Chapter 5 Blood for blood

/-Ayla-/

The air was thick with the faint pungency of herbs and medicine, and the sound of the crackling fire from the stone hearth was the only thing that could be heard.

In just a single day, I have lost count of the times my consciousness has been reduced to nothing but a black slate.

But, this time, when my eyes fluttered open again, the first thing that came out of my lips was a confused whisper.

“Where is my baby?”

I wasn't speaking to anyone in particular, staring at nothing in particular, until I realized that I was not alone.

“You are awake.”

The voice was deep, oddly familiar and prompted me to turn my head to see a tall figure standing beside the window with his broad back turned to me.

His shoulder-length hair moved slightly with the wind, giving him a restrained, yet unbothered grace, an almost debauched kind of aura that made me forget myself for a second.

Something about him was just different from every other man I had encountered.

Then, he slowly turned around.

His gold eyes landed on my face and, for no apparent reason, I quickly averted my gaze.

Subconsciously, I reached for my stomach and suddenly froze.

Those last words before everything went dark, It was my hallucination, right?

I fidgeted with the dress I didn't remember wearing, but couldn't care much. I swallowed the lump that was gradually forming in my throat as I whispered, “Did something happen to my baby?”

I was certain that the man had heard me, but he did not reply and instead stared at me silently as my heart began to beat out of rhythm.

Just in time, a knock came through. The man's voice, cold and sharp, cut through the silence, “Come inside.”

The door opened.

It was a woman. And, she was beautiful; high cheekbones, smooth skin like a newborn baby's, lips plumb and bright that it also seemed to be painted in natural rose.

Her thick auburn hair was plaited to the back, and as she walked into the room, I could tell that she was no random woman.

When the woman saw the gold-eyed man, she paused before dipping her head into a respectful bow, “Alpha King."

The man's voice was as cold as ever, “It took you long enough.” Before the beautiful woman could reply, he was already walking out of the room. “Have her treated.”

I stared at his receding figure, before wondering to myself, 'It couldn't be that he was waiting for me to wake up, right?'

No, definitely not.

But, the instant he left, I let out a breath I didn't even know that I was holding.

The woman waited for the 'Alpha King' to leave before stepping forward. She moved silently to a nearby table, pouring steaming water from a small kettle into a white porcelain cup I didn't even notice she was holding.

Then she handed the cup to me, “Drink this, it will help.” She said simply, and I took the cup, but didn't dare drink.

“Where am I?” My throat was dry, parched even, but I couldn't drink the water, not when I didn't even know where I was.

“You were found by the Alpha king, bleeding, and cold. You were brought here unconscious and thoroughly wounded.” She replied, placing the kettle down. “You are in the Northlands, the Vulkaria Kingdom.”

My eyes widened in astonishment.

So far? The Vulkaria Kingdom was miles away from Florania.

And, the North lands? That realization hit me harder, making me tremble on the bed. 

But, the woman did not wait for me to react, before adding, “Replying to your second question, there's something you need to know.” Her gaze was steady, but distant as it bore into me.

I clenched my fist by the sides, waiting for her to continue.

“You were poisoned, through food. And, it is probably something you took before you collapsed. We managed to flush most of it out of your system, but…" She paused, as though giving me time to process the news. “Moreover, you were already stabbed before you were brought in.”

Her gaze lingered on my stomach for a fraction of a second. I seemed to notice an odd flicker in her eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it came, leaving me no chance to tell what it was.

“The pup could not be saved.” She finally said, and the air went still.

Actually, I had expected it, but hearing it was different.

I didn't breathe, I could not.

I had been poisoned and stabbed, there’s no way such a tiny life force could survive it.

“I'm sorry.” She added, but her voice lacked the usual warmth of someone who truly emphasized.

I felt cold, utterly so.

Silence stretched between us, until she uttered through pressed lips, “You will feel weak for some time. The poison and blood loss took a toll. You should not stress your body or your mind, the Alpha gave strict orders.”

There it was again, the Alpha King.

The man who gave me contradicting emotions; security and fear all combined in one.

“Oh." I said in a dull tone, staring blankly at her.

“You are lucky he found you when he did. Rest, heal and try not to waste the second chance you've been given.”

With that said, she turned around and left without another word.

And, I lay there in silence, watching nothing in particular.

I did not cry.

My chest fell and rose, but it was almost mechanical.

Then, it bloomed slowly, like the ache in my heart and stomach.

Hatred, anger and anguish. All in one.

I had been desperate, desperate not to lose my baby by starving, so desperate that I forgot that Selene could not be trusted and took the bun.

She took advantage of my vulnerability.

My baby…. I didn't even get a chance to see her face because she was taken from me.

The baby never got to breathe, never got to be held, never got to live, and it was because of her.

She had taken my mate, but that didn't seem to be enough for her.

I clutched the sheets, my finger twisting the fabric as the flame of anger spread across my chest, raw hatred pouring out from my very core.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

I wanted to scream until my throat burned, but my voice seemed to be held.

My voice has been stolen.

My baby, taken.

And, they would pay. With their blood!