Chapter 2

~Aurora.

It was already two weeks since my sister's and boyfriend's betrayal and another two weeks since I got confined into a corner of the palace maids' room to work as a personal maid to my sister, Isadora.

I had formerly refused to serve her and ran back to our house, only to be greeted by strangers with news that my sister sold our house; Isadora sold the only place I called home. Having no other option, I hung my head between my shoulders and assumed my position as her personal maid, while being fully aware that I would be sharing the same space with Ethan.

And speaking of Ethan?

Isadora did all she could to rub him and his affection to my face, ever ready to invite me to their private time, she was always inviting me to their room whenever Ethan was around in a disguise of wanting to have a conversation with her sister. The sister she was too quick to betray!

I was no sister to Isadora, perhaps, a competition and a quest to conquer, but a sister? That was the least thing she saw me as. I blamed my parents these past few days for leaving me in this cruel, wicked world. If they had been here, I wouldn't have been in the palace working as a maid, I was certain. If I had known them, perhaps, I would have been in a corner of the world living my best life, if I had known them…

I sniffled and Jessie groaned as she turned to me.

“Ugh, not again, Aurora, I am beginning to grow tired of your tears.” she nudged me playfully with a sigh.

“I'm sorry,” I said as I wiped my tears and turned my face to the wall. The cross was mine to bear, I didn't need to disturb others with my pain, especially Jessie who was doing her every best to see that I was okay.

“Oh, come on, Aurora, you know I didn't mean it like that, I just hate seeing you crying over these people. Nobody should be the reason for your tears, especially not your sister and her husband.” Jessie was a friend I made during my times as Ethan's girlfriend and has been the only person who stuck with me since Ethan's betrayal. “God, Aurora, you're burning up.” I winced as I felt Jessie's palm against my neck.

“I'm fine, Jessie.” My fever started about four days ago, and it only got worse with each passing day, the headache that came with it was severe. The body pains and the nausea, they were all strange and frightening and the last thing I wanted was to report to Isadora because I knew she would see that as a reason to punish me more.

“I will take the aspirin and I will be fine.” Which was a lie because I have been taking the aspirin for the last four days without any improvement, but how could I be better when all my sister does was to make me stressed?

The morning was quick to come, and I woke up feeling rather light headed than usual, my stomach churned from the scent of the soap the maids had used in bathing and later, gave in to throwing up to the scent of my soap. Once I was done cleaning up, I made for Isadora's room to find her still asleep with a pile of clothes in the corner of the room.

With a weak sigh, I picked the clothes and left to resume my duties for the day, and Isadora's laundry was the core chore of each day. While sorting the clothes out, the room began to spin, I leaned against the wall and rubbed my thumbs against my temples but the exercise did nothing to stop both the lightheadedness and the headache. I closed my eyes and tried to take in deep breaths, but it did nothing to ease my pains.

“Jessie!” I yelled, gripping the washing machine to steady myself. Receiving no feedback from Jessie, I started on the clothes to avoid Isadora's wrath because I knew Isadora wouldn't take my sickness for an excuse.

A gasp escaped my lips as my head spun again. My head turned heavy and my vision, hazy.

“Jessie!” I screamed again at the top of my lungs. I could hear the terror in my voice this time. I wasn't sure she heard me, so I pushed myself off the washing machine and made for the door. Perhaps, I thought, I would be better if I made it back to the maids' quarters.

“Aurora,” Jessie called with a gasp as she rushed into the room, and the fear in her eyes was the last thing I saw before I felt my body against the floor.

****

The smell of disinfectant wafted through my nostrils as a bright light attacked my eyes as I peeled them open. I pressed my elbows into the bed and propped myself up on the bed just in time for Jessie and the doctor to walk into the ward. I was in the royal clinic. I could recognize Dr. Kings and that smell of disinfectant anytime.

“Thank God you're awake, Aurora,” Jessie said, rushing to my side, "I was worried something had happened to you when you passed out in front of me.”

