ATHENA
I stood there dumbfounded. Something in Ginny's eyes told me it was all a lie. She must have heard my conversation with my mother. The mocking smirk she was flashing back at me told me all I needed to know. She was lying.
"My sister has something to say as well," Ginny said as she withdrew from Enzo’s embrace.
“Go ahead sister. What is the big announcement,” Ginny drawled.
My throat went dry, and I swallowed to clear it. All eyes were on me now and I suddenly lacked the bravery to make the announcement. I looked at my mother, who gave me an encouraging nod.
I cleared my throat, not daring to look anyone in the eye. "I…am also pregnant." I blurted out.
Enzo immediately spitted out his wine and stared at me for a while. There was a little silence before he finally busted into laughter and everyone joined in the laughter.
For the first time in my life, I prayed that the earth would open up to swallow me. Enzo wasn’t laughing because of the announcement; he was laughing at me.
"How is that a big announcement?" He asked, through his laughter. "It is no big news that a concubine can be pregnant for an Alpha."
My heart sank into my stomach at his words. He was taking my pregnancy as though it doesn’t matter. He placed a hand over Ginny's childless stomach, looking lovingly at her. "My Luna has my heir growing in her womb."
I wanted nothing more than to scream and say she was faking it, that it was all a lie. But no matter how badly they might treat me, I had to keep my life. That meant keeping my mouth shut.
"You are not here to have babies, you are here to please your Alpha. If you start having babies and ruin your body, you will be nothing but the useless hag you were supposed to be." This was coming from the man I called my father.
I tried to drive back my raging emotions. My eyes stung badly with unshed tears, but I can’t let them see my tears. I have to be strong. I shamefully sat back on my seat.
"Aurora, tame your stupid daughter," My father turned his anger on my mother. "If she pulls this stunt again, you leave me no other option than to punish the both of you,” my father whispered to my mother to my hearing while he squeezed her lap hardly making her to wince in pain.
My mother nodded obediently, not daring to speak up. My father degrading her was not uncommon. But I would not be able to take it if he laid his hand on her again. My childhood flashed in my mind and I tried to fight the bile that rose in my throat.
"I’m sorry Father. It won’t happen again," I tried to pull his attention away from her to myself.
"Father," Ginny called while she walked towards us.
She came to me and wrapped her arm around my shoulder, pulling me close. “Please forgive her father, she was just too excited to break the news and I’m happy she did, at least the heir will have someone to play with,” she said out loud, rubbing her childless tummy.
The nobles at the table smiled at my Ginny’s kindness, but I knew well that it was just a game.
"Of course, my Luna. Anything you wish," my father replied, his voice had soft.
“Father, can I steal my sister for a bit?” Ginny asked, making me ponder on why she needed me.
“Of course, she’s all yours.”
Ginny grabbed my hand and led me out of the table, but she stopped short and suddenly clamped her tummy as though she was in agonizing pain and almost fell. I instinctively grabbed for her and stared at her confused.
"Ginny," I called out, still confused.
"Ginny!" Enzo screamed, running to her side and pushing me away from her. He took her in his arms and she instantly went limp.
"Get the healers!" He ordered, carrying her into his chambers. Away from the guests, who looked as confused as I was. My father and mother trailed behind Ginny and Enzo.
I looked down to see a trail of blood from where Ginny was standing, confused at what had just occurred, I staggered back to my seat, trying to take in the drama that just unfolded. Was she trying to pull a stunt? What is she up to? These questions whirled in my head.
I felt someone touch me from behind and I turned to see a dark eye looking back at me with a scared expression. It was Mira, Ginny’s hand maiden. “Please follow me,” she pleaded and I didn’t oblige since she was my half-sister’s hand maiden, maybe my attention was needed.
I trailed behind her until she made a stop at the hall way, away from the quest. “You need to leave,” she said quickly, her eyes making a fast movement as she scans the environment. I could tell that she was scared, judging from the way she was rubbing her palm against her hand.
"Hey…Hey, Mira," I called out her name softly as I grabbed her hand to reassure her, but she flinched at my touch. “Take it easy. You are safe.” I assured her.
She let out a heavy sigh and gently squeezed my hand. “You need to leave. Your sister is plotting something against you,” she said in tears.
I gave her a confused look.
“What do you mean?”
“The… The guard… the… the Luna. They…” she stuttered but before she could finish her word, I heard a loud footsteps approaching towards us. It was Darrel, Enzo’s Beta and also the Chief guard, with other guards, about ten of them trailing behind him in a double file.
"Seize her!" Darrel ordered.
