Three Weeks Left

MAELIS

Theron stepped into the room, his gaze locked on mine like I’d escape if he mistakenly looked away.

The air in the room shifted the moment the door closed behind him. My heart was thudding so hard I could have sworn it was loud enough for everyone to hear. I dragged my gaze to Sera who swallowed hard and took a step back.

“Alpha—” she began.

He ignored her completely and walked towards me. “Whose baby were you talking about?” he repeated, his voice low, and commanding.

But I wasn’t about to give in to his dominating attitude.

I tilted my head, forcing my expression blank. “Whose baby do you think we were talking about? There is no baby here.”

His eyes swept the room slowly, before settling on my face again. “Why did you leave the meeting hall the way you did?”

I shrugged. “There was nothing left to discuss after you broke your promises. You should be glad I stayed till the end.”

“You heard what the elders said, My son has to complete the traditional rites before he can be officially titled the heir of this pack, so you will have to wait.”

His son.

The words pierced something deep inside me, and I stepped forward. Sera’s hand instinctively closed around my wrist at once, holding me back.

A life was on the line, my pup’s life was on the line. And I was expected to smile and wait while my so-called mate celebrated his happy ending.

What about me?

Didn’t I deserve to be happy? Didn’t I deserve freedom?

Theron’s gaze turned colder. “I’ve never known you to be this selfish or heartless,” he started. “Caden is my son, but he is also your nephew. Shouldn’t you feel even a shred of love for him? The entire pack is happy that Nerine and Caden are home. The least you could do, as Luna, is arrange a proper welcome.”

He pointed a finger at me, and continued, “I’ve noticed how you’ve been behaving these past few days. Do not give the pack any more reason to hate you.”

Hate?

I almost laughed.

I had already received enough of that from him to last me a lifetime.

“I don’t care,” I said quietly. “I do not want a place in your new family. Let me go, please. I no longer have time to—”

“Tee?”

Nerine’s soft voice interrupted my words as she appeared behind him and slid her arms around his chest from behind, resting her cheek against his back.

Theron’s entire expression softened at once, and a small smile touched his lips. “Nerine.” He called out softly.

Something sharp twisted under my ribs, and I looked away before either of them could see it.

Sera tugged my sleeve softly, staring at me apologetically. I gave her a bitter smile in return.

Theron cleared his throat. “I came to talk some sense into her. Your sister is refusing to act like the Luna she is.”

“I know,” Nerine murmured. She stepped around him and faced me, her eyes already glistening with carefully planned tears. “Maelis has always been like that, ever since we were children.”

I crossed my arms and watched her.

Here we go again…. Nerine was about to put on another performance.

“Oh, dear sister.” She reached out and touched my shoulder. “I didn’t come back to take Tee from you. It’s just… Caden…” She sniffed, forcing the tears to fall.

I raised a brow. “I don’t need an explanation from you.”

“No.” She shook her head and slowly sank to her knees. “I’m sorry, Maelis. I shouldn’t have come back.” Her voice cracked on the last word.

Wow, Nerine… nice act.

“How dare you, Maelis!” Theron growled and immediately pulled her up into his arms.

“How could you be so callous to your sister? First you almost strangled her, and now you let her fall to her knees to beg you? What exactly has she done to you?”

I stayed silent… Not because I had nothing to say, but because I refused to give Nerine another stage to perform.

Not this time.

When I still didn’t answer, Theron’s jaw clenched. “I am done with your shenanigans.”

With that, he guided Nerine out of the room without looking back.

The moment the door shut, my legs gave out, but Sera caught me before I hit the floor.

A wave of dizziness rolled through me, and I inhaled slowly.

“You’re using up the little energy you have left, Mae,” Sera whispered, brows drawn tight. “Are you sure you can get out of this before it’s too late?”

I nodded. “I just need to gather the evidence and take it to the elders.”

“But—”

“That’s enough for today, Sera. I need to rest. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

She exhaled sharply. “Fine. But I hope you’re making the right decision.”

“I have survived five years,” I said, looking at her. “I will survive this too.”

A few minutes later, Sera left and I sank onto the bed and pressed my hands against my face, refusing to let the doubt creep in.

I no longer had a full month.

At best, I had three weeks to save my baby and myself.

If I plan it correctly, I have one week to gather every scrap of evidence, one week to file the petition, and one week to walk free.

I held onto that plan until sleep finally engulfed me.

___________

A loud knock on the door woke me up

and I scrunched my nose in annoyance.

“Good evening, Luna.” A maid I didn’t recognize stood in the doorway, head bowed.

I sat up, pushing the sheets aside. “Is there a problem?”

“There is a family dinner tonight. The Alpha requests your presence downstairs in five minutes.”

Family dinner?

“I would prefer to take my meal here,” I said.

“But Luna—”

“Are you here to deliver a message or to argue with me?” I asked coldly, and she fell silent.

My gaze ran over the maid and I shut my eyes briefly before speaking again. “Tell him I am on medication. Since he seems to have forgotten why I was at the clinic earlier.”

“Yes, Luna.” She bowed and left.

The moment the door shut close I let out a low scoff.

Did they really expect me to hurry downstairs and sit through another performance while Nerine played the perfect mother and Theron played the devoted lover to Nerine?

I was done looking at her face for the day. The last thing I needed was to waste the little energy I had.

I had just started to rise from the bed when the door slammed open.

I tilted my head and stared at Theron. My fist clenched slightly as I tried to hide my anger.

“Dress up,” he ordered coldly. “And come downstairs immediately!”