(Grace's POV)
The Moon Market buzzed with ancient magic, light dancing off enchanted crystals and blessed silver. Alexis's hand rested protectively on my lower back as we browsed the stalls, his warmth a constant reminder of last night's ritual with the ceremonial gown.
"Look at this," I breathed, lifting a moon-blessed rattle. Silver runes caught the light, pulsing in response to my touch. "The protection spells are linked directly to pack bonds."
"Perfect for our pup," Alexis murmured, his chest pressing against my back as he reached around to examine it. The casual possessiveness in his touch made my omega purr with satisfaction."
We continued collecting items - blessed blankets, protection charms, ancient toys infused with pack magic. Alexis's enthusiasm for each purchase warmed my heart, so different from his usual reserved demeanor.
"At this rate, we'll bankrupt the pack treasury," I teased, eyeing our growing collection."
His deep laugh vibrated through me. "Then we'll dedicate an entire wing of the pack house to baby items. Maybe two."
The moment shattered as his phone buzzed. Victoria's name flashed across the screen.
"Lex?" Her voice was small, deliberately vulnerable. "I'm at the hospital for my check-up, and... being here alone, the memories of that night..." She trailed off delicately. "Would you mind...?"
I felt Alexis tense beside me, but his hand remained steady on my waist. "I'll send Emma to stay with you."
"Oh." A perfectly timed pause. "You're busy then?"
"At the Moon Market with Grace," he replied firmly. "Shopping for our pup."
"How lovely," Victoria's voice trembled artfully. "I just... the hospital reminds me so much of when I found you that night... but of course, you should be with Grace. I'll manage."
The call ended, but I knew it wasn't over. Sure enough, twenty minutes later, Victoria appeared between the market stalls, a vision of calculated vulnerability in emerald silk.
"I hope you don't mind," she called out, her public mask firmly in place. "The hospital was too overwhelming with those memories. I thought being with friends might help."
You're right. Let me write out this dramatic confrontation while maintaining Grace's uncertainty about the past:
[Previous content of shopping with Alexis and Victoria's phone call remains the same until Victoria appears at the market...]
Victoria wove through the market stalls with practiced grace, her emerald silk dress flowing like water. "Grace! Alexis! The hospital was just too overwhelming with those memories. I thought being with friends might-"
The crash of shattering crystal cut through the market's bustle. Several ancient blessed crystals - worth a small fortune - lay scattered at my feet, their protective magic dispersing in shards of light.
"Oh!" Victoria's hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide with perfectly portrayed concern. "Grace, darling, your pregnancy aura - it must have pushed me! These heightened omega powers can be so unpredictable in first-time mothers..."
The whispers started immediately. Questioning a Luna's control was serious - pregnant omegas were expected to maintain perfect command of their powers around blessed objects.
I felt Alexis tense beside me, his wolf responding to the implied criticism. But before he could speak, I stepped forward, letting my omega power rise visibly around me.
"What an interesting observation, Victoria." I kept my voice soft, but pitched to carry. "You seem quite concerned about my control. Shall we test it?"
Her perfect mask flickered for just a moment. "Oh, no, I wouldn't want to tire you in your condition-"
"I insist." I moved to a nearby stall, where moon-blessed silver bowls gleamed. Ancient tools for truth and blessing rituals. "In fact, let's both demonstrate our power. A simple blessing ritual for these protection charms. As someone so experienced with pack magic, this should be easy for you."
Victoria's eyes darted to the silver bowls, something like fear crossing her face before she caught herself. "Grace, really, there's no need-"
"But there is." I lifted one of the bowls, its silver surface catching the light. "You're always so helpful with pack traditions. And didn't you say silver responds beautifully to those with pure intentions?"
A crowd was gathering now. No one would miss the chance to see their Luna and the Alpha's childhood friend demonstrate their powers.
"Unless," I added innocently, "you're not feeling up to it? After your hospital visit?"
Trapped by her own perfect image, Victoria couldn't refuse without raising questions. Her smile remained fixed as she stepped forward. "Of course. Anything to help prepare for the pup."
I placed protection charms in the blessed bowl, then channeled my omega power. The silver responded instantly, humming with pure notes as golden light spiraled up from the bowl. The charms began to glow, absorbing the blessing.
"Your turn," I smiled, stepping back.
Victoria approached the bowl with confident grace. But the moment her fingers touched the silver, the humming stopped. The bowl's surface dulled, its blessed magic recoiling from her touch.
She tried again, forcing her power toward the charms. The silver remained stubbornly dark, almost tarnished where her fingers met it.
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Victoria's cheeks flushed as she made a third attempt. This time, the bowl actually shifted away from her hands, its magic actively rejecting her touch.
"How strange," I mused, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Blessed silver usually responds so well to pure intentions. Perhaps..." I let my eyes drift meaningfully to the reddening marks on her fingers where the silver had touched her.
Victoria's perfect mask cracked. "You think these parlor tricks mean anything? I was there when no one else was! When you were nothing but a gambling addict's daughter! I saved him when-"
Her voice cut off as she realized what she'd revealed. The market fell silent, shocked by her public outburst.
"Saved who, Victoria?" I asked softly, letting my pregnancy-enhanced power fill the space between us. The market's blessed items responded, creating a subtle light show that highlighted her increasing agitation. "And isn't it interesting how the silver seems to burn you? Pure silver only reacts that way to... certain types of magic."
"I..." For the first time, Victoria seemed at a loss for words. Her perfect mask had shattered, showing glimpses of something darker underneath.
"Grace." Alexis's voice was tight with confusion as he watched the silver bowl continue to reject Victoria's touch. "What's happening?"
"I'm not sure," I replied truthfully, meeting Victoria's panicked gaze. "But blessed silver never lies. It responds to truth, to pure intentions." I touched the bowl myself, watching it light up instantly. "To real power."
Victoria backed away; her composure completely broken. Without another word, she turned and fled through the gathered crowd, leaving behind whispers about silver burns and rejected blessings.
"That was..." Alexis trailed off, his silver eyes troubled as he stared after his childhood friend.
I touched his arm gently. "Pure pack magic has its own wisdom, my love. Sometimes it sees things we can't."
The seeds of doubt were planted. Victoria's perfect mask had cracked publicly for the first time. I might not know exactly what happened that night with the silver poisoning, but blessed magic had revealed one truth today - Victoria's power wasn't as pure as she claimed.