THE NEXT DAY
RIVERVILLE PACK
"You've been spouting nonsense since two days Seba, are you sure you don't need some medicinal herbs?"
For two days his alpha had fed him with incredible tales, how he saw a giant wolf that should be Selene's.
"Why can't you believe me? I saw it!"
It annoyed him to know his best friend and beta didn't believe him.
Chlyde sighed helplessly, then held his friend's hand.
"Who will believe your account Seba? Don't go about saying this, your people will think their alpha had become a psychotic."
Sebastene retracted his hand in exasperation. "Who's a psychotic?"
"I'm your friend Seba, don't worry no one will know you're having a mental setback, I'll keep it a secret."
How could he claim to see Selene? Can the cursed see the goddess? Even the blessed ones couldn't except the selected few who were considered pure.
Sebastene was helpless, why couldn't he believe him. "Chlyde, it was..."
"Is your mother aware you've been hallucinating?" Chlyde cut him off.
He'd no reason not to believe his alpha was delusional, else, how would he claim to see a giant wolf, not in any other place but the cursed forest?
Sebastene swallowed the rest of his words. No point wasting his time to convince his beta who thought he had lost his mind.
"Ehm.... Chylde, pretend I didn't talk about this with you."
Chlyde nodded, then rose to his feet. "Get some sleep, you look ugly with those dark circles under your eyes."
Then he left the bedroom.
Sebastene looked at the shut door for a moment, then walked over to the rear window. He opened it, and stared intently at the forest.
If it was the same wolf he saw in the book, did it mean there would be an impending peace just as it was written in the book?
But his pack was cursed, unqualified to set eyes on the goddess or enjoy her goodness.
And if it was Selene's wolf, why should it appear in a cursed forest when she was pure? Was he really hallucinating just as his beta said?
A MOON LATER
BROLN PACK
"Haven't you yet considered moving to the room I prepared for you!" Floyd asked while she was snuggled in his arm.
She shook her head. "It's already good I don't serve your luna anymore, don't worry, I'm good in the stable."
She took his hand and began to fiddle with his fingers.
"Alora?"
"Alpha, I said I'm good. Moreover what will your luna think? What of your mother? I'm not qualified to live in the royal house."
Floyd held her tightly, sniffing her hair. His heart jumped rapidly and he couldn't explain why.
"What they think doesn't matter." He whispered into her ears, then ran his tongue slowly on it.
She gasped and held his hand tightly.
"She's your luna, you love her. The other is your mother, you care about her. I'm Alora, loved by no one."
He felt a slight pain in his heart hearing her sincere words.
He couldn't help, but bend over and connected their lips.
"Do you remember that day, in the wood, I kissed you." His lips curled into a smile as he recounted.
Alora blushed as she recalled.
"It was my first kiss." His voice took a lower pitch.
"You were my first kiss Alora."
His words made her face flush in delight. She rubbed his hand gently, then began to draw lines on it. "Why are you saying this?"
He was silent for a while, then his response came. "I don't even know."
And a deep disappointment settled in her heart. She expected him to profess his love, or express how much he cared about her.
But as always, they were all wishful thoughts. Was he expecting him to love a wolf-less mate? His love should be for Hera.
Luckily she wasn't useless to him as before. If her only use as his mate was his sexual satisfaction, then so be it.
A WEEK LATER
Alora laid on the bed, her eyes slightly shut. For three days, she'd been down with a fever and had remained indoors.
"How are you today?" Floyd mind linked her. He'd been uneasy since three days.
He could feel her painful groans and chills. He wanted to go over and see her but he couldn't as it might raise eyebrows.
"No improvement." She responded faintly as her ill health had squeezed liveliness out of her voice.
Hearing her infirmed voice, he felt like thousand of spears had been pierced into his heart.
Ever since the first day he slept with Alora, he found himself clinging to her despite how hard he tried to stay away.
"Lora! I'll send someone to you, okay?" His voice was soft and soothing, exactly what she needed at that time.
"Okay."
Once he disconnected the link, he headed out to meet his beta.
Otto was in his quarter when he sighted Floyd striding to him. Surprise stole the air from his lungs as it was a rare occurrence.
Since he became the alpha of Broln pack after his father's demise, he'd rarely visited him, despite being his closest friend. He would always mind link him whenever he needed his presence.
He quickly hurried out to meet him.
"Is everything okay?" He scanned his alpha thoroughly, then stared into his eyes.
"Yeah, all is well." But his voice bore traces of worry.
"Do you want to come in?" And they made their way into the house.
After a long silence, Floyd spoke. "Alora is sick, can you please take her to the salutory?"
A look of puzzlement crossed Otto's face. Did the alpha came looking for him because Alora was sick?
"Why do you suddenly care about her?"
The last time he checked, Floyd abhorred Alora and wouldn't hesitate to punish her.
