Chapter 316: Pregnant in Chains

Chapter 316: Pregnant in Chains
Maeve's POV

A blinding light pierced through my consciousness as I struggled to open my eyes. Pain radiated throughout my body, causing an involuntary groan to escape my lips. I tried to move, to free myself from the hands holding me down, but my limbs felt like lead.

Suddenly, a stinging slap landed across my face. The metallic taste of blood instantly filled my mouth as my body convulsed in agony.

Warm liquid trickled down my cheek, the coppery scent flooding my nostrils. Pain washed over me like a tidal wave, making my body tremble uncontrollably.

Katie was curled up in a dark corner of my mind, tortured by the wolfsbane, neither willing to speak nor able to leave me. I could clearly feel her suffering.

"Let me examine her thoroughly," a soft female voice said.

I forced my vision to focus, making out the blurry figure of a tall woman in a white medical coat over a deep blue suit. She had deep brown hair, skin as white as snow, and silver-framed glasses perched on her nose.

She must not be a werewolf with those silver glasses. She appears to be talking to someone, but I can't make out who.

She looked kind, but I was still being pinned forcefully to the ground, barely able to breathe.

I can feel my limbs now and have regained some mobility. But these bastards aren't giving me any chance to move.

They're holding me down so hard against the floor that I can barely breathe. In their eyes, I'm a fierce beast, a monster they must subdue.

A voice I recognized—Phoebe's—cut in coldly: "Examine her right here. There's no need to move her."

She's nearby, talking to that woman. Probably medical staff, but definitely not human. A witch maybe? Looks like a healer.

The doctor responded, "The conditions here are too rudimentary. I must work in my own clinic, where I have all the advanced equipment you need. I guarantee a complete examination within a few hours." There was urgency in her tone.

Her attitude makes me uneasy.

After silence, Phoebe slowly said, "Fine. You have three hours. Then she needs to be returned to confinement. Make sure to inject her with more wolfsbane."

A man restraining me immediately responded, "Understood."

I felt a sharp sting in my neck, followed by a burning sensation throughout my body.

I wanted to scream, but the pain was too intense. No matter how desperately I struggled, they wouldn't release their hold.

In my last moment of consciousness, one name floated through my mind: "Cyrus..."

---

I don't know how long I was out when consciousness gradually returned. I found myself in a different place, lying on what felt like a medical examination table. When I tried to move my arm, searing pain shot through me, forcing a tortured scream from my throat.

Looking down, I discovered my hands were bound with silver handcuffs. When I attempted to move my legs, even more intense pain consumed me—my ankles were also chained. I was completely immobilized.

More humiliating was the fact that... I was completely naked.

Fortunately, my head was clearer than before. This suggested that whatever sedative drugs they had injected me with were gradually wearing off.

The healer from earlier walked over and spoke: "Ah, you're finally awake. I'm Dr. Dione Hartwell."

I asked, "Where am I?" surprised I could speak at all.

Dr. Hartwell answered, "I'm sorry, but I can't disclose your exact location. However, you're in my private clinic. I've been examining you for quite some time."

I struggled to ask, "Why... are you doing this?"

"Phoebe intends to use you to create a Callisto vessel. But if your body is in poor condition, she won't be able to complete the process."

I asked hoarsely, "A Callisto vessel? Why me?"

"Because you are the most powerful Callisto werewolf in history. This means she can create an unprecedentedly powerful vessel."

What a joke. I'm just beginning to master my abilities. My mother is far more powerful than I am. I couldn't possibly be the most powerful Callisto werewolf in history.

"So she wants to turn me into a vessel, make me her puppet?"

Dr. Hartwell laughed. "Oh, heavens no. You're just the Callisto werewolf being sacrificed. She's prepared another body to make the vessel."

A chill spread throughout my body. She's going to use someone else's body? Who? I wanted to ask more, but the words wouldn't come. I just wanted to go home, to be with my mate.

She continued, "Most of your examination has been completed. The results show you're in good health. The allergy tests will take longer, perhaps a day or two."

"I want to go home," I said weakly.

"I'm afraid that's impossible. Phoebe needs you for the ritual next Monday."

"Next Monday?"

I remember they captured me at the banquet last Saturday. Everyone must be worried about me by now.

Dr. Hartwell explained, "Next Monday is the night of the red full moon. Only at that special moment can the spell succeed."

"What exactly is the spell?"

She shook her head, "These details aren't important. Just understand that Phoebe holds absolute power, and everything must proceed according to her wishes. If you defy her, she will torture you in the most cruel way."

Looking at my shackles, I asked, "Can you remove these? They're causing me so much pain..."

"For my personal safety... I cannot."

"Do you really think I'm in any condition to threaten you?"

Dr. Hartwell just shrugged indifferently: "You're the most powerful Callisto werewolf in history. I dare not take that risk."

A growl rose from my throat, and I was certain it was Katie; she had awakened. The wolfsbane's effects were weakening, or they were using a different type.

"This feels like some kind of magical curse..." Katie said in my mind. "I can talk to you now... maybe even shift. But I won't have my strength and speed. I can't use any special abilities either."

"You are never useless," I told Katie.

"This is definitely some special wolfsbane... or more likely—"

"Black magic," I finished.

"Exactly," Katie confirmed.

I had no idea why they would want my wolf to remain conscious but stripped of her power.

She turned and said, "I've just been notified that your blood test results are ready. I'll go get them and be right back."

Dr. Hartwell returned with documents, frowning as she examined them.

"These results are beyond my expectations. But there shouldn't be any major issues... just that the subsequent handling may need to be more cautious."

What is she talking about? What won't be a major issue?

She said, "Now the rogue guards will take you back to confinement. My examination is complete."

Rogue guards? They're employing rogues? The thought of rogues touching my body makes me feel extremely sick.

I squirmed uncomfortably, but I still wanted to know what she meant earlier.

"What did you mean by something exceeding expectations? Is there something abnormal about my body?"

She gazed at me with surprise: "Oh, you don't know?"

"Don't know what?"

Dr. Hartwell calmly announced: "You're pregnant. With twins."