Chapter 38 Chapter thirty-eight
I sniffed back the tears threatening to spill and twisted a few strands of my hair between my fingers. Shame burned through me so intensely I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Thank goodness no one had been around to witness that humiliating moment.
When he brushed past me as if I didn’t exist, pretending not to see me, the scene kept replaying in my mind. This wasn’t the Sylvia I knew, the one who always showed concern for me, who cared about anything related to me. What had changed? Did I do something wrong?
Even at dinner last night, he had been cold and distant, refusing to meet my eyes. It was as if he had drawn a line between us, something he’d never done before. The Sylvia I knew always wanted to be near me, yet now he treated me like I was some kind of plague.
And honestly, he has no right to be angry with me. If anything, I should be the one upset with him. How could he? Out of nowhere, he brought a woman into the pack mansion and introduced her as his mate. His mate! What did he think I was? Did he even consider how I’d feel? He knew I was pregnant and he knew I didn’t need stress yet he still went and did something so thoughtless.
“You’re so stupid and foolish, Sylvia,” I muttered bitterly.
Then I froze.
Wait a second, what was I even thinking? In the name of the Moon Goddess, why was I having such selfish thoughts? Obviously, the foolish one here was me.
I gave myself a light slap on the cheek. It stung, a sharp reminder that I was being ridiculous. “You’re such a fool, Ellie,” I scolded myself. “What business of yours is it what he does? He’s your mate’s brother, and he’s way out of your league. Get that through your head.”
If anyone had seen me right then, talking to myself like that, they’d have thought I’d lost my mind.
But every time I remembered how Sylvia had been affectionate with his mate at dinner, jealousy burned in my chest. His coldness toward me only made it worse. I tried to shake the feeling, but it kept creeping back no matter how hard I tried.
After a long walk, I finally reached Cyprus’s house. She was outside, drying herbs under the sun. When she looked up and saw me, her brows furrowed before she turned away and went back to her work.
When I reached her, she stood up abruptly and walked past me, pretending not to notice my presence. Without a word, she headed straight into the house.
I stood frozen on the spot, my heart heavy. Today alone, two people I deeply trusted had turned their backs on me. Sadness welled up inside me, and before I knew it, tears were rolling down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away with the back of my hand.
The moment I stepped inside, a thick, pungent smell of brewing herbs filled the air, almost making me gag. Cyprus was standing by the counter, grinding herbs in a mortar. I approached her, stopping just a few inches away.
“Why are you here?” she asked coldly, not even lifting her gaze.
“What’s wrong? Why are you acting like this toward me? Did I do something?” My voice trembled, choked with emotion. “And last time, what did you mean when you said I was trying to come between the brothers?” I added, desperate for answers.
Cyprus froze for a moment, then brushed past me without a word, completely ignoring my questions. My shoulders slumped in helplessness.
“Come lie here,” she said from behind me. I turned to see her spreading out a bed.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. I couldn’t understand her, why she was avoiding me yet still showing care. Her silence was suffocating, hers and Sylvia’s both.
I walked over and lay down. Cyprus bent over me, placing her hand on my stomach. Her fingers pressed firmly into my skin as she massaged down toward my pelvis.
“Ahhh…” I gasped softly as pain rippled through me.
After a few minutes, she was done. I sat up, leaning back against the wall.
“The baby is fine. Just take the herbs I gave you and get plenty of rest,” she said.
Her tone remained cold and detached. When I looked into her eyes, there wasn’t a trace of emotion. She turned to leave, but I caught her wrist.
“Why are you ignoring me?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
The Cyprus I knew was always happy to see me. We had been close ever since I joined this pack. But lately, she’d grown distant, avoiding my gaze, ignoring my questions, and treating me like a stranger.
She yanked her hand out of my grip. “I’m done with the check-up. You can leave now,” she said curtly.
There she goes again. Why is she doing this to me? If only she knew how her silence is tearing me apart inside. I wish she’d just tell me what’s going on instead of keeping me in the dark. I miss her already, my only friend.
I tried to get up from the bed, but I slumped back when I saw Cyprus heading out of the house. I knew I couldn’t catch up with her, so I deliberately slammed my back against the wall. A sharp scream tore from my lips, loud enough to stop her in her tracks.
Cyprus, who was already at the door, turned around immediately. Seeing me in pain, she rushed toward me, panic and concern written all over her face.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
I smiled inwardly. At least my little act wasn’t for nothing.
“I told you to always be careful. Wait, let me get you some soothing balm,” she said, her tone filled with worry.
As she turned to leave, I grabbed her wrist tightly.
“Why are you ignoring me? Why are you being so cold? And what did you mean last time when you said I was trying to come between the brothers?” My voice rose with anger. I’d held it in long enough, I couldn’t take her coldness any longer.
Cyprus’s eyes widened, realizing I had hurt myself on purpose just to get her attention.
“You really want to know?” she snapped. “Ellie, you know both brothers are in love with you! Don’t pretend you don’t. You’ve just been ignoring it and letting them destroy each other over you.”
Her voice thundered through the room, her eyes bloodshot, veins standing out on her neck.
My jaw dropped. I hadn’t expected that from her.