Chapter 5

I clenched my fingers, suppressing the urge to attack him. In the end, reason prevailed. If I fought back now, not only would I expose the fact that I had regained my strength, but I would also draw unwanted attention. Hence, I lay there like a corpse, allowing Cedric to sate his desire, pounding into me as he pleased. I didn't know how long it lasted before Cedric finally stopped. He rolled off me and climbed out of bed, refreshed and satisfied, calmly straightening his clothes. He didn't spare me a single glance before striding out of the tent. Curling up on the bed, I listened as his footsteps gradually faded away. Ever since my white wolf memories awakened, my hearing had grown sharper than ever. I even heard Cyril's voice—flat, devoid of emotion. "You didn't use any protection again?" "Of course not," Cedric replied, his voice carrying the lazy ease of post-indulgence. "That thing ruins the fun. It's much better to do it directly." "What if she gets pregnant?" "Pregnant?" Cedric snorted. "Just get rid of it then. She's just a lowly Omega—does she really think she's worthy of carrying my pup? That would be an insult to our bloodline." I instinctively covered my still-flat abdomen. There were two tiny lives inside me, protected by the power of the bone whistle. Despite what Cedric had done earlier, they remained resilient—faint, yet steady. Cyril fell silent for a moment. "There was a time I didn't use protection either," he said suddenly. "Didn't manage to clean it up too." My heart skipped a beat. That incident had happened when he lost control during his heat. He kept me all night, and I slept for an entire day afterward. When I woke up, he was already gone. No one had brought me any contraceptives then. "If she really is pregnant…" Cyril paused. "Considering she's been quite an obedient toy for us over the last three years—" I held my breath, my fingers gripping the bedsheets with all my strength. "Forget it." After a brief silence, he spoke again, his tone decisive and final. "I don't want the mother of my first pup to be an Omega. If she carries one, we'll get rid of it. After Elena gives birth, perhaps I'll grant her a chance to bear an Alpha's pup." The footsteps faded completely. I finally loosened my grip, my palms slick with sweat. Apparently, to them, the pups I carried were nothing more than a disposable "accident" —not even worthy of being born. … The next day, the pack held a grand banquet. It was meant to celebrate the upcoming wedding, as well as to showcase Cyril's authority as the Alpha. As a lowly menial, I was assigned by the supervisor to serve dishes. Weaving through the crowd, I kept my head low, trying my best to minimize my presence. Dressed in luxurious attire, Cyril and Elena sat on the high platform at the seat of honor, with Cedric beside them, accepting toasts and blessings from the pack. "You. Come here." The supervisor called out to me and pointed at a tray on the table. On it lay a purple plant with jagged leaves and blackened roots. It was wolfsbane grass—a deadly poison to werewolves. Touching it would cause skin to ulcerate; inhaling its pollen could paralyze the respiratory tract. It was usually used to execute serious criminals or as an offering in special rituals. "Take this to the altar. The priest needs it," the supervisor ordered. I glanced at the plant, instinctively wanting to refuse. I was carrying pups, and my body had become extremely sensitive. Coming into contact with something so dangerous was far too risky. "What are you standing there for? Move!" The supervisor shoved me impatiently. I stumbled and had no choice but to pick up the tray. For the sake of my pups, I had to be extra careful. Holding my breath, I raised the tray as high as I could, keeping it away from my face. When I reached the center of the hall, a lady dressed like a maid suddenly dashed out from the side. She was moving fast, as if she hadn't noticed me at all, and slammed straight into my shoulder. The tray overturned instantly. In order to protect my abdomen, I failed to dodge in time. The wolfsbane grass fell onto my arm, its serrated leaves slicing through my skin. I let out a low cry as a searing pain spread instantly from my arm throughout my body. The poison invaded my system at terrifying speed. I collapsed to the ground, unable to make a sound. It felt as if someone was clenching my throat, leaving me only able to gasp desperately for air. The air in my lungs grew thinner. My vision darkened. My limbs began to convulse uncontrollably. Although the white wolf's power suppressed the spread of poison within me, I would still die if I didn't take an antidote soon. A tightening pain gripped my abdomen, filling me with fear. My pups… Trembling, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small glass bottle. It was a bottle of recovery herb extract that I had bought on the black market—it had cost me all my savings. I had originally saved it for childbirth, in case of a life-threatening emergency. But now, I had no choice. I bit the cork open, struggling to bring the bottle to my lips. "Oh!" A soft cry suddenly came from the high platform. Elena pressed a hand to her chest, her brows knitting as she leaned weakly against Cyril. "Cyril, I feel dizzy. It's probably because the smell of blood yesterday was too strong. My stomach feels awful now—I think I might throw up." As she spoke, she shot me a cold, contemptuous gaze. I immediately understood. The shove from the maid, the order for me to carry a tray with wolfsbane grass—it had all been Elena's scheme. But why? She was already the pack's future Luna. Why was she still targeting me? Cyril quickly wrapped an arm around her, his expression filled with concern. Just as he was about to order his men to fetch some medicine, his gaze drifted downward—to me, writhing in pain beneath the platform. It finally settled on the bottle of green liquid in my hand. Recovery herb extract could alleviate most forms of discomfort. Although its effects were mild, it was more than enough to ease nausea. As I was about to pour the extract into my mouth, a long, powerful arm suddenly reached out and snatched the bottle away. I froze and slowly lifted my gaze. Cedric stood before me, casually toying with the antidote meant to save my life. "No…" I rasped hoarsely, reaching out helplessly, trying to grab it back. "Please… give it to me…" Cedric flashed me a cruel smile. He turned and strode back to the platform, removed the cork, and held the bottle to Elena's lips. "Drink this. You'll feel better," he said, his tone turning slightly solemn. Elena drank from his hand, finishing the medicine in small sips. Her cheeks turned visibly rosy. "How sweet." She licked her lips, shot me a provocative glance, then casually tossed the empty bottle to the ground. The bottle rolled a few times before coming to a stop at the foot of the steps. I lay on the floor, staring at the empty bottle, my entire body trembling in despair. That had been my only chance to save myself and my pups. Still sitting high on the Alpha's seat, Cyril stared at me, his gaze carrying a hint of something unreadable. Though he hadn't taken my medicine himself, he hadn't stopped Cedric either. Was that not a form of silent consent? … Meanwhile, Cedric turned his gaze back to me. The poison from wolfsbane grass had already turned my face a sickly blue-purple. My fingernails were dug deep into the cracks of the floor, flesh torn and bloody. "Elena is the future Luna," Cedric said indifferently. "You should feel honored that she was willing to take your medicine." "As for a lowly life like yours," he continued, "just grit your teeth and endure it. You'll get over it."