00:00The day my water broke was the new moon, the night our pack was weakest.
00:08And Samuel Mendez's pregnant first love stormed into our territory.
00:12She was seven months along, no wolf in her scent.
00:16I clenched my teeth through the contractions and stumbled to my husband, my alpha, my fated mate.
00:21He shoved me aside.
00:26His arms went around Isabel Ortiz.
00:28She pressed a hand to her belly.
00:30Blood streaked her skirt.
00:33Megan, I gave you the title of Luna.
00:35How can you make a scene over something like this?
00:37Warm fluid ran down my thighs.
00:39I clutched his pant leg, sank to my knees.
00:43I'm in labor.
00:45The pup.
00:46He kicked me aside.
00:47His eyes were ice.
00:48Her parents just died.
00:50This child may be her only chance.
00:51Hang on.
00:53I'll take her to the hospital and come back for you.
00:56He left.
00:57His alpha command hung in the air.
00:59Wait for him.
01:00Every wolf in this house felt it.
01:03My abdomen buckled.
01:05I collapsed onto the floor.
01:07Amniotic fluid spread beneath me.
01:12I raised my hand to Susan Zamora, the youngest Omega in our pack.
01:19Get me to a hospital.
01:22Luna, the alpha ordered us to wait for him.
01:26I can't.
01:28Another contraction hit.
01:31You can't?
01:32If something happens to me or the pup, the alpha will never forgive you.
01:37Take me to the hospital.
01:38Now.
01:39Susan ran for help at the door.
01:41She was stopped by Dylan Clark.
01:43Samuel's beta, his enforcer.
01:45Mr. Clark, the Luna is in labor.
01:48We need to get her to the hospital.
01:50Dylan glanced at the pooled fluid.
01:52His voice was flat.
01:56The alpha said to wait until he returns.
01:59The luna is overreacting.
02:01Help her into bed.
02:03If we wait any longer, the pup could be lost.
02:06Do you want that on your conscience?
02:08Dylan forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
02:11The alpha insisted you wait.
02:13You know the alpha command.
02:16Nobody dares to cross him.
02:17Nobody dares.
02:18I was the Luna Dot, but even I couldn't undo his words once spoken.
02:24I'm about to give birth.
02:26This pup can't wait.
02:29The contractions hit again.
02:30A silver blade twisting in my belly.
02:32I curled around the pain, cold sweat soaked through my clothes.
02:38Dylan barked.
02:39What are you standing there for?
02:41Get her to the bed!
02:42Two Omega maids grabbed my arms, dragged me toward the bedroom, then warm fluid trickled down at blood.
02:48Blood! I'm bleeding!
02:52I grabbed one of the maids like a madwoman.
02:54Take me to the hospital now! The pup will die!
02:58We can't decide that, Luna.
03:00I'll call the pack healer first.
03:02Susan pried my hand away.
03:05Guilt all over her face.
03:08No! Don't call the healer!
03:11Take me to the hospital!
03:12Luna, please don't get upset!
03:14I'll get Mr. Clark!
03:19Susan fled in a panic.
03:21The pain cut through me to the bone.
03:23The mattress soaked.
03:24Through dope blood and amniotic fluid clinging to my skin.
03:27Seconds crawled by.
03:29Through the mate bond, I felt Samuel somewhere far away.
03:32Warm, calm.
03:33He was with her, and I was bleeding on our bed alone.
03:38I dragged myself to the bedside, grabbed Miriam Stafford's sleeve.
03:41She was the head of Samuel's household staff.
03:46Miriam.
03:46Dillon, please.
03:50I can't hold on.
03:52Luna, hold on.
03:53I'll push them.
03:54She nodded.
03:55Worry all over her face.
03:56But Dillon stepped in and blocked her path.
03:59His gaze flicked to the blood-stained blanket.
04:01One heartbeat of hesitation, then indifference.
04:05Let the pacular check on her first.
04:07Caden Gilmore entered with his medical kit.
04:09Several maids pinned my struggling limbs down.
04:14I twisted and sighed.
04:16Let go of me to the hospital!
04:18You can't risk this pup!
04:20Caden examined me.
04:21His wolf was utterly still behind his eyes.
04:24He handed Miriam a few white pills.
04:26Give these to her.
04:27What is that?
04:28I won't take them.
04:29They are used to slow labor.
04:31The contractions will ease.
04:34No!
04:36That'll cut off my pup's air!
04:38I could smell it.
04:39The faint metallic ghost of silver in those pills.
04:44Dr. Gilmore.
04:47Your maid is about to give birth, too.
04:50If she were the one lying here, would you still give her silver?
04:54Caden remained expressionless.
04:56I turned to Dillon, choking between contractions.
05:03Dillon, if anything happens to me or the pup, it's on you.
05:08Samuel, we'll never let you off.
05:10Caden and Dillon exchanged looks.
05:12They had just agreed to take me to the hospital when Dillon's phone rang.
05:15It was Samuel.
05:18Dillon answered.
05:19His face hardened.
05:20The Alpha still says wait.
05:22No hospital until he returns.
05:25You know I can't defy the Alpha command.
05:27He shot Miriam a look.
05:28Two maids forced my shoulders down.
05:30They pried my mouth open.
05:32Miriam shoved the pills in.
05:33I gagged.
05:34IV Omed.
05:35But the pills slid down my throat.
05:37Silver-tainted powder burning all the way down.
05:40Silent tears streaked my face.
