Chapter 4

(Dahlia)

“LUNA Dahlia, Luna Rosie is here to see you.”

Before I could answer my assistant, Rosie walks in my room with a basket of fruits in her hand and immediately smiles upon seeing me sitting on the rocking chair while holding a children's book. That one night with Brent was all the omega in me needed to conceive.

She hands the fruit basket to Liv, my assistant, before grabbing a chair. She sits beside me and gently caresses my baby bump. “How are you today, dear? Do you need anything? Food? Drinks? Tell me and I’ll have my servants get them for you. I’ll even involve the soldiers if necessary.”

Just like before, Rosie never fails to emphasize our differences, her influence on this mansion, silently telling me that between us, she has the real power. The real authority, the reason why she has a number of servants while I only have one. In our every encounter, she just keeps proving that she’s as thorny as her name.

The only good side to this development is that Rosie has been very attentive since finding out that I’m carrying Brent’s baby. My room is in the east part of the mansion, opposite to the room she shares with my husband. She’s been visiting me at least once a week and has been with me with every check-up, holding my hand through every tense hospital visit.

Rosie doesn’t have to warn me about Brent anymore because he’s never given me attention except the day he finds out about the pregnancy. He’s been controlling his wolf hard since then and barely shifts but when he does, when his wolf wins over him, it would slam against my door and nuzzle his cheek against mine, sometimes against my belly. He would stay until I fell asleep. It happened about four times during the last four months which he despised.

The beast wants me. But the man himself loathes me.

Story of my life.

“Earth to Dahlia,” Rosie waves her hand in front of me, grinning. When I look at her, disoriented, she shakes her head. “I’m asking if there’s anything you want.”

My husband.

“Do you crave anything?”

‘Just your man.’ I bite back the words. Nothing and no one would calm me other than Brent’s presence. Carrying his baby is taxing for my body, especially for someone as powerful as him. It’s hard for me to walk around these days.

I shake my head and say, “No. I’m good. Thank you for the concern, though.”

“No need. We are sisters now. After you give birth, both of us will become mothers of the little alpha.”

I look away so she wouldn’t see the flash of aversion and agony in my eyes. We are already sharing a husband, a house, and now, she wants to share my baby too?

“I heard you’ve been feeling weaker lately. Guess what? I brought you something. I got it straight from the mages’ realm. It’s an elixir that will boost your strength. Brent also approves of this.” Rosie takes a small golden vial from her clutch and hands it to me. “Take it. You’ll feel so much better afterwards.”

“Thanks. Maybe later after I’ve taken a meal-“

“Perfect timing. It’s best to have this on an empty stomach. I’ll feel really upset if you refuse it now when I took such great efforts to acquire this for you and our little alpha. They said the effect of this vial is instant. The mages are that good.” Rosie opened the vial before giving it back to me. “Go on. Take it and I’ll get out of your sight so you can rest. I still have to get ready for my date with Brent anyway.”

Hearing her last line makes me sit straighter. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give today just to see her go away so she can stop rubbing it in. And so, I take the vial and finish it in one swift gulp. Satisfaction crosses her face.

“That’s our good omega.”

She kisses my cheeks before standing. I don’t get to say another word as my stomach starts to tighten painfully. My lips part as I stare at her in shock. “W-what’s happening? What exactly did you give me, Rosie?”

She laughs. “Rule number six inside my territory, Dahlia. Do not trust your husband’s woman.”

When I try to rise, my legs become wobbly. I fall on the marbled floor and scream when I see blood dripping down my legs. “No! My baby! Help me, Liv!”

To my horror, Liv steps out of the room along with Rosie. Worry sparks in Liv’s eyes but when Rosie glares at her, she closes the door, leaving me all by myself. I beg for help until my voice is hoarse, but no one comes for me.

The bleeding goes on and on until I feel like I’m losing my mind. I pass out and when I open my eyes, I’m inside a room surrounded by white.

Hospital.

Brent is standing beside my bed and so is Rosie who is crying beside him. His face is grim.

“How are you feeling?” he asks when he catches me awake.

“What happened to my baby? Is he okay?” I ask instead, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. I can feel the staggering loss before I ask. But I’m afraid to lift the blanket and find out.

“We lost the baby.”

My whole world collapses with just four words.

“It’s alright,” Rosie says as she wipes her tears. “The doctor confirmed that some omegas are incapable of carrying an alpha baby. It wasn’t your fault that your body is too weak-“

My wolf growls when I remember what happened. “It was you! I was doing okay until you visited me! After giving me that vial, I felt weak. I called for you. I begged for your help. You laughed and then you left me-“

“How could you accuse me of such a vile thing? I would never do that to you. You are breaking my heart, Dahlia.” She cries. “I’ve always seen you as my little sister. I only meant well when I came to you and gave you fruits. What vial are you talking about?”

“Liar! My assistant was there! You saw me bleeding and you disappeared with her!” I grab her arm and grip it. “Admit it! This is your plan! You wanted my son to die!”

“Liv, what is your Luna Dahlia talking about?” Brent asks my assistant. “Speak!”

Liv is startled by the intensity of the General’s voice. “L-Luna Dahlia must have imagined it, General. I was there when Luna Rosie went to her room. There is no vial. Only fruits.” She glances at Rosie and continues, “When she told us she wanted to rest, we left. And when I came back to bring her snacks, she was already bleeding.”

Brent takes a deep breath. “Dahlia, I understand that this is hard for you and you’re grieving but that is not an excuse for you to blame it on Rosie. You know nothing about her. She’s been good to you even if I heard that you’ve been ignoring all her efforts to get close to you. You are being unfair to her.”

When Rosie’s crying so hard that she looks like she’s about to faint, Brent carries her. He shoots me a look pure of disappointment and repulsion before leaving with her in his arms while I sit there, my heart shattering.

“You’re really choosing her? Even now? What about me, Brent?”

“Stick to the rules, Dahlia.”

Brent’s words hit me like a punch in the gut. My wolf howls so loud that he stops midway, calling for him, begging him to look back. But he only pauses before closing the door. The howl turns to roar and then something inside me dies… and snaps.

I start thrashing and smashing everything I see around me. The crystal vase, the fruits, the pillows, and the bouquet of flowers.

I rise from the bed, my chest constricting. It starts small. Like a flicker. And then it grows. Until I feel like I’m engulfed by the flame. All I see is red. I shift, my heart burning, as I slam against the door until it breaks.

I speed away, everyone’s gasping and screaming.

“Look at her eyes! They are crimson!”

“A hybrid! I’ve never seen anything like this before!”

“Goddess! Her gray fur turns white and why is smoke coming from her mouth? How is this happening?”

Through the screams and panic, I charge ahead. My beast and I don’t stop until we find our target. There she is. Surrounded by her guards. They see me first and try to shift but it’s too late. When I roar, all of them are engulfed by the crimson fire.

Rosie’s eyes widened. She screams, calling for my mate, when I charge and sink my teeth in her flesh before setting her on fire. The flames don’t stop until Brent arrives and retrieves her body from my claws.

“Soldiers!” Brent yells, his eyes blazing with concern and fury for his other Luna. “Arrest her!”

My broken beast growls at him. The bond thrums violently inside me but this time, we refuse to succumb to it. My rage makes me feel like I can do anything, even do the impossible. I shifted back to my human form. My wolf and I look him dead in the eye and speak, “I, Dahlia Brencis, reject you, Brent Wilson as my alpha and my mate. I am breaking the bond.”