Elara

Ever since I started cooking for myself, Dominic has been making me work from home. Full time. Like I’m going to go into labor if I walk to the kitchen.

After dinner, I wandered out onto the balcony to get some air. The moon was rising over the city skyline. The streets below were quiet. I pulled out my phone and called Hannah.

I’m dying, Hannah." I flopped onto the patio chair. "I’m so bored I could shift and run through the forest just to feel something."

Hannah laughed. She was probably still at the training grounds, wiping sweat off her face. "You’re what, eight weeks? That’s nothing. Wait until you’re waddling around at five months."

"Don’t remind me." I stared up at the sky. "Dominic won’t let me do anything. I can’t go to the office. I’m losing my mind."

"Okay, so funny you should say that." Her voice shifted. "I picked up a side gig recently. Security for a TV show. You might be interested."

I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of show?"

"There’s this new reality show. Live stream format. They follow pregnant women from well-off families through their whole pregnancy. The whole pitch is that pregnancy doesn’t have to be miserable. Showing that she-wolves can still live their lives while carrying a pup."

She paused. "They’re only casting high profile mates. Pack Lunas, Alpha wives, that kind of thing. You’d be perfect for it."

"And Vincent is funding it. You know him. He’s solid. No shady editing, no drama baiting. And with Dominic being Alpha King, no one’s stupid enough to mess with you online."

I sat up straighter. "Wait. Vincent is backing this?"

"Yeah. I’m on the security team. I’ve met the producers. It’s legit."

I thought about it. I’d met Vincent a few times. He was a good guy. Trustworthy. If he was backing the show, the production would be quality.

"That’s kind of weird though," I said. "Strangers watching me eat breakfast?"

"Fair." Hannah didn’t push. "But the pay is ridiculous. Eight episodes. They only film twice a week to keep it low stress. Whole thing wraps in two months. Two hundred thousand per episode."

"Two hundred thousand?" I sat up. "Dollars?"

"What else would it be?"

I did the math in my head. One point six million dollars for eating, sleeping, and being pregnant on camera. That was stupid money. Even for a Luna.

"I’m in," I said immediately. "Where do I sign?"

Hannah snorted. "Didn’t you just say it was too weird?"

"You’re on the security team, right? So I have someone watching my back. And Vincent’s running it. What’s there to be scared of?" I grinned. "Besides, I have a pup to think about now. Gotta start saving up."

Hannah laughed. "Elara. Maybe run this by your mate first."

Oh. Right. Dominic.

I totally forgot about him.

--

That night, I put on my purple silk nightgown. The short one. The one that hits mid-thigh and dips low in the front.

I waited in the bedroom while Dominic finished his pack meeting in the study.

When he walked through the door, his eyes found me immediately.

His gaze dragged down my body. Slow. Deliberate.

"You’re still awake." His voice was low. Rough.

I smiled and looked up at him. "I was waiting for you."

"Come here." I patted the bed. "Lie down."

Dominic didn’t move. He stood there, jaw tight, hands curling into fists at his sides.

"The pack doctor said no intimacy during the first trimester." His voice was strained. Like every word hurt. "I’m not risking the pup."

I slid off the bed and walked over to him. "You don’t have to do anything. Just let me hold you."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and settled onto his lap.

Dominic went completely still. His hands hovered at my waist. His breath came out hot against my skin.

His whole body was tense. Like he was about to snap.

"Elara." His voice was rough. Almost pained. "We can’t."

"I want to join a reality show," I said. "Vincent is funding it. Hannah is on the production team. Eight episodes. By the time it wraps, I’ll be past the morning sickness phase. Then I can go back to the office."

I leaned in closer. My lips brushed against his ear. "You can grant me this one tiny thing, can’t you?"

Dominic exhaled sharply. His grip on my waist tightened.

For a second, I thought he was going to lose control. His fingers dug into my hips. His breathing went shallow.

Then he blinked. Pulled himself together.

"Wait. Vincent’s show?" He sounded almost offended. "That’s what you want?"

I nodded innocently.

He let out a long breath and shook his head. "A reality show. Absolutely not. The internet is full of rogues. What if they start coming after you?"

"They won’t," I said quickly. "Vincent is a good guy. You trust him. And Hannah is on set. If anyone posts something bad, you can just pull me out. Easy."

I pressed closer. "And you can have your own people on set. Security detail. Camera checks. You control the narrative. No one posts anything without your approval."

Dominic was quiet for a moment. His jaw worked like he was thinking it over.

Then I saw something shift in his expression.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"Actually," he said, "that could work."

I raised an eyebrow.

He leaned back against the headboard, arms crossed. "A nationally broadcast reality show. Millions of viewers. That’s a pretty good chance to show the whole country how much I love my Luna."

I stared at him. "That’s what you’re thinking about?"

"Fine," he said. "You can do it. But the second there’s any negative press, you’re out. Non-negotiable."

I grinned and kissed his cheek. "Deal."