Pressure

Silently, Morgan stared at Elder Roderick, his words ringing in her ears. They were cornering her, using this ridiculous demand for an heir as a way to pin the blame for any future conflict squarely on her shoulders. If she refused, they’d have the perfect excuse to claim she wasn’t committed to the alliance—and maybe even stir up trouble that could lead to war.

She glanced at Alex again, feeling the tension between them, but this time, her expression softened slightly. There was no way she was going to let these elders manipulate her like this. If they wanted to play dirty, fine—she could play along.

Taking a deep breath, Morgan straightened her posture and let out a small, almost amused chuckle. The sudden change in her demeanor caught the elders off guard. "You know what?" she said, her tone light and breezy. "You’re absolutely right, Elder Roderick. An heir would be the perfect way to solidify this alliance. Why didn’t I think of it sooner?"

The room fell silent as the elders blinked at her in surprise. Elder Roderick’s skeptical expression faltered for a moment. "You… agree, Luna Morgan?" he asked, clearly taken aback.

Forcing a smile, Morgan nodded enthusiastically, leaning forward as if sharing a secret. "Of course! It makes perfect sense. An heir would show just how serious Alex and I are about this alliance." She turned to Alex, who was watching her with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Don’t you think, Alex? An heir would be the ultimate symbol of our unity."

When she glance his way, Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly as he caught on to what she was doing. He tilted his head in agreement, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I couldn’t agree more, Morgan," he replied smoothly. "It’s a brilliant idea."

The elders exchanged bewildered glances, clearly not expecting this sudden shift in tone. "Well… I’m glad to see you both understand the importance of this," Elder Roderick stammered, still trying to process what had just happened.

"Oh, we do," Morgan assured him with a warm smile. "And you’re absolutely right—nothing should get in the way of ensuring the future of our packs. So, consider it done." She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs casually. "We’ll start working on that heir as soon as possible."

"Very well," he said slowly. "We’re glad to hear that you’re committed to this course of action."

Not breaking eye contact with him, Morgan’s smile never wavered. "Of course, Elder Roderick. After all, we wouldn’t want to leave anything to chance, would we?"

The elders exchanged looks, then nodded in agreement. For a brief moment, Morgan thought the meeting was finally over, but Elder Roderick wasn’t done.

"One more thing," he said, his voice too casual for Morgan’s liking. "Given the importance of this endeavor, the council has decided to take extra measures to ensure its success."

Immediately, Morgan's brows furrowed as her heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean by ‘extra measures’?"

Resting back in his seat, Elder Roderick’s expression was unreadable, but the words that followed sent a chill down her spine. "We’ve decided that some of us will remain outside your quarters tonight, to, ah... ensure everything goes as planned."

As the words settled in her mind, Morgan’s blood ran cold. Did they seriously just suggest that? Beside her, Alex stiffened, his anger barely contained.

"Wait, let me get this straight," Morgan said, keeping her tone even, though the fury was bubbling just beneath the surface. "You’re saying that you’ll stand outside our room, listening, while we... attempt to conceive?"

With a small smile, Elder Roderick nodded. "Precisely. It’s tradition, Luna Morgan. A way to guarantee that the moon goddess’s will is carried out. And every week, on the same night, we’ll continue the ritual until the task is complete."

Biting back her words, Morgan could hardly believe her ears. She felt Alex tense beside her. She had to think fast, had to find a way to turn this to their advantage without losing their credibility—or their dignity.

A small, dry laugh escaped her lips as Morgan shook her head, "I suppose that’s one way to ensure success," she said, her tone light and airy, masking the disgust roiling inside her. "But surely, we can all agree that such a method is... intrusive."

The was a brief pause as she glared at him, and then Elder Roderick raised an eyebrow. "Intrusive, perhaps. But necessary."

Not wanting to give in to her anger, Morgan’s smile was tight, her mind racing. "I understand your concern, Elder Roderick, truly. But if you’re worried about our commitment, I assure you, we’re more than capable of fulfilling our duties without an audience. After all, a bond is built on trust, not pressure."

The other elders murmured amongst themselves, clearly taken aback by her cool demeanor. Elder Roderick seemed less convinced but was forced to consider her words.

Finally, Alex spoke, his voice low and controlled. "You’ve put us in a difficult position, Elder Roderick. We’re willing to work with you, but we draw the line at having our privacy invaded. We’ll handle this our way, and we’ll keep you informed of any developments. But if you push too hard, you risk breaking the very alliance you’re trying to protect."

As the slence settled in the room, Morgan kept her cool, but inside, she was a storm of emotions. The elders' audacity was pushing her to the edge, but she knew she couldn’t afford to snap. This was about more than just her and Alex—it was about her pack’s future. And if she lost control, she’d lose everything.

After a long pause, Elder Roderick turned his gaze to Alex, his expression firm. "Alpha Alex, of all people, you should understand the necessity of this. The pack is uneasy, having someone who was once an enemy suddenly ruling them as their Luna. It’s a delicate situation, and the pack needs reassurance. If the elders can vouch for the legitimacy of your union, it will go a long way in easing their fears."

Still fighting against her anger, Morgan glanced at Alex, waiting for him to push back. Surely, he wouldn’t stand for this. But instead of the defiance she expected, she saw something else—calculation. He was weighing his options, and the realization made her stomach drop.

All eyes were now on him, and Alex’s jaw tightened before he gave a curt nod. "I understand the concerns of the pack, Elder Roderick. Their trust is paramount. If having the elders vouch for us will help solidify the alliance, then we’ll comply with your request."

Snapping her head, Morgan’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Alex, you can’t be serious," she whispered, her voice laced with frustration. But before she could say more, he turned to her, his expression darkening.

"Enough, Morgan," he said, his voice low and commanding. "My decision is final."

The air between them crackled with tension, and Morgan felt a mix of anger and betrayal rise within her. She opened her mouth to argue, to tell him exactly what she thought about his so-called final decision, but the look in his eyes stopped her cold. He was invoking his dominance, a reminder of his position as Alpha, and she knew pushing back now would only make things worse.

She clenched her fists, biting back the words that threatened to spill out. She had to play along, for now. It was the only way to protect her pack, even if it meant swallowing her pride and going along with this absurd demand.

Taking one look at the rage burning in her eyes, Elder Roderick nodded a faint smirk creeping on his lips as his lips. "Good. Then it’s settled. The elders will remain outside your quarters tonight to ensure the union begins on the right path. The pack’s faith in this alliance will be restored, and peace will follow."