05:42I stared up at the ceiling.
05:43And then I laughed, bitter and wild.
05:46Remember today.
05:47If my pup dies, moon goddess be my witness.
05:52I'll drag you to hell with me!
05:54The Luna's unstable.
05:56Give her a sedative.
05:57Miriam, keep an eye on her.
05:59Dillon frowned.
05:59I stopped fighting.
06:01I let the thick needle slide into my arm.
06:03My wolf howled inside me.
06:05Muted.
06:06Drugged.
06:06Drowning.
06:07Samuel had chosen to protect the human's pup.
06:10While letting his own air teeter on death's edge.
06:12I had believed that if I were good enough, he would love me back.
06:16Now I knew.
06:17He didn't.
06:19I placed my hand on the hollow rise of my belly.
06:22The sheets were soaked through.
06:23I closed my eyes.
06:26Samuel.
06:27If anything happens to my pup, I will never forgive you.
06:32The pills began to work.
06:34The contractions eased a little.
06:35But the blood kept gushing out beneath me.
06:38Through the haze, I heard Miriam calling.
06:40Alpha!
06:41A flicker of hope lit up in my chest.
06:43He had softened.
06:44He still cared about me.
06:46About our pup.
06:48I clawed at what was left of my strength.
06:50Samuel.
06:51Please tell them to take me to the hospital.
06:54My pup can't survive like this.
06:56Miriam hit the speakerphone.
06:58But instead of his voice, a soft, smug female voice floated out.
07:02A human.
07:04Maggie.
07:05Hang in there.
07:06Sammy is with me right now.
07:08He can't be there for you.
07:09She paused.
07:10Take good care of her.
07:13Make sure she behaves, just like Sammy said.
07:19Isabelle, let me speak to Samuel.
07:22May I have read it?
07:22Before I could finish, a hand clamped hard over my mouth.
07:25Miriam's tone turned syrupy.
07:27Don't worry, Mrs. Ortiz.
07:30She's already taken the medication.
07:32We'll follow the Alpha's instructions.
07:35To the letter.
07:36Good.
07:36Isabel's voice dripped with triumph.
07:40If she's still in pain, I know a way to stop the corrections.
07:44Hold the pup in until Sammy gets back.
07:50What way?
07:52Miriam's voice was nervous.
07:53I held my breath.
07:55Eyes locked on the phone.
07:57Hang her upside down.
07:58Head down.
07:59Beat up.
08:00In five minutes, the pup will pull back.
08:03Then tie a rope tight around her belly.
08:05If it still doesn't work...
08:07She raised her voice.
08:08Sew her up if you have to.
08:11Whatever it takes.
08:13Just make sure you stall until Sammy gets back.
08:17I shook my head violently.
08:19Muffled cries broke from my throat.
08:21Miriam froze.
08:22Her face pale.
08:25Mrs. Ortiz, that's too much.
08:31Something could happen.
08:33How could it?
08:34Sammy is right here with me.
08:36It's his idea.
08:38He said she needs to be taught a lesson about jealousy.
08:40He told me to protect my pup at all costs.
08:43If you go soft and something happens to me,
08:46Sammy will never forgive you.
08:49I tore myself from the maze strip.
08:51Blood streaming down my legs.
08:53No!
08:55Samuel would never do this to me or our pups!
08:59You're lying, you vicious woman!
09:02Miriam, don't listen to her!
09:03Two maids slammed me back down.
09:05You're a mother too.
09:08You've wheeled pups.
09:10Can you really do this to mine?
09:13Tears blurred my vision as I stared at Miriam.
09:15Miriam trembled violently.
09:17Isabel pressed on.
09:19Her voice like ice.
09:21Sammy's about to divorce her.
09:25Think about what matters more.
09:27Then, the line went dead.
09:29After a brief, heavy silence, Miriam turned to the maids.
09:33Let her go.
09:34Relief flooded me.
09:36Miriam, hurry.
09:40Take me to the hospital.
09:42There's still time.
09:43But she turned her face away, refusing to meet my eyes.
09:46Bring the ropes.
09:49Terror clamped my chest.
09:53Miriam, what are you doing?
09:55You can't...
09:56She acted as if she hadn't heard me.
09:58The next second, two maids pinned me against the bed.
10:02This is for your own good, Luna.
10:04The rough rope dug into my wrists and ankles.
10:06Bring in the iron rack.
10:07Don't believe Isabella's lies!
10:10Samuel swore he would never hurt me!
10:13No one answered.
10:14The iron rack clanged into the room.
10:21They yanked me by the arms.
10:24A long smear of blood streaked across the floor.
10:27The pup inside me sensed the danger kicking and thrashing.
10:31Wildly against my belly, another wave of contractions tore through me.
10:34It was the new moon.
10:36I couldn't shift.
10:37I couldn't fight.
10:38Then they hoisted me upside down and hung me from the iron frame.
10:42My head roared as if it might split.
10:43The pup slammed violently against my...
10:46Womb, black spots swam across my vision.
10:48Tears ran down my forehead into my sticky hair.
10:51Samuel, please come back.
10:55Look at me.
10:57Are you really this cruel?
11:00Through the haze, I saw him walking toward me.
11:02Smiling like before.
11:04Kissing my forehead.
11:06Maggie, I'll protect you both.
11:08I'd give up everything.
11:11Even my life for you.
11:12I reached for him.
11:13Trembling, my hands caught nothing but air.
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