At the center of the chamber lay Nyma, still unconscious, her pale face illuminated by the soft silver glow of the moonstones around her neck. The air was heavy with tension, the weight of the unknown pressing down on everyone present.
Prince Adrian stood at the foot of the stone altar, his golden eyes fixed on Nyma's still form. His jaw was clenched, his fists tight at his sides as he struggled to contain the storm of emotions raging within him. He had waited so long for his mate, and now, just as she was about to become his Luna, she had been struck down by some unseen force. The thought of losing her was unbearable.
Nyma's sister-in-law Raina and Mother Elara hovered close by, their faces etched with worry. Elara clutched her daughter's hand, her fingers trembling as she whispered prayers to the Moon Goddess. Raina, ever the practical one, paced the room. Kael and Father Alpha Cedric stood near the entrance, their expressions grim. The Ravengale men were not ones to show emotion easily, but the fear in their eyes was unmistakable.
The High Priestess moved around the room with quiet purpose, lighting candles and murmuring incantations under her breath. Her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, and her eyes, though aged, were sharp and knowing. She paused beside Nyma, placing a hand on her forehead and closing her eyes as she delved into the young woman's energy.
After what felt like an eternity, the High Priestess straightened, her expression unreadable. "There is more at play here than a simple curse," she said, her voice echoing in the chamber. "Youngest Luna is with child."
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, silencing the room. For a moment, no one moved, no one spoke. Then, slowly, the shock began to give way to a mix of emotions.
Mother Elara was the first to react, her face lighting up with a mixture of relief and joy. "A child?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "My Nyma is going to be a mother?" Tears welled in her eyes as she squeezed her daughter's hand. "Oh, thank the Moon Goddess. I was so worried about her, about her doubts… but this… this puts me at ease."
Alpha Cedric's stern expression softened, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I always knew my daughter was stronger than she let on," he said, his voice filled with pride. "To carry the heir of the Lycan Prince… this is no small feat. She has chosen her path well."
Aunt Amelia, ever the optimist, clapped her hands together, her face beaming with delight. "I told you all! The mate bond is sacred, unbreakable. Our Nyma and Prince Adrian were destined for this. A child is proof of their connection, proof that the Moon Goddess has blessed them."
Raina, however, was less quick to celebrate. Her brow furrowed as she looked down at Nyma, her mind racing. "But she's so young," she said quietly. It is not only random, but too early. "And this pregnancy… it's so sudden. What if it's too much for her? What if…" Her voice trailed off, but the worry in her eyes was clear.
Nyma's brother Kael strode inside to stand beside his mate, placed a reassuring hand on Raina's shoulder. "Nyma is stronger than she looks," he said, though his voice lacked its usual confidence. "But you're right. We need to make sure she's taken care of." Raina smiled to Kael, just hearing her mates voice calmed her down instantly.
Prince Adrian, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was low, almost a growl, and his golden eyes burned with an intensity that made everyone in the room take a step back. "A child?" he repeated, his tone bitter. The revelation of Nyma's pregnancy had struck him like a blow, and his mind raced to make sense of it.
"How is this possible?" Adrian repeated, his voice low and dangerous. He took a step closer to the stone altar where Nyma lay, his gaze fixed on her unconscious form. "We haven't even… I haven't even marked her." His fists clenched at his sides, the muscles in his arms taut with tension. "This doesn't make sense."
The High Priestess, her silver hair shimmering in the moonlight, met Adrian's gaze with a calm but wary expression. She had seen many things in her long life, but even she seemed unsettled by the situation. "Prince Adrian," she began, her voice steady but cautious, "the laws of our kind are clear. A she-wolf must be marked by her mate to carry a werewolf child. But you are not just any werewolf—you are a Lycan. Your power transcends the ordinary. It is possible that the strength of your bond with Nyma, even unmarked, has allowed this to happen."
Adrian's jaw tightened, his frustration evident. "Possible? That's not good enough," he growled, his voice rising. "This isn't just about laws or possibilities. This is about the child she's carrying. If I haven't marked her, how can she be pregnant? And more importantly, how can I protect her if I don't even understand what's happening?"
The High Priestess hesitated, her gaze flicking to Nyma's still form before returning to Adrian. "The mate bond is a sacred and mysterious force," she said carefully. "It is not bound by the physical alone. The Moon Goddess has her ways, and sometimes, they are not for us to question. But I agree—this is unusual. And it is a sign that there are forces at work here that we do not yet understand."
Adrian's fists clenched tighter, his knuckles white. "I don't care about the Moon Goddess's ways," he snapped, his voice rising. "This… this is not how it was supposed to happen." They were supposed to have time. Time to know each other, to build a bond. Not this… this sudden responsibility. Suddenly, he had a thought of aborting the child.
