Never in a million years, I imagined I would be pregnant. Again.
A few weeks ago before Leah was to move to our pack, Logan insisted on sleeping with me. I agreed. He knotted me.
Tears of frustration fell, but what was the use?
Healer Agnes, a young yet competent healer closed the curtains before taking a seat by the bed.
"Luna Elaine...I'm sorry." She started, her eyes red.
"Sorry for what?"
"Your second pregnancy is heavily risky. The fetus is five weeks old, yet showing signs of some serious conditions I don't want to confirm yet." Healer Agnes expressed.
"I see. But I have decided to keep it." I said, caressing my baby bump that I've just noticed. The days were spent stressing over my sick son. No wonder I never noticed my deteriorating health or my pack falling apart.
"You were a Healer, right?" Agnes asked. I nodded curtly.
"I haven't practised much. But given my rank, I can. But after Jean recovers." I said. Agnes nodded again and left.
Moments later, Mother Olga walked in. She was looking furious. She stood by the side of my bed.
"Stand up." She commanded. Her tone was disdainful and temperamental. I knew I was never in her good books. She wanted to marry Logan to a wealthy Alpha's daughter but he accidentally knocked me up.
"Why are you carrying his child?" She asked. It was such a lame question.
"Because he gave me the seed?" I retorted. She wasn't amused by my answer.
Suddenly, Olga held the back of my neck with both hands and kneed my stomach. Hard. I coughed out air, but something terrible happened already.
"Ah...AHH!" I began screaming, the pain only growing. The healers and others stood over me, but I was scared away by Olga. She watched me writhe, create a mess on the ground for I just miscarried by force.
"No...no!!" I kept screaming, I was losing my mind.
"That's what you get for talking back. It shouldn't have been you, Elaine. My Leah should be carrying his child now. Not you." Olga's words weren't registering in my head. I was in too much agony.
"What is happening here?" The robust voice of my mate burst through and silenced chattering.
"Logan...help me..." I reached my hand out. He crouched down, I thought he would comfort me and help me stand up. But he clicked his tongue, repeatedly.
"Mother. Didn't I tell you to wait? We had other plans to make her terminate the pregnancy. Did you have to go ahead and do it yourself? In such a way?" He said. Logan's voice was surprisingly calm.
"She talked back. You know I don't tolerate such things." Olga replied, her arms folded against her chest.
The brief memory of her insanity struck me at the moment.
Olga had a request when I was pregnant with Jean, six years ago. I was neatly arranging my clothes when Olga barged into my chamber and barked orders.
"That stupid sandwich that you make. I want 100 of them. Right now. I've got guests coming." Olga commanded and walked away.
She gave me two hours to make them all and decorate them on a huge silver platter all by myself. She even restricted omegas and others to help me. I almost fainted by the time I was done.
I was short of five sandwiches when a slap shook me and made me fall to the ground. Olga stood over me and barked atrocities. I kept staring at the monster standing over me, eyes wide and realization settling in.
At the end of her fiasco, she commanded the warrior ranks, "Throw her in the silver cell. Maybe she will learn a lesson."
My eyes widened. I tried to stand up but Olga kicked my hand. I lost balance and fell back disgracefully.
"You should know I hate when people lower than me, disobey me." Said Olga. Just then, Logan and Leah cheerfully skipped inside and I caught them briefly.
They were holding hands. Logan's white shirt had a lipstick stain on the edge of the collar. He wasn't even trying to hide it.
"She's going to the dungeon already?" Lovan asked nonchalantly.
"Well, yes. Unless you object." Olga asked, smirking. Her filthy son smirked back and replied,
"Well, it's a learning that I won't object to. She should learn some obedience, Mother. I will always follow whatever you say." Logan gave his ultimatum. He took the hand of his mother and kissed the knuckles.
That should've been the end of my torment. But they kept reeling me in with boastful surprises and grand gestures to hide the toxicity, the harm they caused me.
I sniffled, biting my lip as I lay lifeless on the ground. Everyone left. Except for Agnes who was holding her mouth and sobbing behind her palms.
"It's no use, Agnes. You should leave too. They'll punish you for helping me." I said.
"T-They won't punish me for staying and instructing you to clean yourself up, Elaine. We can start when you are ready. If you don't take the remains out, there will be deathly complications for the mother." Agnes spoke in a trembling voice.
I was nodding my head, continuously.
After a while, Jea pulled us together and I was able to stand.
It was the most awful experience as I was sucking out my own fetus, with my own hands.
I hoped no mother would face this situation, ever.
While all of this was unfolding, my mind was still directed to Jean. He's struggling.
He's dancing on the fence to the melody that is calling him to rest in peace and the chaotic noise and screams pleading him to live.
What would he choose?
The melody or the chaotic noise?
The next day, Olga caught me eating edible leaves and berries in the forest when she summoned me back.
In the presence of Elders, she verdicted,
"Due to the increase in war activity, I need my healers to be top priority. More healers, the better. Elaine was born a healer and should serve the necessities our pack is demanding. So Elders, accept my proposal to let Elaine go nowhere and give her services to Waterstone."