Chapter 04: Uktena heir?!
Ethan looked at the Lycan King with surprise.
"Well, that's exactly what you heard. And you know what the best part of that story is? He wants to find her just because of her unique scent and blah blah blah." Leila sneered, causing Lyall to let out a loud roar in her direction.
"Enough already! Leila, it's clear to me that you don't respect me and you don't respect my
decisions. Get out of here!"
"What do you mean by that? I am your advisor, personally appointed by your mother before she
died." Leila looked stunned.
"I believe that if she knew how much you disrespect me, she would never have chosen you as my counselor. Now go away." The Lycan King was firm in his words, waiting for Leila to leave so he could continue the conversation with Ethan.
"You mean you're in love with a complete stranger? She must be very beautiful."
"It's not just her beauty. There's something else about that woman, but I can't identify it."
"Right! Let's go in search of your mystery woman. Where do you think we should start?" Ethan points to the map.
"Well... the nightclub and the motel where we were together are in Fangville, and from what I can see, they're also in the province of Nifhil."
"That's right."
"Which packs are in those cities?"
"Dawn Lupine Clan, Wild Wolf Pack, Fire Wolf Clan. But they are all subordinate to two main packs: Silver Claws and Uktena." Ethan explains.
"The Lupine Clan and the Fire Wolves weren't allies? What happened?"
"As far as I know, after the Umeris pack was brutally attacked, they became afraid and allied themselves with the packs they considered stronger, the Silver Claws and Uktena."
"So, while we look for my future mate, how about we try to recover some important allies?"
"Great idea, Lycan King."
"Gather some allies. We'll leave early tomorrow morning for Lupinia."
"Yes, sir!" Ethan bows to the Lycan king and leaves his room, leaving him alone with the bright moonlight in the sky. Selene also took a moment to admire the beauty of the moon, getting distracted from her chores and accidentally spilling some water on Kyma, who angrily stands up and approaches the distracted girl.
"Are you an idiot, Selene? Look what you've done to my brand new blouse."
"I'm sorry, I got distracted."
"I noticed that. But what are you going to do about it?"
"It's just water. It will dry."
"How dare you answer me back? You're insignificant," Kyma shouts in anger.
"I already apologized. Didn't you hear me? And if I'm so insignificant, why don't you do my job?" Selene replies, leaving the water pitcher on the table and turning away. But just as she was about to leave the dining room, Ian appears.
"What's going on here?"
"This little woman decided to rebel against me. She even poured water on me," Kyma plays the victim.
Ian looks at Selene with his eyes completely red, his anger and contempt evident. "How dare you treat my guest like this?"
"I apologize, it was not intentional. I just got distracted."
"Go back in there and finish what you started."
"Can I go to the bathroom first? I'm not feeling well." Selene furrows her eyebrows, holding her stomach.
"That's great. Pretending to be sick to get out of work." Kassia speaks up, sitting at the table with a glass of wine in her hand.
Before she could even respond to the snobbish woman's offensive comment, Selene feels a sudden wave of nausea and can't help herself, throwing up all over Ian, who is furious.
"Look what you've done," Ian raises his hand to Selene, at which point Kailel arrives with important news.
"Ian, we've been informed that the Lycan King is in Lupinia City."
"Damn, and now this. Let's be on high alert; it's obvious he's come to claim allies."
"I'll make sure the packs don't rebel." Kailel was already leaving when he heard his mother calling him.
"Why, instead of being aggressive and hostile, don't we invite him to eat with us? It would be very convenient for us to meet Lycan Alpha in person, don't you think?"
"Kassia is right. Keep your friends close and your enemies close. We don't know anything about the new king; we need to know our enemy a little better if our goal is to dominate the entire kingdom. Kailel, ask someone to make the invitation". Ian gives the order.
"It is not necessary. I want to make the invitation myself. Nothing like the alpha of an important pack for that task. I will go immediately."
"I'll go with you."
"With that sour smell? You should take a bath. I'll convince you." Kailel stares at his friend and ally and then looks at the pale face of Selene, who asks to be excused, explaining that she was still not feeling well. Kassia looks at her suspiciously.
"For now, I'll let you go. But stay tuned, because if all goes well, we will have a very important visit. "
Without saying a word, Selene just sighs and passes through the kitchen, where she finds Ayda, the omega who has long served the leaders of the Silver Claws pack.
"What happened, Selene?"
"I'm not feeling well. I'm dizzy and nauseous, and to make matters worse, I just threw up on Ian. It was tense!" The beautiful she-wolf sits in a chair in front of a table with a basket of fruit in the center, watching Ayda pour a glass of water.
"Thank you!"
"You're welcome. But... Selene, since when have you been having these symptoms?"
"About a week now, I think.
"How is your menstrual period?"
"My menstrual period” Selene furrows her thin eyebrows, puzzled.
"Come to think of it, I'm late."
"That's wonderful, Selene, if you're pregnant with Mr. Ian's child, he'll have to stop mistreating you and consequently everyone in the pack. After all, it is the Uktena heir you are carrying. It is a blessing". Ayda rejoices.
However, Selene worries because, apart from the fact that she and Ian have had little intimacy, the Uktena Alpha has always made a point of being cautious, making it clear that he had no intention of breeding with his mate and that he only intended to use her to satisfy his more selfish desires. In other words, if she really was expecting a baby, it would not be Ian's, but the mystery man with whom she had had a single night of intense pleasure. Selene knew she needed time to understand what was really happening to her body, and from that moment on, any decision she made would change the course of her destiny.
"Ayda, until I confirm that I'm really pregnant, could you keep it a secret? I don't want to create false expectations," Selene tries to keep calm, hearing the Silver Claws pack servant agree.
As Selene made her way to her room, the fear of the possibility of being pregnant consumed her. She remembered the intense night with the mysterious man, a mixture of passion and despair, and now her mind was filled with uncertain thoughts of what might come next. The chains that held her captive seemed even heavier as she thought about the uncertain future of a possible pregnancy. That night, as the moon shone in all its splendor, Selene found herself looking up at the sky, leaning on the window, seeking comfort in the silver glow that illuminated the darkness. With tear-filled eyes, she whispered her thoughts:
"Oh, moon... I wish you could hear me and guide me in this time of anguish. I don't know what to do, I am feeling a whirlwind of emotions inside me. I am trapped in this house, with no hope of escape, and now with this terrifying fear of being pregnant. How can I protect a child in this cruel place?"
As she spoke, a gentle breeze caressed her face, as if the moon was responding to her venting. Selene felt a slight comfort in this connection with nature. She continued:
"I know I shouldn't have surrendered to him, but desperation overwhelmed me that night. I was tired of being treated like an object, and he showed me a glimmer of affection I had never known. But now, everything seems even worse. If I'm pregnant, what will become of us? I don't want my child to grow up in this environment of cruelty. I have to think about what to do; our freedom and safety depend only on me." Selene touches her belly, letting out a deep sigh.