Serving bonds after bullied by my family and mate

When I was seven moons pregnant with my first pup, my sister Quinn Whitmore got mauled by a Dark Moon Wolf during a hunting run. The pack healer said only my "Lunar Blessing Blood" could save her-turns out, my wolf lineage carried a rare gene. But I was drowning in morning sickness that left me puking wolfsbane tea, too weak to stand, my belly swollen like a full moon but my wolf core flickering dim.

My family didn't give a damn. They dragged me to the Lifeblood Altar, my swollen stomach bumping against stone steps. I howled for my mate, Harrison Sinclair, but he just stood there, s brows knitted.

"You're a strong she-wolf, Savannah. A little blood won't kill you. Quinn's different-she's marked by the Moon Goddess. We can't let the pack's future seer die."

After the transfusion, my vision went black.

"Savannah, you're really gonna abort the pup? You know Harrison's wolf core is damaged-this might be his only shot at siring an heir. Once the Moon Goddess' blessing is gone, it's gone for good!"

The pack healer shoved Harrison's cracked moonstone medical amulet in my face. "Your pregnancy's a miracle-. Are you sure-"

"I'm sure." My voice didn't waver. If no one else cared about this pup, why risk my life to bring it into a world where Harrison's "sister" was his real mate?

I howled for the abortion witch and limped back to Harrison's villa. He stepped out of the kitchen. One glance at my pale face and trembling hands.

"There's venison soup in the cauldron. Drink it-you lost too much Lunar Blood today."

I blurted, "Where are you going?"

Harrison's face contorted.

"To the Moonlight Infirmary-where else? Quinn's blood is still thinning; she needs someone to guard her gland."

He shot me a look of disgus.

"All you had to do was donate a vial of your Blood, and you turned it into a pack-wide drama. I thought you wolves were taught to value bonds-guess your heart's as cold as the Winter Howl."

I bit my lip until it bled.

"Heartless? Me?" I snarled, my wolf core throbbing. "Who am I saving this Lunar Blood for, Harrison? If I wasn't carrying your pup, d'you think I'd refuse?"

The word "pup" set him off

He lunged forward, reeking of rank disgust.

"Still using the pup as an excuse? It's just a vial of Lunar Blood, Savannah-not your life! You think you're too precious to spare it? You really believe the pup's at risk?"

I gaped at my mate, voice trembling.

"Do you even know I haven't kept down a single potion in six moons? Or why I passed out in that Lifeblood Altar?"

A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes, but it was gone in a second, swallowed by anger. He grabbed my chin so hard it hurt, his fingers digging in.

"Oh, so pregnancy's got you acting up? If you hadn't insisted I drive you to those baby checkups, Quinn wouldn't have been in that crash! This is all your fault!"

My chin throbbed, already bruising.

That's when it hit me-he blamed me for everything.

In his eyes, I owed Quinn something.

But I was his mate, carrying his pup, and he'd rather take Quinn shopping than go with me to a healer's appointment.

I let out a bitter laugh, which only made him madder. He saw it as a challenge. His hand flew up, and before I knew it, he'd slapped me across the face, his expression dripping with contempt.

"You put Quinn in the hospital, and you've got the nerve to laugh? I didn't realize you were this vicious, Savannah. You make me sick."

With that, he stormed out of the villa.

I stood there, slowly raising a hand to wipe the blood trickling from my split lip. It didn't matter. Soon enough, he'd know what a broken heart felt like.

After Harrison left, the villa went dead silent. I waited from sunup to moonset, but he never returned. My empty stomach growled-even my wolf core felt hollow. Dragging my weak body to the rune-kitchen, I popped open the obsidian pressure cooker.

Big shock: only moonflower chicken soup left, with scrawny necks and bony bits. The good stuff? Gone. Harrison must've taken the moonstone-marbled breast meat to Quinn.

I stood there, then laughed hollowly. What did I expect?

I boiled a bowl of plain moonroot noodles in enchanted water. Just as I sat down, Harrison strode in. His eyes landed on my meager meal, and his brows furrowed. "You're carrying a pup, and this is what you eat? Moonroot has no Lunar energy!"

He ushered me to the obsidian dining table, pulling out a chair.

I gave him a wary look but sat, forcing down a few bites before pushing the bowl away.

"Not everyone has the luxury of someone cooking moonstone - infused meals," I said icily. "So I make do."

Harrison's face reddened.

"If you hadn't pushed my buttons earlier, I'd have taken care of you. And I left you moonflower chicken soup! You're pregnant-stop being so fussy. It's good for the pup."

His words made my wolf core ache.

"Stop!" I snapped. "The smell of moonflower makes me gag. How can I eat that?"

Harrison froze, looking sheepish. "I... forgot. I was with Quinn. She craved moonflower soup, and she's the one recovering." His tone turned accusatory. "You're not an invalid. It was just a vial of Lunar Blood. Stop acting like you're on the verge of passing out!"

His words slammed into my wolf core.

Quinn. Always Quinn.

Even with our pup growing inside me, I'd never be a match for her in Harrison's eyes.

It brought back memories of our bonding ceremony.

My family had constantly belittled me, saying I wasn't worthy of Harrison.

They claimed Quinn, with her Lunar - blessed scent, was his true mate.

They'd arranged secret meetings between them, using my name to draw Harrison out.

At first, he'd laughingly told me about it, but as time passed, he stopped mentioning Quinn's invitations. Now I knew-his resolve to stay true to me had crumbled long ago, replaced by the allure of Quinn's scent.

He noticed my silence and his tone turned softer.

"Okay, Luna, I get it. Carrying a pup and giving Lunar Blood-it's rough. Let me feed you some moonroot noodles."

He twirled the fork, holding the noodles out like he was trying to make amends.

That's when I caught it-the faint scent clinging to his sleeve.

Quinn's. My wolf core recoiled, and I dashed to the bathroom, emptying the meager contents of my stomach right into the obsidian sink.

When I finally stood up, I saw my reflection-pale, drained.

Harrison hovered behind me, looking flustered as he reached for my arm.

"Luna, are you alright? Should we call the pack healer?"

I wrenched my arm away. "Don't touch me."

His expression darkened in an instant.

As I stumbled back to the bedroom, his annoyed mutter followed me.

"So damn ungrateful. I try to be nice, and you act like I'm the enemy."