Luna. Chapter 10

(Lyra’s POV)

The ride to Mountain Cross Pack territory passed in tense silence. Magnus drove with focused precision, his hands steady on the wheel, while I sat in the passenger seat trying to process what had just happened. Twenty minutes ago, I'd been a rejected, banished woman with nowhere to go. Now I was under the protection of one of the most powerful Alphas in the region, though I had no idea why.

"Thank you," I finally said as we wound through mountain roads I'd never traveled before. "I don't understand why you helped me, but thank you."

Magnus glanced at me briefly before returning his attention to the road. "The Right of Second Chance exists for a reason. Rejections based on false accusations dishonor all packs."

"You believe I'm really pregnant?"

"I can smell it on you. Any Alpha worth his position could." His voice was matter-of-fact, not judgmental. "Your former mate either has a compromised sense of smell or chose to ignore what was obvious."

Relief flooded through me so intensely that I nearly cried. After weeks of being called a liar, having someone simply acknowledge the truth felt like a miracle.

"May I ask why you were at the ceremony?" I ventured. "Mountain Cross is hours away."

"I had business with Alpha Victor - your father. He mentioned the situation, and I decided to observe." Magnus's jaw tightened slightly. "What I witnessed was a disgrace to pack law and basic decency."

We crested a hill, and I got my first view of Mountain Cross territory spread out below us. It was beautiful in a wild, untamed way - dense forests, rocky outcroppings, and a large lake that reflected the moonlight like scattered diamonds. The packhouse was built into the mountainside itself, a sprawling structure that seemed to grow from the stone.

"It's magnificent," I breathed.

"It's home," Magnus said simply. "For now, it's your home too."

As we pulled up to the packhouse, I saw figures emerging to greet us. Word traveled fast in wolf packs, and apparently news of their Alpha's dramatic gesture had already reached them.

Magnus came around to open my door, offering his hand to help me out. As I stood, I was suddenly aware of how I must look - a rejected female in a funeral dress, carrying the child of a man who'd publicly humiliated her.

"Alpha," a middle-aged woman approached us, her expression curious but kind. "Welcome home."

"Sarah, this is Lyra. She'll be staying with us." Magnus's introduction was brief but carried the weight of command. "Please prepare the guest suite in the east wing."

"Of course." Sarah's eyes flicked to my belly, then back to my face with understanding. "Would you like me to call Dr. Elena? I imagine it's been a stressful evening."

"That would be wise," Magnus agreed, then turned to me. "Dr. Elena is our pack physician. She's excellent with prenatal care."

The casual way he said it, as if my pregnancy was simply an accepted fact rather than a source of controversy, made my throat tight with emotion.

As Sarah bustled away to make arrangements, Magnus guided me toward the packhouse entrance. We were intercepted by a tall, lean man with graying hair and sharp eyes.

"Quite an eventful evening," the man said, studying me with undisguised interest. "I'm Beta Harrison. Welcome to Mountain Cross."

"Thank you," I managed, feeling overwhelmed by the politeness after so much hostility.

"Harrison, could you ask the kitchen to prepare something light? And perhaps some tea?" Magnus's requests sounded more like gentle suggestions, but I could see the underlying authority.

As we entered the packhouse, I was struck by the warmth of it. Where Iron Claw's packhouse was formal and imposing, this felt like an actual home. Comfortable furniture, family photos, the lingering scents of cooking and woodsmoke.

"Your suite is this way," Magnus said, leading me down a hallway lined with artwork and windows that offered stunning views of the lake.

The guest suite was larger than my entire cottage at my father's estate - a sitting room, bedroom, and private bathroom, all decorated in warm earth tones that complemented the mountain setting.

"I hope you'll be comfortable here," Magnus said, standing in the doorway with careful distance between us. "Tomorrow we can discuss the practical arrangements, but tonight you should rest."

"Magnus," I said before he could leave. "Why did you really do this? You barely know me."

He was quiet for a long moment, his dark eyes thoughtful. "I lost someone once. Someone who needed protection that I failed to provide." His voice was carefully controlled, but I heard old pain underneath. "I swore I wouldn't let that happen again if I had the power to prevent it."

Before I could ask what he meant, a soft knock interrupted us. Dr. Elena entered - a woman in her fifties with kind eyes and gentle hands.

"Lyra, I'm Dr. Elena. I thought we should check on you and the baby after such a stressful experience."

As Magnus left us alone, I submitted to Dr. Elena's examination with a mixture of relief and anxiety. When she pressed the ultrasound wand to my belly and the steady thump-thump of a heartbeat filled the room, I finally broke down completely.

"Your baby is perfectly healthy," Dr. Elena said softly, handing me tissues. "Strong heartbeat, good size for the gestational age. Everything looks exactly as it should."

"Thank you," I sobbed. "You have no idea how good it is to hear that."

"I can imagine. But you're safe now, both of you. Alpha Magnus doesn't make offers lightly - if he's claimed the Right of Second Chance, he'll honor that protection completely."

As Dr. Elena packed up her equipment, I stared at the ultrasound photo she'd given me - clear, properly dated. Evidence that I'd been telling the truth all along.

Alone in the beautiful guest suite, I finally allowed myself to grieve properly. 

I grieved for the marriage I'd thought was real and strong. I grieved for the family my baby would never have.

As for Karl, let him go to hell.