“A poisonous substance? What did she eat yesterday? Was her food tasted before she consumed her meal?” Alpha Dagen asked my maid.
“Your Majesty, the instruction we have is not to taste her meal,” replied Diane.
“Who gave that instruction?” asked Alpha Dagen. It appeared that Diane had problems revealing the identity of this person. Alpha Dagen had to ask her again before she said, “I do not know. When I began serving Lady Regina, I asked the cook if a taster was assigned to Lady Regina and she said none was.”
“I see,” Alpha Dagen’s voice seemed to contain unrealised rage.
“Will she recover?” Aloha Dagen asked the physician.
“With the proper care, she should. I would say she is on the path of recovery already. She should have died but her body seems to be resisting the poison,” replied the physician.
In spite of myself, I smiled weakly. I wondered perhaps if I had developed an immunity to poison. I knew my sisters had tried one too many times to poison me in the past and it had not worked.
“Just know this, if she does not make a recovery, it is your head that will go for it, do you understand?” asked Alpha Dagen.
Those were the last words I heard before I fell unconscious.
*******#********
“My lady! You’re awake. You gave us such a fright,” squealed Diane when I had regained consciousness. My head was a lot clearer and I was drenched in my own sweat.
“How long has it been?” I asked.
“An entire day. You passed out around this time yesterday. Madam Margaret has agreed you need proper rest to continue your lessons,” said Diane.
“How is Alpha Dagen?” I asked.
“About that. He said I should get you prepared for dinner tonight,” she said, scratching her head nervously.
“Dinner tonight?” I quipped.
“The Council of Elders are having dinner at the palace tonight. They would like to meet you formally,” said Diane in a voice that made me think that this was not a good situation for me.
“Meet me formally? I met them at the wedding,” was my response even though I could not remember any of them.
“I do not know the details, my lady. But you just woke up so I will let the Alpha know you cannot make it,” she said.
“Tell him that,” I said. It would be better if I never met them again. In fact, the fewer people who knew me henceforth, the better for me. I did not want anyone to recognise me while I was running away from the capital.
“The map, Diane. Still no news?” I asked her. It was important that I find a map that could direct me towards my mother’s pack. I needed to find the map to escape this place.
“It is not possible to borrow a map now. I do not know what has happened but all maps have been recalled from the library,” reported Diane. That was strange. Was something happening in the Shadowclaw pack? Was war imminent? Perhaps it was why Alpha Dagen felt the urgency to birth an heir.
“Do you have any idea why that is?” I asked Diane.
“No but you could get a hint from meeting the Council of Elders,” Diane told me and my eyes narrowed at her statement.
The Council of Elders.
Even while in my father’s pack, I had heard snippets about them. They were to be respected with reverence but not feared. They were so powerful they did not need fear to get their way. They made sure the werewolf packs remained in check and no one did anything to soil the integrity of the werewolf race. At this same time, they were politically neutral. If war broke out between two packs they only ensured that the rules were followed. They never intervened or took sides.
Perhaps, it would not be a bad idea to meet them. It was possible that I could get a clue about what was really happening. It could help with my escape plan.
“Lord Edvin will be present at tonight’s dinner,” said Diane.
I gave her a strange look. It was conflicting if she wanted me there or not.
A knock on my door made me and Diane exchange eye contact. Who was it now that Lady Nydia had left the palace?
Diane went to the door to check. She came back seconds later with a small note.
“It was Ruth. She said the dinner had been postponed until tomorrow. The Elders want the Luna to make a full recovery so they can meet her,” said Diane.
“That gives me ample time then,” I said with a smile.
“Ample time? For what? My lady?” questioned Diane.
“To prepare. Who is the best modiste in the pack?” I asked her.
“My lady?” She appeared confused.
“I want to make my formal introduction memorable. I am going to send a clear message to the Elders. I owe it to my son to be well presented,” I said with a smile that hid a thousand things.
My mind was made up. I was not going to die; I was going to live and one day my son will sit on Alpha Dagen’s throne.
But to do that, I will have to live first.
*****#******
“You asked for the best modiste in town. What is your intention?” asked Alpha Dagen in a dangerously low tone.
“I only want to appear my very best. After all, my image reflects on you,” was my reply. I kept my tone humble; I did not intend to reveal that I had other plans. There was little I could do to change my situation but I was going to make the very best out of it.
“I just want to make sure you have not forgotten your place. Once you have my heir, I will kill you and Nydia will take your place,” said Alpha Dagen.
He did not realize it but he had just admitted that I did have a place.