“Yeah, she was ready to snap me into two on your behalf.” Dr. Kings added while watching us from a distance.

“I have to go back to my duties, but I'll be back soon and don't worry, I will try my best to cover for you.” I gave her a smile and a small nod before watching her leave the room and Dr. Kings walk up to me.

“I come bearing news, Ms-,” he pulled out an envelope from the pocket of his hospital coat and read out, "Ms. Aldrich.”

I raised a brow at his cheerful tone because I knew there was nothing going on in my life that warranted such cheerfulness.

“What news is that doctor?”

“Good news,” he quipped and held out the envelope, "you are three weeks pregnant, Ms. Aldrich.”

“Wha- what do you mean?” I snatched the envelope from Dr. Kings and pulled out the test results to see the 'positive' and 'twenty-one days pregnant' staring back at me. “ This can't be possible, I can't be pregnant.”

“But that is your name written on the result, isn't it?” I looked down at the paper and my name, Aurora Aldrich, was clearly written on the paper.

My lungs contracted and refused to release, I looked up at the doctor with tears in my eyes and saw he was still speaking. I held the paper in my hands and rose from the bed, uninterested in any other word he had to say, but not without catching a few words about strong foetus and weak womb, but I couldn't care less.

The streets were empty and lonely when I stepped into the starless and moonless night. The moon also has refused to shine its lights upon the earth or, maybe, upon me. The chirping of the crickets and the hooting of the owls were my only escorts as I staggered back to the palace.

I knew whom I was pregnant for because he was the only man I knew, but, what was I to say to him? With my sister by his side as his wife? Would he even entertain the topic after he had already made a choice to be with Isadora? Heck! How was I supposed to tell him I was pregnant?

My legs gave out, causing me to crash against the rough ground. Scraped hands and knees evidence of my fall.

'You are not weak, Aurora." Zoey, my wolf said as I blinked back the tears that were threatening to escape my eyes. 'Talk to him about this and he would accept you. You are with his child, Aurora, he would never refuse you.”

“I am with his child,” I whispered into the cold night as I rubbed my stomach, my tears finally finding their way down my cheeks.

“I am with his child," I repeated and pulled myself off the ground, determined to share the news with him.

I decided to write a letter to Ethan knowing he was not going to reply to my messages just as he has been doing since he was crowned king. I attached the result to the letter and slid into his study and placed the letter in the middle of the book I was certain he was currently reading, knowing he was coming back to the study to round off before retiring for the night.

I hurried back to the maids’ quarter and waited for Ethan to send for me or, rather, come to look for me.

Nearly three hours later, there was a knock on my door. I jumped down from my bed even with little strength and rushed to the door. To my disappointment, a guard from the palace stood in front of my door with an envelope bound by the royal seal.

My heart hammered against the walls of my chest as I took the letter from him.

'Why didn't he send for me?' I wondered, 'didn't this deserve proper deliberation?'

I snatched the letter from the guard before closing the door and pressed my back against it. With shaky hands, I tore the letter and quickly skimmed through the content written in black ink.

My heart sank, and my shoulders fell with every paragraph I read.

"You dare to play games with me, Aurora. But games or no games, I, your Alpha King, Ethan Balor, deny your claims and whatever it is you claim to carry. I, Ethan Balor, deny having made any actions that resulted in whatever claims you seem to have.

And if your claim happens to be true, I advise that you do away with it. If you want to live to see another day, take care of it and never speak of it to anyone.

Do away with it and never play such games again, Aurora. But if you try to keep it or try to play such games with me again, I promise you, my face will be the last thing you see on earth before your painful transition to the other world. I promise you that, Aurora, I promise you.

My knees failed me and I crumbled to the ground with tears in my eyes.

Once again, Ethan had succeeded in breaking my heart, but this was the last time it would ever happen.

I was never going to do anything to harm my child. It has been my everything from the moment I discovered it, so nothing was going to make me harm it, not Ethan and certainly not his threat.

Wiping my tears, I decided to run, to pack my things and leave the palace and its environment or even, Sturgeon moon back and its environment and never to return to it.

