4

CHAPTER FOUR

ANDREA'S POV 

I've always thought I'd carry his heir one day. 

I've imagened how joyful it would be to have the pack members all cheer for me. I even went on to think Micheal would soften up to me. Now those dreams laid crushed in dirt.

I bit back a sob and nodded at Micheal before sprinting down the stairs leading down and hurrying into my chambers. Doctor Jean who happened to be standing at the end of the stairs received me with open arms and hauled me in a hug.

“I am so sorry, Luna.” 

Her hands glided down my back. I stifled a sob and sniffed. “You don't have to apologize, Jean.”

My lips quivered as the words trailed off my tongue. I managed to shoot a glance in Michael's direction before sighing deeply. “I should've known this day would come. He never loved me. Never saw me as a mate. Now that he has mated her, I'm just his luna. Who am I kidding, Madeline's up next. And with her pregnancy, sh-”

I was about to finish when I felt Jean's grip on me loosen. She stepped backwards leaving me standing still and confused. “What?”

I searched her eyes for answers and noticed the bright gleams of fear in them. Who cou—

Just then, I heard it. Footsteps.

Trailing down the stairs. 

Who could it be?

I hadn't pondered on it for long before I heard giggles. Soft sugary ones. I followed Jean's gaze and turned only to find her there.

Madeline.

I felt Akasha howl in me. She reared her head while whispering a pleas for be to allow her trash into her. For a second, I wanted to let go of the control I had over my body but a thought raked my chest. 

Micheal would punish me if I did that. And besides, I was already walking on eggshells.

“What do you want here, Madeline? What else do you want? You already have him. Now, what?”

She laughed. Her laughter was sweet. Too sweet. 

Her fingers gripped the railing tightly. “You still don't get it do you?”

I stilled. “Get what?”

The overhead lights buzzed over her features and once I felt the piercing heatvof her gaze on me, heart flamed up spine. I kept my gaze on her till she got to the end of the stairs. She turned to Jean who was already struggling to hold in her breath.

“Get out.”

Jean didn't hesitate to leave. She turned animatedly, ready to scurry down the hallway when I caught her hand. I gripped it. She turned to face me, “Stay. As your Luna, I order you.”

She stared at me before staring at Madeline. “I-i have to le…” 

She let out shaky breaths while holding Madeline’s gaze. “Stay.” I whispered softly, watching as she swallowed. 

Once I was sure she wasn't going anywhere, I turned to face her. “I know you think you have authority by being his marked mate but remember I'm still the Luna and only I call the shots.”

She laughed once again. There was a kick to it— one I couldn't decipher. “Shots? Oh please, we all know your legacy goes down in flames tonight. The pack elders, as you'd expect, are already rooting for me and trust me, with this,”

She lowered her head, signaling to the gentle rounding at her belly. Her fingers stroked it. 

“I'll become the Luna soon and you'll be thrown under the rug like all of Michael's ex-lovers.”

She threw her head back to laugh but before shame settled into my veins, I spat. “Why are you doing this, Madeline? To think I trusted you. You know I love him.” 

“Love him? We all love him, Andrea. You just happened to get picked. When I figured he never really liked you, I took the chance. I saw the way his eyes gleamed with disgust so last moon season, when he slipped out of your chambers, I took the risk and I got here. Right by his side.” Her voice faded into a cruel laugh. “I always knew was meant for something bigger than being your handmaiden.”

“I took you as a sister and you knew that.”

Her laughter ceased and I felt a chill in the air. “I've always being jealous of you. I've always wanted what you want. At first, I thought it was normal to want to wear pearls as shiny as yours and have reputable dress houses make my dresses. Each time you gave out a  pearl and a dress to me I thought the flame in me would die considering how hard you tried to not make me feel low but guess what?”

Silence.

“It didn't. I only wanted something else. Something bigger. Something only you had. I wanted your father's love, the respect, the affection the pack members gave you. Only then did I realize I didn't want your pears or your dresses. I wanted to be you. What better way to start than to steal your mate? I'm already halfway there, Andrea. I'll have your title soon. I tried to get pregnant for your mate by having him fuck me in different positions all night. Nothing seemed to work. And then I resulted to one thing. Guess what that was?”

