0004.

“Damn! Amby," Amby but her lower lip.

“What is this rumor circulating around the palace? it better not be true,” Amby said to herself as she quickly rushed upstairs, heading towards May’s room. It's been two months since May, and the maid who saved Amby from being poisoned became their baby breeder.

After the incident in the kitchen, Amby had approached her and asked her to become their breeder.

She proved herself trustworthy, and Amby felt she could be relied upon to produce healthy children. Jake was reluctant to agree at first, but after Amby's insistence, he reluctantly gave his consent. May was grateful for the opportunity and vowed to serve them faithfully after signing the contract which was- to give leave after birthing an heir for the Alpha with lots of the benefits attached to it.

But lately, Amby had noticed that May, whom she had thought was so sweet, was no longer the same person she had been before. A rumor had been flying around the palace for two days, and Amby couldn't help but wonder if it was true. The worst part was that if it was true, she should have been the first person to know, not through gossip and hearsay. She felt betrayed, and a sense of foreboding settled over her.

Amby barged into May's room, calling out her name. She found May sitting in front of her dressing mirror, applying makeup. May looked up, a scowl on her face.

"You shouldn't barge into someone's room without knocking first, Luna," she snapped, turning back to her mirror. "What is it that you want?"

Amby hesitated, feeling a bit guilty for barging in, but she pushed the feeling aside. "I need to talk to you," she said, her tone serious. "It's important."

“And what is that?” May asked, her tone cold.

“What is the news I'm hearing?” Amby asked.

“What news?” May quickly asked back, acting ignorant while she continued with what she was doing.

“That you are pregnant,” Amby announced, her eyes clouding with fury. She had been trying not to believe it since she overheard it from the palace servants thinking it was their normal false rumors but on learning about it from her personal maid, Lara who never gave her fake news, she knew it was true.

“And what about it, Luna?” May asked, turning to look at her as she dropped the concealer she wanted to apply to her face.

“Is it true?” Amby asked, ignoring her question.

“Of course, you should know it's true when you heard it from whoever told you about it,” May replied and turned to continue her makeover.

“How dare you keep it away from me? You became pregnant for the Alpha and you didn't see it fit to let me know about it?” Amby asked, anger consuming her.

“Why should I let you know when I know you would only be jealous since what you couldn’t accomplish for years now, I did it within a few nights of being in the Alpha’s bed,” May countered, turning to look at Amby who was shaken by her reply.

The words stung her like a bee and she couldn't believe it was coming from May, whom she had only loved for the past two months, making sure they dined together while knowing each other.

How quickly people could change and Amby was trying not to regret choosing her as their breeder already. She was trying not to regret her decision. She hoped it was because of the early signs of pregnancy that May was acting that way.

“May!” Amby called softly as she thought about using a soft approach to know what was getting May all worked up. She had been sweet to her but now it was like she was now the opposite.

Amby walked closer to May but May stood up and moved back.

“Did I do anything to offend you? Why are you suddenly this way?” Amby questioned, taking a deep breath as she waited for an explanation.

“I am only trying to be careful. I don't want you to poison my food which will cause a miscarriage since you are barren, you might just be angry that I am already pregnant.”

“May!” Amby thundered, angered by her words.

“How dare you harbor such thoughts. Who hired you and what was the purpose for hiring you?”

“It doesn't mean I shouldn't be careful. You might be a

swine and I'm only acting the way I should around you. Please if you have nothing else to say, take your leave, you wouldn't want to stress a pregnant woman, would you?” May said, acting irritated as she rubbed her temples.

Amby felt a cold sweat run down her spine, she was in disbelief as she stared at May. How could someone change so much?

May who couldn't look her in the eyes or talk back at her was already acting this way because she was pregnant. What more was she going to do from now on, Amby couldn't think about it.

The door opened to reveal Jake, who walked into May’s room.

“Alpha,” May ran into Jake's embrace as she held onto him, then she kissed him lightly on the lips before relaxing by his side, leaving Amby looking at them in surprise and bewilderment.

“Can you rub on my belly? You haven't today, remember,” May said, looking at Jake with puppy eyes while ignoring Amby who was still in the room. Jake, whose attention was focused on her, obeyed, using his hands to rub gently on her stomach.

“Jake!” Amby called, as she sensed Jake was ignoring her and he looked up to see her standing behind May.

“Did you know she was pregnant?” Amby asked him, biting back the tears that were already threatening to run down her cheek as everything was becoming clear to her. Jake’s recent cold attitude towards her which had lasted almost a month, his refusal to touch and kiss her, and his excuse of always being busy, she now knew what was the cause of it all.

“Yes,” he replied, not moved by how miserably Amby was standing and watching them.

“For how long now?” she asked him.

“A month.”

“A month?” Amby almost screamed but held her mouth. She was in disbelief. Was the person standing before her actually Jake? He knew May had been pregnant for a month now and he had kept it away from her.

“You mean a month? Or a day? Are you just kidding?” Amby wanted to laugh, finding it amusing even as she knew Jake was serious due to his tone of the reply.

“A month, I never heard myself say a day,” he replied rather coldly.

“And you kept it away from me?” Amby asked, a tear sliding down her cheek.

“It was because May didn't want you to know about it. She wanted to_”

“And is that an excuse, Jake? How could you do this to me? Who are you? What has come over you? What is wrong with you?” Amby yelled as she could feel her heart ripping apart. She couldn't believe Jake was a scheme to it.

“Amby, you have to understand that_”

“Understand what?” Amby yelled, shaking her head in disapproval.

“You had the guts to keep this away from me. You are ridiculous,” Amby cried out as she rushed out of the room. Jake called after her and tried to stop her but May held him back.

“You want to leave already? Have you forgotten why I asked you to come here?” she said to him.

“I have to leave_”

“No, the baby needs you, you have to stay with me,” May insisted.

“Will you stop it already, I have been doing everything you have been asking for, May which has only resulted in me neglecting Amby.”

“And is that my business?” May asked.

“Alpha, I am the one pregnant for you and not her. Can't you sacrifice these few months to do whatever I want until I give birth?” May asked.

“I'm already doing everything you want. I don't kiss nor touch Amby because you would always say the smell of her on my skin was making you nauseous, I barely spend time around her, and it's been a month. Can’t I have my way this once? I will make sure to come back later,” Jake said but May wasn't in for whatever he was saying.

“I don't care, Alpha. You have to stay with me or I am going to tell the elders you are neglecting me. Remember what they told you the day they found out I was pregnant, if you don't treat me right because of Amby, Amby will be banished and you will be forced to accept me as your Luna. It's either you stay with me or go to Amby and get to lose her forever,” May threatened, holding onto Jake who felt so weak that he couldn't take a step anymore.