The Pregnant Luna Who Faked Her Death

The Blood Moon Pack had one inviolable iron law: the Alpha’s mate must also be a werewolf. I was the human girl the pack had adopted. Even so, Alpha Wilson chose to form a mate bond with me. To stay with me, he openly defied the Elders’ orders. They locked him in a stone cell and gave him ninety-nine lashes. Even when blood soaked through his shirt, he still smiled at me, bowed his head, and kissed away my tears: “Lily, you will always be the only mate I have ever claimed.” In the end the Elders agreed to let me become Luna, on the condition that I quickly give Wilson an heir. It was not until the third year of our marriage that I finally became pregnant. Just as I was filled with joy and about to tell Wilson, his childhood sweetheart, missing for years, returned. She was a werewolf, and the ideal Luna in the Elders’ eyes. The Elders demanded that Wilson marry her at once and produce a legitimate heir for the pack. According to pack law, as long as I lived I would occupy the position of Luna, and he could not take a second mate. This time, Wilson chose to compromise. He pressed a bottle of fake-death potion into my hand, eyes red, and begged me. “Lily, please help me this once. Once she gives birth to the heir, I’ll bring you back.” I never had the chance to tell him that I was already pregnant. My adoptive Beta brother and Delta brother also urged me to take the medicine and leave. They said it was only a temporary measure; everyone was doing it for the good of the Pack. They all believed I would obediently fake my death, hide in some corner, and wait for Wilson to keep his promise. What they did not know was that from the moment I agreed to take the medicine, I had already begun arranging my own way out. This time, I would stage my own funeral with my own hands. Chapter 1 “I’ve prepared everything for you, Lily.” Alpha Wilson embraced me from behind and kissed the top of my head, his voice as doting as ever. A full set of documents lay spread across the table: a new passport, a new bank account, and a private villa in the far north. Even my new identity had been arranged. 【Twenty-eight years old, widowed, no children.】 I stared at those few lines and suddenly found it almost funny. I was still alive, yet my own mate had already arranged the life I would live after death. “Once you arrive there, I’ll transfer money to you regularly,” Wilson said, taking my hand. “When Vivian gives birth to the heir, I’ll bring you back. Trust me—it won’t be long.” He spoke earnestly, as if enough compensation could turn this betrayal into a harmless temporary parting. My two brothers sat opposite us. Xavier Voss was the pack’s Beta; Victor Voss was the Delta. At thirteen I had been adopted by the Voss family. They treated me like a true younger sister, stood up for me, celebrated my birthdays, and had never hesitated to shield me when other werewolves mocked me. It was through them that I met Wilson Sterling. For the fifteen years that followed, Wilson and I grew to know and love each other. I had believed I was already irreplaceable in their lives. Only today did I learn that before me, they had a childhood sweetheart who had grown up with them, Vivian. And I was merely the human girl who did not fit pack rules, yet whom Wilson had insisted on choosing. “Lily, don’t overthink it,” Xavier said gently. “This is only a temporary measure. Vivian must give birth to a pure-blood heir so the Elders can rest easy. Once everything is settled, things will return to the way they were.” Victor nodded in agreement. “Everyone has seen how much Wilson loves you. Just wait a little longer.” I lowered my eyes and said nothing. In seven days the Blood Moon Pack would hold a banquet. They wanted me to take the fake-death potion in public, creating the appearance of sudden death. Afterward a private plane would take me north. From that day on, Lily Sterling, Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, would become a corpse no one could find. “Lily, do you understand? Can you accept it?” Three pairs of eyes looked at me with expectation. Under their hopeful gazes I nodded. “All right.” They clearly relaxed. Wilson ruffled my hair and smiled. “I knew you’d understand.” He glanced at his watch and stood, straightening his cuffs. “That’s good, darling. The Pack is holding a welcome banquet for Vivian today. Time is almost up, I have to go ahead.” Before he finished speaking, a soft female voice came from outside the door. “Wilson, am I interrupting?” Vivian pushed the door open. She wore a long white dress, her eyes slightly red, as if she had suffered some great grievance. “Of course not.” Wilson immediately went to meet her. Almost at the same moment Xavier and Victor also stood. “Why are you crying?” “Who bullied you? Tell us.” The three men surrounded her, not even glancing at me again. Vivian sniffled and gently shook her head. “No one bullied me. It’s just that I’ve only just returned and I’m not used to things yet. I heard the Elders want me to get pregnant with an heir as soon as possible… I’m a little afraid.” Wilson immediately took her hand. