Emery’s POV
Getting rid of Arabella’s child was easier said than done. If Margaret had been strict about her diet before, it was nothing on what she did now. Every food was prepared in front of her or by her. Everything was carefully supervised because of Arabella’s so-called pregnancy sensitivities. And I had to be careful about what I did.
I was trying to assassinate the heir to the Lupo-Mortale pack. It was one thing to make sure none of the women in the harem conceived, it was another to murder an unborn but already-formed child. I could trust no one, not even my mother who supplied me with the drug. Any lapse on my side would terminate my life untimely.
I was trying to improve the quality of my life and not get myself killed. I paced the length of my room in the harem. A tiny space compared to the expanse that Arabella now occupied. I swallowed the bitter thought and let it harden inside me.
An idea occurred to me as if born of my envy. I just had to kill the child in any way possible. I didn’t need an abortifacient. What was that saying? The enemy of an enemy was a friend. Even if the said friend was a bitch.
I would be taking a risk but one that was well thought out. I picked up the phone and called a friend. “I need you to get a number for me.”
In minutes my phone buzzed and I had it.
A direct line to Anastasia Creole.
I stared at it then took a burner phone from my closet that I used only to communicate with Mum about the drugs. It would do.
The line rang and when she picked up, her voice was irritated. “Who is this?”
“Someone who knows how you can avenge your cousin’s death and get even with Luciano for your humiliation…”
“Go on.”
********
Arabella’s POV
It was a sorry thing when you were trying to gain attention but your muse was busy.
“Luciano.”
He ignored me pulling on his outfit.
“Luciano.” I took off my robe.
Without looking at me, he spoke.
“Put your clothes back on Arabella, you can’t distract me today. It’s a very important celebration and I’m already late as it is.”
“All the more reason not to go.” I lazily began to push the thin straps of my nightdress down to expose my boobs. “Or you could take me along. I promise not to bite. Mostly.”
Luciano crossed the distance between us and took my lips in a punishing kiss so hard that it drew blood and I could taste the copper of my blood in the kiss.
For wolves who still didn’t know the direction in which their situation was going, we had a lot of sex. In his bed, in mine, against the wall, and any other available flat surface I could rest comfortably on or at least semi-comfortably on.
He pulled away from me. “I can’t take you anywhere. I have too many enemies. I can’t risk anything happening to you and our child. When I have taken care of them all, it will be safe for you to come out. I will be back as soon as I can.”
I sighed heavily. It was worth a shot. There was no way he would take me out. It was ‘too dangerous ‘.
“I know. I guess I’ll miss you a bit.” Yes, the waterworks could work. A tear dropped from my eyes. I waited for him to melt instead Luciano laughed.
“That’s not going to fly with me, Arabella. You will stay with Margaret in your quarters, for the rest of the party. If you need anything, just ask Margaret.”
I picked up my robe and stood up. “Fine, fine you win. I’ll go. ” Luciano caught my arm as I tried to leave though.
“Wait, I need to talk to my child first.” He dropped his lips to my belly and stage whispered. “When you come out, don’t be stubborn like your mother, you should take after me and come out cool and sensible.”.
Luciano? Cool and sensible? Luciano was already lying to our unborn child. I would have argued fiercely but I knew that the child couldn’t really hear us right now. Right?
Once I had the baby though, the things I would teach it, I smirked hastily to myself, it would shock the hell out of him.
I left the room feeling more like myself. I had movies to watch, food to eat and sleep to catch up on.
**********
Alpha Luciano’s POV
I hated the way I felt Arabella’s absence at the party.
When I told her that with the shadows of our parents hovering above us that I wasn’t sure if we would ever get close I meant it. The way things were now, I knew we were going to end up hurting each other or more specifically I would end up hurting Arabella who apparently wore her heart on her sleeve when she wasn’t scheming on how to bankrupt me with Natasha who had already left the country.
“Luciano.” Uncle Tommaso drew me out of my head as he stood with several delegates all dressed to the nines. The meeting house’s hall was bubbling, good music was playing, delicious wine was flowing and beautiful she-wolves abounded. My sort of scene.
I recalled Arabella’s downcast face when I told her that she would be unable to come.
“Uncle.” I smiled broadly walking towards my guests. She would be fine. Once I was done with the Creoles, she could attend all the parties she wanted.
*******
Arabella’s POV
I was watching a movie or more accurately dozing while watching one when we heard the thud. Margaret and I froze for an instant. Something was wrong. Luciano had assigned me three guards to protect me, unlike the full contingent he actually wanted to as it would be too attention-catching. Now I could hear the sounds of brawling outside my room.
Margaret gestured for me to wear my slippers and follow her. My set of rooms had a connecting room that I could use to escape this place.
The pack house was almost empty due to the number of people that had gone to the party. I got up thankful that I was wearing a flannel top and shorts instead of my usual silk night dress.
I wore my shoes and took Margaret’s hand as we walked quietly and quickly into the connecting room locking the door behind us before continuing on. Margaret scoped out the walkway. It was empty.
Where would we go to? The meeting house? Or could we just go to Alpha Luciano’s office and hide there until he returned? Or Margaret could mind link him. The only problem with the latter idea was that Luciano was currently out of the range for a mind link.
I heard the crashing of wood as they broke down the door of my room. Margaret reached for me and we were running down the hallway. Margaret was calling Luciano’s cell. It was ringing but he didn’t pick it up. I was so nervous I could puke. My hand hovered protectively over my belly.
“We need to get out of the pack house. It’s almost empty and those nen have your scent, if we can’t hide from them then this is the only way out.” Margaret informed me.
I concurred. As we began to move, however, two masked attackers stood in the walkway blocking us off from the route to the gate. One on either side of us. How had they gotten here quickly? Except there were many companies of men hired to kill me.
I felt fear grip me as I stumbled to the back as Margaret positioned herself in front of me and looked between both men before drawing a gun and shooting one in a fluid movement.
The other jumped on me, his dagger looking so dark, curved, wicked and sharp. I punched his throat wondering where that move had come from…
The man stumbled back and then got his feet under him as he tried to stab me again and this time, I had no recourse.
I had zero combat training. I couldn’t fight against him. It happened so quickly. Then Margaret was there pushing me away and I landed on my back on the floor. The man’s momentum carried and he impaled Margaret. I screamed. Margaret saw the dagger sticking out of her and raised her hands as though to hit the man’s chest only she snapped his neck quickly, and efficiently and his body fell to the ground with a thud.
Margaret dropped to the ground and I cradled her in my arms, tears filling my eyes.
“Margaret. Margaret, please talk to me. You are going to be just fine.”
Margaret tried to speak but all that could come up was blood. “You… you need to run. Now. ”
I shook my head. “No. I can’t leave you behind.” My arms shook around her. Margaret who had always been there for me. Helping me out often at her own detriment. Margaret who still hadn’t found her daughter.
“This dagger is wolfsbane-coated silver.” Margaret panted, her voice becoming weaker. “The…these men intend to kill you. You must escape.”
I sobbed harder.
“For the heir.”
I touched my belly. I couldn’t let myself die here. I have to protect my child who couldn’t protect themselves. I just had to abandon my dearest friend to do so.
Margaret couldn’t speak anymore. She just glared at me with tears glistening in her eyes. I gathered 0my strength.
“Thank you.” I dropped a kiss on her brow. Thank you for being my friend, thank you for being a wonderful person I didn’t deserve, thank you…
Then I stood up and did one of the most difficult things I had ever done. I ran away from my dying friend and ally.