Chapter 2 Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Theodota

“What are you trying to do, Alpha Andreas?” Dimitris asked. However, his voice was polite despite the anger written on his face. I trembled slightly, wishing the earth would open and swallow me. Something to save me. I frowned as I noticed the anomaly in his words. Alpha, he’d said.

Alpha fucking Andreas. The Alpha of Calvary. I suddenly wanted to run away. Wanted to be anywhere but there. Somehow, I felt vulnerable. I felt like he could peer into me, unravel me and see through my secrets. It was an unnerving feeling.

“Do? I’m exchanging pleasantries with your fiancée. Surely, you don’t have an issue with that?” He asked with a chilly smile. I held my breath, waiting for Dimitris to fly into a fit of rage. Oh, I was aware he didn’t give two hoots about me. However, he was extremely possessive. His rage never came. He just turned his face away.

“More wine.” He ordered, fixing me with a hard glare. I understood. I hurried over to him, pouring him a glass. “If you don’t leave, this instant, I’ll give you the most painful and slowest death possible.” He threatened in a voice that only I could hear. My body stiffened.

With a low bow, I faced Alpha Andreas. “I beg to take my leave now.” I said in a small voice.

“You shouldn’t be so timid, lady. I won’t eat you. Besides, queens never bow.” He said. His voice was like a compelling force, forcing me to meet his gaze once more. His eyes held mine for a moment. Different images flashed through my mind, none of them innocent. I shook my head with a start. Surely, those thoughts weren’t mine. With a shudder, I left the throne room.

I left my door unlocked. It didn’t matter if I locked it. Dimitris would always find a way to get in. It was already an hour since I left the throne room and two hours to 9pm—the time Eleni had scheduled.

Tried as I could, thoughts of Alpha Andreas wouldn’t leave my mind. I wanted to see him again. The thought had barely formed when the door pushed open. Alpha Dimitris walked in, looking angrier than I’d ever seen him.

“How dare you?!” He growled, his eyes blazing with anger.

“Keep your fucking voice down, you slut. You thought I couldn’t see how you were staring at him? Do you have the barest respect for me?” He spat harshly. “If no one was there, I’m sure you’d have crawled your way into his bed, wouldn’t you?!” He went on, his voice going a notch higher. Inwardly, I battled myself. I wondered if Dimitris was right. That I’d truly have jumped that man’s bones if I had the chance. But I didn’t want to. Dimitris was still my husband-to-be, even though he was an absolute jerk.

I willed myself not to cry, not to give him the pleasure of seeing me break down before him.

Dimitris insulted me as much as he could, then left after an hour. I struggled to my feet and fumbled my way out of the room after ten minutes, wanting to be sure that he’d gone back to his room or wherever. I had a bad headache, and wanted to get some pain medicine from the Pack’s doctor. I had less than fifty minutes left before Eleni would show up. His room was located just before the hallway that led to the Pack’s doctor’s office. I tiptoed as I walked past, unwilling to draw his attention. However, I froze in place, as I heard the noise coming from the other side of the room.

There was no way I could mistake that noise. I knew very well what it was. What I didn’t want to do was to admit to myself what was happening on the other side of the room. It was Dimitris' room, so it had to be him. The unmistakable moans of a woman floated over once more, and I gasped. No way was this happening. I bit my lips in an attempt to hold back my tears.

My hand hovered above the doorknob, but I slowly lowered it. What right did I have to interrupt them? Swallowing my tears, I went on my way, got myself cleaned up and went back to wait for my best friend.

She showed up ten minutes later, her hair slightly disheveled. I was taken aback.

“Why are you all sweaty?” I asked curiously.

“I decided to jog tonight. Are you ready?” She asked. I nodded in response.

I followed her instructions and climbed down the rope.

“Let’s go through the forest.” She suggested. I trailed her as she weaved through the trees, and soon we arrived at a little hospital outside the castle walls. Outside, I hesitated once more.