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’ll take good care of you.” I suddenly remembered that when I was thirteen and first bullied by the pack’s children, I had also run to him in tears. Back then he had held me the same way and said that as long as he was there, no one would be allowed to hurt me. Now the same words were spoken to another woman. And in my belly, his child was already growing. This secret I had originally planned to tell him today. “Wilson,” Vivian said timidly, looking at me, “Lily won’t blame me, will she? After all, once I returned, all of you have to busy yourselves for my sake.” “Nonsense,” Wilson frowned. “You were always a member of the Blood Moon Pack, and the little sister we grew up with. Taking care of you is only right.” Little sister. I almost laughed aloud. So fifteen years of knowing and loving each other, four years as Luna, could not outweigh a single phrase—“we grew up together.” “By the way, Lily,” Xavier finally remembered me, “don’t you still have some things to pack? Before the banquet starts, go back to your room first.” Victor chimed in, “Vivian has only just returned and needs us with her. You’ve always been sensible, don’t make a scene at a time like this.” I looked at them and felt the last shred of expectation disappear. “All right.” I picked up the documents from the table and turned to leave. Back in my room I locked the door and dialed a number I had not contacted for a long time. The call connected quickly. “Lily? Why are you suddenly calling me?” Hearing my human best friend’s familiar voice, I finally showed the first genuine smile in days. “Help me with something.” “What is it?” I looked out the window. The banquet hall of the Blood Moon Pack was already lit. In seven days they wanted me to die in front of everyone. Then I would give them a funeral they would never forget. “In seven days, arrange an explosion for me. I want everyone to believe that Lily is already dead.” Chapter 2 Six days before my “death.” Alpha Wilson sat beside me, looking somewhat apologetic. “Lily, Vivian wants to move into our home because the Elders want us to get pregnant with a puppy as soon as possible.” He took my hand, his voice gentle. “Could you stay at the Voss estate for a few days? Once she gives birth to the puppy, I’ll bring you back.” I looked at him and did not ask why Vivian could not live somewhere else, why she had to move into our marital home. Anyway, in six days I would no longer be here. “All right.” Wilson seemed not to have expected me to agree so readily. He paused, then pulled me into his arms. “I’m sorry you’ve been wronged during this time.” He drove me back to the Voss estate himself. As soon as the car left our home, my stomach churned. The early pregnancy symptoms were growing more severe. I covered my mouth, forcing down the urge to vomit. Wilson immediately pulled over, took motion-sickness medicine, sour lemon candies, and a bottle of soda water from the glove compartment—things he always prepared carefully because of my severe carsickness. He unscrewed the bottle and held it to my lips. “Still want to throw up?” “Much better. Thank you.” I took the water, avoiding his hand. Wilson did not mind. He peeled a lemon candy and offered it to me. “Daring, your reaction is so strong this time… I almost thought it was morning sickness from pregnancy…” He stopped mid-sentence. The car fell silent. Pregnancy had always been the topic we carefully avoided. Humans rarely conceived a werewolf’s child. When the Elders opposed our mate bond, apart from the bloodline issue, the greatest reason was that I might never be able to give Wilson an heir. Back then he had held me and sworn that even if we never had children, he would never regret choosing me. Now Vivian had returned. The Elders needed a legitimate puppy heir, and he had personally placed the fake-death potion in my palm. I lowered my head, sucked on the lemon candy, and forced down the sourness in my throat. I was indeed pregnant. Only this news he would never know. “Just carsickness. You know that,” I replied lightly. We did not speak again for the rest of the journey. When the car stopped at the gates of the Voss estate, Xavier and Victor were already waiting. “Lily!” Xavier strode forward and pulled me into his arms. “I can’t bear to let you go.” His voice was a little hoarse. I did not respond. At thirteen I had been adopted by the Voss family. Xavier and Victor had once protected me, driven away the werewolves who bullied me. They had accompanied me through the hardest days and told me that no matter what happened, the Voss family would always be my home. Now they were the ones sending me away as well. Victor took my luggage and said quietly, “Come inside first. The lawyer sent by the Elders has already arrived.” In the study the family lawyer, the public-relations consultant, and the head of security were already seated. On the table lay a prepared announcement. Lily Sterling, Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, would die suddenly of an accident at the banquet six days later. The time of death, funeral arrangements, location of the grave, even the exact time the public statement would be released—all were listed clearly. Beside it lay a memorial photograph. It had been taken last spring. Wilson and I had gone to see the flowers. He noticed my hair ornament was crooked, carefully fixed it for me, then suddenly called the photographer over and insisted on taking a solo shot of me. “Lily, smile.” The look in his eyes then had been so tender it