His Runaway Luna

13. Curses and medicines

Alpha Zack 

Iris gasped as her not-bandaged hand roamed to her flat stomach. 

“I don’t understand it. How is that even possible? The first time I… we were together was not much longer than a week ago.” Her eyes were wide open, she chewed her bottom lip and fidgeted with a lock of her light-blond hair. She looked overwhelmed. 

The same question filled my mind. It was too early. 

My breath grew faster and heated, in a sliver of anger. “Dammit! It shouldn’t be happening that fast.” I growled into my mind, and my wolf growled his agreement. 

I wanted, I needed more time with her before this child was born and she brought that f*cking deal up. 

I tried to resist the curse of this bond, to deny it. But the more I fought, the more I fell into her spell. 

I was breaking my bloodline’s main rule and bringing a curse upon myself and my pack: a fated bond, a fated mate. In my father’s words ‘It was the easiest and fastest way to bring the pack down, to give all we conquered to the enemy.’ That was why he killed his fated mate. 

But I wasn’t strong enough to do the same. I huffed and looked around, just now I could hear the doctor’s words once again.

“I am trained, I have helped many mamas-to-be and their pups, so I can catch the very subtle change in the mother’s scent even less than a week after conception. You should be only a few days along, I will only be able to tell you more in a couple of weeks. The pregnancy takes more or less three and a half months, but when you are carrying an Alpha baby, it can take only three months. Alpha pups develop much faster than regular ones. Not to mention you are a white wolf. I need to check what white female wolves are capable of on this matter. For now, you should take care of yourself and rest a lot, carrying an alpha baby can be very strenuous and you will feel tired most of the time. More than resting and eating well, follow your instincts, your wolf and yourself will know what you and the little angel in your belly needs,” Doctor Liliana smiled at Iris and she smiled back. Her hand was still over her stomach and she looked down at it tenderly. 

“Of course she is happy about it. She wants to get rid of us! She doesn’t want us!” My wolf's growls were feral. He was pushing to shift and jump on her. He didn’t want to hurt her, but to make her stay. 

I looked at her again, her gaze was on mine. 

“You didn’t put only yourself but also my pup in danger, Iris. You will stay at home for the next few weeks,” I said drily, even though this wasn’t the main reason for my rage. Iris sighed resigned, she knew she shouldn’t have done it while carrying my heir. 

“Alpha… aren’t you happy about it?” she asked almost innocently. 

I placed a hand on her shoulder and trying to hold back the cold furry growing inside me, I said, “We will see. Maybe it’s not a male child.” 

She nodded, her blue eyes confused and lost. 

This kind of bond, this kind of madness almost destroyed our pack once. I couldn’t allow the past to repeat itself. 

~ * ~

Iris

Before leaving, Doctor Liliana told me more things about pups and pregnancy, always reassuring me with her sweet smile. 

A sigh escaped my lips, the little steam fogging the window. I looked outside, it was snowing again. The snow was covering the ashes, and blood from yesterday’s battle; it was washing all the pain away in its white blanket. 

My hand was still on my lower stomach. The first thing that popped into my head was that this pregnancy was my way to escape from this confusing Alpha and become the Luna my pack needs. 

But Sapphire and I soon realized that it was much more than that. It was a life growing inside of us and soon we will have our beloved pup in our arms. We would have family and love and we would give lots of it to our child. This thought made me nostalgic and made me think about my dad, about my parents. 

I wished they could get to know their grandpup. I wished my pup could have a family beyond me. But by the cold way the Alpha reacted to the news, I was afraid that  would never happen. He wanted an heir, not a child. 

“Iris, we will be more than enough! You, our pup and I. I might be only one wolf, but I can be very loud and jumpy if needed, I can be a crowd. We will have love in a small bundle of fluffy-pup and our freedom! It’s great news, girl! Cheer up!” My wolf told me, making me smile. 

“True and the pup will have Aunt Zita and annoying uncle Colton!” 

This only reminded me that Zita must be awake by now and I should check on her, she didn’t look well yesterday. I stood up and as I was heading to the door the Alpha stopped me by placing his hand on my shoulder, his gaze didn’t meet mine. He looked distant, what was wrong with him? Why was he that hot and cold at the same time? 