ATHENAOf course, my prayers weren't answered.Alpha Zephyr stared at me for almost five minutes straight before the door opened and Veylana came in. She smiled at me before she walked into the bathroom and came out a few minutes later.“Can I begin her treatment, brother?" Veylana said to him. I noticed she was addressing him as her brother. Maybe this would help to keep the beast grounded.I wanted to hide under her skirts when his eyes cut to mine. Without a word, he walked away. I sighed deeply in relief before I burst out crying.Veylana came to sit next to me before she pulled me into a hug.“It's going to be alright. I know you were scared, our woods are full of things that make up for nightmares,” Veylana continued to comfort me until I cried myself to sleep.The next time I woke up, it was Veylana's furious whispers to someone."You must be insane to go after her in your beast form. Didn't you think that she would have been petrified to see you?” Veylana said to the person th
THANEIt was close to dawn when I learned that Zephyr got to her first.Dang it!My plans had been fouled because I found out a little too late. Well, I just have to plan better. My Zelda's sacrifice would never be for nothing. Her son was going to keep his throne, and no social-climbing wannabe assassin was going to ruin that for me, for us.I would like to reunite with Zelda with my head held high. At least I kept the throne in her bloodline.“Get me Jason, tell him everything, and he should only come to me when he has plans to fix this!" I instructed my informant.As soon as he left, I began to run things over in my mind. This girl was as silly as they came.If I were her, I would have kept my head down, done some research, and found the right time before hiking the way she did.She didn't even know her way around the pack, and I was certain that if Zephyr didn't find her or my men, the woods would have claimed her.That's it, Thane, you are bloody brilliant.It is quite simple. Th
THANEI stared at my glass of gin in deep anger and sorrow. Twenty years of marriage and forty years of being a part of this royal family, and I still wasn't being taken seriously by the Lycan Alpha.This wasn't about me, but about the pack and his reputation.Who rewards his assassin with marriage and a position as his Luna?I don't care if she was the only living soul that could touch him and not die, but this was too much. Our pack had a reputation to uphold.I smashed the glass into the wall in anger.Zelda would have talked some sense into him. I knew I could never replace her mate. She loved him with a fierceness that I admired. I had also lost my mate too early in our marriage. So we found peace with each other, companionship, and a quiet love that bore Veylana.I couldn't let everything that she fought for go to waste because Zephyr found someone who could survive his touch.To make matters worse, he has refused to allow the league of mages that we had as our allies to work on
ATHENAI sat quietly as realization sank in.I had just told Lycan Alpha Zephyr the majority of what had happened in my life. I had just opened up to a total stranger.This was bad, it was terrible.I immediately wiped my tears from my eyes before I looked up at Lycan Alpha Zephyr. What I saw had my blood running cold.In front of me sat Alpha Zephyr's beast.When did he shift? How come I didn't hear him? More importantly, what was he going to do to me now that I had revealed how pathetic I was and how useless I was going to be to him?No wolf, no womb, no strength. Straight up pathetic.The beast got to its feet, and fear had me rooted in my seat.He stalked towards me, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. The fear I felt increased terribly. I haven't feared for my life like this in a very long time.I needed to get out. I need to get out right now.As though his beast had heard my silent cry, he turned around and stalked away.My breath of relief was momentary because I was s
ATHENAMy heart sank as he said he wanted to talk to me.Was this it? He wanted to tell me privately that he was no longer interested in our arrangement.I nodded my head and folded my hands in front of me as I had always done while I was standing in front of Alpha Enzo.“Please sit down," he said to me, and I turned to see that all the chairs here were so inviting. Which one would I sit on without offending him?I finally settled into the nearest chair. It was comfy and seemed like the least one to offend him. My heart sank again when he pulled out a stool and sat down.Was that what I was meant to do?By the moon goddess! He's built. His slap could dislocate my jaw in one swing.Fear filled me as he watched me silently with his arms folded across his chest.“You need to relax, Athena. No one here is going to hurt you here,” his voice came. Though he sounded as cold as always, I was soothed by his words.I took a deep breath and nodded my head as I exhaled. Then silence ensued."I wa
ATHENANow that my body didn't hurt as much, I decided to take Veylana's advice to take a walk from time to time.The evening breeze was calming, and I felt the pack members would probably be rounding up and preparing to go home. But I was sadly mistaken. They seemed to just be beginning their days as I stepped out of the house that I had been occupying.This was the first time I was outside the building, so I was surprised to see that it was a hospital building.The rooms were too furnished to be hospital rooms. I mean, which hospital room comes with a fully stocked kitchen?I shook it off and decided to start my walk.I didn't plan to go too far, as I didn't know the area of the pack that I was in. The streets were bustling with pack members who either ignored me or openly stared at me. Some were pointing fingers at me and talking.I swallowed the lump in my throat as I promised myself to ignore them.A noise from my right caught my attention and I turned to see a little girl who wa