16

16
Bellatrix had been moved to a new residence and had been assigned a new personal maid called Evelyn Turner as well. The maid, who also came from an omega background, was in her mid-twenties, surpassing her Mistress in age by a few years.
She was a head taller than the breeder as well and had olive skin, amber eyes, and raven hair. 

Unsurprisingly, Luna's maid had not spared her. 
Just a week after Evelyn resumed her duties as the breeder's personal maid, Tina approached her, took her to a secluded area and smilingly gave her four beautiful silver bracelets.
"These look like they cost a bomb. W-why're you giving them to me?" Evelyn questioned doubtfully. There was also a beauty mark on her left brow and she was slightly lagging behind Victoria in terms of good looks.

"It's not from me, you know I could never afford this. It's my Mistress' gift to you." Tina disclosed, "She heard you were very efficient in your task of caring for the Breeder."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah," Tina nodded and Evelyn stashed away the bracelet. If she found time to pawn this, it would fetch her a good sum of money.
 "And she'll give you one million if you can help her do something,"

Evelyn's eyes widened at the amount mentioned. One million! She and her family could do a ton of things with that. But she knew that nothing was free in this world. The Luna wouldn't give her such an amount if there was nothing attached.
"What does she need me to do? I do anything,"
For the sake of the money!

"It's not a huge task," Tina said, reaching into the pocket of her cornflower gown and taking out a small translucent bottle containing a single, round cardinal pill with prominent dark red twisty patterns. Even a fool could tell this pill was ominous-looking. "You just have to put this pill into her food," 

Evelyn looked afraid and hesitant to take the bottle.
Seeing this, Tina added what she thought would motivate this divvy. "Don't worry, my dear, it won't cause her any harm. It will greatly improve her chances of birthing a son for the Alpha. Or..." she lifted a questioning brow, "...don't you want that for your mistress?"

"But... I can't." Evelyn was still reluctant.
"Why?!" Tina was no longer smiling, a frown had replaced her cheerful look.
"She doesn't let me even give her water," Evelyn's fingers were shaking. "She does anything related to her gut by herself."

"This is a one-time thing, Evelyn. Just find a way to do it. If you don't..." Tina paused and menacingly stared at the edgy Evelyn, "...you wouldn't want to know the consequences of disobedience. Your head bidding farewell to your neck will be the least of your worries," 

Evelyn quickly dropped to her knees, "Please..." She interlocked her fingers to plead, "Please, don't harm my family. I will do it! I'll surely do it, I swear. Just... just give me some time,"

"Three days!" Tina emphasized her words with three fingers, "That's all the Luna can give you," 
Evelyn nodded vigorously, wiping a tear that had slid down her right cheek. "Yes, I'll not fail Her Majesty's trust,"
Tina tittered, "Why are you kneeling? We're just talking about trivial stuff. We're both maids you know," 

Evelyn got back to her feet but her head was subconsciously bowed. She was older than Tina but pride would put her in trouble if she tried to argue. After all, she had Luna Katelyn behind her.
"Please, if I may ask, how will I know if the fertility pill is working on the Breeder," Evelyn inquired meekly.

"She will have no appetite and will only drink water due to increased thirst. She will be weak for a few days but after that, she'll return to normal."
"Really?" Evelyn was still uneasy.

"What's in your brain?" Tina ultimately lashed out, causing the latter to flinch and subconsciously take a step back.
"I'm sorry. I was just..."
"It has no visible effects. She'll never suspect anything. Just feed it to her and after she births a son for the king, you'll get your reward, you dummy. Damn it!" Tina left in a rage while Evelyn anxiously gripped the pill bottle, her thoughts racing in various directions, uncertain of how to administer the pill to her already wary mistress.

"What do I do?" she muttered, her eyes becoming misty. After a short while had elapsed, she stowed away the bracelets and pill bottle before leaving that place with no solution in mind.
On the way back, she encountered Tina again and she wondered if the latter was deliberately waiting for her. 
"I forgot one thing." Tina began.
"What is it?" Evelyn asked with a jumpy look.

"Make sure you're recording yourself putting the pill in her food. The Luna wants the video in three days. And don't let her come out of her residence,"
"But the Alpha..."
"Find ways to do it!" Tina grabbed Evelyn by her throat. "Do you understand?"
Evelyn nodded vigorously and Tina let go of her.
"Now, get out of my sight,"
"Yes," Evelyn practically ran away from Tina.

On reaching the breeder's residence, she composed herself once again.
"You're back from seeing your family?" Bellatrix asked as she sipped red wine from the exquisite wine glass in her hand.
"Yes. Thank you, mistress,"
Bellatrix gave a dismissive wave and smiled, "That's nothing. By the way, I need you to clean my room."
Evelyn looked puzzled. She had cleaned the room a few hours ago!

"What are you waiting for? Make sure everything is squeaky clean. Before that, pour me some wine," Bellatrix instructed.
Without a word, the maid held the wine bottle and poured wine into the glass until it was half full.
"You may go," Bellatrix dismissed without looking at her.
"Thank you, mistress," Evelyn said before heading towards the breeder's bedroom with a hidden sulky look. On entering the room, she was on the verge of growing out her claws.

The room she had painstakingly cleaned and put in perfect order was in a mess. If only she could go out and ruin Bellatrix with her claws and bite her to death right now... That bitch was getting arrogant! How dare she act like this when she was a mere omega?! An ugly one at that!
Though unhappy, she still set out to put the room back in order. After she was done, she returned to the sitting room.

