CHAPTER FORTY


    +25 Bonus


    CHAPTER FORTY


    Viki’s POV


    The pounding in my head returned as soon as I stepped out of the medical wing. My vision blurred for a second, and I had to steady myself against the wall. The faint floral scent of the Redbone Flower still lingered in my nose and the sickening sweetness on my tongue made me gag.


    I clutched the packet of painkillers in my hand, the doctor’s warning still echoing in my ears. He had dared to raise his voice at me today. I should’ve had him sent to the dungeon.


    “Miss Viki, you’re being reckless! The poison is building in your blood. If you keep taking the extract, you’re not going to survive the ceremony!” the pack doctor had scolded.


    “I don’t care,” I had hissed, tossing the money onto his desk. “You’ll keep giving me the doses until I tell you otherwise. Speak a word of this, and I’ll slit your throat myself.”


    Coward that he was, he bowed his head and scribbled another prescription. Men in Shadoww were all the same. They were spineless when it came down to it. 1


    My stomach twisted again as I walked down the corridor. I pressed a hand to my belly, faking the protective gesture of an expectant mother as omegas walked by. The pain was sharper now, like a thousand wasp stings all over my body.


    ‘You’re going to kill us if you keep this up,’ my wolf growled within me. ‘I am reaching my limit with healing us.’ She sounded exhausted, but we had to endure. We hade too far to fail.


    The Luna Ceremony was only days away. Once it was done, the whole kingdom would recognize me as the rightful Luna of Shadoww. And Jason would be right where I wanted him.


    He’d never be able to reject me after that. He’d already chosen power over love, over Talia. It was only a matter of time before he gave up on her entirely.


    “Viki?”


    I turned swiftly, adjusting my expression. Henry, Jason’s Beta, stood at the other end of the hallway, brows lifted in concern. Of course, he’d be here always skulking and not minding his own business.


    “Henry,” I said, smiling warmly. “What brings you here?”


    He nced at the packet of pills in my hand. “I could ask you the same. You’ve been visiting the medical wing a lottely. Did you decide to stay close to home instead of going to the hospital?”


    I let out a breathyugh and cradled my stomach. “It’s nothing serious. The doctor says the herbs help stabilize the pregnancy.”


    “So, is there something wrong with the pup?”


    “No, of course not. It’s just regr precautions. I just want my son to be big and healthy,” I said, rubbing my stomach.


    Henry nodded, but his gaze lingered on my face. “You look a little pale.”


    “I’ve barely slept,” I replied smoothly. “You know how important the ceremony is. I’ve been preparing every detail. It’s exhausting, but it’ll all be worth it soon.”


    He nodded politely and said, “Take care of yourself, ok?” I watched him walk away, letting my fake smile fall.


    CHAPTER FORTY


    +25 Bonus


    Jason must’ve sent him to check up on me which meant I needed to be more careful. It didn’t matter what Henry told him. I had said the right things, and Jason wouldn’t question it further.


    Back in my room, I closed the door and leaned against it for a moment, finally allowing myself to rx. The painkiller had begun to dull the pain, but I still felt weak. I dragged myself to the vanity and stared at my reflection.


    There were dark circles forming under my eyes, and my skin had lost some of its luster. Nothing a little makeup couldn’t fix. I dabbed on foundation, smoothed my lips with tinted balm, and pinned my hair into an elegant knot. (1


    I thought about what would happen during the ceremony. Just thinking about Talia being there made me want to break something. I did everything to get her out of the picture, and they were bringing her back. It was a p to the face.


    ‘We should have just killed her,’ my wolf muttered.


    But what was the fun of that?


    I wanted her to suffer, so she would never dream of climbing to a higher status again.


    If Talia dared to return, I’d fall right in front of everyone, perhaps down a flight of stairs. I’ll clutch my stomach, weep and howl that she pushed me, or poisoned my tea. Whatever worked best.


    I’d find a witness. Maybe her former maid that betrayed her before to make it sting even more when no one would believe her. Then, I would get to watch Jason tear her apart for killing his heir.


    And if Talia didn’t show like the coward she was, I’d just wait a few weeks and im I lost the baby from stress. Once I had Luna status, it wouldn’t matter whether there ever was a child or not.


    Sympathy was as effective a tool as scandal.


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