“I would like  to see Zita and eat something.” 

“You should rest, Iris. I will tell an omega to bring something for you to eat and Zita can come here,” he said almost raspily, walking me to the bed.  

“But Zita is hurt, I am quite sure she can’t walk,” I protested, even though he laid me back on the bed.

“I will ask Colton to carry her here,” he replied, leaving me alone in the room. I sighed deeply, burying my face in a pillow in frustration. 

Colton left immediately after bringing Zita up, without saying anything in the presence of the Alpha, though his face was relaxed and I could see that he was relieved that Zita and I were well and together once again. I, too,  was relieved to see her awake and normal again, all her burn wounds had healed so fast, it was almost unbelievable. 

After Alpha Zack left, giving us some space, we caught up over a mug of hot milk and a dish with fruit and sandwiches. 

“Zita, I’m so sorry for everything that happened to you. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be in the clinic.” I sighed, casting my eyes down. 

Zita hugged me, and Goddess, I didn’t know how much I needed that hug. “You jumped into a burning house to save my life and what happened to me wasn’t your fault. Besides that, I’m fine now, I’ve healed faster than ever, even the doctor was shocked. Don’t worry about it! Now we have better and happier things to think about. The two of us are finally catching a break.” She smiled, placing her hands on my stomach. 

“Hello, I’m your aunt Zita!” She beamed, making a funny baby voice, which made me laugh. 

She was happy about the baby and the fact that, according to the deal, I would be free and hold some power soon. 

“Soon you will be Luna and have your little pup,” she muttered, a tender look on her face. 

“How about you? What do you want now that our lives seem to have gone upside down?” I asked with a sigh, only hoping whatever that monster of a Beta did wouldn’t scar my friend for life. 

“I still have the same dreams; one day meet my fated mate and maybe when I am brave or drunk enough, to sing in public and start my singing career,” she giggled. 

“You know you have nothing to worry about, with a voice like yours,” I beamed, and she blushed a little. Being like this with my friend made it feel like old times when life was simpler. But I knew that things would never be the same. 

“Things will get better for both of us, I know they will.” She smiled again. I loved how she could always see the bright side of things—even among all the chaos she had been through lately—it always filled me with hope.  

~ * ~

After a few days, when Zita’s limping leg was already completely recovered and my cravings started, we went to the kitchen where I could enjoy one of my favorite hobbies: baking. 

I started making the dough for croissants and cupcakes as Zita only looked at me from the other side of the kitchen island, sipping her glass of wine. 

“I love your croissants, you really make the best ones! And you know  I’m not helping only because I don’t want to ruin them!” She chuckled. 

“Well, they might be ruined anyway. I will have to add some green monster to it,” I said, showing her a bowl with wet leaves of spinach, “Doctor’s orders.” 

“I have faith in you! I still think you can make them taste good even with spinach,” she added, taking a spoonful of the dough and trying it. “Not bad, but please no spinach on the cupcakes!” she laughed. 

“Deal!” I smiled, adding cinnamon and vanilla to the cupcakes. 

The first batch of chocolate cupcakes was already in the oven. I wanted to make something for Doctor Liliana, the nurse and patients, and ask someone to take it to the new Pack Clinic. The Alpha still didn’t let me leave the house on my own, even though he was becoming less cold lately. I chuckled to myself thinking that he might be like the seasons, now that spring started, the sun was melting part of the snow from the top of the houses and balconies. Maybe the pup was already melting some frost from his heart.  

“What is this amazing smell?” Colton asked as he entered the kitchen smiling. 

“Your favorite, but don’t stay here, Colt! You know the Alpha doesn’t want any male besides his psycho Beta close to Iris. I don’t know why in the Moon Goddess he only trusts the vilest wolf ever!” Zita shook her head, emptying her glass of wine in a single gulp. 

I sighed, looking back at my cupcakes as my heart clenched. She still didn’t tell me what Beta Grey did to her, it was bad enough to send her to the Pack Clinic for a week, and I didn’t want to ask it once more and stress her. 

“There isn’t much we can do, besides feeding her many sweets and maybe a few squirrels!” Sapphire added in my mind, she was right. I just hoped my friend’s inner wounds were healing as fast as her burns. 

