Cradle of Deceit”
EIRENE POV
"Have any of you seen Ayla?" Eirene asked the maids in the kitchen and the answer was the same negative answer she had received from everyone around.
At this point, she just needed someone to confide in as Claw had grown distant from her and had even stopped coming to her room to spend the night, she couldn't think of a better person to lay her tears to than Ayla, her personal maid.
The girl had been her strength and confidante from the time she walked through the gates of this pack.
"You could check her room, Luna." Why had she not thought of that? But Ayla wasn't supposed to be in her room, she was a maid and was supposed to be attending to her duties.
On getting to Ayla's door, she realized that the door was locked from inside and Ayla might still be in. That was usual and her body tensed up as she feared that something might have happened to Ayla.
"Ayla." She rashly knocked but no reply nor answer came forth.
"Ayla, are you in?" She called the second time and was about to knock when the door suddenly creaked open.
"Is there a problem?" Eirene took two steps backward out of shock as in her years of living in this pack, Ayla had never spoken to her in that manner.
"Where have you been and what's wrong with you? Have you lost your manners?" Though Ayla was a friend and even her breeder, it was best to remind her who Luna was around here.
"Where have I been? If you have nothing important to say, you can leave. I need to have my beauty rest." Eirene blinked twice and pinched herself coyly to be sure she wasn't dreaming.
Her maid was really talking to her and insulting her.
Out of anger, she raised her hands and was about to slap Ayla when firm hands caught her hands mid air and threw them to the side.
"What's wrong with you, Eirene?" Eirene sighed and released a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"Claw, thank goodness you're here. You can't imagine that—" She was cut short when Ayla threw her arms over Claw and kissed him.
"Baby, where have you been? I've missed you." Ayla threw a sarcastic eye roll to Eirene as Claw slowly detached from Ayla.
"Ayla, go back inside. I'll meet you." Ayla smiled and nodded.
"Of course, don't forget that the baby is craving some banana milk too."
Baby? What baby were they talking about?
"Rene..." Claw was saying and trailed off when he saw little droplets of tears flow down Eirene's eyes.
"You don't even have to explain anything to me, it's more understandable the way it has been displayed. But Claw, I swear by the goddess; if you lie to me, I will kill you myself. Is she pregnant?" Claw looked to Ayla's closed door and made to hold Eirene's hands when she pulled out a dagger from the belt of the trouser she was wearing.
"Don't think of it." She held it out to him, while her hands quivered.
"Eirene, why do you have a dagger?" He held out his hands as he took a few calculating steps toward her.
"Not like it matters, but a pup gifted it to me on my way here. Now don't skip my question."
"Well, she is." The dagger fell out of Eirene's hands as she felt like her entire life was going on a downward spiral.
"Eirene, I'm supposed to tell you but—"
"But what?" She yelled as tears streamed down her face while she clutched her chest as she began moving back slowly till her back hit the wall.
"I'm sorry Rene. Ayla didn't want anyone to know, she said it might spike jealousy in..." He trailed off as Eirene's face widened in understanding.
"Wow, How long has she been pregnant for?" That's the only thing she wanted to know now.
"I think 3 months." She blinked back the tears that were rolling out and nodded continuously like she was about going mad.
"Rene, I'm sorry for real. I know what I did—"
"I seriously need you to stay the hell away from me right now, Claw. I need you to." She ran towards her room and Claw, knowing how violent she could get when she was upset, didn't chase after her. He hated seeing her cry but now he wondered why he heeded Ayla and didn't tell Eirene about the pregnancy.
Ayla might be the one birthing his baby but Eirene was the one that held his heart. He had to make this up to her somehow.
Eirene back at her room cried her eyes out till there were no tears left. She couldn't bear the thought that her husband who she had trusted so much would bail out on her like that. Much more concealing the pregnancy of a breeder she chose?
It was evening and she had remained locked in, Claw hadn't even come to talk things out with her. She decided to take a stroll down the hallway towards the back when she overheard a little chattering and overheard Ayla's voice which piqued her curiosity.
"We have already put the idea up to the Alpha and he agreed. There's nothing you should be afraid of." That was certainly an elders voice but she couldn't pinpoint who. All she knew was that it had to be an elder.
"So what you're telling me is that immediately I go into labor for this pregnancy, that bitch; Eirene would be killed right? And Claw has agreed to it?" Ayla questioned and Eirene had to press her hands over her lips so she didn't yell out.
"He bought the idea immediately. Apparently, he thinks she's jealous of you and wouldn't want to be with a barren woman. Once she's dead, he will crown you his Luna. That's exactly what he told us."
Eirene held her chest like she was having
a heart attack as she tiptoed back to her room so they wouldn't know she had overheard their conversation.