NEVER!

Aurora.

10 years later.

“No, there wouldn't be a need for extra medications, if you stick to what I have recommended, in no time, I promise you, you will be just fine.” I flashed the man sitting across me a smile as he went through the list of drugs I just wrote him.

“Just go down the hall to the right, hand the pharmacist the paper, and every other thing will be sorted out for you.”

He nodded again, “thank you, doctor, you are indeed a lifesaver.” I gave him my signature smile as he stood up and left the office.

Adding his file to the list of cleared patients, I picked up the next patient's file, skimmed through it before ringing the bell to signal her in. She came in, greeted me and I responded with my signature smile just like I have been doing since the day began.

If I had been told that in ten years, with the situation surrounding my runaway, that I would be sitting in a well conditioned office and across patients and counselling them, I wouldn't have dared to believe it.

Ten years ago, I took the bold decision to save my life and that of my child. Ten years ago, I was hurdling the streets with a round, wide, and weird stomach trying to make ends meet and ten years later, I was proud of the achievements I hadn't known I would make.

“I really am scared, doctor, what if I die? How would my children live without their mother?” I chuckled at her terror filled voice, my subconscious shivering with fear for my sake. How would my child survive without his mother?

“Mrs. Drake, I can assure you, if running for my life was enough to save my life, sticking to medications will certainly do the trick for you. And, you are one lucky woman because, unlike some other patients, your sickness was discovered on time and if you work with us and stick to your medications, your sickness will disappear within the blink of an eye.”

“And my son, I fear that he may have it too. He had a cut that was exposed to bacteria. And is this sickness hereditary? I wouldn't want any of my kids to go through this suffering.”

“No ma'am, it isn't but, you can bring your kids in for lab tests, I bet that will give you enough consolation you will be needing.”

“Yes, it will. Thank you, doctor.”

“I am more than glad to help.”

I let my lungs expand once the door was shut. Her question had me thinking about the night I made a decision to leave Sturgeon moon pack. Ten years later and I still feared the threat hanging around mine and my son's head. We were marked people, as long as we lived, death hovered around us.

Putting down the patient's file, I picked my purse and made for the door just in time for a colleague to walk with his hands occupied with flat files.

“Going somewhere, doctor Rory?” He asked. I nodded while taking some steps back to give him enough room to walk into the office and set the files down on my desk.

“Home, Reginald. I need to go home to my son.”

“So soon?” He raised a brow and tilted his head.

I groaned loudly, “I am two hours past my closing time, sir, isn't that enough for you?”

“Of course it is, Rory. I do see, and I appreciate the help and everything you have done to help this hospital and that is why I am telling you to accept my offer. See it as a reward for all your hard work.”

“Here we go again, Reggie,” I said with a sigh. “And I suppose I will be working alongside you, yeah?”

A corner of his lips rose in a small smile, and he shook his head, “no, I will be working alongside you. Come on, Rory, you are already the best doctor in our field, just say yes to my offer and be at the best place you could ever imagine.”

I sighed even louder, "Fine, Reggie, I will sleep over it.”

His smile widened, “I will be waiting for your response, but don't take too long, Greece won't keep waiting for you.” He picked his files and left the office.

Reginald's offer was a good one, but it wasn't the first offer I have received over the years. All offers which I eventually had to turn down because they included me leaving my new pack.

Waxing crescent pack was the place that saved my life and that of my child. It gave me a new and better life even when life dared to have me destroyed, and it was already giving my son his fair portion of a good life. I was already on top of my career and my leaving the pack will have the same effect as me staying, so what was the need of moving at all?

Exhaling deeply, I squared my shoulders and left the office. I loved my job, but I loved myself and my son more; if waxing crescent was a place that calmed my mind and brought me comfort, then there was no way I was leaving it.

The ride back home was a smooth one and just as expected, Arne came rushing out once he saw my car drive in despite his nanny's protest. I smiled at my little bundle of joy, my little reminder of who he was and who I ceased to be ten years ago; An Alpha king and a weak and orphaned omega.

