Chapter 2: “ROYAL SHIRT, ROYAL NONSENSE”

LYRA'S POV

Few minutes later, I'm at the hospital, sitting before the doctor's desk and tapping my fingers nervously on my lap.

Even after Alexa's advice, I still wasn't convinced. Well, not until the puking got worse. I just can't help but wonder if I have a terminal disease.

My pulse quickens as I hear the door creak open and the doctor crosses the room to his desk, holding a report in his hand. A smile is lurking around his lips and a frown immediately appears on my face.

"Congratulations, Luna! You are two weeks pregnant!" He says as soon as he's sitting.

For a split second, I struggle to process the words.

I am pregnant? How? Why now?

Myriads of emotions course through me. If this was yesterday, I will surely be over the moon, but now that Duncan has suddenly brought in another woman, I really don't know if I should be happy or sad.

So many questions compete for attention in my head that it starts to ache.

"Thank you, doctor." I manage before rushing out of the office.

In record time, I'm walking in through the huge double doors of the Royal Mansion. However, nothing prepares me for the sight that welcomes me.

Sophia is seated comfortably on the sofa in the living room, wearing a big white shirt that I'm all too familiar with— Duncan's royal shirt!

Even as his official wife and Luna, Duncan never allows me to wear any of his clothes, not to mention his royal clothing.

But he's actually letting Sophia do so.

His partiality hurts deeply but since there's nothing much I can do about it, I drag my heavy feet inside.

Just then, Sophia stands and blocks my path.

"Oh, Lyra. Thank goodness you're back!" She says, her voice saccharine sweet.

Unfazed by her pretence, I ask, "What do you need?

"Could you help make some broccoli salad? You know, the baby—"

"No, please." I cut her off. "I'm very tired." I will explain further.

And that's not even a lie. I don't know if it's because of the pregnancy or the fact that my marriage is crumbling down, but I feel so exhausted.

Sophia seems to hate my refusal because something like malice flickers in her eyes. Before I can comprehend her next move, she suddenly slumps to the ground.

"Duncan, help me! The baby!" she cries, tears instantly rolling down her cheeks.

It's not until I feel a forceful shove that it dawns on me. She's trying to put in a tight spot with Duncan again.

"What did you do to her this time, Lyra!" Dubcan bellows in anger, his gaze cold.

"Don't scream at Lyra. It's my fault for being here in the first place. If she wants me to leave, I will."

I watch in utter disbelief as Sophia played the perfect, innocent victim. It's so infuriating that I have to swallow the urge to lunge at her and slap that pretense off her face.

Duncan on the other side, falls for her acts, hook, line and sinker.

"Nobody can make you leave!" He assures her, then flicks his gaze to me. "How could you be so vile enough to push the mother of my heir?"

"Listen, Lyra, if you continue to act like a loser, I won't be so lenient on you anymore!" He warns.

I recoil a step, trembling. Did my very own husband just call me a loser because of another woman? Anger mixed with pain erupts in me like a volcano.

"I didn't push her!" I grit out. "Duncan, how can you not see that she's lying?"

I throw a glare at Sophia and she returns it with a sinister smirk of her own, just before giving Duncan that fake innocent look again.

"Duncan, I have no idea why Lyra is lying this way. Why would I try to hurt myself and our baby? Even the maids can testify to what she did. But it's fine if she wants to blame me. I'll take the blame."

Duncan presses her closet to his body as he beckons to two of the maids who are tidying up the living room.

"Did any of you see Lyra push her?" He asks them.

"Yes, Alpha. Luna Lyra really pushed Luna Sophia."

I'm astounded by their lie and a shocked gasters out of my lips, my gaze trailing to Sophia who now has a triumphant smile on her face.

I have no idea what Sophia did to get them to lie against me, but at that moment, it becomes clear to me— Sophia isn't just trying to steal my husband from me.

She's here to turn everyone on my side against me just like she did in the past .

