Chapter 5 Twin wolves

She lay on the bed, expressionless, as the pack doctor examined her, checking her wrist for a pulse and feeling her forehead for fever.

Scott had been worried sick about her after she had rushed out of the hall, looking pale and frightened, and had insisted she get a checkup.

Now, he stood beside her, anxiously waiting for the doctor's assessment, his face scrunched up with concern.

"Is she alright, doctor?" he asked for the umpteenth time.

The doctor's eyes darted to Scott's, a hint of respect in his tone. "Alpha, I think you should sit down."

Scott's gaze narrowed, but he nodded curtly, his presence commanding attention.

The doctor swallowed hard before speaking. "She's going to be fine, Alpha. But there is something you should know."

Scott's eyes flashed with impatience. "Tell me, doctor."

The doctor's voice was laced with caution. "Alpha, she's ..... pregnant."

Scott's face went rigid, his eyes blazing with intensity as the news sank in, "What?"It seemed as if he was having a fit with his wolf because his eyes flickered with a fierce red and green glow, betraying his inner turmoil.

Zara's body tensed on the bed, her hands reflexively cradling her stomach. The revelation left her stunned and uncertain.

"What do you want to do about it?" the doctor asked, watching Scott's response with interest.

At the doctor's question, Zara's eyes locked on Scott's, her patience wearing thin as she awaited his response.

After a lengthy pause, Scott spoke, his words measured. "Only my mate can give birth to my child." His response made Zara's breath hitched, her fear flashing in her eyes.

Opening her mouth, she tried to speak, but her voice was caught.

The doctor intervened, his tone laced with concern. "Are you suggesting terminating the pregnancy? Killing an innocent child, you firstborn?" His face reflected his incredulity.

Scott exhaled slowly, but before he could respond, his beta, Morris burst into the room. "Alpha, I apologize for the interruption,"Morris said, bowing his head. "But you must see this."his eyes was fixed on Scott, a mixture of urgency and curiosity in his expression.

Scott's gaze narrowed, his mind still reeling from the news of Zara's pregnancy. "Not now, Morris," he growled, his voice low and even.

But Morris hesitated, his eyes darting to Zara before returning to Scott. "I'm afraid it can't wait, Alpha," he said, his tone firm but respectful.

Scott's eyes flashed with annoyance, but he nodded curtly. "What is it?"

Morris stepped forward, an arrowhead with a paper attached held tightly in his hand. "A message from the rogue wolves' leader," he whispered softly, ensuring the others in the room wouldn't overhear.

Scott's face darkened, his eyes smouldering with rage. "Read it,"he commanded, his voice menacing.

Morris didn't need to glance at the paper;he had already memorised the words. "They're demanding we release the rogue slaves we captured last week. If we refuse, they'll destroy every pack under your leadership, starting with the Lotus moon pack."

Scott's response was immediate and explosive. "Bullshit!" he thundered, his anger boiling over. Ryder, his wolf, stirred restlessly inside him, but Scott's self-control kept his inner beast in check.

With his fist clenched, he glanced at Zara before storming out of the room. Morris followed closely behind.

As they walked, Scott ordered two guards to escort Zara to the basement and lock her in.

Morris raised an eyebrow, curious. "But why, Alpha?"

