Chapter 5

ELARA

"Mara, please you can't tell anyone about this." I pleaded with shaky hands.

"I know but why? Shouldn't Alpha Lucius know that you're carrying his heir?" Mara asked, confusion written all over her face.

May the goddess forbid it! 

Plus, how do I tell her that this is a different case? What if I tell Lucius and he asks Lilith to use her magic on me to check if I'm saying the truth?

They'd definitely find out I slept with another man. Lucius would kill me.

"Elara you're shivering." Mara called out, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I have to go, but promise me you won't tell anyone?" I needed to be sure this little secret of mine would be safe with her.

"Of course. But just so you know, it can't remain a secret for long." She pointed at my stomach. Baby bump... In a little while my baby bump would appear.

I nodded my head, stood up and fled back to the royal pack house.

"Where are you coming from?" I heard Lilith's voice through the hallway and I halted.

"N–no where. I went for a walk." I answered and took a few steps backwards.

Lilith walked closer to me when she noticed I was being weird. 

"What's wrong?" She asked again while looking at me scrutinizingly. "What are you hiding behind you?" She asked again.

What am I hiding behind me? Seriously? What could I be hiding?

It just takes one touch from Lilith. If her hands touch my skin, she would steal my memory and she'd probably know about my one night with a stranger and the pregnancy too.

That's how powerful her magic is.

"I believe I asked a question!?" She half yelled.

"And what's going on here Lilith?" I heaved a sigh of relief when I heard Lucius voice from behind me.

"Oh, you're here. I was just asking her a few questions." Lilith responded nonchalantly.

"I see...." He turned to me and a frown appeared on his face, "Go to your room." He ordered and I left almost running.

"She's acting weird." I heard Lilith saying to Lucius while I ran to my room. I couldn't hear his response to her because I was far away.

~

The days passed slowly after that. I stayed quiet, smaller than ever, trying to make myself disappear. I didn’t speak unless I had to. I didn’t look anyone in the eye. My whole body was tense, like a string pulled too tight.

Every second, I was scared someone would notice. That Lilith would touch me. That Lucius would look at me too long and see it the secret growing inside me.

My stomach was still flat, but I could feel something... new. Something soft. Something alive. I didn’t even have to ask. I just knew. My babies were there.

One night, I was on my way to the kitchen when I heard voices down the hall. I paused. I knew those voices. Lucius and Lilith. They were arguing. I should have walked away, but something made me stay.

"My magic isn’t working the way it should,” Lilith said. Her voice sounded angry and afraid. “Something’s wrong. I can feel it slipping. The spell—it’s breaking.”

Lucius didn’t answer right away. Then I heard a loud sound, like a chair being pushed to the ground.

“You told me it was strong,” he said. His voice was cold and heavy. “You said you could control everything.”

“I could! I always had! But now I can’t. Maybe… maybe it’s the child. The one from the prophecy... you remember right? Maybe it’s already here.”

“You’re guessing now?” Lucius barked. “You think that’s enough? If the prophecy is true, and it’s twins, then I need to know who’s carrying them now."

“You always say that,” Lilith snapped. “That you’ll fix it. That you’ll take care of everything. But you don’t! You never do! Things always fall apart after you make your big promises.”

“I said I’ll handle it,” Lucius muttered with a low growl. “If someone is carrying them, I’ll find her. And when I do, she won’t be a problem anymore.”

I felt like my legs were melting beneath me. I backed away slowly and ran back to my room. I shut the door softly, breathing so fast I thought I would faint.

He wanted to make sure I disappeared.

Goddess, save me.

That night, I curled myself on the bed, holding my belly. “Please stay hidden,” I whispered. “Please stay safe.”

My eyes were heavy. My heart felt like it was carrying a mountain. I must’ve drifted off because I didn’t hear the door open.

But I felt something strange and cold in my skin.

A hand brushed against my cheek. It was cold and shaky. I opened my eyes quickly—and saw her.

Lilith.

She was standing right above me, her eyes were wide and her face tight with anger. I couldn’t breathe. I tried to sit up but she pressed her hand on my stomach.

Her lips trembled. 

“It’s you,” she muttered slowly but loudly, “You’re the one.”

She didn’t blink.

“You’re the one carrying them.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“Please…” I whispered. My whole body was shaking now. “Please don’t tell Lucius. Please. He’ll… he’ll do something. Please, I’ll do anything, just don’t—”

But before I could finish, Lilith pulled away.

She looked at me one last time, her face twisted with something I couldn’t name—anger, fear, maybe both.

Then she turned and stormed out of the room.

I didn’t move. I didn’t blink. I just stared at the door and held my belly tight.