Claire’s P. O. V
“Why do you seem much gloomier than the last time we met, Lady Halle?” Andara Spencer handed me a cup of warm tea.
It was the same question that had been asked by several people I had met recently. Am I really that gloomy? Do I really show my jealousy so clearly on my face for everyone to see?
I shook my head. “I’ve just been feeling a bit more tired than usual lately,” I replied.
“Oh, have you consulted with a doctor at the mansion?” This time Andara looked worried.
The woman who indirectly became the mediator and leader of the Rogue Wolves in this neutral forest area had openly shown her concern for me since we first met, when I was kidnapped to this place.
I had heard that Andara was a former Elder who held power in The Moon Fall Pack, but unable to endure the cruelty of Christopher Gale, the false Alpha, Andara fled and eventually joined the Rogue Wolves.
“Lady Halle prefers to rest in her room rather than call a doctor. And she always insists that she is fine,” Octa suddenly chimed in, sitting next to me.
I frowned, regretting Octa’s comment in front of Andara. Because of that, Andara looked even more worried.
She put down her tea cup and began to take my hand, placing her fingers on my wrist as if checking my pulse. No. Wait, was she really doing that? Could she actually perform a doctor’s job?
No. I also put down my cup and tried to free my hand from Andara. “N-no! Andara, you don’t need to do this-”
“Lady Halle,”
“Huh?”
“How long have you been feeling uncomfortable like this? Do you often lose your appetite and crave specific foods?”
“What, no! I-I’m not like that,” I replied nervously. “I have been losing my appetite more often lately, but not with choosing foods, because I was never taught to be picky since childhood.”
What is this? Why are all my childhood memories returning at a time like this? When Nurse Alberta started teaching me to eat, giving me broccoli that tasted like soap on my tongue, and telling me not to be choosy about what I ate.
“Lady Halle,” Andara brought me back to reality.
I looked at her and around, why was everyone gathering and watching me? This felt increasingly strange, even Octa did not move, as if he didn’t mind people making me the spotlight.
“Does Alpha Ethan know you are having these difficulties?” She asked again.
I nodded. “He often asks me to eat with him, but I always refuse, not even touching the food delivered to my room. But this isn’t a big deal because I can’t get sick just by skipping a few meals,” I replied. But Andara’s expression showed that she did not like that.
“You might not. But the successor of The Silver Fire Pack might not get enough nutrition to survive in here.”
“W-what do you mean by that?!” Danny looked panicked. “Don’t tell me Lady Halle is pregnant?!”
“Danny, my son. Calm down, this isn’t something you need to worry about like this.”
“But Octa! Lady Halle-”
“Why are you asking me? I just found out about this good news too.”
“W-what the hell is this?” Danny cursed again, while Octa and Andara looked very excited about the news.
Yes. What is actually happening here? Pregnant? Is she crazy? There’s no way I’m pregnant, right? Just a few nights of sex in the last two months with Ethan, there’s no way I’m pregnant. This is too crazy and unbelievable to be considered good news.
“Andara, you must be mistaken, no one is pregnant here.”
“Yes, of course, it’s you. With everything you’re feeling and another pulse in your body, I am sure you are pregnant.”
“No… this can’t be happening.” I denied it, shaking my head while trying to free my hand from Andara.
“Lady-”
“I am not his Luna, and this child should not exist.”
“What the-argh!”
Danny, who was about to curse, immediately stopped. He scratched the back of his head, grumbled for a moment then took a deep breath before finally squatting in front of me.
I shook my head, then pushed Danny away. “No, Danny. Don’t do this!”
“Lady, you shouldn’t say that because no matter what-”
“No matter what, I have to take revenge on Christopher Gale, and this child should never have existed.”
Yes! This child should not be here. Because if people in the packhouse know, then Lucy Torrance will get rid of it, and so will Ethan, who surely won’t like it.
“Lady, please listen to me,” Danny, who was still squatting in front of me, tried to convince me that even though Ethan behaved badly towards enemies and rivals, he would never reject the presence of this child.
“So, let’s tell the Alpha.” He persuaded me.
But I shook my head. “No. Return to the packhouse and leave me here for a while.”
“But-”
I turned to leave them, and I saw Andara stop Danny from chasing me. I didn’t know what they were discussing, but I saw Danny arguing with Andara and Octa, while I quickly entered the caravan that Andara had once offered me for rest.
Because of confusion and fear, I didn’t know what to do. Outside, I could still hear Danny and the others debating about this child.
Child… is there really a child in your belly? Did I truly have that with Ethan?
I touched my stomach. I couldn’t feel anything, but wouldn’t it be bad if I were happy with its presence?
Yes, of course. There would be a lot of opposition if Ethan knew about this, and it would become even worse if I stayed here and avoided Ethan or Lucy Torrance. They would soon find out and get rid of this child from me.
“Why do you have to come at the wrong time… when Lucy Torrance has not yet ascended to become the Luna?” I mumbled while stroking my flat stomach.
*Knock… knock…*
I heard a knock, then Danny entered with Octa and Andara.