seemed I was the only person in the world. “You’re so beautiful today.” Then he kissed me. Now that photograph had become my memorial portrait. So he had long ago left behind the image most suitable for death. Xavier picked up the documents and explained, “This is only to make the Elders believe you are dead. Once the storm passes, we will find a way to bring you back.” “Will I still be able to contact you?” Victor shook his head. “No. You and Wilson have a mate bond. Any mental link could expose your location. Your phone and accounts must all be deactivated.” “What if I get sick?” “We’ll send a doctor.” “What if I want to come home?” Both men fell silent at the same time. After a long while Xavier sighed. “Lily, don’t make things difficult for your brothers. You know a pack cannot be without an heir.” I looked at him and quietly touched my abdomen. “So sacrificing me is acceptable?” “That’s not what we mean!” Victor hurried to explain. “You’re only leaving temporarily. Once Vivian gives birth to the heir, everything will return to normal.” I asked nothing more. Even their words of comfort were identical to Wilson’s. Before leaving, Xavier handed me a private travel permit. “After your ‘death,’ you must leave immediately. This permit will get you through the northern border checkpoints.” Victor handed me a small box. Inside was the moonstone necklace Xavier had given me when I was thirteen. “Take it,” he said quietly. “When you miss home in the new place, you can look at it.” I gripped the box tightly and suddenly asked, “If you had to choose between me and Vivian, you would still choose her, wouldn’t you?” Neither of them answered. I finally understood. Some questions never needed answers. After they left, I took out my phone and sent another message to my human friend. 【Carry out the plan strictly in six days. Also, please arrange a private plane for me.】 The place they had prepared for me was in the north. After my fake death, I would go south instead. The reply came quickly: Received. Six more days, and I could leave. Chapter 3 Three days before my “death.” I was walking in the park near the Voss estate when Vivian stopped me. “Lily, I have some things I want to say to you alone. Don’t worry, I won’t take up too much of your time.” She took my hand, her eyes slightly red. “I’m sorry. I know that because of my return you’ve suffered a lot.” I said nothing. She lowered her head, her voice growing softer. “Actually I don’t want this either. But the Elders said only I can give Wilson a pure-blood heir. I can’t just watch him be punished by the Elders.” As she spoke she took a jewelry box from her bag. Inside was a moonstone ring. It was the first gift Wilson had ever given me. Five years ago, to find this piece of moonstone for me, he had searched every mining area in the pack alone. Later he had personally slipped the ring onto my finger and said it was his gift to his future Luna. Now it was in Vivian’s hands. “Wilson said this ring is very important to you,” she bit her lip. “I want to return it to you.” I reached for it, but she suddenly let go. The ring fell into the muddy water by the lake. “Ah!” She cried out and hurriedly crouched to pick it up, her skirt already stained with mud. “I’m sorry, Lily, I didn’t mean to!” I looked at her. “Do you think I’ll believe that?” Vivian froze for a moment, then tears immediately welled up. “I only wanted to help you put your things away properly. Why do you have to be so fierce to me?” Her voice was not loud, yet just loud enough for the people not far away to hear. “I know you don’t like me, but you still can’t treat me like this…” “What happened?” Wilson’s voice came from behind. I turned and saw him striding over. Xavier and Victor followed behind him. Vivian seemed to have finally found someone to lean on; tears fell in streams. “Wilson, I only wanted to return the ring to Lily. I didn’t expect her to get angry. I…” Before she finished, Wilson had already helped her up. “Don’t cry.” He took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, then turned to look at me. “Lily, you know she has only just returned and still can’t adapt to life here. Why must you make things difficult for her?” I pointed at the ring in the mud. “You can ask her who threw it down there.” Wilson glanced down and frowned. Vivian quickly explained, “I didn’t hold it steady, it’s all my fault. Lily didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t blame her.” The more she spoke this way, the more complicated the look in Wilson’s eyes became when he looked at me. In the end he sighed. “Forget it, Lily. I know you’ve been in a bad mood lately. Once you reach the north, rest properly for a while. Don’t keep holding things against her.” Again. Every time he knew I had been wronged. And every time he made me yield. Xavier crouched down, picked the ring out of the muddy water, carefully wiped it with a handkerchief, and then handed it to Vivian. “You too—how can you be so careless?” Victor took off his own coat and draped it over Vivian. “The wind is strong here. Don’t catch a cold. Come on, we’ll take you back.” Vivian glanced at me and asked timidly, “What about Lily?” “She can go back by herself,” Xavier answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I stood where I was and watched the four of them turn and leave. Wilson walked a few