Chapter 54

Amelie

When I came back, the servers passed out champion and sparkling cider, prepping for Gideon's toast. I make my way to Gideon's side. A server came past and brought me some sparkling cider and Gideon champion. The room dimes a bit more, and there is a spotlight on Gideon and me.

"I would like to thank you all for coming and helping us celebrate this momentous occasion. I was lucky enough to be blessed by the goddess in many ways, but the biggest blessing has come in the form of my second-chance-mate, Amelie Ashwood. As all of you know, she is the eldest daughter of the Ashwood Pack and the Black Hills Pack and sister of the Hill Country Pack. The greatest blessing of all is our soon-to-be explaining family. Please raise your glasses in a toast to my Luna, mate, and mother of my children." Everyone claps and cheers while toasting.

Gideon and I raise our glasses to each other and take a drink. As soon as I smell the cider, I pull the fluted glass away. Something is off. I scented Blue Cohosh in my glass. It's concentrated and singing through since I had been on high alert all night. Blue Cohosh was used to induce labor when at full term. If the dose was this high, it could cause a miscarriage. I quickly put my glass down and rushed over to the group of pregnant wolves I was speaking to earlier. I grab a tray and promptly gather their glasses.

"Ladies, let me get those out of the way." As I take them, I smell for the foul-smelling herb. I am surprised and happy that I don't smell it.

"We need to leave and gather the family." I bond-link Gideon, who was standing watching me on high alert. I know Inari link Ulv right away, and Gideon fought him for control. He knew someone tried to harm his mate and son. He would kill all none-family in this room in a heartbeat if it meant to keep the baby and me safe.

I pass the tray to a server and grab Gideon. I snag Shay as we are heading for the door. "Gather the family and come back to the family wing. Don't be abrupt or call attrition."

"Yes, Luna." Shay knew well enough discretion was needed. She was a Druit Guard.

Once we are out of the ballroom and in our wing, Gideon turns to me, "who tried to poison you!"

"I don't know, but thankfully I didn't drink it, and none of the other pregnant Luna's drinks were spiked." At least we avoided that conflict.

"What did they give you?"

"It's called Blue Cohosh. It's a native herb that grows wild. The flowers can induce labor if brewed into tea. I was dosed with a high concentration of it. I would have miscarried a few hours from now if I had drunk it." Gideon pulls me close to him.

"We need to look into herbalist. Which packs have them, and who would want to kill our child." Gideon was going to investigate this to the fullest.

As we are talking, our family comes into view. Hope rushes over to me. "Am, what happened? Why did you leave so suddenly? What's going on." There was so much panic and worry in her voice.

"Everyone. Someone tried to poison me and force a miscarriage." Celeste quickly stands up.

"What did you say?" I see the fear and disbelief run across her face.

"Celeste, what's wrong," I ask as she sinks into my father's arms.

"Was is Blue Cohosh?" I see tears fill her eyes.

"It was, but I smelt it before I drank any." Celeste is sobbing at my comment.

"Am, honey, that's why I lost all those pups. I was being drugged. You caught it before it happened to your brother. Remember you were 12 at the time." I gasp.

"I don't remember the herb; I remember the incident. Do you think it's the same pack targeting me now?" I look to dad.

"This heir is going to be extremely influential. Look at all its relatives in this room right now. Then think about the extended family we are connected to. This child is more like royalty than just an Alpha. I think I have a theory. It seems the perpetrator is only after killing off the male heir, meaning he was trying to use his heir to mate an Alpha female and take over that pack as well. We all know that if an Alpha doesn't have an heir that either the next in bloodline takes over or the Alpha's daughter's mate takes over." It was a sneaky way to take over a pack, but it would be the least conspicuous.

"But dad, who has two sons that are either close in age to Hope and me but also the twins? The age gap is too wide." I think it's a little shaky.

"What if it's a son and grandson?" Ok, now I was back on board.

"Alpha John, I will need all the details of Luna's Celeste case." Dad nods to Gideon.

"It was 18 years ago, but I know Lucas, and I remember all the details." He looks over and Uncle Lucas, and they nod in agreement.

"Whoever it must be did not do much research. If they did, they would know we trust in the mate bond from the goddess." I interject.

"Please do not take this the wrong way, but I think it may also have something to do with Tate and Karen." Gideon's words floor me and everyone else. They are all leaning in to hear what comes next.

"I don't know how but I think Tate somehow tricked you into thinking he was your mate. I think whoever did this was testing to see if a mate bond could be faked. If they could fake a mate bond with an Alpha daughter, then another pack heir could do the same to your sister and our twins." My jaw was on the floor.

"That still doesn't get us closer to who or how they did it. This is a long-drawn-out plan. Who would be working in the shadows all this time." Dad said.

"It's late. I think we need to talk about this more tomorrow. I am fine. The baby is fine. We should all get some rest." I wanted to solve this riddle, but I was so tired. Pregnancy drained my energy, and it had been a very long day.

"I think that's a good idea, dear." Mom said, tugging on Logan and Riley to go upstairs. We all soon follow. They were all on our floor, so we said our goodnights at their doors. We went into the playroom and picked up the girls, the Betas and Gammas doing the same. We carried the girls to their bed, putting them in Daisy's bed together.

We quickly make our way to our room, and as soon as the door closes, Gideon pulls me into him. I am smothered in his chest. I can feel he is shaking, and I can feel panic and fear coming from him.

"Hey, I'm fine. The baby's fine too." He's still shaking, but it's starting to calm.

"I felt so helpless. If you had drunk the cider, you would have lost our pup. You would have been devastated, and there would be nothing I could do about it. I couldn't do anything to stop it or help you. I don't think I could handle losing you or the baby." Gideon is holding me so tight it's starting to hurt.

"You need to calm down. Look at me." I look up into his eyes, and I see them flashing back and forth from green to red. I speak to his wolf. "Ulv, Inari, and I are stronger than you think. Please calm down and give Gideon control right now. You are too upset." His eyes are red. He nods his head, and his eyes turn green again.

"Am, I'll find out who did this, and I will make them pay for everything they did to you and your family." I can fill his rage building again.

"I know you will. You are the best investigator there is. Now tonight, that brilliant brain and sexy body need to rest. This mama wolf can barely stand." With that, Gideon picks me up and carries me to the bathroom. He lets me down, and we get ready for bed. Once we are done, he picks me up and takes me out of the bathroom and to our bed. I let him have his protective moments. It helps him calm down.

We get under the covers, and I sink into his arms. This is still the safest I have ever felt in my life. I push my feelings of safety and love to Gideon. I hear his breathing and heartbeat slow, and I know he's asleep. I soon follow. Tomorrow would be a big day.