Chapter 38: Sweet Lies Again

Chapter: Sweet Lies Again

Maltida’s POV

The house feels different.

Too quiet.

Too careful.

Too watchful.

Ever since that day… everything changed.

The maids now bow when they see me.

The warriors stand straighter when I pass.

Food comes on time.

Warm. Fresh. Perfect.

A guard stands outside my door.

Another at the end of the hallway.

No one ignores me anymore.

No one pretends I don’t exist.

But still…

I do not feel safe.

Because I know something they don’t say out loud.

This peace is not real.

It is waiting.

Waiting for something.

Or someone.

Calyra.

I sit on the edge of my bed, my hands resting on my stomach.

Slowly… gently… I rub it.

“You’re still here,” I whisper softly.

Tears gather in my eyes.

No one knows.

Not the maids.

Not the guards.

Not even her.

Calyra thinks the baby is gone.

That lie is the only thing protecting me.

And yet… it scares me.

Because if she finds out…

I close my eyes.

“No… she must not know.”

A soft knock comes on the door.

My body tenses immediately.

“Come in,” I say slowly.

The door opens.

And my heart stops.

Calyra.

She walks in like nothing has happened.

Like she did not try to destroy me.

Like she did not send me away to die.

Her face is calm.

Her smile soft.

Too soft.

“My dear Maltida,” she says sweetly.

My fingers curl into the bedsheet.

“Calyra,” I reply quietly.

She walks closer.

Each step slow.

Measured.

Dangerous.

“I heard you are feeling better,” she says.

I nod slightly.

“I am.”

She tilts her head, watching me carefully.

Her eyes move to my stomach.

My heart skips.

I quickly lower my hands.

Trying to look normal.

Trying to breathe.

“Hmm,” she hums softly.

“Such a pity.”

My chest tightens.

“What?” I ask.

She smiles.

Cold.

“Your child,” she says lightly. “It didn’t survive.”

My throat goes dry.

I force myself to nod.

“Yes.”

The word almost breaks me.

She steps closer.

Too close.

“And now,” she continues, her voice dropping slightly, “you can see what happens when you try to stand where you do not belong.”

My heart pounds loudly in my ears.

I keep my head down.

“I am not trying to take anything,” I say softly.

She laughs.

A low, mocking sound.

“Everyone says that before they try.”

Her hand suddenly grabs my chin.

Forcing me to look at her.

Her eyes are sharp now.

No more pretending.

“Do you know how many girls tried to take my place?” she whispers.

My lips tremble.

I shake my head slowly.

“They all disappeared,” she says.

My breath catches.

“I warned you,” she continues.

“I told you to leave quietly.”

“I told you to go with dignity.”

Her grip tightens slightly.

“But you stayed.”

Tears fill my eyes.

“I had nowhere to go,” I whisper.

For a moment…

Just a moment…

Something flickers in her eyes.

Then it’s gone.

“Not my problem,” she says coldly.

She releases my chin.

I almost fall back from the force.

“I am the Luna of this pack,” she says, straightening.

“And I will not let a substitute take that away from me.”

“I don’t want it,” I say quickly.

“I don’t want your place.”

She smiles again.

That same dangerous smile.

“Good.”

She steps closer again.

“So you will leave.”

My heart drops.

“What?”

“You heard me,” she says calmly.

“You will leave this pack.”

My hands shake.

“I can’t—”

“You can,” she cuts me off.

“And you will.”

Tears spill down my face now.

“Please…” I whisper. “I have nowhere…”

She leans closer.

“So go back to where you came from.”

Her voice is soft.

Cruel.

“Were you not wandering before?” she adds.

“Go back to that.”

Her words hit me like stones.

I feel small.

So small.

I drop to my knees.

“I’m begging you,” I cry softly.

“Please… don’t send me away…”

“I won’t disturb anything… I won’t come near him… I’ll stay quiet…”

“I’ll do anything…”

She watches me.

Silently.

Cold.

Then she sighs.

Like I am tiring her.

“You should have thought of that earlier,” she says.

Then she turns.

Walking toward the door.

She pauses.

Without looking back.

“You have little time,” she says.

“Leave before I decide to be less kind.”

The door opens.

Then closes.

And she is gone.

The room feels empty again.

But not peaceful.

Heavy.

Cold.

I stay on my knees.

Crying.

My hands move slowly to my stomach.

Protecting it.

Holding it.

“I won’t let her take you,” I whisper through tears.

“I won’t…”

But my voice is weak.

Because I don’t know how.

I don’t know where to go.

I don’t know who to trust.

And the only person who could protect me…

I cannot tell him the truth.

Because if I do…

Everything will explode.

And I will be caught in the middle.

Again.

I close my eyes.

Tears falling silently.

“I need a way out…”

But no answer comes.

Only silence.