Chapter 1 Bad Luck

Celeste

It was the night of the Autumn Equinox. The Harvest Moon was starting to rise in the clear dark sky. Everyone in the territory was preparing for tomorrow's Autumn Equinox celebration known as Mabon.

I, myself, was supposed to be preparing for the Harvest Moon dinner but I was having contractions. I had thought it was Braxton Hicks contractions, but these contractions were bearing down on me within regular periods.

"It's too soon, Emma. She can't be coming yet. It's too soon." I started doing my breathing exercises so I could keep calm. I was two weeks shy of being seven months pregnant, so my shock when I began going into labor.

Emma, my handmaiden helped me into my favorite rocking chair. She brought the matching foot stool and placed my feet on top of it. It was bliss.

"Luna Celeste, I have asked Beta Daniel to call on the pack doctor. She will be here any minute now. For now, just breathe like we practiced, ok? Tell me when another contraction comes so I can see how far apart you are. I have the chambermaids preparing hot water and clean towels for the birth of your pup." Emma was always positive and cheerful which was why I really liked her and she was a huge help when I couldn't get my wits together.

"Don't you think it's just a bit too soon?" I glanced at Emma who was preparing the bed for the birthing.

"Luna, when it is time, it is time. Your pup may be coming out a bit early, but that only means she's ready to meet the world. Don't worry, Luna Celeste. The pack doctor will make sure you and your baby are healthy. Now, sit back and relax. The rocking from the chair will help soothe you."

I leaned back on my rocking chair while it swayed back and forth. Emma was right. The movement was helping soothe my body.

I felt another contraction and I winced while squeezing the arms of the rocking chair to brace myself. The contractions were now only minutes apart. I started doing my breathing exercises again wondering what was taking the pack doctor so long to get here.

Suddenly, we heard a scream coming from someone inside the territory. Emma rushed towards the window and peeked outside to see what the commotion was all about. I also stood up from the rocking chair, holding my stomach as I tried to see what was happening outside.

"The Alpha of the Rogues with his harem of dark witches are entering the territory, Luna," a member of the pack screamed at us. Just my luck. I was in the middle of labor. He must not know I am weak. I felt a contraction again and I squeezed Emma's shoulder. The pain would shoot down my stomach then it would radiate up my spine. It's always the first birth that's the most painful the women would say. Now that I'm experiencing it, I know the truth in their words.

"Emma, help me downstairs. The Rogue Alpha can not know I am about to give birth. I have kept myself hidden and unreachable from others because I wanted to keep my pregnancy a secret. If he finds out he has caught me at my weakest, my baby and I will be killed. Remember the prophecy." Emma nodded her head, put an arm around my waist and took my hand to escort me downstairs when my mate Alpha Blake of the Autumn Moon Pack came rushing into my room.

"Celeste, you need to leave. He is here for you and the baby. Someone has betrayed us, Celeste. Not many know you are pregnant. Just a select few." Blake started to gather some of my things to place them in my bag. Emma quickly released my hand so she could stop him and do the packing herself. She took the bag and calmly began to pack my essentials.

"I can not leave, Blake. The baby is coming soon. My contractions are not that far apart. If I had just gone to the hospital..." I paused, feeling like a fool. "I'm so sorry, Blake. This is all my fault." Tears began to fall from my eyes. I was in unbearable pain, someone has come to try to kill me and my child, and I was too weak to fight back. This is what you call bad luck.

I felt a trickle of liquid flow between my legs. "My water just broke," I announced, looking down at the pool of water between my feet.

"My Goddess! You can't be! It's too soon. There must be a way to get you out safely." Blake paused, trying to think of a way for me to escape. Another contraction radiated throughout my body. My knees went weak from the pain ang they buckled from underneath me that I almost fell. Blake broke my fall, holding me tightly in his arms and carried me to my bed. He caressed my face and gave me a kiss. I glanced up at his eyes and I saw them filled with such anguish. "I love you, Celeste. Give birth to our pup. I need to go outside and defend our territory. No matter what happens to me, Celeste, promise me you will go on living." I couldn't answer him, pain was searing through my body, so I simply nodded my head, promising him I would do what he asked of me. He let go of my hand and ran out of my room. I heard him tell his men to shift and attack.

