Chapter 126 Elara's POV
"Stop it."
"Why? Does the truth hurt?" She reached out and poked my pregnant belly. Hard. "And this baby. This blessed child everyone's so excited about. What kind of mother kills the father of her own child?"
I stepped back, my hands protectively covering my stomach. "Don't touch me."
"Or what? You'll poison me too?" She laughed. "You're pathetic. Waddling around like an overstuffed cow, pretending to be innocent, when everyone knows what you did."
"Lyssa, that's enough."
Xavier's voice. He appeared from behind us, his expression dark.
Lyssa's demeanor immediately changed. Her hostility vanished, replaced by sweet concern.
"Xavier! I was just checking on our guest. Making sure she's settling in comfortably."
"By insulting her and poking her pregnant belly?"
"I was just being friendly. A little teasing between women. Nothing harmful."
"It didn't look friendly from where I was standing."
"You misunderstood-"
"I think you should leave, Lyssa. Return to your quarters. We'll discuss your behavior in the morning."
She looked like she wanted to argue but something in Xavier's expression stopped her. "Of course, Alpha. My apologies if I caused offense."
She left, shooting me a venomous look over her shoulder.
Xavier turned to me. "Are you alright?"
"Fine. Just tired." I rubbed my stomach where she'd poked me. "Thank you for intervening."
"Lyssa's always been volatile. I should have warned you to avoid her." He paused. "Are you sure you're okay? You look pale."
"I just need to get back to my room. Lie down for a while."
"I'll escort you-"
"No. Thank you, but I can manage. Kara's with me."
Xavier looked uncertain but nodded. "If you need anything, send a word immediately."
He left, taking Lyssa with him to continue their discussion privately. I stood there in the darkness, shaking.
Everything Lyssa had said was exactly what I'd been thinking. The accusations I'd been throwing at myself.
Murderer pathetic. Unworthy of being Luna.
Maybe they were right. Maybe I was all of those things. My legs gave out. I collapsed to my knees, sobs tearing from my throat.
"Miss Elara!" Kara was beside me immediately. "Are you hurt? Is it the baby?"
"No. I just... I can't do this anymore. I can't keep pretending I'm strong when I'm falling apart. Can't keep acting like everything will be okay when Kaden's dying and it's my fault."
"It's not your fault-"
"Yes, it is! I prepared the food! I served it to him! Even if I didn't know it was poisoned, I still did it! The prophecy was right! Kaden is dying by my hands!"
I cried until I had no tears left. I cried for Kaden. For Adrian who might never meet his father. For the life we'd been building that was now destroyed.
Kara held me through it all, murmuring words of comfort that couldn't penetrate my grief. Finally, when the sobs subsided to hiccups, she helped me stand.
"Let's get you back to your room," she said gently.
I nodded, too exhausted to argue we started walking back toward the safe house. That's when I felt it eyes on me. Watching from the darkness.
I turned, scanning the shadows. I saw nothing. But the feeling persisted.
Someone was out there. Observing. Waiting.
"Do you feel that?" I whispered to Kara.
"Feel what?
"Like we're being watched."
She looked around nervously. "I don't see anyone."
"Neither do I. But they're there. I can feel them."
We walked faster, both of us glancing over our shoulders. The feeling of being watched followed us all the way back to the safe house.
Even after we were inside with the doors locked, I couldn't shake it. Someone knew where I was. Someone was watching me.
And I had no idea if they were friends or enemies.
Or something far worse.