Something Doesn't Add Up

MAELIS

I woke up with the same retching sickness that had become part of my mornings.

The moment I sat up, my stomach twisted hard as the nausea hit me and I had barely made it to the bathroom before everything came down. I gripped the edge of the sink, shivering, and waiting for the retching to stop. 

When it finally did, I rinsed my mouth with cold water and stared at my pale reflection.

Sigh. 

When would these actually end? It had just begun, but I was so over it already. 

I reached for the small drug bottle Sera had given me from the drawer and popped one of the pills into my mouth. The bitter taste spread across my tongue as I swallowed it and a long sigh escaped my lips again.

Today I planned on staying in my room and resting. I knew I had created a bit of chaos and the house might be spreading the gossip by now about how the rites ended abruptly.

I had barely settled back under the sheets when the door opened to reveal Hura. She stepped in carrying a small jug and a cup in a tray. 

The warm scent of the herb tea Sera had prescribed filled the room at once and she bowed. 

“Good morning, Luna,” she said, setting everything on the low table. “The doctor said you should drink this while it’s still hot.”

I nodded and sat up carefully. Hura went on her knees and began pouring the tea with steady hands. 

Then she began to speak without looking up. “Rumours are going around the pack house this morning.”

I took the cup from her. “What kind of rumours? Was it about the rites?” 

“No.”

“Then what other rumors?” 

Hura hesitated, still watching the steam rise. “It may seem as though… Miss Nerine spent the night with His Majesty.”

My hand froze halfway to my mouth. The teacup edge just pressed to my lips. 

I stared at her with wide eyes. 

For a second I didn’t believe it. Her words sounded like gibberish.

Then the memory of how Theron had walked straight past me while I was on the floor in pain, and had lifted Nerine without even glancing my way. 

I remembered vividly the way his whole face had softened the moment she appeared. What had I expected, they had been apart for more than five years… Of course he would take her back into his bed the first chance he got.

“I see,” I said quietly. A cold, familiar feeling settled in my chest, and I forced myself to drink the herb tea, even though it suddenly tasted like nothing.

Hura glanced up, her eyes clear with worry. “I only thought you should know, Luna. The maids are already whispering and everyone knows already. I don’t want it to take you unawares.”

I gave a small nod and finished the tea in silence. After a few minutes, I told her I wanted to rest. She left the jug within reach and slipped out, closing the door behind her.

I stayed in bed longer than I planned, staring at the ceiling, and letting her words sit in my thoughts until I got weary. 

My eyes burned with unshed tears and I suddenly became restless. Unable to lie still anymore, I stood up, walked to the bathroom, and took a long bath, letting the warm water ease the remaining ache in my body, and by the time I dressed, the need to leave the room had grown stronger than the promise I had made to myself earlier.

I needed air, and I also needed to see my plants in the garden. 

By the time I stepped out of my room, Hura was waiting to accompany me to the garden. She told me of new plants she had acquired from a horticulturist who visited the pack, promising to bring them on her day off. 

We had just reached the open path that led toward the garden when Nerine stepped out from behind one of the stone pillars. She looked well-rested and the paleness I saw in her eyes was gone. 

Her eyes turned to Hura first.  “Leave us,” she said, her voice filled with irritation. “I need to speak with my sister alone.”

Hura bowed and stepped back a few paces but did not go far.

Nerine turned to me with a small, almost lazy smile. “I missed the touch of a man,” she said casually, as if we were discussing plants. “Five years is a long time, and last night Theron… was a beast. He made me feel like a woman again.”

“You heard right? The news is everywhere in the pack house.” She added, giggling softly. 

Her eyes flickered to her belly and she placed a hand on it gently. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up pregnant after a night like that.”

The words landed like a heavy stone, and I felt the heat rise in my chest, but I kept my face devoid of any emotion.

“I don’t care what you do with Theron,” I said, my voice colder than I planned. “Share his bed every night if that is what you want… it means nothing to me.”

Nerine’s smile widened a bit, but her eyes hardened. She was trying to hide her disbelief. 

Was she expecting me to wail?

I closed the distance between us, my lips a few inches away from her face.  “But the next time you stand before me and fail to show respect to me as the Luna of this pack,” I continued, “I will make sure you are punished and even Theron won’t be able to contend with it.”

Her eyes flashed red with anger, and her mouth opened, ready to give a reply but I didn’t give her a chance. 

“Hura,” I called without breaking my gaze.

Hura was at my side in seconds, with her head bowed. “Here I am, my lady.” 

“From now on you do not leave my side unless I say so,” I told her. “Is that clear?”

“Yes, Luna.”

I turned away from Nerine without another word and continued walking toward the garden. Hura stayed close, matching my pace. 

Behind us, I could feel Nerine’s stare burning into my back, but I didn’t care. 

The garden was peaceful and warm under the late morning sun. I walked slowly between the rows of plants I had tended to for years, letting their familiar scent settle some of the tightness in my chest.

That was when I saw Caden. He was a short distance ahead, his small arms outstretched as he chased something in the air.

Something tightened in my chest, and I stopped walking, unable to take my eyes off him. I placed a hand on my lower belly, feeling the slight curve that was still easy to hide. 

I really hope my child survives and gets to run around just like him.

Suddenly, Caden spotted me and his face lit up. He ran toward me, his hand cupped tighter.

“Aunt Mae! Look!”

He called me Aunt? 

I crouched down so we were closer to the same height. He opened his hands just enough to show me the delicate wings but the butterfly escaped and fluttered away. 

He watched it go with a pout, then looked back at me with a smile. “I will get another one.” 

I reached out and ruffled his hair and Caden giggled.

“Daddy used to help me catch many butterflies,” he said, the sadness in his eyes evident. “I miss him.”

My hand froze in his hair as I stared at the little boy in front of me. 

Why would he suddenly miss a father he saw just yesterday or probably this morning?