KEILAH
A wave of conflicting emotions crashed over me-shock, fear, disbelief, and a strange undercurrent of acceptance. My heart pounded as I stared at the test, the two bold lines confirming what I had dreaded. The revelation hit me like a ton of bricks. Pregnant. I was actually pregnant.
Thoughts spiralled in my mind, the implications overwhelming. What did this mean for me? For Ralph? For our already complicated relationship? Most importantly, how would I navigate the dangers surrounding us with this new life growing inside me?
My mind raced, replaying Zac’s and Benita’s sinister conversation. What I don’t understand is why Dahlia, being the powerful witch she is, lets Zac use her like she’s nothing. I just hope she doesn’t go along with their plans. If that happens, it’d be the end of me. How will I ever raise a werewolf child in a society of humans? What if they shift in the middle of class and startle the other kids? It would mean one thing: my child would become an experiment in a lab. The thought made me shiver. I have to tell Ralph about this pregnancy and about Zac and Benita’s plans. If I don’t, I’ll never forgive myself.
I shoved the test into my pocket, straightened up, and took a deep breath. I grabbed the bag of chips and exited the restroom, my mind still spinning.
Ralph was waiting in the car, engaged in a phone call, his expression cold as ice, sending shivers down my spine as I approached. I forced a smile, hoping to hide the storm brewing inside me. “Got what I needed,” I said, sliding into the passenger seat.
“Did you get enough?” he asked after ending his call, glancing at the bag in my hand.
I nodded, not trusting my voice to remain steady. “Yeah, I’m good.”
He started the car without another word, and we drove in silence. His uneasy mood made me restless. As the miles stretched on, I struggled with whether to ask him what was wrong or to tell him about my pregnancy and the sinister plans Zac and Benita had discussed. His expression was stony, his jaw set tight, making me wonder if Zac and Benita’s plans were already in motion and affecting him. Ralph looked angry and troubled, more so than usual.
I couldn’t take the silence any longer. “Ralph, can we talk? There’s something important-”
“Not now, Keilah,” he cut me off, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
The tension in the car was thick. “Please, Ralph, it’s really important.”
He ignored me, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. My frustration grew. Was Zac’s influence already showing?
“Ralph, can you stop the car for a moment?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
He didn’t respond, his eyes never leaving the road.
“Ralph, stop the car,” I repeated, my voice sharper this time.
He finally spoke, his tone harsh. “The council is waiting for us. We don’t have time for your endless requests.”
Anger flared inside me. “Stop the fucking car!” I snapped. “That fucking council can wait. This is important too!”
Ralph’s eyes flashed with anger, but he finally pulled over to the side of the road. The car came to a sudden halt, and he turned to me, his expression a mix of irritation and curiosity.
“What is it, Keilah?” he demanded.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Ralph, are you alright? Is something wrong?”
He opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. “Remember what you told me last night? You want us to start something real. And the foundation of that is trust. As my man, I have the right to know what’s bothering you because I’m worried. Okay, I’m human and might not be able to help with wolf-related issues, but I might help you in other ways. So, Ralph, is something wrong? Is it about the phone call or something else? Or the council?”
Ralph stared at me for a moment, his expression softening. He reached out, his warm hand cupping my cheek. I leaned into his touch, pressing a gentle kiss onto it before he pulled away.
“It’s about the call,” he admitted. “It was Dahlia. She told me something that triggered my mind. She was quick, but it’s stuck with me. I don’t want to believe it until I meet with her.”
I swallowed hard, nervousness knotting my stomach. “Did she tell you about my pregnancy and the memory spells that Zac and Benita want her to perform?”
Ralph’s brows twitched in surprise as he stared at me.
“I was going to tell you everything but didn’t know how to start because I thought you wouldn’t believe me. After overhearing their plans and everything, I wasn’t sure if I could trust you too.”
Before he could respond, his phone rang. He answered it with a dismissive response, “Three minutes away,” and then hung up before driving again.
“Don’t ask me about this matter for now until I meet with Dahlia. We will talk about ourselves afterward. Okay?”
“Okay,” I replied.
The three-minute drive felt like an eternity. My heart pounded with every passing second, the silence between him and i thick and oppressive. I couldn’t help but think about everything-the pregnancy, the plans of Zac and Benita, and what was in Ralph’s mind. Each thought seemed to make the silence even heavier.
We pulled into a wide, long driveway lined with towering trees, their leaves whispering secrets in the wind. The enormity of the place struck me first-the gates were wrought iron, intricate and formidable, opening up to a sprawling estate that seemed to stretch on forever.
“Is this where the council lives?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my eyes wide with awe.
Ralph nodded, his expression inscrutable. “Yes.”
I gaped at the vast expanse before me. It felt like stepping into another world, a hidden city. The estate stretched out in all directions, surrounded by dense forests that seemed to guard it. Massive, ancient trees lined the driveway, their branches forming a canopy overhead, casting dappled sunlight on the ground.
Elegant, sprawling mansions dotted the landscape, connected by winding paths and lush gardens. Each building was made from dark stone, giving them a timeless, almost mystical look. In the distance, I saw a grand hall with towering spires reaching towards the sky, a testament to the council’s power and authority. The air was thick with an unexplainable aura of magic and strength, making me feel small and insignificant.
