Chapter 3 III – False Positive

After a month of hoping and waiting, Luna Cassandra sat in her room, her eyes fixed on the calendar in front of her.

She had missed her period.

Her heart raced as she stared at the red mark on the calendar, marking the date she had been waiting for.

Lastly, a delayed period. Could it mean she was pregnant?

She placed her hand over her stomach, her excitement growing.

"Finally, an heir to the throne," she whispered to herself, smiling softly.

She felt a wave of relief wash over her as she thought about Alpha Andrew and the future.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she suddenly felt strong arms wrap around her waist.

She gasped, spinning around to find Arnold standing behind her, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Arnold! What are you doing here?" she snapped, pushing him away.

He didn't let go of her at first, his lips brushing her cheek in a quick kiss.

"You're looking beautiful, Luna, can we do it again, I am so in heat..." Arnold murmured.

Luna Cassandra immediately shoved him away, her heart pasting in her chest.

"What if someone saw you? What if Alpha Andrew or Regine comes by? You can't just sneak into my room like this!" she said, her voice sharp with panic.

Arnold laughed lightly, completely unfazed.

"Relax, Luna. Alpha Andrew is busy with meetings, and Regine's resting. She's about to give birth any day now."

Luna Cassandra's breath caught in her throat.

Regine, Arnold's wife, was very pregnant, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

"Stop it, Arnold," she said, narrowing her eyes. "What are you really here for?"

Arnold flashed a grin at her, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"I was just thinking about you, Cassandra. It's been a long wait, hasn't it?" he said, his voice low and suggestive.

Luna Cassandra rolled her eyes, turning away to face the calendar again, her fingers gripping the edge of the table.

"Why don't you leave now, before anyone comes in? I don't need this right now," she said, trying to sound firm but unable to hide the nervous flutter in her chest.

Arnold ignored her, stepping closer once again.

"You missed your period, right? So, there's a good chance you're pregnant, so we finally have a child?"

Luna Cassandra froze, her hand hovering over the calendar.

"Shut up," she muttered, "This baby will be Andrew's. And no one else's."

Arnold chuckled, clearly amused by her anger.

"Of course, Cassandra. It'll be Andrew's child. But it doesn't hurt to enjoy the moment, right?"

Luna Cassandra shot him a glare, her patience wearing thin.

"I don't need your input, Arnold. I have everything under control."

Arnold raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin widening.

"Alright, alright. Just wanted to make sure you're not forgetting about us," he said, stepping back.

Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, his lips lingering longer than necessary.

He pulled away with a satisfied smile.

"Call the pack doctor, Marian. Find out if you're really pregnant. But if not, don't worry, Luna. I'll be here for you. We can do it again... and again."

With that, Arnold turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Luna Cassandra stood there, still processing what had just happened.

Her heart pounded, and she felt a mix of anger and confusion.

She had to focus.

She had to make sure everything was in order.

Later that evening, after Alpha Andrew returned from his meeting, Luna Cassandra couldn't hold it in anymore.

Her thoughts consumed her, and she needed answers.

Alpha Andrew walked into their shared quarters, his face lighting up when he saw her.

"Cassandra, how are you," he said, walking over to her.

She stood up, looking at him with uncertainty in her eyes.

"I need to talk to you, Andrew."

He raised an eyebrow, his concern evident.

"Of course. What's wrong?"

Luna Cassandra's heart raced as she looked up at him.

"I'm... I'm a month late," she whispered.

Alpha Andrew's eyes widened, and he took her hands in his, a smile spreading across his face.

"Cassandra, that's wonderful! That means..."

"Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We might be pregnant."

Alpha Andrew pulled her into a tight embrace, lifting her off the ground in excitement.

"We've waited so long for this," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Luna Cassandra clung to him, feeling the weight of everything finally lift from her shoulders.

But a lingering doubt still sat heavy in her chest.

"I'll call Dr. Marian now," Alpha Andrew said, releasing her reluctantly.

Luna Cassandra nodded, trying to smile but feeling a wave of fear.

"Please, Andrew. I need to know."

