My Alpha Chose My Killer Over Our Unborn Child

I noticed the change in Gunner's visits. What had begun as occasional check-ins on Rayne's recovery became daily rituals, sometimes twice a day. He would stand in the doorway of my room, his eyes searching the bandaged figure in the bed with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

"You're healing well," he would say, his voice lacking the warmth it once held when he spoke to me. "The pack needs its Luna back."

I kept my head turned away, my good eye closed. I couldn't bear to look at him—the man who had ordered my death, who had kicked me down a ravine while I bled out, carrying our child.

But today was different. He entered alone, Rayne nowhere in sight. The door clicked shut behind him.

"Who are you?" he asked abruptly.

I remained silent, my throat still too damaged for comfortable speech.

He moved closer, inhaling deeply. "There's something... familiar about you."

My heart hammered against my ribs. Had he recognized me? Was my scent breaking through the medicinal masking?

"I've been having dreams," he continued, pacing the small room. "About Lucia."

I stilled, afraid even to breathe.

"She's gone," he said, his voice hollow. "But sometimes..." He trailed off, running a hand through his hair. "Sometimes I swear I can smell her."

He leaned over my bed, his face inches from mine. "Do you know who I am?"

I nodded slightly.

"Alpha Gunner Burns," he said, as if testing the name. "Luna Rayne's mate."

The lie burned in my throat.

"I was mated once before," he continued, his eyes unfocused. "To the most gifted healer our pack had ever seen."

I watched a muscle twitch in his jaw, the only sign of his inner turmoil.

"Take off your bandages," he suddenly demanded.

I shook my head, reaching for the pad of paper beside my bed.

*Burns still healing. Doctors orders.*

"They're lying," he snapped, grabbing the pad from my hands. "I can sense it."

His wolf was awakening to the truth, even if his human mind refused to acknowledge it.

---

Three days later, chaos erupted in the pack house. Whispers spread like wildfire—the Lycan Council was coming.

"A surprise inspection," Samuel murmured as he changed my IV. "They're saying it's because of Luna Lucia's death."

I gripped his wrist, my fingers digging into his skin.

"What is it?" he asked, startled by my reaction.

I scribbled frantically on my pad: *When?*

"Tomorrow morning," he replied, looking confused by my urgency.

Across the hall, I could hear Rayne's voice rising in panic.

"They can't come here!" she hissed to Gunner. "Not now!"

I edged closer to the door, straining to hear their conversation.

"The Council doesn't make exceptions," Gunner replied coldly. "They'll be here at dawn."

"I'm not ready," Rayne whimpered. "What if they discover—"

"They won't," he cut her off. "Just keep your story straight."

I retreated to my bed, my mind racing. The Council would expose everything—Rayne's false pregnancy, Gunner's crimes. I needed to be ready.

But I didn't expect Rayne's next move.

That night, as the infirmary quieted, I heard her slip into my small quarters adjacent to the patient rooms. I followed silently, watching as she pulled a vial from her pocket and sprinkled its contents into my tea mug.

"Wolfsbane," I whispered to myself, recognizing the distinctive purple residue. "She's framing me."

---

The Council arrived with the dawn, three imposing figures in ceremonial robes. I could feel their power from across the infirmary—ancient, undeniable.

Rayne greeted them with practiced grace, her arm linked through Gunner's. "The Blood Moon Pack welcomes the Lycan Council."

I watched from my bed as she played her part perfectly—the grieving almost-mother, the devoted Luna-to-be.

But her eyes kept darting to me, calculating.

"It has come to our attention," the lead Council member announced, "that there have been... irregularities surrounding Luna Lucia Peterson's death."

Gunner's hand tightened on Rayne's waist.

"We intend to investigate thoroughly," the Council member continued.

Rayne's face drained of color. She tugged at Gunner's sleeve, whispering urgently in his ear.

I saw the moment he made his decision—the slight hardening of his eyes, the set of his jaw.

"There is someone you should meet," he said to the Council, his voice smooth. "Our mysterious healer."

Rayne stepped forward, pointing a trembling finger at me. "She poisoned me!" she screamed. "She killed our baby!"

The Council members turned as one, their ancient eyes fixing on me.

"She's a rogue," Rayne continued, her voice rising hysterically. "She infiltrated our pack to destroy us from within!"

Gunner stepped away from her, addressing the Council with forced calm. "We've been trying to identify her, but she remains... uncooperative."

"I demand justice!" Rayne wailed, tears streaming down her face. "She murdered the Alpha heir!"

Gunner's eyes met mine across the room, cold and calculating. "Guards," he commanded, "seize this rogue healer."