“You're home early today, doctor Rory.” Audrey, his teenage nanny said, finally taking hold of Arne.

“Yes, and hopefully, I have relieved you of your burden for the day.”

“I… I do love working with you, ma'am, Rory.”

“And we do love having you with us,” I said, tapping her cheeks playfully, “isn't that right, Arne?”

“Of course, mommy. I like having Audrey around.”

I chuckled, "I only had a less busy day at work today but, you are welcome to stay with us until you are ready to leave.”

“Okay ma'am.” I took hold of Arne and let go of my purse he had been fussing with, and we headed into the house. “Doctor Rory?” Audrey called, and I turned to her, “a mail came in for you today. I kept it on the dining table for you.”

“Yeah mom, it is a beautiful mail.”

Audrey chuckled, “it indeed is a beautiful mail.”

With a raised brow, I walked to the dining room and I picked the dull yellow envelope that laid at the center of the table. My heart skipped a million beats as my eyes met the familiar seal on the envelope; the royal seal of Sturgeon moon pack.

With shaky hands, I tore the envelope and took out the letter and skimmed through it. My heart stilled a bit when I saw it lacked the content I feared; the threat to kill me and my son.

Taking deep breaths again, I read through the content of the letter;

'Dear Dr. Rory Aldrich, it is with pain that the royal house of Sturgeon Moon pack writes to you. Our pack is at the verge of being wiped off the face of the earth due to an epidemic that has struck our pack. We have heard of you and the wonders you have worked in treating cases similar to ours.

We implore your help and ask that you come and help us in saving our pack, our existence, and heritage.

We hope you listen to our sincerest pleas and hope to hear back from you soonest. The royal house of Sturgeon Moon pack. Thank you.'

My heart swelled with anger with each word I read. Ten years ago, the “royal house of Sturgeon Moon pack” had written me a letter to do away with my son and now, they were pleading with me to help them save their pack?!

How was I supposed to help the same person who wanted my son…his son dead? Or wasn't my son part of his pack? How could I take my son back to that place?

Hissing loudly, I folded the letter and shredded it into tiny pieces. Maybe, just maybe, I might consider Reggie's offer and move to Greece.

~Ethan.

My perked up ears paid keen attention to the chatter and murmuring coming from the ground below me as the members of the high court and other elders trooped into the compound and into the courtroom. From my window I watched them coming in small groups of twos and threes, with some of them throwing angry glances towards the direction of the royal chambers.

“Are you ready?” I shook my head at the familiar voice but, not in negation, rather in disapproval of his choice of word.

“You sound as though they are people I should be scared of,” I replied, my eyes unmoving from the window.

“You should. These people are furious at you, and they are searching for a reason to pounce on you, even the slightest misstep from you could cause a fight between you and them.”

 I chuckled lightly and turned to the voice behind me, the worry in his voice evident in his eyes, “then let’s not give them any reasons to.” Tapping his shoulder lightly, I turned back to the window, with a confirmation that my guests were already settled inside, I pulled away from the window and out of the room.  “You are to come with me, Sam, you are my right-hand man.”

“Oh, yeah.” The young lad, who was a tad older than I was, jerked back to reality before rushing up behind me.

On getting to the courtroom, I turned to Sam with a shake of my head, and he raised both shoulders in response. We both knew what we were going in to face; the elders and the members of the high court, and though I have enjoyed most of my gatherings with the high court members, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to entertain them.  Drawing in a deep breath, I walked into the room.

Feet and seats dragged against the floor as they all stood up, “Long live the king!” they chorused and I hummed a response. Their greeting, I was certain, was merely a chant and not a pleasant wish. None of them wanted me well, if anything, they wanted their incapable king out of the throne.

“Take your seats, please.” I said with a small smile as I assumed my position on the throne. “I was informed this meeting was a matter of urgency, yeah?” They murmured a response, “Okay, so what issue are we handling?”