If not his intervention, she would still be anguishing in the hands of those foolish omegas.
"I.....eh...m, the thing is...phew! Never mind."
How would he tell Otto, he'd been shaking the sheets with Alora for months?
That he unknowingly marked her? That he couldn't explain why his heart beats rapidly each time he thought about her? So his words broke into stutters.
Otto knew something was odd which Floyd was unwilling to say. He raised his brows meaningfully.
"Have you fallen in love with her?"
Floyd's eyes widened, his mouth opened and closed, then he shook his head. "No...I...no."
Otto gave him a deep suspicious gaze, his eyes narrowed into slits.
"How did you know she's sick?" To the best of his knowledge, there was no closeness between his alpha and Alora.
"I...I....I heard."
Only his stutters proved he was hiding something. Otto bobbed his head.
"I see, I'll take her there immediately."
"Thank you Otto."
Thank you? Otto shot him a scrutinizing stare again.
"Is there something you wish to talk about?"
Was he really thankful because of Alora?What exactly was going on?
"Don't worry, just take her to the salutory.
He didn't wish to keep it away from his beta but was clueless on how to tell him.
He rose from the sofa and Otto followed suit. Together, they left his quarter.
Just as instructed, Otto headed to Alora's room. He pushed the door and went in. "Beta!" She called out and tried to sit up but he hurried to her.
"Don't worry, Alpha sent me." He glanced round the room and frowned.
"Why do you insist on staying here? Wasn't a room provided for you recently?"
He was aware Floyd instructed her to move from the stable but after a while didn't talk about it again.
"I like it here." Same thing she told Floyd when he asked her to leave the stable.
Otto shrugged. "The salutory will be here soon."
And just then, the door was knocked and the healer came in.
He went ahead to check her pulse and body, then a frown sipped out his face.
"Be steady." He instructed, while his palm rested on her stomach.
After a moment he retracted his palm, then stared intently at her.
"A child is growing in you, I feel a royal blood flowing through him."
Alora stared unblinking, trying to process what she'd been told.
"The child is healthy." The salutory's voice snapped her back to reality and she gawked in disbelief. Floyd's seed was growing in her?
Otto lips parted in silent surprise and he gazed at her in utmost bewilderment. How did she get pregnant and who was responsible?
"There's nothing to worry about, your ill health will go away in no distant time." Then he gave her a mixture.
"Drink this once daily to ease your discomfort, I'll send more through the beta." Then he rose and left the room.
Otto was dumb struck. His thoughts became muddled. Was she lavished? Who in Broln pack laid a finger on her? Anger began to stir within him.
But the healer said the child is royalty. Is it because of the beta blood coursing through her veins? Or the future status of the child?
"Alora?"
"Don't tell the alpha please." He could see the fear lingering in her eyes and presumed she must be panicky because of Floyd.
"Who's responsible?"
She wagged her head without saying a word, and her action convinced Otto that she must have been abused. If he should find out who did it, he wouldn't spare him!!
"Take the herbs, I'll be back." He left the room, mind-linked Floyd. "Nothing serious, she'll be fine soon."
And he heard his breath of relief. "Thank you Otto."
That night when Floyd was certain all had gone to bed, he left his room and in hurried steps headed to the stable.
Quickly, he opened the door and went in, saw her on the bed in a deep sleep.
He lowered his head and kissed her stirring her.
She turned on the bed, rubbed her eyes and slowly opened them.
"Alpha!" She called out in a low voice and stretched her hand to touch his face.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't come since." He gazed deeply into her eyes as he apologized.
"It's okay, your beta brought the salutory, he gave me some mixtures."
He kissed her again, this time deeply and longer, ignoring the taste of herbs on her lips.
"He told me, said you'll be fine in few days."
"Yeah, go back to your chamber, it's late." But he wagged his head.
"I'll remain here with you throughout the night."
And she quickly rose from the bed but slumped back when a fierce ache in the head assaulted her.
"Aarrgh!! My head." She held her head, and bit her lips in pain.
He quickly sat on the bed, slowly helped her sit, then allowed her rest her head on his shoulder.
He slowly began to massage her temple. "That's why I'll remain here tonight."
His free hand wrapped around her and she couldn't deny the comfort she felt.
"The bed is too small for two, the mattress is sagged to be comfortable for an alpha."
Though, deep in her she wanted him to stay with her, but, how could a formidable alpha like him sleep in such space and on such bed?
He placed a peck on her cheek.
"I'm a werewolf, a sagged mattress is better than the hard ground which I've slept on severally during pack wars."
Then she snuggled deeper into his body. His word made her feel loved, but recalling he had a luna who he loved, she smiled sadly.
"Don't worry, we'll manage for the night, you're ill, go back to sleep."
Obviously, nothing she said would make the man change his mind so she shut her eyes and soon fell asleep.
He carefully laid her on the bed, settled beside her and pulled her into his arm. That was the only way, they could manage the small mattress.
