Luna. Chapter 11

(Lyra's POV)

The next morning brought both peace and tension. I woke in the comfortable guest suite, sunlight streaming through windows that overlooked the mountain lake. For a moment, I forgot where I was and why I was here. The harsh reality swept in.

I was a rejected mate under the protection of an Alpha I barely knew, carrying a child my former husband refused to acknowledge.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Come in," I called, expecting to see Sarah or Dr. Elena.

Instead, Magnus entered carrying a breakfast tray. He'd changed from his formal clothes into simple jeans and a dark sweater that emphasized his broad shoulders. Somehow, he looked even more intimidating in casual wear.

"Good morning," he said, setting the tray on the small table by the window. "I thought you might prefer to eat privately today."

"That's very thoughtful." I pulled on the robe Sarah had provided, suddenly aware of how intimate this felt. A powerful Alpha bringing me breakfast in my bedroom. "You didn't need to do that yourself."

"I wanted to check on you personally." His dark eyes studied my face with concern. "How are you feeling?"

"Physically? Fine. The baby's moving around normally." I touched my belly unconsciously. "Emotionally... I'm not sure how to answer that."

Magnus nodded as if he understood. "Rejection ceremonies are traumatic even under the best circumstances. What you endured last night was particularly cruel."

"Why?" The question burst out before I could stop it. "Why was Kael so ready to believe the worst of me? We were happy, Magnus. Or at least I thought we were."

"Sometimes people see what they want to see," he said carefully. "Or what they're told to see."

"You think Seraphina controlled him?"

“She looks too suspicious and too many doubts aroud her. Magnus poured tea from the service on the tray. "But that's his pack's problem now, not yours."

I accepted the cup gratefully, inhaling the soothing herbal scent. "What happens now? I can't stay here indefinitely as your charity case."

"You're not a charity case." His voice was firm. "The Right of Second Chance creates legitimate bonds and obligations. You're under my protection for as long as you need it."

"But I'm pregnant with another man's child."

"That child will be born into Mountain Cross Pack and raised as one of ours if you choose to stay." Magnus's certainty was both comforting and overwhelming. "The circumstances of conception don't change that."

Before I could respond, shouting erupted from somewhere outside. Magnus was on his feet instantly, his body tense with alert energy.

"Stay here," he commanded, moving toward the window.

But I followed, curious and concerned. Through the glass, I could see a commotion near the packhouse entrance. Two vehicles had arrived, and men were climbing out with hostile intent written in every line of their bodies.

"Kael," I breathed, recognizing my former husband even at this distance.

Magnus's expression darkened. "He has no authority here."

"Maybe I should talk to him."

"Absolutely not." Magnus was already moving toward the door. "You're under my protection now. He forfeited any right to approach you when he rejected you publicly."

I wanted to argue, but the sound of raised voices was getting closer. Through the window, I could see Kael striding toward the packhouse with Adrian and two other Iron Claw warriors behind him. His face was set in hard lines, his movements aggressive.

Within minutes, I heard heavy footsteps in the hallway outside my suite, followed by Magnus's voice, calm but a little angry: "That's far enough."

"I want to see my wife," Kael's voice carried clearly through the door.

"You have no wife," Magnus replied coldly. "You rejected her publicly and banished her from your territory. She's under my protection now."

"She's carrying my child."

"Is she? Because last night you seemed quite convinced she was lying about that."

A pause. Then Kael's voice, rougher: "I may have been... hasty in my judgment."

"Hasty?" Magnus's tone could have cut steel. "You publicly humiliated a pregnant woman, called her a liar and jesuit, and threw her out of the only home she'd known. How dare you show up in front of her again."

"You don't understand the situation."

"I understand perfectly. You chose another woman over your pregnant mate, and now you're experiencing regret. Unfortunately for you, actions have consequences."

Through the door, I could hear scuffling sounds, as if someone was trying to push forward.

"Lyra!" Kael called out. "Lyra, I know you can hear me. We need to talk."

My heart stopped at the sound of his voice. Despite everything, part of me still responded to him. But Magnus spoke before I could even consider answering.

"She has nothing to say to you. You made your choice clear to everyone present at that ceremony."

"Damn it, Magnus, she's my mate!"

"Was your mate. You severed that bond yourself." Magnus's voice dropped to a growl. "And if you don't remove yourself from my territory immediately, I'll consider this an act of aggression."

More scuffling, then Adrian's voice: "Kael, we should go. This isn't accomplishing anything."

"I'm not leaving without talking to her."

"Yes, you are." Magnus's tone brooked no argument. "Beta Harrison, please escort these wolves to the border. If they resist, consider it a hostile invasion."

"Lyra!" Kael called again, desperation creeping into his voice. "Please, just give me five minutes. Let me explain."

I pressed my hand against the door, tears streaming down my face. Part of me wanted to run to him, to let him explain, to hope that somehow this could all be fixed.

But the memory of his suspicion, his willingness to believe I would fake a pregnancy for attention, held me back.

"She doesn't want to see you," Magnus said firmly. "And she doesn't have to. Not anymore."

The voices grew fainter as the group moved away from my door. Through the window, I watched as Harrison and several Mountain Cross wolves escorted Kael and his men back to their vehicles. Kael kept looking back at the packhouse, his expression desperate and angry.

Just before he got in his truck, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted: "This isn't over, Lyra! I'll find a way to fix this!"

Then they were gone, leaving only dust and the echo of his words.

Magnus returned to my suite a few minutes later, his expression thunderous. "I'm sorry you had to hear that."

"Is he right?" I asked quietly. "Will he find a way to challenge this?"

"The Right of Second Chance is ancient law, recognized by all packs. He can't challenge it legally." Magnus moved to the window, watching the road where Kael's vehicles had disappeared. "But he might try other approaches."

"Such as?"

"Pressure from other Alphas, appeals to the Council." Magnus turned back to me. "None of which will succeed, but he might make noise about it."

I sank into the chair by the window, feeling drained. "Maybe I should have talked to him. Maybe I could have made him understand."

"Understand what? That you were telling the truth about being pregnant? Any Alpha worth his position could have confirmed that with his own senses." Magnus's voice was gentle but firm. "You don't owe him explanations or forgiveness."

"But if there's a chance to fix our relationship."

"There isn't." Magnus moved closer, his presence both protective and overwhelming. "Lyra, look at me."

I met his dark eyes, seeing certainty and encourage.

"You cannot go back to someone who was willing to publicly destroy you based on lies and manipulation. Your child deserves better than that. You deserve better than that."

"But what if I'm wrong? What if Seraphina really was traumatized and I was just being jealous?"

"Were you jealous when he let another woman take your place in your own home?"

Magnus is right.

I was only sad at that time, and Kael ignored my sadness.

He ignored me.

"Then stop making excuses for him." Magnus's tone softened. "I know this is painful. But sometimes the people we love disappoint us so completely that we have to choose between loyalty to them and loyalty to ourselves."

I pressed my hands to my belly, feeling the baby move restlessly as if responding to my emotional turmoil.

"I just never thought it would end like this."