Chapter 65 PRICE OF LIES
Medea’s Pov
I sat on the edge of the bed after Derek left, my hands gripping the mattress as if it were the only thing anchoring me in place. My breathing felt shallow, uneven, like my chest refused to cooperate no matter how hard I tried to steady myself. The silence pressed in, heavy and suffocating. When Eclipse returned, she wore that same satisfied expression, the kind that made my stomach twist. It was the look of someone who believed every piece had fallen exactly where she wanted it, and that realization filled me with a quiet, growing sense of fear.
"See? That wasn't so bad," Eclipse said.
I just stared at her because I couldn't believe she just said that.
"Not so bad? Eclipse I just cheated on my mate," I said.
"You did what you had to do to survive. There's a difference," Eclipse said and she sat down next to me.
"I can't do this. Maybe I should just fake a miscarriage instead. Tell everyone I lost the baby," I said.
Eclipse's face got hard and she grabbed my arm.
"No. Absolutely not," Eclipse said.
"Why not? It would solve everything. Nobody would question it," I said.
"Are you serious right now? The Elders just announced your pregnancy to the whole pack. Raphael has been celebrating, if you suddenly have a miscarriage right before the blessing ceremony everyone is going to be suspicious," Eclipse said.
"But people have miscarriages all the time," I said.
"Not right after a public announcement they don't. Not when the timing is this convenient, they'll investigate. They'll want to know why it happened, they'll examine you and they'll figure out you were never pregnant in the first place," Eclipse said.
I pulled my arm away from her.
"Then what am I supposed to do? Just hope I actually get pregnant from one time?" I asked.
"That's exactly what you're going to do. And if it doesn't work the first time then you'll do it again until it does," Eclipse said.
"I can't keep doing this. It's wrong," I said.
"You should have thought about that before you faked being pregnant without asking me first," Eclipse said, her voice getting mean. "This whole mess exists because you panicked and lied. Now I'm cleaning up your mistake."
"I didn't ask you to fix anything," I said.
"No but you came running to me crying about how scared you were. You wanted my help, well this is my help. Take it or leave it," Eclipse said.
I felt tears start again, hot and sudden, and I hated it. I hated crying in front of her because it made me feel exposed, stripped of whatever strength I was trying to hold onto. My throat tightened as I fought to keep my composure, blinking hard, willing the tears back. She was watching me too closely, seeing more than I wanted her to. In that moment, weakness felt dangerous, like giving her a weapon I might never get back.
"What if this doesn't work? What if I don't get pregnant?" I asked.
"Then we'll figure out plan B. But right now this is plan A and you need to commit to it," Eclipse said.
"I just don't see how this is going to work," I said.
Derek came back into the room and he was counting money that Eclipse must have given him.
"It'll work. Your sister knows what she's doing," Derek said.
"How much is she paying you?" I asked.
"Enough to make it worth my while," Derek said and he smiled at me but it wasn't a nice smile.
"And what happens after? After I'm pregnant I mean," I asked.
"I disappear. You never see me again. Nobody ever knows I was involved," Derek said.
"Just like that?" I asked.
"Just like that," Derek said.
Eclipse stood up and walked over to where Derek was standing.
“We need to talk about the next steps,” Eclipse said, his tone measured but unyielding. “Medea, you need to sleep with Raphael as soon as possible. Tomorrow night, if you can manage it.” The words landed heavily between us, cold and unavoidable. My stomach twisted as the implication sank in—not just the act itself, but what it represented. Strategy over feeling. Survival over dignity. This wasn’t about desire; it was about control, timing, and the fragile balance of power that could shatter if I hesitated even once.
"Why?" I asked even though I already knew why.
"Because if you are pregnant we need Raphael to think the baby is his. The timing has to make sense," Eclipse said.
"I can't just seduce him out of nowhere. He'll think something is wrong," I said.
"Then make up an excuse. Tell him you're feeling better, tell him you missed him. I don't care what you say just make it happen," Eclipse said.
"This is so messed up," I said.
"It's survival. And you better get used to it because you're going to be living this lie for a very long time," Eclipse said.
Derek put the money in his pocket and looked at Eclipse.
"Same time next week if needed?" Derek asked.
"Yes. I'll let you know," Eclipse said.
"Wait. Next week? You think I'm going to do this again?" I asked and my voice came out loud.
"If you're not pregnant then yes. We'll keep trying until you are," Eclipse said.
"I can't believe this," I said.
"Believe it. This is your life now until that baby is born and even after that you're going to have to keep this secret forever," Eclipse said.
"What if I tell Raphael the truth? What if I just confess everything?" I asked.
Eclipse got really close to my face and her eyes looked scary.
"If you tell him anything I will make sure everyone knows it was all your idea. I'll say you came to me and forced me to help you. I'll make you look like the villain and I'll walk away clean. Do you understand me?" Eclipse said.
I nodded because I was too scared to say anything else.
"Good. Now go home and act normal. Tomorrow night you sleep with your mate and you make him think everything is perfect. Can you do that?" Eclipse asked.
"I don't know," I said.
"Figure it out. Because if you mess this up we're both going down," Eclipse said.
Derek walked to the door.
"I'll be in touch," Derek said and then he left.
Eclipse grabbed my face and made me look at her.
“Pull yourself together, Medea. You can’t go home looking like this. Raphael will know something is wrong,” Eclipse said, his voice sharp and unforgiving. His eyes swept over my tear-streaked face, lingering with clear disapproval. “You need to be calm, convincing. Whatever doubts you’re feeling, swallow them.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “If Raphael senses weakness, suspicion will follow—and once that happens, everything you’re trying to protect will unravel.”
"I feel sick," I said.
"Go splash some water on your face. Fix your makeup. And remember you're doing this to save yourself. That's all that matters," Eclipse said.
I went to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror and I barely recognized the person looking back at me. My eyes were red and my face was pale and I looked guilty of every bad thing I'd ever done.
I washed my face and tried to make myself look normal but I didn't feel normal. I felt like everything inside me was broken.
When I came out of the bathroom Eclipse was waiting by the door.
"Ready?" Eclipse asked.
"No. But I guess it doesn't matter," I said.
"It'll get easier. Trust me," Eclipse said.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"Because lying always gets easier the more you do it," Eclipse said.
And that's what scared me the most because I knew she was right.