“Common, Theo. There’s no time.” She urged. I took a deep breath and followed her in.

…

My mind went over my life as I lay on the operating table. At the thought of Dimitris, my heart clenched in pain. I never thought he’d cheat on me like that. Suddenly, I was more than happy to get rid of the baby; the only link between us aside from the engagement.

I was getting nervous though. My head felt woozy, and my body was getting weak. Shortly before the doctor—a plump man with glasses dangling on a rope—had left, he’d injected me with something that he’d claimed would help me with the pain. I’d never gotten an abortion before, so I couldn’t tell how it went. However, what I was feeling at that moment was a far cry from strength. A wrenching pain crawled through my belly, upwards to my chest, making it hard to breathe. My chest constricted, my body feeling like lead, and my breathing became labored. I opened my mouth to call for help. Surely, my reaction wasn’t normal. Just then, the door opened.

Thank goodness.

“Help, doctor, I–” my words died in my throat, as I saw who it was. The person approaching me with a strange smile wasn’t the doctor.

“Eleni?” I managed to whisper. I wondered why she was there, but I didn’t think too much about it. Knowing her kind nature, she’d probably come to cheer me on, and offer me mental support. “Please call the doctor. I…feel funny.” I whispered.

She chuckled. “Is that so, dearest Theodota?”

I was taken aback by her chilly tone. Besides, Eleni never called me by my full name. I had a bad premonition as she drew closer. She stroked my damp hair, the smile still plastered on her face.

“You see, you’ve always been too naive and trusting. So much that it disgusted me. Oh, poor Theodota.” She chuckled.

“You poisoned me?” Reality dawned on me.

“Technically, the doctor did. But it doesn’t matter anyway.” She shrugged.

Pain burned through my entire body, making staying awake a hard chore. I could feel life seeping out of my body.

“Why?” I choked out.

“Why?” The smile wiped off her face. In its place was hatred. Hatred for me. “I’ve always hated you, Theodota. You’ve always been favored by the Alpha. He’d always wanted you. He knew about our friendship, so he asked me to relay his feelings to you. How could I possibly do that? Should I tell you what I did?” A crazed look covered her face.

I couldn’t even respond. My tongue had gone numb from the pain.

“I told him you’d accepted him. Oh, the joy on his face then. But there was no way I could have allowed him to marry you just like that, turning you into Luna. So, I told him that you were having an affair with the stable boy, even after you’d accepted his proposal. Naturally, the Alpha would be enraged. He hated you after that. And so, when your father was unable to pay his debt, he decided to marry you in order to punish you. But then, you had to go and get pregnant.” She spat.

My eyes widened. Suddenly, everything clicked into place.

“Y-you—” I sucked in a sharp breath as pain tore through my belly.

“You had no idea that I was fucking the Alpha, did you?” At that, she smiled brightly.

“You were the one?” I whispered. I couldn’t tell which hurt more at that point. Her betrayal or the pain ravaging my body.

“Of course. I am the only one fit to be Luna. Don’t worry, you’ll die a painful death. The poison will eat you up soon. And, the Alpha is aware of this. In fact, he would be here soon.” She added.

I was certain she saw the disbelief on my face, because she went on. “I told him you were pregnant with someone else’s baby, and showed him your test results.” She grinned.

“After your death, this little hospital will be burned to the ground, erasing every hint of your existence. Rest in pieces, slut.” With that, she left the room.

As if on cue, the room went up in flames, doubling the pain I was feeling. I screamed, wanting to get away from there.

The fire spread rapidly, as if crazed. My body burned, and even crying became hard. The door burst open, and I vaguely saw a figure rush in.

“Theodota!” The voice screamed. The voice was familiar. I wondered where I’d heard it from.

“Let’s go together, Love.” The voice said again, wrapping their arms around me. My eyes shut close for the last time.

…

10pm. 20, February, 2024.

Miss Theodota Leonas lost her life in a tragic fire. May her soul rest with the Moon goddess.