steps, then stopped. “Lily.” He looked back at me, guilt in his eyes. “In three more days you’ll be leaving. Don’t let these days be unpleasant, all right?” I nodded. “All right.” He seemed relieved and caught up with Vivian. I looked down at the time. Three days left until I left the Blood Moon Pack. Back at the estate I packed every gift Wilson had ever given me into boxes and handed them all to the housekeeper. “Dispose of all these things.” The housekeeper froze. “Luna, these were all prepared for you personally by the Alpha…” “I know.” I turned and closed the door. In three days they would hold a funeral for Lily Voss. And this time, I would not look back. Chapter 4 Only four hours remained until my “death.” The Blood Moon Pack’s welcome banquet had already begun. The hall was brightly lit; people raised their glasses and chatted, celebrating Vivian’s return. And I, the Luna about to be erased, still wore the evening gown Wilson had personally chosen and sat beside him. “Lily, today is Vivian’s stage. Later you should go back and rest first.” Wilson smoothed a strand of hair by my temple, his voice gentle. “There are too many people today. I’m afraid you’ll feel unwell.” Xavier pressed the fake-death potion into my palm and gave me a look. Before I could speak, Vivian approached carrying a wine glass. She wore a long silver-white dress, a moonstone brooch pinned to her chest. It was the token only successive Lunas of the Blood Moon Pack were allowed to wear. Three years ago Wilson had personally pinned it to my gown. He had said that even if the Elders refused to acknowledge my bloodline, I was still his only Luna. Now he had ordered it given to Vivian. “Lily, you won’t mind, will you?” Vivian touched the brooch and smiled a little shyly. “The Elders said that for today’s banquet I must wear it. After all, I am the most suitable person for this position.” I looked at Wilson. He avoided my gaze. “It’s only temporarily lent to her. After all, you’re about to…” He lowered his voice. After all, I was about to “die.” I nodded and did not argue. After the banquet began, the Elders arranged a mate toasting ceremony. According to custom, the current Luna should raise a glass with the Alpha and receive the blessings of all the pack members. But as soon as the Elder announced the start of the ceremony, Vivian suddenly pressed a hand to her chest, her face pale. “Wilson, I feel a little unwell…” Wilson immediately set down his glass and supported her. “What’s wrong?” “I’m just a little afraid,” Vivian bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. “What if I can’t give the pack an heir?” The Elders immediately surrounded them. “Miss Vivian must not come to any harm!” “She is the future hope of the Blood Moon Pack!” Wilson gripped her hand tightly and turned to me. “Lily, complete the toasting ceremony for me first. I’ll take her to rest.” I looked at him. “Today is the last time I will appear at a banquet as Luna.” His movement paused for a moment. But in the end he still supported Vivian and left. I stood alone on the raised platform and raised my glass. No one below offered me any blessing. Every gaze followed the two departing figures. I was pregnant and could not drink, so I set the glass down and walked toward the side door. There was almost no time left before my departure. I had to reach the private pier before the planned explosion. But just as I reached the end of the corridor, a tremendous boom suddenly came from behind. The glass of the banquet hall shattered instantly; flames swallowed half the wall. People screamed and scattered in all directions. Immediately afterward a second small bomb exploded in the center of the hall. The heat wave slammed into me and knocked me to the ground. “Vivian!” Wilson’s voice rang through the entire hall. He did not even have time to see what had happened before he shielded Vivian tightly in his arms, using his own body to block the flying debris. Xavier and Victor also rushed over. “Get Vivian out first!” Wilson lifted her and ordered urgently. Only then did someone remember that I was still in the hall. A doctor responsible for medical support at the banquet rushed over, scanned the area, and suddenly changed expression. “Where is Lily?” No one answered. The doctor seized Wilson’s arm. “Alpha! Isn’t Lily pregnant? She’s still inside! Hurry and save her!” Wilson’s face turned deathly pale in an instant. “What did you say?” “She came to see me a few days ago. Pregnancy has already been confirmed! She cannot stay in a fire scene!” Wilson seemed nailed to the spot by those words. The next second he handed Vivian to Xavier and turned to charge into the thick smoke. “Lily!” I braced myself against the wall and stood. Another explosion sounded behind me. Flames raced along the decorative cloth; a burning beam crashed down, sealing the corridor exit. Wilson finally saw me. Through the rolling black smoke our eyes met. His pupils contracted sharply. He charged toward me like a madman. “Lily, don’t move!” I did not answer. Just as he was about to grasp my hand, the third explosion suddenly erupted. The roar shook the entire building. Flames swallowed the whole corridor; the heat wave flung me toward the broken railing. Wilson’s outstretched hand caught only my fingertips. The next second my hand slipped from his palm. “Lily! No!!!!!!”