Emma stacked a pile of pillows to help me in a sitting position to aid in the birthing process. She also placed pillows beneath my thighs and knees and proceeded to spread my legs to check.

"You're crowning, Luna. We can no longer wait for the pack doctor. I will assist you in your birth." She pushed her sleeves up and cleansed her hands with alcohol. "When you feel another contraction, I need you to push with all your might, Luna." We heard growling sounds coming from the outside and more screams from the people in the territory. "Don't be distracted, Luna. Just think of your baby." Emma lifted my skirt up to my knees and started cleaning the insides of my thighs.

"Emma, I feel another contraction coming. I'm going to push!" I propped myself up on my elbows and inhaled deeply. Here we go.

"Alright Luna. Push!" I pushed down with all my might and screamed as I felt my baby come out into the open. "It's a beautiful baby girl," I heard Emma announce. I fell back on the pillows, spent. All I wanted to do was go to sleep, but unfortunately I couldn't. Smoke started to billow into the window of my room. The rogues were burning down the homes in the territory.

"Emma, listen to me. There is not much time." Emma had cut the umbilical cord and had handed my baby to the chambermaids in the room. She started to clean me up, taking out my placenta. The chambermaids hurriedly cleaned my daughter, who, surprisingly, wasn't crying.

"Emma, I need you to take my daughter and escape. Promise me you will keep her alive. Please?" Emma looked at me, confused. "I can't leave. I need to stay here and help Blake."

"No, we are all going to escape, Luna. I have packed a few of our essentials. I know someone who can help us. Come on, Luna. I know it's painful to walk, but I can't carry you and the baby at the same time." She gestured to the chambermaids who were wrapping my daughter up in blanket. "Give me the baby. Come on. Give me the baby." The chambermaids looked at us then down at the baby and shook their heads. My jaw dropped. They were willing to betray me!

"We will be rewarded handsomely if we were to give the daughter of Celeste to the Rogue Alpha," one of the chambermaids said.

"Are you imbeciles? The Rogue Alpha will only reward you with death. It is much better if you give me the baby and for you to escape. Be content you will leave with the shirts on your back. Now give me the baby!" Emma snarled at all of them and the chambermaid carrying my daughter reluctantly gave the baby to Emma. "Now go! Before the Rogue Alpha finds us and kills us all." The chambermaids ran out of the room and Emma motioned for me to follow them. I wobbled out of my room with Emma following. She picked up the small bag she had packed earlier while carrying my daughter.

"I SMELL THE BLOOD OF A PUP!" The Rogue Alpha yelled through the main entrance of our mansion. There was no escape for me. Weak or not, I would have to face him.

"Your mate is dead! Show yourself to me now, High Priestess or I will show you no mercy." His harem of dark witches laughed, knowing it was all a joke. The Rogue Alpha would never show me mercy. He was here to kill me and my daughter and exterminate my pack.

"Go, Emma." I pointed to the east wing of the mansion. There was a hidden entrance that only a few of us, including Emma, knew. "Go to the barn just outside of the territory. Inside is a car with provisions. Money and clothes I have kept hidden inside the trunk. Keep my Moira safe. Here..." I took off my necklace and placed it on my daughter. I kissed her on the cheek and caressed her head. "Mama, loves you little one. Remember that." I took one last look at my precious daughter then I pushed Emma towards the corridor. "Now go Emma! I will distract the Rogue Alpha so you may escape." Emma nodded her head and ran hrough the east wing corridor to the secret entrance of the mansion. I waited until she had entered the room which would lead her to the stairs of the secret door of the mansion.

I inhaled deeply and started my painful descent down the stairs to face the Rogue Alpha. I silently uttered a prayer as I went down each step.

Moon Goddess, please help my daughter. Help her survive the Alpha of the Rogues and send her to a family who will love her and take care of her.

Moon Goddess, I beg you, please. Take pity on my child.