Before dawn, he got out of bed and exited the room but not without giving her a morning kiss in her unconscious state.
* * * *
Four days later, thanks to the herbs the healer gave her, Alora felt better.
She just came out of her room and saw some sentinels marching to her.
Her brows furrowed, she stopped and waited for them to get closer.
"The alpha requests your presence in the court."
Her heart skipped a beat, why would he request her presence or did Otto tell him about the pregnancy?
Quietly, she followed them to the court where Floyd, Hera, Layana, Waylon the seer, some elders and Otto were already seated.
"You sent for me alpha." She bowed to him and he nodded in acknowledgement.
Floyd shifted his gaze on the seer. "Repeat what you told us a while ago."
Waylon took a deep breath.
"She's the reason you can't mark your luna. She's involved in black magic and has casted a spell on you. You can never mark your luna!"
Alora gasped in horror, turned to the seer and gazed fixedly at him.
"This is false!!" She screamed in disbelief.
"In a vision I saw in your possession, a neck piece with the alpha's name inscribed on it." The seer continued, ignoring her scream.
"Selene wouldn't lie, if you're searched and no such thing exists, then no one should ever believe me again!"
"You're lying Waylon!! Selene can't accuse the innocent!!"
Floyd was momentarily stunned. She spoke with valor he never knew existed in her.
Waylon rose to his feet. "I say what Selene shows me and have been honest. Search her room."
"May the goddess strike you and your accomplices without pity if you lied with her name!! May your generations never know peace for framing me!!"
Tears streamed down her face and she quickly wiped them off. She wouldn't cry when she was innocent.
Waylon trembled slightly at her maledictions, he blinked and his stomach clenched, but regained his usual composure immediately.
The sentinels, elders, luna and Layana followed her to her room. They rummaged her room till a sentinel screamed.
"Look!!" And he raised a neck piece exactly as the seer described.
"I have no idea how it appeared in my room!!"
The tears she swore never to let out forced their way out and trickled down her face as she was dragged to the court.
Since the evidence was right before them, her judgement must be pronounced.
Use of black magic was a serious crime and its penalty was death sentence.
Alora forced her tears back, stared fixedly into Floyd's face.
"Alpha Floyd, I'm innocent." She mind-linked him.
Floyd felt her thoughts, her inner bravery. She was innocent, he believed her but how would he prove it? How would he vindicate her?
He couldn't bear to hurt her, wouldn't hurt her, much less to kill her!! But all were waiting for his judgement.
"How can we prove it?" He responded through mind link and a blanket of gloom draped over her.
He didn't believe her, he believed her accusers.
"Alora, I be...." But she shut him out, unwilling to pay attention to him. What was there to say again? He didn't believe her, but believed the seer.
Floyd tried to connect their mind-link again but couldn't. He frowned, gave her a questioning look, but she ignored him and lowered her eyes.
"Take her away!" Layana ordered and she was dragged out of the court and paraded round the pack.
How agonizing it was to be humiliated for a crime she didn't commit, and knowing Floyd didn't believed her made her more devastated.
"She didn't do it" Floyd was in a dilemma. Even Kylo insisted she was innocent, but the neck piece was an evidence.
"I don't believe she did it too." Otto suspected a foul play from Waylon.
Alora was incapable of practicing black magic. Someone had framed her and he wouldn't be surprised if the seer was part of the team.
"You have between now and mid-day to pass a judgement on her, what will you do?"
Otto was worried. If Floyd didn't deliver the judgement, he would lose his integrity as an alpha. Was it just that? A destructive war would be launched on Broln pack.
"I don't know what to do Otto! Even if she's guilty, I can't sentence her to death!"
No! His heart was tearing apart, he couldn't hurt her, not anymore.
At mid-day, the entire pack gathered before the royal house, waiting for Alora's judgement.
For the first time, tears slid down Floyd's eyes and he sobbed silently.
He couldn't afford to lose Alora, she was already a part of him. A part he couldn't let go.
"Alora!!"
He mumbled as he sobbed heartbreakingly. He'd tried to communicate with her again, to tell her she believed her, to tell her he would protect her, but she shut him out completely.
Otto was confused, why was he devastated because of her, to the point that he shed tears?
"Otto!" He shifted his grief stricken face on his beta.
"I don't want to do this! She's my mate." He spoke quietly and hoarsely.
"If I don't, other packs will jointly attack us. What will I tell my people?" He was sitting on the horns of his dilemma.
Otto clenched his fists and drew lines of worry on his face. Evidently, Floyd had developed feelings for Alora!
Or should he say the feelings Floyd once had for her before he became the alpha was back.
"Address the people in ten minutes, I'll be right back."
"Otto?" His quizzical eyes peered through him.
"Trust me alpha, ten minutes." Then he hurried out, leaving the confused, despondent alpha.