He smiled at her reassuringly before leaving the room to make the call.

As soon as he was gone, Luna Cassandra's mind wandered again, replaying Arnold's words.

What if she wasn't pregnant? What if this was just another false hope?

Minutes later, Alpha Andrew returned, his face clouded with concern.

"Cassandra, Dr. Marian will be here soon," he said, his voice quieter now.

Luna Cassandra nodded again, trying to keep her composure.

When Dr. Marian arrived, she didn't waste any time and start the test. After ten minutes, she came back.

"L-Luna, we've done the tests, but I'm afraid the results are not what you were hoping for," Dr. Marian said, her voice soft and apologetic.

Luna Cassandra's heart sank, and she felt a lump form in her throat.

"No..." she whispered. "No, it can't be."

Dr. Marian hesitated, her eyes filled with sympathy.

"Luna, you're not pregnant. I double-checked everything. There are no signs of pregnancy."

Luna Cassandra's chest tightened.

"No! You must have missed something!" she shouted, her voice rising in frustration.

"I checked again, Luna," Dr. Marian said, her voice trembling. "There's no sign of pregnancy."

Luna Cassandra's hands balled into fists, her breath coming in short gasps.

"Why? Why isn't this happening?" she cried, her voice breaking.

Alpha Andrew stepped forward, his voice calm but firm.

"Cassandra, that's enough," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

But she jerked away, her face flushed with anger and fear.

"You don't understand! We've waited for five years! And now, it's like I'm failing you again!"

Alpha Andrew's eyes softened, his heart breaking for her.

"I know it's hard, Cassandra. But we can't give up."

She collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm scared, Andrew. What if I can't give you an heir? What if I'm broken?"

Alpha Andrew sat beside her, gently pulling her into his arms.

"You're not broken. We'll figure this out, together. We'll keep trying, and we won't give up."

She clung to him, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"But what if the elders don't wait? What if they force you to choose another Luna?"

Alpha Andrew's grip tightened, his voice firm.

"They won't. I'll make sure they understand. You're my Luna, and no one else can take your place."

Luna Cassandra nodded, still unsure but taking comfort in his words.

Dr. Marian stood silently, watching the scene unfold before her. She hesitated, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she chose her words carefully.

"Luna," Marian began, her tone measured yet cautious. "It's possible that, aside from your heart condition, there may be a cyst in your womb. This can affect your cycle and your ability to conceive."

"A cyst?" Cassandra's voice faltered, her anger dissolving into fear. "How serious is that?"

Marian shifted uneasily, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting Cassandra's eyes again. "I can't say for sure just yet. I'll need to conduct more extensive tests to thoroughly examine your womb and confirm the diagnosis."

At Marian's words, a flash of panic crossed Cassandra's face. The thought of extensive tests sent her mind spiraling. What if Dr. Marian discovered the secrets she had buried-the many times she had undergone abortions in the past? The fear clawed at her, making her chest tighten.

"No!" Cassandra yelled, her voice trembling with a mix of anxiety and frustration. She abruptly rose from her seat, glaring at the doctor. "You're supposed to be the best, and yet you don't even know what's wrong with me? How useless can you be?"

Marian blinked, stunned by the sudden outburst. "Luna, I understand your frustration, but-"

"I don't want to hear it!" Cassandra cut her off, her voice rising with each word. "You're just guessing, aren't you? You don't know anything!"

Andrew stood and gently placed a hand on Cassandra's shoulder, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. "Cassandra, calm down. She's trying to help."

Cassandra shrugged his hand off, her voice laced with bitterness. "Help? She's wasting my time!" She turned to Marian, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "If you can't do your job, I'll find someone who can."

Marian remained composed, though her heart ached at the Luna's harsh words. "Luna, my only intention is to ensure your health and well-being. If you would allow me to proceed with the tests-"

"I said no!" Cassandra shouted, turning her back to the doctor. "Get out!"

Marian bowed her head slightly, suppressing a sigh of defeat. "As you wish, Luna." She glanced at Andrew, who gave her an apologetic nod, and quietly left the room.