Scott's tone was final. "She'll be better off in there."

~~~~~~

Zara's hands remained clasped on her stomach, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, and her mind lost in thought. But her reverie was abruptly shattered by Eve's sudden, frantic entrance.

"We need to get out of here, now." Eve exclaimed, ignoring the doctor's perplexed gaze. "Zara, get up and put on your shoes. We have to leave, immediately."

Zara's eyes drew together, her mind racing. "What's going on, Eve?" she asked sharply.

As if just noticing the doctor, Eve approached the bed and whispered urgently in Zara's ear, "I overheard Alpha ordering his guards to take you to the basement and lock you up."

Zara heartbeat faltered. Before she could process the information, two guards burst into the room, their voices gruff. "Come with us, miss."

Zara shook her head frantically, terrified that Scott intended to harm her unborn child. "No! I won't go with you! I won't abort my child! I won't listen to your heartless Alpha anymore."

The guards were unmoved by her pleas. They dragged her out of the bed and out of the room, despite her struggles and screams. "I don't want to kill this child, please! It's mine, only mine!"

Eve, still reeling from the revelation of Zara's pregnancy, tried to intervene, but the guards pushed her away.

Frustrated and helpless, she watched as they dragged Zara out of the mansion, and then sprinted to the guest chamber to find the leader of the Dante moonlight pack, determined to get his help.

As Zara's father, Eve had thought he would surely intervene on her behalf.

But that assumption turned out to be a terrible mistake. Because when she burst into the room, she was met with a scene that left her numb with shock. There, sitting comfortably with his wife and other daughter, was Zara's father– an image of calmness, oblivious to the chaos unfolding outside.

Eve's eyes widened in horror as she realised her error. Damn! Taking a step backward, she wanted to leave the room, but Sophia's voice stopped her

"Why are you here?"

She turned and laughed nervously, twirling her finger.

"Nothing." Sophia scoffed. "Do you think we're dumb? You must have a reason for coming here?"

Before Sophia could press further, Harley interrupted, "You are here because of Zara, right? Did she send you to us?"

The room fell silent, with Eve's eyes fixed on the expectant faces of Sophia, Harley, and Danny. She swallowed hard. "No."

Harley's eyes narrowed. "Then why are you here?" she hissed.

Eve took another step back, her eyes darting between the trio. "I..I just came to...." Sophia stood up, her approach making Eve stumble backward.

"You're just here to .....?" Sophia repeated, her grin menacing.

Panic set in, clouding Eve's thought. With no escape, she blurted out the truth. "I came to beg Alpha Danny to save Zara."

Danny's face contorted with concern. "What happened to my daughter?"

Eve desperate eyes met his. "Alpha Scott locked her in the basement." "For what reason?" Sophia asked.

Eve shook her head. "I don't know."

As Danny's features scrunched up in perplexity, Harley stormed out of the room. "Where are you going, Harley?"Danny wanted to go after her, but his wife's firm grip on his hand held him back.

" She's the Luna of this pack, the only one who can save her sister," Sophia whispered, hiding a wicked grin as Danny nodded tightly, struggling to contain his frustration.

But little did Sophia know that Harley's intentions were lacking in integrity.

When Harley arrived at the basement, she commanded the guards to grant her access to Zara's cell.Though hesitant, they complied, unlocking the gate to let her in.

Harley stepped inside, finding Zara huddled in ball against the wall.

Her grin twisted with malice."it seems my alpha has grown tired of you already."She emphasized the word "my alpha," her voice dripping with venom.

Desperate for help, Zara crawled toward Harley, begging pitifully. "Please, Harley, help me. Don't let your alpha hurt my child. Don't harm the innocent life inside me...."She grasped Harley's legs, her eyes pleading.

But Harley expression darkened, her face shadowed by an evil aura. "You're pregnant with my alpha's child?" Her voice shook with disbelief.

Zara nodded fervently. "But the child is mine, only mine." Harley's pupil dilated as she processed the information.

Her sister, pregnant with her alpha's child? Impossible!

Her anger boiled over, and she kicked Zara hard in the chest. Zara crashed to the floor, coughing and screaming. Her hands Instinctively protected her stomach as she chanted, "Please don't kill me, please don't hurt my child."

Harley's fury grew stronger, and she dragged Zara out of the room by her hair, ignoring the guards' attempt to intervene.

Her anger pheromone, combined with the dominant scent of her mate mark, commanded respect, and the guards had to step back.

Her expressions were dark and unreadable as she dragged Zara out of the basement and into the field.

No one dared to stop her; they simply watched as their Luna manhandled the woman who had seduced their Alpha.

Zara's screams for help went unanswered.

Harley flung her onto a heap of granite, scoffing, "Do you really think you matter to anyone?"

Zara stared up, her eyes filled with pain.

"No one cares about you, little sister,"

Harley words cut deep. "You're just a pest who deserves to die."With that, she kicked Zara's stomach hard.

Zara winced, her blue eyes flashing white for a brief moment. No one noticed that. "Please ...don't hurt...me, Harley," she managed to stutter. "Don't hurt my child."

But Harley continued her assault, kicking Zara's stomach and face until loud growls emanated from the nearby bushes.

Fearful, she stepped back. "What's that?" She asked, but the growls only grew louder.

Chaos erupted as pack members scrambled to hide and survive. Stronger members shifted into their wolf forms, preparing for a fight.

It turned out that the rogue leader's message that evening had been a deception. He had cleverly manipulated Scott into abandoning his own pack for the Lotus Moon pack, taking his finest warriors with him. The rogue's true attention was not to attack the Lotus moon pack, but to target Scott's own pack, the Princeton Red Moon pack, in a bid to rescue their captive members.

As the wolves emerged from the bushes, Harley fled in terror, abandoning Zara to the mercy of the enormous wolves.

The air filled with the sound of growls, and then claws ripping through skins with a sickening tearing sound.

Zara lay helpless on the granite, too weak to move. She felt a liquid dripping down her legs and knew, without looking, that it was blood.

"Oh, moon goddess, can you see my suffering?" she whispered, tears streaming down her face. She tried to sit up but was stopped by the presence of two large wolves.

Their piercing gaze locked onto hers. The two black wolves stood before her, their size surpassing any she had ever seen. They shared striking similarities-white eyes and patches of white fur. Even their pheromones were identical, sending a shiver down her spine.

A potent blend of dark musk, wild spice, and smooth sandalwood wafted from them, exuding an aura of power, fierce dominance, and a strange, unsettling sensation that Zara couldn't quite place.

Something primal stirred within her, and her eyes glowed white, mirroring theirs. A single, whispered word escaped her lips: "mates." Then her body went limp, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.

~~

TBC