Chapter 183

Kayla

The Blood Moon Revelry.

I’d completely forgotten about it with everything that had happened. Between my father’s betrayal, William Straud’s attack, and Emma’s injury, the annual celebration had slipped my mind entirely until Nicholas mentioned it last night.

I stood at the large bay window of the Nightshade manor, staring at the grounds where workers were already setting up tables and lanterns for the evening’s festivities. The Blood Moon Revelry wasn’t just any holiday—it was perhaps the most important celebration in werewolf culture, a time to honor the Moon Goddess and celebrate the transition from winter to spring.

The first blossoms were beginning to appear on the trees, a sign of the Goddess’s renewal of life after the long, cold months. It was said that, when the moon was red in the sky during this time of year, it was the Moon Goddess’s life essence—her cyclical bleeding, a symbol of renewal and fertility.

It was always my least favorite holiday, since it was said to be a time that wolves found their fated mates. Something that I, with no wolf, would never get to experience. I had Nicholas as my chosen mate, of course, and I loved him.

But it wasn’t the same without a wolf of my own. I would never get to experience the full sensations and emotions that the Blood Moon Revelry brought to so many werewolves. And Nicholas, as my mate, would never get to experience it either.

Despite that, and even with Emma lying unconscious in a hospital bed, pack tradition had to continue. The Moon Goddess waited for no one, and to ignore the Revelry would be seen as a grave disrespect.

“You don’t need to do this yourself,” Nicholas said from behind me. I turned to find him leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. His wounds were healing well, but the bandage was still visible beneath his thin t-shirt. “I can assign some of the pack members to handle the preparations.”

I shook my head. “No. It’s my responsibility as Luna.” I moved toward him, brushing past to grab the notebook where I’d scribbled ideas for the menu. “Besides, I need to keep busy.”

Nicholas caught my arm gently, turning me to face him. “Kayla, you’re exhausted. The pregnancy is already taking a toll on you.”

“I’m fine,” I insisted, pulling away from his grasp. “Morning sickness is normal.”

“That wasn’t morning sickness last night,” he countered. “You were throwing up for hours.”

I waved my hand dismissively. “Stress. I just need to focus on something else.”

The truth was, I couldn’t bear to sit still with my thoughts. Every quiet moment brought back images of Emma. Guilt gnawed at me constantly—she’d been injured protecting me, after all. If I threw myself into the Revelry preparations, maybe I could outrun that guilt, at least for a little while.

“Have you heard from Marcus?” I asked, changing the subject.

Nicholas sighed, clearly seeing through my deflection but choosing not to push. “No change. Emma’s stable, but still unconscious. Marcus hasn’t left the room.”

My throat tightened. “He should be here, celebrating with his pack.”

“You know he won’t leave her.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Well, we’ll just have to make sure the Revelry honors her too, then.”

By mid-morning, I was knee-deep in preparations. Jade had agreed to help, and had foraged in the forest for armfuls of fresh flowers and herbs that would be woven into decorative wreaths and garlands.

“These lavender sprigs are for prosperity,” she explained, laying out her finds on the large kitchen table. “And these white blossoms will honor the Moon Goddess.”

I picked up a sprig of something that smelled spicy and sweet. “What’s this one for?”

“That’s for fertility and protection,” Jade said with a slight smile. “I thought it might be… appropriate.”

I set it down quickly, my cheeks warming. Jade laughed, the sound a welcome distraction from everything.

We worked side by side, arranging flowers, preparing decorations, and going over the menu with the pack’s chef. Jade’s presence was a comfort—she didn’t try to fill the silence with meaningless chatter, but she was there, and I was grateful for that. Even if Emma’s absence from our usual trio felt… wrong.

By early afternoon, we’d moved outside to begin setting up the decorations in the expansive garden behind the manor. Pack members were bustling about, hanging lanterns from tree branches, arranging tables, and setting up the bonfire that would be lit when the moon rose.

I struggled to lift a box of delicate glass moon decorations, the weight of it making my arms tremble.

“Let me help with that,” Jade offered.

“I’ve got it,” I insisted. These particular decorations were hand-blown glass crafted specifically for the Alpha and Luna to place around the ceremonial circle. It was tradition that the Alpha pair handled them personally—another responsibility I couldn’t shirk.

I made it halfway across the lawn when the first pain hit. A sharp, twisting sensation tore through my abdomen, so sudden and severe that I gasped, the box slipping from my grasp. It crashed to the ground, the sound of shattering glass punctuating my cry of pain.

“Kayla!” Jade rushed over. She grabbed my arm as my knees started to buckle, guiding me to a nearby bench. “Sit down. Breathe.”

I clutched my stomach, trying to follow her instructions. The pain receded slightly, becoming a dull throb rather than the knife-edge it had been moments before.

“I’m fine,” I managed to say, although the cold sweat breaking out across my forehead betrayed me. “Just a cramp.”

Jade frowned, pressing her cool palm to my cheek. “You’re burning up.”

Before I could protest further, she was digging through the satchel she always carried, pulling out a small glass vial filled with a greenish liquid.

“Drink this,” she commanded, uncorking it and pressing it into my hand. “It’s a tonic I made specifically for the pregnancy pains.”

“Is it safe?” I eyed the liquid suspiciously.

“I’ve been studying ancient texts about werewolf pregnancies since you told me about the baby,” she said. “This is an old recipe, meant to ease the strain between a mother’s body and a wolf pup. It should help.”

I hesitated only a moment before tipping the vial to my lips. The liquid was bitter and earthy, but not unpleasant. Almost immediately, a cooling sensation spread through my body, easing the cramp in my abdomen a little.

“Better?” Jade asked, watching me closely.

I nodded, taking a deep breath. She handed me a handkerchief, and I wiped the sweat from my face. “I’m sorry about the decorations,” I said, glancing at the shattered glass scattered across the grass.

“Don’t worry about that.” Jade waved dismissively. “We can find replacements. What matters is you and the baby.”

“What happened?”

Nicholas’s voice cut through the air. I looked up to find him rushing across the lawn toward us.

“Nothing,” I said quickly. “I just dropped a box.”

Jade gave me a look that clearly said she didn’t approve of my downplaying the situation, but she stayed silent as Nicholas dropped to his knees in front of me, his hands immediately going to my face, my shoulders, checking for injuries.

“Why are you sweating? What’s wrong?” He glanced at the broken glass, then back to me. “Did you cut yourself?”

“No, I just had a little cramp.” I swallowed. “Really, Nicholas, I’m fine. Jade gave me something for it.”

He turned to Jade, his expression demanding an explanation.

“It was more than a little cramp,” she said, ignoring my glare. “She nearly collapsed.”

Nicholas’s face hardened. “We need to call the doctor.”

“No,” I protested. “It was just one cramp. I’m feeling better already. We have too much to do.”

I stood, intending to continue with the preparations, when another pain tore through me—this one twice as severe as the first. It felt like someone had plunged a knife into my abdomen and was twisting it slowly. A cry escaped me before I could stop it, and I doubled over, clutching my stomach.

Nicholas caught me before I could fall, his arms strong and steady around me. In one fluid motion, he scooped me up, cradling me against his chest.

“That’s it. We’re calling the doctor,” he said, carrying me toward the house.