Chapter 26

Loretta's POV 

I stood my ground in the dim corridor, trying to hide my shock and confusion. I couldn’t understand what Sebastien meant by his question. What secret did he know about me? I had always believed my secret was safe. No one in the palace knew I was pregnant—not even Grace. No one knew where I had gone, and I had been careful to cover my tracks.

I decided to act clueless, hoping that Sebastien would reveal more. In a measured voice, I asked, "What do you mean? What have I done? I was only away for a few minutes. Can’t a Luna go out and enjoy some fresh air? Or must I remain locked in this cage forever? Is that all it means to be in your pack?"

His face remained dark and unyielding; he did not believe my act. Without another word, he stormed down the stairs, his eyes blazing with anger. In the chaos of my panic, my bag slipped from my grasp and fell to the ground. Before I could recover, Sebastien picked it up and opened it, revealing the herbs inside. I felt my heart drop as his furious gaze locked onto mine.

"What have you done?" he demanded again, his voice low and menacing.

I tried to sound innocent, but Sebastien was having none of it. "I know where you've been," he growled. "I know what you have done. How could you get rid of my heir? How could you plan to terminate my pregnancy without telling me? Do you not understand the gravity of the offense you have committed?"

His words struck me like a cold gust of wind. How did he know? Had he been following me? Or had he sent someone to watch my every move? A surge of anger welled up inside me, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. "Are you watching me? Are you stalking me now? Is this what marriage means to you?" I snapped. "Yes, I am pregnant, but I don't want to be married to you anymore!"

Sebastien's face twisted with rage as he retorted, "If you've killed my heir, you'll spend the rest of your life in the dungeon. You'll regret ever crossing me." 

A chill ran down my spine at his threat. I had heard the terrible stories of his father's ruthlessness, and I knew Sebastien was not joking.

Desperation forced me to speak the truth. "I haven't taken the herb yet," I said, my voice trembling as I tried to sound calm. "I was only contemplating it. I haven’t done anything irreversible."

But Sebastien's expression remained as cold as stone. His eyes did not soften for a moment as he declared, "We're going to the hospital immediately. If the child is still in your womb, then we'll talk. But if the child is no longer there, you're going straight to the dungeon."

His words hung heavily in the air, and I felt trapped between my own fear and his unyielding anger. I knew that my carefully guarded plan was on the verge of being destroyed. In that silent, tense moment, I realized that everything was about to change—and there was no turning back.

Alicia's POV 

It all felt too perfect, and I wanted to scream with joy. I felt as though my scream could cool the entire palace. I watched, still in disbelief, as Sebastian thundered at Loretta, his voice rising in anger as he threatened to lock her away in the dungeon.

I was bursting with excitement. I had not believed that Loretta would fall into my trap so easily. Now, it seemed that everything was falling into place. I had finally managed to rid us of that impostor, and soon I would claim my rightful place as Luna.

I longed for the day when I would be pregnant—a baby growing inside me would seal my fate as Sebastian's true mate. I did not care what the elders or anyone else thought. Yes, I was a concubine, but a concubine could be granted grace by the Alpha and become Luna. And that was exactly what I was determined to do.

I was convinced that Loretta was lying; she had certainly taken the herb. The herbalist had convinced her to do so, and I knew that when they went to the hospital, they would find a dead baby in her womb. That discovery would be the final blow—a sign that she was no longer fit to be in Sebastian's life. It would be the last time I saw her alive, at least in the way I wanted it to be.

With that thought in mind, I stole one last glance at the living Loretta. I climbed up to the window of my room and watched as Sebastian, red with anger, pushed Loretta into a car. The vehicle roared off, and I silently wished that Loretta had seen my face as she left. I wanted her to know that I was the one who had brought about her downfall.

I vowed then and there, "No, Loretta, I'm not just some foolish girl. I'm more than that, and I will show you. From now on, you will watch from the dungeon as I rise from being a mere concubine to the Luna of this pack." The power of my words filled me with strength and determination.

With that fierce resolve burning in my heart, I returned to my bed. The doctor had once told me that the best way to conceive was to relax and avoid any strenuous activities, and so I planned to spend the rest of the day resting. Even though I felt the urge to take my car and rush to the hospital to see Sebastian's reaction up close, I knew deep down that my own future was more important. I needed to focus on getting pregnant, on securing my place as Luna.

I resolved to stay in bed and wait for Sebastian's return, confident that he would soon come back to the palace alone. As I lay there, I pictured the new life that would bind us together—a life that would erase all the doubts and make it clear that I was destined to be more than a concubine. I closed my eyes, letting sleep take me, while my mind danced with dreams of power, passion, and the p

romise of a future where I reigned supreme.