Raina, who had been standing quietly beside Kael, stepped forward, her expression a mix of concern and defiance. "With all due respect, Your Highness," she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the room, "this isn't just about you. Nyma is the one carrying this child. She's the one who's vulnerable right now. Your anger isn't helping anyone. Specially, your mate."
Adrian turned his gaze to Raina, his eyes narrowing. For a moment, it seemed as though he might lash out, but then he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "You're right," he said through gritted teeth. This isn't about him. But that doesn't change the fact that something is wrong with her. Something unnatural. Is she not an ordinary she-wolf?
The tension in the sacred chamber was palpable as Adrian's beta-in-command, a tall and imposing figure named Garrick, entered the room. His presence was commanding, his sharp eyes scanning the scene before landing on Adrian. He bowed his head slightly, a sign of respect, but his tone was urgent.
"Your Highness," Garrick began, his voice steady but firm, "the guests are growing restless. They've been waiting for hours, and rumors are starting to spread. What should I tell them?"
Adrian's jaw tightened, his golden eyes flicking to Garrick before returning to Nyma, who was now sitting up on the stone altar, her expression a mix of confusion and anxiety. He hesitated, torn between his duty to his people and his need to protect his mate.
Before Adrian could respond, Alpha Cedric stepped forward, his voice calm but authoritative. "Prince Adrian, this news—Nyma's pregnancy—it's not something that can be kept hidden for long. Your parents, the Lycan King and Queen, should be informed immediately. They have a right to know, and they may be able to help."
Elara nodded in agreement, her hand still clutching Nyma's. "Yes, Prince Adrian. This is not just about us anymore. This child… it's a part of your family too. Your parents should know."
Adrian's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. He knew they were right, but the thought of involving his parents—of exposing Nyma and their unborn child to the politics and scrutiny of the Lycan court—filled him with unease. Still, he couldn't deny the logic in their words.
"Fine," he said curtly, his voice low. "Garrick, send word to my parents. Tell them… tell them there's been a development, and I need to speak with them urgently. But do not mention the pregnancy to anyone else. Not yet."
Garrick nodded, his expression serious. "Understood, Your Highness." He turned on his heel and left the room, his footsteps echoing in the silence.
Without a word, Adrian turned on his heel and stormed out of the chamber, his footsteps sharp against the polished marble. His mind was a storm of shadows, each thought colliding with the next as he strode through the palace corridors, his pace deliberate, controlled—barely.
The news of Nyma's pregnancy should have filled him with joy, with pride. Instead, it burned through him like wildfire, igniting a fury he couldn't contain. Something was wrong. Deeply, irrevocably wrong.
He needed answers. Now.
Before the news reached his father, the Lycan King, he had to speak with his Queen Mother. Only she held the truth about the bond that tied him to Nyma—the one that had never felt real.
For ten years, he had waited for his fated mate. Dreamed of the moment she would stand beside him as his Luna. Lycans typically sensed their true mates between twelve and sixteen, yet Adrian had spent years searching—only to find her just three months ago.
But this? This was impossible.
He and Nyma hadn't even completed the mate bond. Hadn't marked each other, hadn't shared the connection that should have bound them together. And yet, she carried his child.
How? Why? A sickening realization curled in his gut.
As he reached his private chambers, Adrian slammed the door shut behind him, the sound reverberating through the room.
Back in the sacred chambers, the atmosphere was tense as Nyma's family processed the news. Elara and Amelia continued to fuss over her, their joy evident despite the underlying worry. Alpha Cedric stood tall, his chest puffed with pride, while Raina and Kael exchanged concerned glances.
"We need to tell the council," Alpha Cedric said, breaking the silence. "This changes everything. Nyma is not just the Luna now—she's carrying the future heir. We must ensure her safety at all costs."
Raina nodded, though her expression was still troubled. "But what about Prince Adrian? He didn't seem… very pleased."
Kael crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "He's probably just in shock. This is a lot to take in, especially with everything else going on."
Aunt Amelia waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, he'll come around. Being a father is always tough on young men. But the mate bond is strong between them otherwise how could Nyma conceived so quick. I'm assured that Prince Adrain will do what's right for Nyma and the child."
Elara, however, was silent, her gaze fixed on her daughter's face. And she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye.
Elara knew Nyma a little more than anyone— she knew her daughter's fears, doubts, the way her smile never quite reached her eyes for Prince Adrain. Something was always off with her.
Elara hoped that the good news must brought Nyma some relief, excitement, even a hint of nervous joy. Anything is better than her daughter's unmoving, and unreadable expression. The ones Elara had seen when Prince Adrain had claimed her.
Elara's stomach twisted. How exactly would Nyma react?