The Blood Moon Pack

Kora woke up late in the afternoon, the sun was so hot that she wondered if summer was approaching rather than winter. But even at that, she didn’t feel like leaving the bed. Having slept late, because of what Gaia had revealed to her, she just wanted to sleep.

She didn’t want to think about it anymore because she was torn and indecisive. When she returned to the Shadow Moon Pack, she would speak to her about it and they would know what to do after that. She fell back onto the bed, shut her eyes, and slept again but the knock on the door made them snap open again and she grumbled.

"Kora, I know you are awake, open the door for me," Dana’s voice was heard and Kora sighed.

All she wanted was to sleep and be away from everyone, was that too much to ask even here in the Blood Moon Pack?

She stood up, walked over to open the door, and returned to the bed without even waiting for it to be fully opened.

"I can feel your irritation even behind a closed door, what is it?" Dana asked. She walked inside with a bowl of soup which she placed on the table not so far away from the bed. "You know you can always go talk to me right?" she said when Kora remained silent. "You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to," she sat beside Kora on the bed and gently squeezed her hand.

"I am confused... I don’t know what to do," Kora said in a soft tone, almost like a whisper.

Dana needed a minute to process what she just heard but she still couldn’t understand it. "Why don’t you tell me what it is, I might be able to help." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

She knew that Kora had not been alright since she returned to the pack after meeting with Dmitri. She was going to assume that the vampire did something to her but Lazarus had assured her that he did nothing to harm her so what else could it be that was disturbing her mind?

"A lot is happening and I don’t know what to do. What if I fail and don’t meet anyone’s expectations?" she said and Dana pulled her in for a hug.

"You don’t need to meet anyone’s expectations, Kora, all you have to do is your best, that would be more than enough. Whoever can’t see that you are trying, does not deserve your time," Dana said, caressing her back and running her fingers through her hair.

She knew how hard it was being a Luna, taking all those responsibilities and acting like everything was alright even when everything was in chaos or a total mess. You have to give up your pain and attend to that of others because they all look up to you. It was demanding and it could break anyone who was not strong enough. And when you break, they will count weak, unworthy, and unfit to be their Luna.

Kora was still so young yet she had to shoulder such huge responsibility. It was no wonder she was like this.

"Gaia told me that I am pregnant," she stopped the news and Dana froze, unable to react to the revelation.

Kora waited to hear what she would say but no words were heard even the fingers brushing through her hair were not moving and she became tensed and for the first time, she felt she had disappointed Dana.

"I..." She didn’t know what to say to her right now but just when she was about to pull out of the embrace, Dana held her tighter, finally able to process the information.

"Whatever you choose, I will be here for you, to support you," she said and Kora wrapped her hands around her too.

"I don’t know what to do," she said, sobbing.

"Does your mate know about this?" Dana asked because she wouldn’t advise Kora to take any decision without informing him first. Although they would support whatever Kora chooses no matter what it is.

Kora shook her head, "No," she said.

"You should tell him first, then decide what you want to do," Dana advised.

Things just got more complicated. With the approaching war between them and the humans which she and every nonhuman out there knew was unavoidable, Kora’s pregnancy could prove problematic and would be endangered, thereby harming both Kora and the baby.

Cupping her face, Dana said, "Whatever it is that you decide, Lazarus and I will always support you," she planted a kiss on her forehead and wiped the tears that stained her cheeks. "Don’t be afraid, we are here for you,"

Kora nodded and used the back of her hand to wipe off the remains of her tears. "Okay," she said and Dana smiled. "I’ll tell him first,"

As if they were being heard, Kora’s phone rang and it was a call from Darren. She glanced at it and then at Dana who gave her a nod and stood up.

"Make sure to eat something okay?" she said pointing at the soup on the table. Kora nodded and she smiled at her before leaving.

Kora needed some space. Whatever she would say to her mate should be between them. Another presence in there would make her feel nervous.

*****

Darren arrived at the Blood Moon Pack a few hours after his call with Kora. His arrival there surprised the pack members because it was just the previous day that they had seen him and now he had come again.

Even Emily was surprised to see her alpha there. Kora hadn’t said anything to her or anyone about his coming. The only person who didn’t look surprised was Dana. She had expected this to be the outcome of the call that he and Kora had.

"Welcome back!" She said and smiled.

Darren turned nervous when she said that to him. Something told him that she already knew why he was here again. He grew more nervous though it didn’t show in his expression, there was a flicker of emotions in his eyes.