.
"Don’t blame her," she whispered. "I-It was... an accident when she...Emerald pushed me..."
Emerald’s heart stopped.
The crowd murmured louder.
Rick’s head snapped toward Emerald, his eyes dark with fury. "Emerald?" His voice was lethal. "What did you do?"
"I—" She struggled to find the words. "Alia was—"
"Alpha Rick," a young she-wolf stepped forward hesitantly. "I saw Lady Emerald standing over Lady Alia... her hands were covered in blood. It looked like—like they tripped or were... fighting or something."
Alia sniffled, tilting her face toward Rick. "I—I don’t know what came over her," she stammered. "One moment, I was enjoying a walk... and then, she... lunged at me."
"You were in the forest?" Rick’s brows furrowed.
"Yes. Since I couldn’t wolf out due to the pregnancy, I wanted to be one with nature again."
"I understand. Pregnancy mood swings," Rick nodded.
"Yes," Alia whispered, voice frail, "I wanted to feel one with nature again. You know how much I loved it before... before Ryland was gone."
Rick’s expression hardened.
"Poor Lady Alia," someone whispered.
Emerald clenched her teeth. "How did this turn on me?"
Alia lowered her head, her voice trembling. "I don’t think she meant it, but... she pushed me. Maybe—maybe she was jealous. Perhaps she felt jealous of our previous friendship. Or that... my child... my baby... might restore Ryland’s legacy as Alpha."
Several gasps followed the reveal, and many nodded.
"I didn’t think she was serious at first, but then she lunged at me again and pushed me. That’s when I fell backward and lost my balance," Alia finished.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
Rick, who had turned to face Alia while she struggled to speak, suddenly glanced at Emerald. His eyes were filled with anger and hatred.
Rick didn’t wait for an explanation. "How dare you?"
His snarl sent shivers down the spines of everyone present as he lurched at Emerald.
Pain exploded across her cheek as she stumbled backward. She wasn’t expecting it.
Gasps filled the air. Although they knew he cherished his late brother’s wife, they never saw him beat his mate.
Their murmurs grew louder, filled with accusations. "She did it to her," one of them hissed.
"The Luna pushed Lady Alia," another accusing voice spat.
"I knew she had always been jealous of Lady Alia. Jealousy must have driven her mad."
Emerald, still reeling from the unexpected slap, watched the scene unfold in shock. Her vision was hazy, but she could see the accusation in every eye that met hers.
Her inner wolf, usually calm, let out a fierce growl of fury—not only in response to Rick’s aggression but also in reaction to the pack’s quick and false judgment.
"How dare he?!" Viola snapped. "...when we were only helping save his useless mistress. Tell him the truth, Em," she urged.
"Not now, Vi. They won’t believe me. She carefully planned..."
"Em, tell him the bloody truth before I forget your plan and rip her sorry head off her body!"
Viola was filled with rage. Rick had slapped Em, his mate, without hesitation.
Not even her father had ever raised a hand against her, let alone the very man who she thought would love and protect her.
Emerald lifted her eyes, prepared to fight for the truth. "I didn’t hit her, Rick. She was ambushed by rogues, and I helped save her."
"Lies. You clawed and pushed me. Just admit it, Em. There was no one else here. You..."
Emerald gritted her teeth. ’Did she just use my nickname?’
"Admit it before everyone. Did you push me or not?"
She knew Alia was right, but she only did it to save her. "I did but..." Emerald was interrupted before she finished.
"Fuck, what kind of jealousy is that?"
"The Luna admitted it with her own mouth. She pushed her off."
’I just made it worse.’ Emerald concluded in her mind. No sooner had that thought crossed her mind than a scream tore through the murmur.
Alia, with her face contorted in pain, suddenly shrieked, drawing all attention back to her.
Her hands were stained red with blood. Rick was beside her in a heartbeat, kneeling and cupping her face. His touch was surprisingly gentle as he steadied her.
"Talk to me, are you alright?" he asked in a voice laced with a fear Emerald had never heard before.
Tears streamed down Alia’s face as she choked out the words that sent a wave of terror crashing through Rick, "The baby... my baby... our... Ryland’s baby..."
Rick’s face drained of color.
He whirled to the nearest warrior. "Get Silas to the pack house. NOW!"
The young wolf bolted to the healer’s quarter immediately.
Emerald stood frozen, heart pounding. "Rick, you have to listen to me," she croaked. "She was attacked—there were rogues— I saved her and even got injured in the..."
But someone cut her off.
"The Luna is still trying to cover up her crime!"
"She must have done it to herself!"
Emerald’s breath hitched. This was madness.
"Rick, please. I would never—" But Rick wasn’t listening. His gaze was locked onto Alia’s trembling form, his jaw tight with fury.
He turned back to Emerald, venom dripping from every syllable. "This is on you," he spat. "If anything happens to her—if Alia so much as loses a strand of hair because of you—you’ll answer to me. And trust me, it won’t be pretty."