Duncan doesn't even let me speak., "Seriously, Lyra. Trying to hurt Sophia out of jealousy?"

"That's so low and out of class." He continues. "Henceforth, you're going to treat Sophia with respect and care because she's pregnant. You also need to tend to all her needs."

"No, Babe. There's no need for that." Sophia chimes in but I don't miss the wicked amusement in her face.

Duncan pats cheeks. "No, it's fine. Lyra doesn't do much around the house anyway, so she should at least make herself useful for me this time."

I feel my stomach tighten as his words land with a sting— a sting that tears mercilessly through my heart.

How can he casually dismiss everything I have been doing since I stepped foot in this pack?

"And what about me?" I croak out. "Who will take care of me too? How can you tell your own Luna to look after some "out of the wood" whore?"

Duncan starts to say something but I shut him up. "I am pregnant, Duncan!"

For a minute, my word just hangs in the open. Then suddenly, Duncan burst out laughing and Sophia joins in.

"Wait, you're joking right?" Duncan asks.

A knot forms in my stomach. "Does this look like a joke to you?"

"Why now of all time?" He asks casually then snickers. "You can't even be pregnant, I'm sure of it! So, stop playing this dirty prank or I'll consider it treason against the crown!"

Without sparing me another glance, he shoves me aside and walks past me with Sophia in his arms.

As I stare at his retreating back, my heart silently shatters into tiny shards. How did my loving husband suddenly become this cruel to me?

It's Sophia's work, but I won't let her succeed. I will do whatever it takes to gain Duncan's affection back.

That was initially my resolve, but as each day blurs into another, my home becomes a place of torment for me.

Just like in the past, I feel like a slave. Duncan always makes sure I'm at Sophia's beck and call, and rather than show me a glimmer of affection, he devotes all his time to staying with her.

It's as if he has completely forgotten that I'm his mate, not her.

The worst part is watching her flirt with him right in front of me and Duncan acting like it's perfectly normal.

It's becoming unbearable, cutting me deep and I know I should leave. But it's not possible since I don't have another home.

And Duncan knows that too well. That's why he can do whatever he likes.

An aggressive bang on my door snaps me out of my thoughts. It's already late at night and I scowl as I get the door.

"Luna, your presence is required immediately at the Alpha's Chambers!" The guard informs me.

I didn't bother to change my clothes as I make my way to Duncan's chamber. I've barely stepped foot inside the room when Duncan's voice rings out.

"Sophia is in pain. Lyra. Use your healing power to make it stop right now!"

I glance at Sophia who is writhing on the bed. But I know her damn too well to know she's only acting.

But Duncan is too concerned to see through her deceit. And I'm tired of showing him her true colours every time.

I swallow my pain and get to work. Soon, I'm done preparing a pain relieving concoction.

I taste it first before passing it to Duncan. For the first time in a while, he actually smiles at me, but almost immediately, his attention returns to Sophia as he gives her the concoction.

I feel numb inside as I watch them play the lovey-dovey couple right in front of me. The scene is so painful that I even stop feeling the pain.

It's like I'm deeply broken inside— all my tears exhausted. Quietly, I give them their space and return back to the guest room that's been my room now for the past one and a half weeks.

I'm not sure how long I've slept when another banging knock jolts me out of my sleep, this time so aggressive that my heart rate spikes.

Before I can get the door, hinges pop and the door comes crumbling down. A couple of guards rush inside, seize like I'm a criminal and drag me outside.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I yell in anger.

But they don't answer me as they drag me to the judgement room.

We barely made it through the door when I was grabbed by my neck and slammed against the wall.

Duncan!

He has the most malicious expression as he glares down at me.

"How dare you, Lyra?" He snarls.

“How could you be so evil to the extent of wishing Sophia dead?"

I frown in confusion. "Wishing Sophia dead? What do you mean?"

His body trembles with fury as he tightens his grip around my neck. "Don't you even give that! There was poison in the damn concoction you made! You poisoned her!"