“What issue are we handling, you say?” One of the elders fretted, and we all turned to him, “people are dying, women and children are dying, your men too, and you ask what issue we are handling as if you are unaware of the issue we have been dealing with for almost a month now.”

“Who else wants to try?” My smile was still plastered on my face as I turned my eyes away from the loudmouthed man and back to the rest of the people in the room.

“My king,” Diane, one of the members of the high court called as she stood, “we are here to discuss no other thing but the epidemic that has befallen us, we have been trying to contain this issue and wait as you told us but, with the tragedy that befell us yesterday, we are not sure if we can keep waiting.”

My smile fell, and my brows knitted; “what tragedy?”

She sighed and turned briefly to the rest of the occupants of the room before turning back to me, “As you may have known, Felicia’s daughter, Anastasia, was supposed to be married yesterday, but the marriage didn’t go through because she contracted the plague. She and her younger brother, they are both in the pack's clinic now and asides them, three other men and Seth’s grandmother were admitted to the clinic yesterday.”

I scanned the crowd and saw Seth alone looking back at me, “Where is Felicia?” she was a member of the high court and was always present at every meeting.

“Still in mourning. Our guests didn’t stay long because of the plague, my king, we think this slickness will reduce our interactions with oth-”

“I am trying my best to contain this situation and to bring a solution.” I knew better than to allow her complete that sentence because if she did, another issue was sure to arise, and I have already had my fair share of the plague talk. Diane sighed and assumed her seat.

“That is all you have been saying, when are you going to provide a standard solution for us?” one of the elders said, and they all murmured in agreement.

“The expert doctor is on her way to us, I have asked and pleaded with you all to exercise patience. She will come to us soon, I promise.”

“We can no longer hold you by your words, Alpha Ethan, you have been promising us this doctor even before this epidemic became this rampant. You couldn’t contain it, how then do you expect we believe you when you say you can find us a solution?” Another member of the high court, Gideon said.

I clenched my jaw to keep my anger in check, it was one thing knowing that some of my subjects consider me to be incapable, and it was another thing hearing them say it to my face and that other thing it came with was anger. Pain. Betrayal.

I kept my palms in a fist and looked up at them, “The doctor will come to us, soonest, I wasn’t going to say it until she got here, but she has agreed to help us, and she will be here in a few days.”

“But my king-” I raised my index finger, shushing the woman who tried to speak.

“The doctor will be here in a few days and that is it.” Murmuring arose amongst them.

“How do we even believe him?”

“What doctor is he even talking about?”

“I will be leaving this pack at the break of dawn to find a physician for my son, I can’t keep waiting for him.”

I chuckled in disbelief at their words, it was quite disheartening knowing that everyone thought of me as incapable, first Isadora who practically left me for my best friend, then my beta who also stands by my best friend and now my subjects.

“There is no reason for anyone to be bothered, the doctor will be here in a few days and that is all I can say to you for now. And this meeting is over.”

They grunted as they rose to bow in greeting before leaving the room, some even dared to curse under their breaths, but I turned a blind eye to their mischief. The plague has brought extreme fear and stress to everyone, especially to me, who had sent a thousand letters to the doctor without a response.

I sank into my seat with a sigh once the room was void of them. Realizing I hadn’t heard Sam’s voice during the meeting, I looked around searching for him to notice him gone and just I began to wonder where he was, he hurried into the room beaming with smile.

“She replied, Alpha! She has responded!” I sat up in my seat and reached for the envelope in his hand. I knew it was just one person who we had been awaiting her response. Hurriedly, I tore the envelope and took out the letter to see three simple yet infuriating words staring back at me.

‘I humbly decline.’ and that was it, no explanations, no courtesy.”

“You do know where this doctor stays.” I said through gritted teeth, my anger, and irritation visible in my voice and face.

Sam nodded, “I do know the where she lives and works."

“Good,” I sapped the letter against his chest and he took hold of it before it kissed the ground, “then go get me that woman and bring her to me at all cost. Bring her to me alive!”