Elara;
I swallow hard, my tears making my sight blurry, “W-what…. ab-bout Malicia?” Forcing my throat to speak.
Alpha Arthur goes mute, just looking at me. Why is he not saying anything to me? Does he want me to collapse before he will decide to speak up?
“Elara,” he takes my right hand into his. “I’m sorry for not carrying out my duties properly as an Alpha. Please forgive me.”
“Why?” I whisper. “I mean, why should I forgive you when you’ve said nothing to me? What is there to forgive,” trying to snatch my hand away from his hold, but Alpha Arthur held tightly.
“Malicia was stabbed by Alpha Drakon, and…”
“No! No! Nooo! Alpha Arthur, no…”
“Calm down, Elara. Please, just try to be calm and listen to me.”
“Cool, I’m calm. Calm, yeah,” I drag in my breath, trying to control my racing heart. But It might explode in no time.
“They said she stole and killed my fated mate Veronica. She is the Princess of the RedMoon Pack.”
My hand flies to my mouth in shock as I stand stunned. Stole and killed? No, Malicia didn’t do it. This was a setup. Something was wrong. Someone else did this and framed her just to hurt her. Malicia will never hurt a fly let alone a being.
Oh, Goddess. What’s going on? I hope…
“How is she, Alpha?” My hands clutch into fists, holding me back from screaming.
“Elara…”
“Just say what it is, Alpha Arthur. I’m ready to hear it.”
“There is no positive feedback about her health yet, but Alpha Blade informed me about the healer who is trying to save her life. I know who the healer is. Before I left my pack, I had pleaded with her to pay attention to Malicia and her siblings. Didn’t know this madness would even occur.”
“How did Alpha Drakon find out about the incident?”
“Chloe.”
“What!? How???? How did Chloe get such power to get to the Alpha of another pack?”
“I’m sorry, Elara.”
“Why? Why are you the one sorry? Please stop apologizing to me and explain things.”
“It’s because of my neglect. I left the pack in the hands of Loki, but I can’t explain his reason for letting this madness go on. I have to return to the pack, Elara. I can’t stay back in the Blue Moon Pack anymore.”
“Then first thing the next morning we return. I need to set my eyes on Malicia and make sure she survives this.”
“Elara, you can’t return. I mean, not now. Alpha Maxwell will never allow you to leave with his daughter’s body. I will return and make sure Malicia is safe. I heard Alpha Blade’s Beta, Bronson, is also taking care of her.”
“Beta Bronson?” My jaw slightly drops. Beta Bronson is Alpha Blade’s Beta? Why him? Why are they connected?
“You know him?”
“Yes, I do. He’s the business partner of my ex-fiance, Gideon. My ex who cheated on me with Chlo…” I bit my tongue immediately. I shouldn’t have run my mouth too much.
Alpha Arthur steps forward, pulling me closer to him, “There is nothing for you to protect about Chloe, Elara. She is messing up my pack and I don’t know what I might do to her when I get back. So speak freely with me.”
“I was invited to a birthday party by Malicia, only for me to find out my ex, Gideon and Chloe were dating. He was kissing and touching her in the presence of everyone. Family and friends. I got mad and wanted to take my revenge on him by sleeping with his best friend, but…” I pause my words.
“That was how you ended up with me that night?”
Nodding my head in a ‘yes’ response, I breathe in hard.
“Does your father know about Chloe and Gideon’s relationship?”
“I don’t think so. He wasn’t present that day. It was just my stepmother and other extended family members. But even if my father finds out the truth, still won’t change anything. He doesn’t care about me.”
Why was I pouring all these to Alpha Arthur? I’ve not forgiven him for what he did to me. Even if he sounds like someone who might understand my pain, he also caused me a lot more pain.
“You’ve been through a lot, Elara. Just try to have some rest. I don’t know when the soul switching will finally take place but when it does, you can return to the pack if you choose to. I don’t want to force you to make that decision, but just know I will be waiting for you. I need to head in now. Let me inform Alpha Maxwell and the others that I’m leaving tomorrow,” Alpha Arthur makes to step away but I reach for his hand.
“Wait, Alpha.”
He halts his steps, looking at me with a raised brow.
Clearing my throat, “Did you release that sex video of us?” I don’t know what I want to achieve by asking him, but I think this is the best thing to do.
“No, I didn’t. Why would I want to hurt you?”
“What about the poison that killed my child?”
“I didn’t do it. I can’t hurt you, Elara. Trust me,” he sounds so honest, and I believe him. Don’t understand why but I do believe him. “Elara, I know someone is after you, and wants to hurt you badly, I believe that person did all of it. I will look into everything when I return.”
“It was our child,” I voiced out.
“What!?” Alpha Arthur stares at me. Confused.
“The child I was carrying, it’s yours. I was pregnant for you, Alpha Arthur.”
“Elara, don’t play tricks with me. Please. When….?” He grabs my arms tightly, and I feel the sharpness of his claws in my skin. It was painful. But I know so well not to scream it out, it will make him let go. Alpha Arthur was reacting to the shock of the news, so I let him hurt me.
“Yes, Alpha Arthur, the child is yours. I was planning on telling you on the day we got home from the restaurant. But when you returned to the room with that tea, and I…” My words stop in my throat as I see the tears that wells up in his eyes.
He is frankly hurt, and I know his heart is ripping into a million pieces. Having an heir to the throne as an Alpha is like having the world to yourself. Their pups were like a symbol of hope to them and no Alpha could stand losing a child.
“I’m very sorry for keeping this away from you. I didn’t know how you would react to it if I told you about it. Didn’t want to get killed or…”
“Come here,” he pulls me closer to himself. My body against his. Stroking my hair, “I’m also sorry, Elara, for making you go through a lot. This whole thing fucking hurts. I don’t know how to feel about this, but I’m sorry I didn’t fulfill my duties to you. I promise things will get better. I wish this was your real body, I would have kissed some of your pains away.”
His words soothing my heart. I’ve judged and condemned this man wrongfully without getting to actually know him. Probably it was because of the circumstances surrounding our meeting. The first day, and the rest of the days we met weren’t pleasant, but I’m grateful I met him.
“Ahem!… this is an open space, lovebirds,” Nova calls out and we break off the hug.
For some minutes, we’d both forgotten we shouldn’t be seen in such a position. I’m still the bearer of Nova’s body.
“I will leave you two,” Alpha Arthur informs and walks away.
“He’s returning to the pack, Nova,” I turn toward her. “What will you do to earn your stay?”
“I know he will. I heard about the death of Princess Veronica, and how Alpha Arthur’s pack is in great chaos. For my stay, this is where you come in. But I came to speak with you about something else. You need to help me, Elara.”
“What do you want?”
“Beta Goddard and his family are inside. They came bearing good news. Josephine is pregnant, and I know that child belongs to David. I can’t stand it, Elara. I need to expose both of them before everyone, and you are the one who can make it possible,” I hear the desperation that fills her voice.
“How, Nova? I’m confused.”
I want to help Nova. I frankly want to help. But how?