The Unclaimed Luna

(Emma) The cold wind of Montana bit at my skin as I stood on the edge of the pack’s training field, arms wrapped tightly around myself. The chill seeped through my thin jacket, but I didn’t care. This was the closest I’d been to Darius in months, and I wasn’t sure if it was anger, sorrow, or fear that kept me rooted to the spot. I shouldn’t have been here. Darius had made that clear. I could still hear his voice from the last time I’d dared to approach him: “Stay away, Emma. It’s better for both of us.” But tonight, I needed to see him, even if it was from a distance. He was at the center of the field, commanding attention like he always did. His tall, broad frame stood out, his voice firm as he barked orders at the younger wolves. They obeyed without question, their movements clear as they sparred under his watchful eye. It was moments like this that reminded me why I’d fallen for him in the first place. He had a natural authority, a quiet strength that drew people to him. My chest tightened as I watched him. Darius was mine—or at least, he was supposed to be. He’d marked me months ago during a night when we made love. The memory was still vivid: his lips on mine, his hands possessive and tender, the raw intensity of the bond forming between us. I’d thought it was the start of something, thought it meant he felt the same pull I did. But the next morning, everything had changed. He wouldn’t even look at me. When he finally did, his words shattered me. “I’m in love with Lauren,” he’d said bluntly, his voice devoid of any emotion. Lauren. My best friend. I’d nodded, pretending to be okay while my heart broke into a million pieces. I’d seen the way Lauren smiled at him, how he looked at her like she was his entire world. It hurt more than words could express, but what could I do? I buried my feelings, avoided him at all costs, and tried to move on. Until now. I wasn’t here because I wanted to be. I was here because I had no choice. My hand drifted to my stomach, and my breath hitched. I hadn’t told anyone yet. Not Lauren. Not anyone in the pack. And not Darius. But he had to know. I stepped onto the field, my boots crunching against the grass. The sound seemed deafening in the silence that followed one of Darius’s commands. His green eyes locked onto mine immediately, and the air around me felt electric. For a second, I thought I saw something in his gaze—anger? Guilt? I couldn’t tell. “Emma,” he called, his tone low and irritated. “What are you doing here?” I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I need to talk to you.” “Now’s not the time.” He said. “It can’t wait,” I said firmly, though my voice trembled slightly. The wolves around him glanced at us, their curiosity obvious. I felt their eyes like daggers against my skin, but I ignored them. Darius sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “Take five,” he ordered. The wolves hesitated for a moment before dispersing, their murmurs fading into the background as they moved away. He walked toward me, his strides long and purposeful. His expression was hard and unreadable, and it made my stomach twist with nerves. “What is it?” he asked, his impatience clear. The words stuck in my throat. I’d played this moment over and over in my head, rehearsing exactly what I would say. But now that I was here, I couldn’t seem to find my voice. “Well?” he asked. “I’m pregnant,” I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips before I could stop them. The world seemed to stop. The sound of the wind, the distant chatter of the wolves, even the thudding of my heart—all of it faded into silence. His face went blank, his green eyes boring into mine. For a moment, I thought he might walk away, but then he spoke. “You’re sure it’s mine?” The question hit me like a slap. My throat tightened, but I forced myself to stand tall. “Of course, it’s yours. You marked me, Darius. There’s no one else.” He turned away, running a hand through his hair again, a gesture I recognized as frustration. “This… this can’t be happening.” “Well, it is,” I snapped, feeling frustrated. “And you have to decide what you’re going to do about it.” He spun back to face me, his jaw tight. “You think I’m just going to walk away?” “I don’t know what you’re going to do,” I said honestly. “You’ve been avoiding me for months. You’ve made it clear you don’t want me. But this isn’t just about us anymore. It’s about the baby.” He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. His voice dropped to a dangerous low. “You don’t get it, do you? I can’t reject you, Emma. I won’t. You’re mine, whether you like it or not.” My heart pounded. His words should have reassured me, but instead, they made me feel trapped. “You don’t love me,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “You love Lauren.” His eyes darkened, the intensity in them making my stomach churn. “I don’t need to love you to protect what’s mine.” Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. “I’m not a possession, Darius. You can’t keep me tied to you just because you’re obsessed with control.” “Control?” he replied, his voice rising. “You think that’s what this is about?” “What else could it be?” I demanded, my voice shaking. “You don’t care about me. You’ve made that clear. So why can’t you just let me go?” His breathing was heavy, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Because I can’t.” Before I could respond, footsteps interrupted us. I turned to see Lauren approaching, her face bright until her eyes landed on me. “What’s going on?” she asked, looking between us. “Nothing,” Darius said quickly, stepping away from me. Lauren’s eyes narrowed. “It doesn’t look like nothing.” “It’s none of your business,” I said. Lauren frowned, but before she could say anything, Darius cut her off. “Emma was just leaving.” His dismissive tone hurts more than I expected. Without another word, I turned and walked away. I’d told him the truth, but it felt like I’d made everything worse. The pain in his voice wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t love—it was something darker. Obsession, maybe. As I reached the edge of the field, a sudden sharp pain shot through my stomach, and I gasped, clutching at it. My knees buckled, and I doubled over. “Emma!” I looked up to see Darius running toward me, panic noticeable on his face. The pain intensified, and my vision blurred. My heart raced as fear gripped me. The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was Darius’s arms catching me.