Chapter 135

Olivia POV

I sat in the temple for the rest of the day. Jordan brought me some lunch and then some dinner. Elroy didn’t visit.

Elroy, my husband, mate, and Alpha. What sort of future would I have without his support? What would my child’s life be without it?

If Elroy and I separated, I would be sad, but I would ultimately be all right. But my child? If I wanted to know before the birth, I would be able to tell if the pup were going to be male or female, but the secondary gender would only be known once they separated from me. Some midwives believed it was part of the birth process itself.

So, I couldn’t know. If they were an alpha, Elroy would see them as a threat. If they were a beta, he would probably be fine with letting me leave with them.

But what if they were an omega? I felt my heart pound as I contemplated it.

Separate from Elroy, I would no longer be Luna. I would have no way to protect the child politically. Worse, the omega would have no place in the household, and neither would I. We wouldn’t be cast out, but our lives would be little better than that of Rogues.

Socially, my household-less omega child would have no status, not even that afforded to an orphaned omega, whose household was the Pack until they were adopted. He or she would be open to any attack, social, political, and even physical. Of course, I would fight for my child, but if something were to happen to me—

No, I couldn’t even think that. All my child would have would be me. I would have to live, no matter what indignity I faced.

I had a vision of myself standing before Harp’s House with my pup in my arms while I begged for asylum. I wanted to dismiss it as catastrophic thinking, but it was quite possible if Elroy withdrew from our lives.

And Emma? What would she try to do to us? Would she try to hurt my child? Or would she use whatever this power was that she had to bring wolves to her side to alienate my child from me? Perhaps from everyone?

I felt myself panicking and tried to distract myself with the knowledge that Elroy might well choose to raise the child even though he rejected their mother. I wouldn’t resist it, of course. Elroy’s protection of the child would be infinitely superior to mine.

But again, Elroy would see even his own alpha child as a menace and an omega as an embarrassment. Only being a beta would be acceptable, Goddess protect them.

It was late in the evening when Jordan came again, and I still had no idea what to do.

“If you’re going to spend the night here, I can bring you bedding,” she told me. I knew she was serious.

I got up off the small wooden chair with a wince. My back appreciated neither my long vigil nor my enormous stomach. Once I was on my feet, I desperately needed to urinate.

“One moment,” I told Jordan, who only nodded as I turned around and made for the small door in the back of the temple. After I was done, I splashed some water on my face and took a few deep breaths.

It didn’t help.

“It won’t be as bad as you think,” Jordan said when I emerged.

“When Elroy banishes me?” I shot back. “When I either have to raise my child without the support of the Pack or watch as my ex-mate takes my child from me?”

Jordan looked shocked. “That’s impossible.”

“Which?”

“Both!”

I gave a brief account of what Elroy had said, and the puzzlement on her face turned to concern. ‘Bout damn time.

“Did you think I was in here pouting?” I demanded. “Elroy’s besotted with Emma, and she’s only just gotten here. Give her time, and she’ll be openly in charge of Elroy, of Eclipse, and of Lunaris.”

Jordan looked like she didn’t know what to say.

I relented and held up a hand. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not your fault.” I tried to smile at her. “I’m just not used to being helpless.”

Laughter burst out of me. “No, wait, that’s not true. I’m no longer used to being helpless. Maybe I should have married Damian after all.”

Jordan scowled. “You can’t possibly think Elroy is going to treat you so poorly.”

I went to answer, but this time she put up a hand.

“Even if Emma has him enthralled to her charms,” she said, “I can’t stand that little jackal. She queens around the Palace like some gift from the Goddess and flirts with everyone above her while treating those she thinks are beneath her like a personal affront.”

I snorted at the excellent description. But beneath that was a sense of relief. At least not everyone was falling all over themselves to please her.

“No matter what happens, though I truly do not believe you need to fear your position in Lunaris or worry about the future of your child, I am on your side, period,” Jordan said. “You’re not alone, and I’m hardly alone either. Claudia and Iris, you realize they’re on your side as well?”

“Iris is Elroy’s mother,” I said, though it hurt to think about it.

Jordan rolled her eyes. “She killed her husband, and a good thing too, when he was a danger to the Pack. You think she’ll be all smiles if Elroy actually does defile himself with Emma?”

I thought about that. Jordan had a point.

“I need help,” I said.

“We need help,” Jordan snapped, her eyes kind.

“Well, Claudia is my mother, even if I don’t know her as well as a daughter should. And I know she’s no fan of Emma or of prophesies.”

Jordan frowned. “Prophesies?”

I nodded. “The Stormhowl Prophecy.”

Jordan waved a hand. “That old thing?” Then she straightened up in realization. “You think Elroy got you with child to fulfil that?”

“Not believe,” I said. “Just, well, I don’t know.”

Jordan shook her head. “You’ve been listening to the wrong people.”

“I listened to my mother,” I said. “Now, I think it’s time she listened to me.”

Jordan gestured outside. “We’ll go to her now.”

I nodded, and together we walked down the steps to the wading pool, where the moonlight on the water reminded me that I had an ally in the Goddess as well, whether I remained Luna or not.

I shivered in the night air, my pregnancy making me more sensitive to changes in temperature.

We walked quietly into the Palace, and I was about to head toward Claudia’s rooms when a familiar figure intercepted us.

“Luna!” Orlando said. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“I was communing with the Goddess,” I said. It was true enough.

“Is Claudia available?” Jordan asked. “We need to speak with her.”

“She’s in chambers with the council,” Orlando said.

“This late?” I asked.

“Yes.” Orlando looked puzzled. “Emma and her father, Alpha Hermes, called an emergency meeting. Alpha Elroy is there as well.”

I looked at Jordan, who looked back, then I turned to Orlando.

“I have to leave the palace,” I said.

“Luna, I—”

“I don’t have time right now to explain,” I told him. “I need to go.”

A strange look of almost gratitude came over his face before he told me, “Then I am here to help.”