My thoughts raced. This was where Ralph’s loyalties lay, where decisions about werewolf matters are made. As we pulled up to the main entrance, I saw a familiar face-an old council member who once asked me to sleep with Ralph-standing with other unfamiliar old men and one woman in her early 40s.
“Why do they look like they want to pounce on me the moment I step out of the car?” I asked Ralph.
“I dare them,” Ralph said as he stepped out, came around to my side, opened the door for me, and took my hand. Together, we walked towards the waiting council members.
As we approached them. The old man turned toward the woman and gestured to her to take me with her as they wanted to talk to Ralph alone first. And as the woman reached out her hand to take mine, Ralph swiftly stepped in front of me, his stance protective and assertive. His eyes blazed with a fierce intensity as he addressed them.
“If any of you dare lay a hand on my mate, it will be the last thing you ever do,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
The familiar council member, now standing beside the woman, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Instead, the woman let out a light laugh, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
“We know better than to mess with Alpha’s mate, Alpha Ralph,” she said, her tone respectful yet laced with a hint of playfulness. “Your mate is safe with me. No one will touch her.” Ralph’s expression softened slightly at her words, though his protective instincts remained on high alert. With a nod, he reluctantly released me, pressing a quick kiss onto my forehead before stepping back.
As they slipped away for their private conversation, I couldn’t shake the unease that settled in my stomach. Watching him disappear with the council members, I turned my attention back to the woman who stood before me, her demeanour calm yet authoritative.
“Keilah, right?” she said, her voice smooth like silk as she extended her hand towards me. “I’m Cecillia.”
I hesitated for a moment before accepting her hand, giving it a firm shake. “Yes, I’m Keilah. Nice to meet you.”
Cecillia’s eyes held a depth of wisdom and power that sent a shiver down my spine.
Cecillia led me inside the grand house and through the mind blowing corridors. As we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, every step echoing in the cavernous space. My palms grew clammy, nerves fluttering in my stomach like a trapped bird.
As we entered a spacious chamber, my eyes were immediately drawn to a group of women seated around a large wooden table. They all rose to their feet, their eyes assessing me from head to toe. I could feel their scrutiny like a physical weight, making my palms sweat despite my efforts to appear calm and composed.
Cecillia cleared her throat, drawing their attention fully to her. “Ladies, may I have your attention, please?” she said, her voice commanding yet inviting .”She called Keilah, the Moonrise pack Luna.
But she’s not yet- One of them said but Cecillia interjected.
“She’s soon to be one,” Cecilla said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
A few of the women stepped forward, their expressions more welcoming. “You’ve been the talk of every pack for weeks now. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” I force myself an awkward smile.
As the women pulled me to sit with them, their eager faces crowded around me, their curiosity palpable. I tried to remain calm, but the intense scrutiny was overwhelming.
Cecillia smiled, seeming pleased by their enthusiasm. “Excuse me, ladies, I’ll be back in a moment,” she said before slipping out of the room, leaving me alone with the group.
The moment the door closed behind her, the women turned to me, bombarding me with questions all at once.
“What are your full names?”
“Where are you from?”
“How did you and Alpha Ralph meet?”
“Are you going to betray us to humans?”
“Are you a good human?”
The rapid-fire questions made my head spin. I took a deep breath, trying to answer each one as best as I could.
“My full name is Keilah Rivera,” I began, trying to project confidence despite the knot of nerves in my stomach. Ralph and I met by chance, really. It was one of those unexpected encounters that you don’t see coming but changes your life forever.”
Their eyes widened with interest, and I could see them leaning in even closer, hanging on to my every word.
“And no, I would never betray you to the humans,” I continued, my voice steady but earnest. “I understand how important secrecy is, especially for Ralph and his pack. As for being a good human… I can only hope to prove myself to you.” The women exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and scepticism. One of them, a tall woman with striking silver hair, leaned forward. “And as the Luna of the Moonrise pack, how do you plan to protect your mate’s pack in his absence, Keilah?
The question made my mind spiral into a frenzy. How could I protect the pack? How am I supposed to answer that? Before I could even form a coherent answer, the door burst open, and Ralph stormed in, his expression dark and stormy.
He didn’t acknowledge the women’s greetings, his eyes fixed on me. Without a word, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up from my seat, his grip firm but not painful. The women fell silent, their curiosity now mixed with confusion and apprehension.
Ignoring their murmurs and whispered questions, he dragged me out of the room, his pace quick and determined. My heart pounded as we made our way through the winding corridors, his urgency unsettling.
As we neared the car, the council members called out to him, their voices demanding attention. Ralph didn’t stop. He didn’t even glance their way, his focus entirely on reaching the car. When we finally arrived, he yanked open the passenger door and urged me inside.
I opened my mouth to ask what was wrong, but he cut me off sharply. “‘later, Keilah.” His tone left no room for argument.
I slid into the seat, and he hurried to the driver’s side. As he started the car, I couldn’t help but look back. The council members stood in a tight cluster, their faces a mix of concern and frustration. But what caught my eyes was an old, grey-haired woman, very old, standing apart from the rest, her gaze locked on me. The look of utter disgust she directed my way sent a shiver down my spine.