“Colton, she is right! Get your butt out of here, and I will ask someone to bring you lots of cupcakes,” I told him.

“Fine, but make whatever amount of cupcakes you have in mind double, pup!” He left the kitchen, flashing us his signature carefree smile. But his eyes had a new depth of sadness. My lips clenched into a thin line, I think after all that happened, it was hard for any of us to be carefree again.  

“Iris, I think he’s been a bit down lately. Maybe something happened between him and Lisa, it’s been quite sometime he’s mentioned her. Actually, since the day you shifted for the first time,” Zita mind.-linked me, her mouth was full with the chocolate chips she grabbed in my moment of distraction. 

“Oh, that’s weird. We should talk to him about it. Lisa isn’t my favorite person in a room, not even in an empty room… but, I thought she made him happy,” I said thoughtfully. 

Suddenly, Susan, our dear Beta female barked into the kitchen, “You two out! I am preparing a special dinner for ranked members only, no mutts invited. And as far as I know, you aren’t the Luna, Iris,” she smiled at me, “And you know what, I am preparing Alpha’s Zack favorite dish: reindeer steak, he will love it!” she taunted. 

What was wrong with her? I held back my frown, not wanting to give her any satisfaction. 

“Can you wait five minutes, it’s all the time I need to take the cupcakes…” I started, trying to play cool. I didn’t need to give in to her taunt, I wasn’t like her. 

“Nope! I don’t have time to waste! Bye!” She smiled again, looking between Zita and me.

“Have fun, Susan. Make it a feast, since the most meaningful work you have ever done as the Beta Female of this pack was telling everyone about your title, your lazy butt could use a break,” I smiled and left with my two bowls of dough. 

“Don’t worry about her, she is just an empty jar! Jokes on her!” Zita mind-linked. She was right, I wouldn’t waste my time with that she-wolf. 

We went to Zita’s room, and the medicine box on top of her bedside table seemed to be calling for me. I looked intently at it and an idea popped into my head. I looked at the box of laxatives and smiled. 

“Do it! Do it!” My wolf sang in my head like those imaginary little devils that cartoon characters have on their shoulders. I’d never done something like that before, it wasn’t me, but well… I had to do something to get back at Beta Grey for what he did to Zita and to the Omegas and right now, my only weapon was…

“Poop!” My wolf added in my mind, barking a laugh. I told Zita about my idea and she laughed. 

“Is it because of Susan?” 

“No. As much as Susan thinks very highly of herself, she is insignificant. This is about that Beta and Karma,” I smiled. “Do you think the Beta will whip Susan after he spends a few hours on the toilet?” I didn’t want her to get into too much trouble, maybe just a little bit. 

“No, I think the worst that can happen is him yelling at her. But, how will you make sure only the Betas eat it?” she furrowed her brows at me. 

“I will add it to only some of the dishes, and not to his Reindeer steak.” I smiled. Even though my relationship with the Alpha was far from good, he was the father of my pup and I didn’t want to cause him harm. 

“Do it then!” Zita had a naughty smile on her face, mirroring a certain white wolf. Later,  I waited in the living room until Susan walked away and tiptoed to the kitchen, adding some crushed medicine to the dishes. 

“Karma isn’t a b***h, she is a sexy white wolf!” Sapphire barked in my head. Well, I couldn’t agree more. One day soon, I wanted to change everything for good and prevent this awful Beta from abusing people. But now, laxatives were all I could do. 

To my surprise an hour later, the Alpha summoned me to the living room.  He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and guided me to the dining hall. 

“You should have dinner with us tonight. Susan isn’t a good cook, but I want to have you with me,” he said, making me gulp hard. I didn’t see that coming. 

“Alpha... I’m not hungry, I am in fact, nauseous. I don’t think I could eat,” I almost mumbled as we entered the dining room. The Beta couple hadn’t arrived yet. 

“Zack, call me Zack, Iris. You should at least drink some tea,” he said, sitting down and placing me on his lap, his arm wrapped around my waist. 

My breath hitched in my throat and I nodded absently. I didn’t know what was making me more on edge, the dinner fiasco that was about to happen or his change of attitude.