She swallowed back the spite and forced herself to say in a meek tone, "Mistress, the room is in order,"
"I see," Bellatrix raised her head and flashed the bowing maid, Evelyn Turner, a smile, "Thank you for your effort," She had been engrossed in reading a large, ancient-looking book handed to her by a brawny pack guard yesterday.

"Do you need me to do anything else, Mistress?" The maid meekly asked.
"Yeah, please turn the bedroom into a mess and rearrange it, so you won't be too bored," Bellatrix had her focus on the book as she said this. But, even without looking up, she could sense the maid about to burst from rising rage. The latter was barely holding back! 

"Pfft!" the breeder tittered as she looked up to see the maid trying to maintain a phoney smile. This maid didn't realize her efforts were futile; Her eyes were betraying her true emotions.
"I was just joking. You worked hard, why ruin all that hard work? We're both Omegas as well, so why should I make things difficult for you? I can't do such a terrible thing," 

The maid could tell her mistress wasn't sincere but still, she broadened her smile, "I know, mistress. You're a good person, or else the Alpha wouldn't have chosen someone with your looks to bear him a son," 
The insult was obvious but Bellatrix ignored it and smiled brighter, "Yeah, I charmed the Alpha somehow. Guess what I want to do, Evelyn,"
"I'm bad at guesses, Mistress," replied the maid.

"You're no fun. Anyway, I want to take an evening stroll," her mistress revealed, closing the book and placing it on the table atop another large pink book.
"I will accompany you, mistress," Evelyn said with a small smile. 

Without a word, Bellatrix got to her feet and smoothened the creases on her plain tawny silk gown that reached her ankles. She had ditched wearing any jewellery as long as she was still in this residence. However, it was mandatory for her to wear a veil and adornments whenever she left the residence as per the Alpha's commands. 

It was a guard who delivered this message yesterday, and he even added his own words; "So, you won't frighten the little kids in this pack, and wreck other's appetite,"
She had pretended not to hear his words nor was she affected by them. 

The Alpha had also ordered her to stop going to the royal kitchen. However, he had permitted her to take strolls around certain parts of the pack. She didn't trust Evelyn much, considering the fact that the Luna still held burning hostility towards her. 

There were food ingredients in the kitchen of her residence now and Evelyn was also tasked to make her food. Nonetheless, Bellatrix took over everything related to her food and drink intake. She didn't want to give the Luna a chance to harm her womb by any means.
Evelyn was a bit clumsy but she always got things done. 

"Mistress, please sit, I'll help you put on your veil and a few bracelets," Evelyn reminded as Bellatrix was about to head for the door.
"The Alpha chose me as his breeder. If I'm that hideous, the child I'll birth him would be hideous as well, what's the need for a veil and jewellery? Let's go, don't worry, you won't get punished." Bellatrix was already holding the door knob.
A tense look appeared on the maid's face as she took hurried steps to where her mistress was.

"P-Please, I beg of you, Mistress. Wear the veil," Evelyn was about to kneel at this point. She remembered Tina's words to find a way to keep the breeder from leaving this residence by any means. She had thought long and hard before now and didn't what she could say or do to make the breeder voluntarily stay indoors. Her life and that of her family's were at stake here.

"It's annoying to wear a veil when there's nothing wrong with my face. Even the Luna doesn't wear one," Bellatrix argued.
"Please, obey the Alpha, I'm begging you,"

Bellatrix sighed and took the veil from her maid. It was transparent, she wondered what was the use of wearing a veil like this when one could still see her like she wasn't wearing one.
This would be her first authorized stroll- A chance to sightsee without fear of punishment.
"Please, put these on as well," The maid had returned with six aureate bracelets.
Bellatrix stretched out her hands and the maid quickly put three bracelets on each hand. 

"Alright, let's go."
"No, mistress, please wear another veil atop this one as well," Evelyn said, rushing to get another translucent veil.
"If I put that on, then what's the need of going out? And who ordered double veils? The Luna?" the breeder questioned, looking peeved.
"Put it on, please. I don't want to die, please. I have a family..."
"Tell me, who told you to do this?" Bellatrix questioned, looking pissed.
"It's..." Evelyn had on a cagey look. 
There was no way she was going to spill out the secrets, besides, the other party was a trash adorned with luxury, an empty shell whose downfall was certain.
"It's one... one of the Alpha's subordinates... one that isn't even known by us. The man was tall, clothed in black and I couldn't see his face. I swear on my life, I'm not lying to you, mistress," Evelyn looked like she was about to cry.

The breeder inwardly sighed. Sure enough, this maid was now under the Luna's control. 
Still, she reacted the way the maid wanted, "So, I'm allowed to come out and feast my eyes on the grandeur of this pack but at the same time, I have to wear two veils?!"
The maid nodded, "Yes, mistress. Please, you'll have to bear with it for now," 
"I'm not going out any longer," Bellatrix's mood had seemingly turned sour. Without another word to the maid, she took off the veil and the jewellery. Next, she threw them on the floor and 'stormed off' to the balcony.

Evelyn kept the veils and jewellery back where she took them from.
"Mistress..."
"Get lost!" Bellatrix yelled at her and the maid turned to leave without a word.
Outside the room, Evelyn grabbed onto the pill bottle, "Don't blame me, I just want my family to live. And I want that reward too. I may not be too smart, but I'll surely get you to eat this," 
After muttering these words with a firm look, she made to leave.

Bellatrix stared at the orange sky as she held the railing, a sigh escaping her lips.
"Surviving is hard,"