Silence.

It was thicker this time around. My chest heaved all through the whole ten seconds. 

“Guess what?!” 

Her voice was louder this time.

Akasha reared her head in me, pleading even harder for a chance to thrash into Madeline. “S-stay back, Akasha. She's not worth it.”

I raised my gaze to meet Madeline's cold eyes. She stepped down from the last step and gripped my hands before I even noticed. “L-let go of m—” 

Before I could finish, she pressed my hand to her stomach and pressed it hard against it. “Why are you pressing my hand against your baby bump? D..”

“Baby bump? I never knew you were this clueless. Well, I'll spell it out.” 

Nothing could've prepared me for what came next.

“I lied!”

My heart squeezed in my chest. My jaw fell.

“You lied?”

She nodded before glancing at Jean. “You heard me right, Andrea. It’s just so sad that you're my escape from that lie.”

My lips quivered. “W-what do you mean?”

Her eyes darkened. “Picture this. Scornful, jealous Luna, Andrea, pushed her mate's pregnant girlfriend, Madeline, from the stairs shortly after he announced her to the pack which caused her to miscarry.”

I shot a shaky glance at Jean. “Thank goodness you're here, Jean. We'll expose her for who she truly is.”

My lips curved into a relieved smile as I turned to face Madeline. “Don't tell me you think that'll happen. It's your words against mine and besides you have no one to support your baseless claim.”

I raised a confused brow, "I-i have Jean.” 

“But do you? Jean.” She called. I noticed Jean’s  fingers were shaking. She was struggling to keep up with everything. 

“Whose side are you on? Tell me. Are you on mine or..?”

Jean's fingers trembled. 

Before she could speak, we heard footsteps. Someone was coming. As if on cue, Madeline brought out a vial from her pockets and limped to the ground. 

I was dazed at this.

What was she up to?

Before I could wrap my head around it,  I heard a scream.

“Save me Micheal!”

It didn't take a minute before I saw Micheal race down the stairs, worry etched into our eyes. When he got there, he looked down on me.

“Did you do this?”

I could sense the steaming rage in his voice. He was getting angry. 

“I-i didn't do anything, Mic—”

A voice cut me short halfway. “She did it. She pushed me off the stairs after I tried to make peace with her. She said she wanted me dead and my b..”

She stopped talking almost immediately and traced her hands to her thighs. A red substance was there. It wasn't blood. I could tell.

It probably came from that vial. I turned to Jean. “Jea.. Jean tell him. Tell him I'm innocent. Tell him she planned this.”

The tears I was trying to hold back got loose and dripped down my cheeks. I didn't bother to wipe them this time around. They flowed, mirroring my fears and hopes. 

C’mon jean

I waited. Nothing came. 

When I thought she'd finally say something, she shook her head and glanced at Madeline's eyes before raising her head to stare back at me then to Micheal.

“She did, Alpha. She pushed Madeline off the stairs.”

I choked on a breath. “W-what? I never did any of that. Trust me Mich—”

He cut me off. “It's Alpha Michael to you.” His eyes burned with disgust, rage and yes— I finally found the last word for it. Hate. 

“Guards take her to the dungeon.”

“Are you really going to do this to me?” 

His eyes darkened. “You caused this, Andrea. You better hope the baby makes it. Or else—”

I tried to speak but the words didn't come out. They lingered stiffly on my tongue. I wasn't sure what held me back. I tried to reach out to Akasha, to give her the full control she'd always wanted but she wasn't there.

I watched Micheal carry her in his arms. Princess style. 

“Guards. Take her out.”

That was the last thing I heard until I felt strong hands grip me. I lunged, kicked and screamed but my voice faded faster when my back hit the dungeon’s cold hard walls.

The gates closed, binding me in the midst of rogues and prisoners. Michael's words echoed in mind. I wanted to ask him what he'd do if Madeline's inexistent ‘baby’ died but for some reason, I never found the right words to use.

So I stayed quiet.

Now, I'm left to wonder. What will become of me when Madeline loses the ‘baby’?