"The pup I carry is the Heir's flesh and blood. I am alone in this world. I need no title for myself, but the baby in my womb is the Heir's only child. He cannot go unrecognized."
"My Luna has been mated to the Heir for years without bearing a pup. Surely you would not stand by and watch the Shadowmere bloodline die out? I beg you, show mercy."
"The pack healer said I'm carrying a boy. If I'm allowed into the pack, once the pup is born, he can be registered under your name. He'll call you Mother."
"I want nothing for myself. But as a mother, I have to fight for my child."
"The Heir's mate has never borne a pup, so naturally she wouldn't understand a mother's heart."
I watched the tears stream down her face, but there it was, that faint glint of triumph in her eyes. How quaint. These little tricks.
"If you truly wanted nothing, why make such a spectacle of stopping my carriage in the middle of the road?"
"If you wanted a title, you could have come to the estate and discussed it properly. There are ways. So why drag this out for the whole pack to see?"
"You're using that pup in your belly as leverage to force me into letting you through those gates. Isn't that right?"