"My Love, "What exactly is going on?" Alaric asked the moment I entered the room with him while fuming with both my hands balled into a fist and my beast growling.
I hate and regret the fact that I didn't deal with her sooner and gave her the chance to fucking kidnap me. If I had dealt with her the same way I dealt with my mother and sister, she would have never had the chance to do what she did.
"It's about that bitch, Jenny," I said. On hearing her name and knowing that I was about to tell him what was going on and how Jenny was the one who used to poison me and also had me kidnapped, he walked closer to me, resting his hands on my shoulder and gently patting them in an attempt to make me calm.
"No matter what she did, she's not worth you stressing out like this. You need to remain calm for our child's health and just let me deal with her," he said.
I was going to tell him the truth about her in any case, because I wanted him to deal with her mercilessly, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to speak.
Not because I was having a change of heart about torturing and killing Jenny, but because I now know that she's pregnant. It sucks.
I could decide to punish her and her unborn child either way, but the child is innocent and has nothing to do with this. I've been in a helpless situation with my child, and I know how it might feel. I wouldn't want anything to happen to my baby and would sacrifice myself instead without thinking twice. I've felt such a bond with the child, and I know she would have too.
My wolf wants nothing more than to inflict great pain on her without caring if her child would survive, but the mothering part of me can't help but take the unborn child into consideration, and I hate the fact that I am like this. I shouldn't be pitying anything that has to do with her.
What kind of reckless person would want a child with a bitch like her?
"It's nothing; you'll know later," I replied with a sigh of stress, massaging my temples to soothe the ache in my head.
"Lenora," Alaric said.
"Yeah?" I answered, lifting my eyes to meet his.
"I trust you with your decision because you are wiser and stronger than me, but if I later find out that someone is being a huge threat to you, I wouldn't wait a second before ripping their hearts out and feeding it to the hungry vultures," he said as my lips curled into a smile.
"Thank you," I said, after which he planted a kiss on my forehead.
I can't afford to tell Alaric the truth about Jenny yet; at least until she puts herself to bed, I'll hand her over to Alaric myself. Since she'll be dead, the child can be placed in an orphanage for young wolves. It deserves to at least see the world and take a better path than that of its mother.
"The feast is about to begin; shall we go?" Alaric asked, stretching his arms to take mine, but it was only then that I realized that I was still putting on the hospital gown and had not changed into something better.
"Alaric, for heaven's sake, do you want me to be embarrassed by looking like this at a feast made for me?" I asked with a chuckle as his eyes trailed down my body.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about; you're one hot and sexy pregnant wolf." He teased with a raised brow while biting on his lips in a sexy manner, causing me to laugh as I rolled my eyes. I needed to change the topic of the discussion because if I continued with it, then I might as well not attend my feast because I'd be too busy finishing some business with the hot wolf in front of me.
I'm almost due; I shouldn’t be having thoughts like this in my head. It might not be safe for the child, but at the same time, what if it was just a little? Just the tip?
"Snap out of it," I said to myself.
"But I need something to wear," I said, my tone changing to serious as his brows lifted and his lips pursed.
"I'll send for something that'll fit you," he replied.
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The hall suddenly became quiet, and the minute a guard announced Alaric's and my presence, different wolves turned their heads to look at us. Suddenly, a lot of eyes were on me, making me uncomfortable, but at the same time, I realized that I was going to be the queen soon. I should get used to the number of stares that will follow me as I walk.
"You look so beautiful," Alaric whispered in my ears. This would be his tenth compliment to me since seeing the dress on me. It was a wine-coloured gown with prints of roses on it. It had an off-shoulder arm, revealing my neck and my shoulders. I adorned the outfit with some accessories, like a pearl necklace, straight and long pearl earrings, and some diamond bangles that Alaric gifted me.
Apparently, every month since I left, he has stocked my jewellery box with some new accessories, hoping that one day I'd return and wear them for him to see.
"And you look dashing as always," I replied, watching the colour of his cheeks flash into a deeper red while he bit on his lower lips to prevent himself from smiling hard.
"You know, I'm honestly hard right now," he whispered, causing me to laugh before I realized that I was in the spotlight and that numerous wolves were watching me right now. Every single wolf in the serene pack was here, and I could spot some familiar faces. They all look so different and have grown in some way.
"Should we do something about that after the feast?" I asked, teasing him even more.
"You know I'd love that," he replied.
"It's a joyful night for us all as we welcome back the Luna of the serene Pack and all the packs across the world," Alaric said, shouting at the top of his lungs as the crowd echoed a joyful noise.
"Let us eat, drink, dance, and be merry as we like all through the night without worrying about a thing," he added. They echoed another joyful noise, but this time with their beers lifted to the ceiling as they started to party and dance while Alaric held my hands softly, never letting go.
My eyes came into contact with the one and only Jessica, the bitch who wouldn't rest until she bullied me, but the moment her eyes met with mine, she blinked away in embarrassment in an attempt to avoid making eye contact with me.
With a scoff leaving my lips, I looked away from her and focused on the happy wolves in the hall.
"It's a nice family you have here," Simon said, as he approached us from the crowd with a bottle of beer in his hands.
"How are you enjoying it here?" I asked with a smile.
"It's fun and more lively than Latvera. It almost seems like everyone here has their own soul," he said.
"Everyone but me," he added, with a chuckle as he chucked down his beer to some extent.
"You should go around more and make yourself recognized as a new member of the pack," Alaric said. The bad blood he had with Simon seems to have been fading away because not a single muscle of his was tensed as he spoke to Simon.
"I already did that. I had no choice but to tell everyone because they kept on giving me a dirty look and growling at me." He laughed, and I joined him in laughing as the music continued and everyone partied.
"Your highness, you can't do this to me. Please, your highness." A loud screech was heard coming from the pathway of the dungeon. My body could instantly recognize that wretched voice, and my wolf was immediately filled with rage.
"How did she lose free?" I asked, staring at her as she staggered along, her feet stained with blood and her torn clothes revealing the wolfsbane sores. I thought she wasn't meant to move a muscle, so how could she be here saying a word?
"Seize her!" I commanded the guards while my piercing eyes never left her wretched face.
"Please, your highness, save me!" She begged Alaric. I turned to look at Alaric, who stood unfazed by her pleas, and I could sense the disgust in his face.
"The next time she causes a scene, you won't be spared either," Alaric said, referring to the guard who seized her.
"Please, your highness, I'm carrying a child." She yelled from afar while being dragged away and while struggling with the guard. She has a lot of strength for someone who has been bathed in wolfsbane.
"I'm carrying your child," she yelled. Her words rang in my ear, causing my body to freeze in shock, my heartbeat to pause, and my tongue-tied in bewilderment.