ARTEMISIA
My mouth still feels incredibly dry as I walk behind Rachel, who leads me through the large hallways to my doctor’s appointment.
As if it wouldn’t suffice that I’m crazily agitated because of the check-up, I have Hendrick’s words resounding in my head.
I gasp lowly as I suddenly realise that he has been waiting for so long and hasn’t even gotten a real kiss for me.
‘He did get something else, though,’ Cassy says with a giggle, making me blush.
Well, thank you for that image now.
Clearing my throat, I try to get my concentration back on the issue lying in front of us.
“I heard you lost your mate last night. Sorry to see that you are having problems.” I ignore her blunt provocation as she sighs. “But you know, you don’t have to feel ashamed. It happens often between chosen mates.”
I bite my tongue, Cayden’s words about not falling for her dirty tricks resounding in my head as she dishes out another one. “At least you will soon be free of this burden.”
She smiles over her shoulder as we turn the corner, walking down the stairs into a sterile white hall. “It’s just at the end of this passage.”
Lifting her hand, she gestures down the hall where a passage leads below an arched bow, and I force a smile at her. “Thank you.”
“You know,” she says, making me halt in my tracks to turn around. “I sent him away because I don’t find it appropriate to… spend… time with a man who is here with his pregnant partner, but as soon as your pup is born and the marks are gone, I won’t show the same restraint and accept his proposal.”
I scoff, turning back around to finally reach the doctor’s office. “I’m surprised, Patricia. I didn’t know you had any kind of morals in you.”
“I know exactly that my people are waiting for me to come back, and I know how much Cayden is suffering because of me, so I wouldn’t get used to his attention too much. He will be thrilled to take me back. At least, he won’t have to share me.”
Halting in my tracks, I close my eyes shortly, trying to convince myself to just walk away, but I just can’t.
“That’s not what I heard. And you must be delusional to think that he would take you back and choose you over me. Also, I would appreciate it if you addressed my mate with his proper title. I don’t remember him being so confident with you.”
She chuckles, holding the back of her hand in front of her face as if we were in some drama re-enactment. “Oh, dear. You are so naive, and I pity you so much. But you wouldn’t understand. You two aren’t fated mates.”
“You must have bumped your head,” I murmur, turning around to walk forward but she stops me again.
“I’m glad he didn’t forget about me,” she giggles, making me turn once more. “I heard that he killed an Omega for just mentioning my name. Maybe you are too unperceptive or gullible to have missed that he erected a wall in his mind whenever I was close to not making you feel what he felt. I know him better than anyone. The moment you ask him, he will tell you that he did it because he didn’t want you to feel his anger towards me, but I know better.”
Rolling my eyes, I turn around with the conviction not to turn back to her, and she raises her voice, ascertaining that I will hear every one of her last words loud and clear. “But hate is not the opposite of love, Luna Artemisia. It’s indifference. As long as he is angry, that’s okay for me as it proves to me that he still has love and passion flickering for me in his heart.”
‘That chick is insane!’ Cassy growls and I pick up my pace until I find myself standing in front of the doctor’s office.
I take a deep breath, knocking against the door and a muffled voice invites me to step in.
After opening the door, I make a small curtsy as I spot one of the judges standing next to the doctor.
‘The asshole judge,’ Cassy gasps, making me shake myself to keep me from rolling my eyes.
“Luna Blackwood, please, take a seat.” He gestures to the chair in front of the doctor’s desk and I take a few hurried steps to take my seat.
A petite she-wolf appears at my side, flashing me a kind smile before she hands him a cup of steaming liquid. “Thank you, my dear.”
“Here, would you mind drinking that for me?” He leans down to pass me the cup and I take it reluctantly. “It’s a special tea which suppresses the mate bond. It will make sure that you can be yourself and unconcerned while you talk with us. And please rest assured that it is unharmful to your pup.”
I nod, and I’m just about to drink the tea as Hendrick’s words resound in my head.
It’s important for you to know to make the best of your interrogation and medical assessment.
Smiling up at him, I scoot to the edge of my seat to put the cup down on the table. “I won’t be needing that.”
“I beg your pardon?” The judge asks while lifting his brow.
I fold my hands in my lap, looking at him with a relaxed expression. “I can be myself even without suppressing my bond. And I never have to be afraid of letting them feel what I feel. Also, I wouldn’t want him to worry while he isn’t feeling my emotions, and as I’m pregnant, I would like to have the security that he would feel if something were to happen to me, so he could reach me in time in case of an emergency. I had a lot of people attacking me, and I can’t know for how long this tea would actually take effect.”
“Very well,” he says with a small nod. And I finally can understand what my mates meant to tell me as I can clearly recognise the disgust flickering through his eyes.
He turns to the royal doctor, gesturing towards me with his head. “If you may.”
The doctor gets up and makes me lie on a small bed where he proceeds to take my blood and measure my blood pressure. He listens to my heartbeat as well as into my lungs and even feels for my small bump before he leaves the room to fetch the machine for doing an ultrasound.
“Would you mind lifting your blouse for me, please,” he asks me as he prepares the gel and the machine for the check-up.
My heart flips as I sit up slightly. “Could you call my mate in for this? It is the first ultrasound I’m getting.”
“I’m afraid that I can’t allow that, Luna Blackwood,” the judge answers, making me lay back down with a sulk.
I flinch as the cold gel hits my belly and I take a deep breath, clasping the metal bars on the side of the bed. Turning my head, I concentrate on the image of the small pups and tears well up in my eyes.
“Oh, congratulations, Luna. It appears that you are expecting twins,” the doctor says elatedly, making my heart jump out of my chest.
“Oh, my Goddess,” I whisper, gulping painfully.
‘They are beautiful, babe,’ Cayden’s voice rumbles through my head as he receives the pictures I’m sending him through the mind-link.
I laugh, crying happy tears as I listen to their heartbeat beat in harmony with mine. ‘Yes, they are.’
After finishing the check-up and cleaning me up, the doctor bows and thanks me for the collaboration before he leaves the room.
“I will have the test results ready for tomorrow evening, Your Honor,” he adds before he closes the door, leaving me alone with the judge.
“Please, Luna Blackwood.” He points to the armchair next to him and I sit down into it with my heart beating into my throat.