Chapter 5 Fight back

"Talk to me, Sara. Please," Myra whispered, gripping my shoulders. "Whatever it is. I can handle it."

I looked at her for a moment, and then pushed myself from her arms so I could break the news.

"I'm pregnant," I said, my voice was barely above a breath.

Myra's eyes widened. "What?"

I looked away, shame creeping up my face. "Not here. Please."

Without another word, Myra wrapped an arm around me and led me down the back stairwell, away from the main hells and into the shadows of the servant's quarters.

We reached Myra's shared room, it was tiny but at least it was familiar. I paused by the door and checked both sides of the hall, my instincts screaming caution.

Once I was sure we were alone, I stepped inside.

"I didn't choose this, you know," I began, my voice trembling.

"I know," She said gently, sitting across from me. "Tell me everything."

I hesitated, then let the words spill.

"The Luna picked me a month ago. She said I was suitable but didn't specify what it was for. There were other girls too, the ones I mentioned earlier today. I wonder what really happened to them."

I swallowed, clutching the sides of the bed in terror. "He didn't even look at me. He just did what he came to do. And the Luna, she said I had to get pregnant or she would kill me."

"Like she did to those girls," The words left her lips in a daze and I nodded. "She never freed them, did she."

I nodded again, and this time, a single tear slipped from my eyes. "I didn't want this. I didn't ask for this."

"Sara," she called softly.

"And now I'm carrying his heir, and no one can ever know."

Tears welled in Myra's eyes as she crossed the room and knelt beside me. "I'm so sorry. You've been carrying this alone all this time?"

I nodded. "Please don't tell anyone. I'm begging you, for your safety and mine."

"I swear on my life," Myra said, her voice was thick with emotion. "No one will hear a word from me."

We sat in silence for a while, the weight of the truth hanging in the room. Then, Myra suddenly spoke again.

"So what do we do now?"

My lips trembled. "I don't know. My life is ruined either way."

"No," Myra said firmly. "You can run."

I blinked. "What?"

"Run," she repeated. "I have a cousin in the North. He owes me and he can help you. You can start over somewhere safe. Somewhere far from here."

I stared at her, confused and scared. "Would you help me?" I asked.

Myra nodded, her grip tightening on my hand. "With everything I have."

After our discussion, my mind was made up. I would run. Tonight.

The moment I barged into my room, I began stuffing what little I had into a bundle. My only shawl, a pouch of bread, my diary.

My heart thundered in my chest, wild and loud. I arranged it and secured the sash tightly.

And then I turned, only to freeze.

The Luna was already there, and she wasn't alone. My lips parted but no sound came out.

"You're with child," Luna Vera said calmly.

I quickly hid the sash behind my back, hoping she didn't see it.

"I-I-" I stammered.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Luna Vera asked, stepping forward with cold eyes.

I stepped back, but my back met with the iron of the bedstand.

"Why did you hide it?" She snapped. Her hand cracked across my cheek so fast I barely saw it coming.

Pain bloomed in my skull like fire.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Luna Vera screamed, slapping me again.

I crumpled to the ground, clutching my face as tears spilled to the floor.

"I just found out," I choked. "I didn't know."

The Luna's heels clicked closer. "Liar." Another slap.

My head spun, the taste of iron filling my mouth.

"I didn't know," I whispered, my voice shaking.

She rasied her hand again, but this time, it didn't fall.

Ma'am Cory, the head maid, grabbed her wrist mid air. "My lady, please. You'll hurt the baby."

The room turned deadly silent.

Luna Vera stared at the hand gripping hers. Slowly, she turned to face ma'am Cory.

"And who the hell do you think you are," she said, growling, "to touch me?"

Ma'am Cory's eyes widened. She dropped to her knees at once. "Forgive me, my Lady. I only meant-"

"You're done," Luna Vera said, stepping back with disgust. "Our agreement is over. The girl is with child. You're no longer needed."

My heart stopped.

"No..." I whispered.

But the Luna's eyes flashed red, and her claws crept out. Before I could scream, and before Ma'am Cory could even process what was happening.

Her claws sliced clean.

The head maid's head hit the floor with a dull thud. Blood sprayed across my face and arms, and I gasped in horror.

Luna Vera calmly reached for a napkin offered by one of the maids by her side. She wiped off the blood with unconcern, as if she hadn't just ended a life. .

"I never liked her," she muttered, dumping the napkin on the floor. "Always acted like she was the only one with a fucking conscience."

She stepped over the headless body like it was nothing, and stopped where I knelt.

She gripped my face and squeezed, her nails digging into my cheeks.

"Did you tell anyone?"

"No," I whispered without emotion, my gaze was still fixed on the dead woman.

She was gone. Just like that.

The Luna's lips curled into a smirk, then she pushed my face away. "Good."

"Clean this mess up. Now," she said to the maids,and turned to me. "Get ready. You'll be going back to the East Wing."

My stomach twisted. She was going to lock me up again.

Before I could say anything, two maids grabbed my arms and began pulling me out of the room.

My feet stumbled, and bile rose in my throat. We turned around a corner and suddenly stopped.

Alpha Raylor stood there, his arms crossed and his eyes locked on me.

"Give us a moment," he said to the maids.

They hesitated, but stepped back.

He moved toward me slowly, reaching out to wipe something from my cheek. It was blood.

Ma'am Cory's blood.

I pushed down the nausea.

He pulled out a kerchief from his pocket, dabbing it across my face and lips.

I didn't move, I just stared up at him, confused by the quiet care in his touch.

What was happening?

"You're strong," he said quietly. "You'll get through this."

His eyes searched mine for a second longer, like he wanted to say more but he couldn't.

Then he turned and walked away, the echo of his boots fading behind him.

I stood there, my fists were clenched so tight that my nails began to dig into my skin.

I didn't feel strong. I felt broken and angry.

And for the first time...I didn't just want to survive.

I wanted to fight.