“You sneaky little rat,” Victoria spat. “Eavesdropping now? This is not your place!”
Lily jumped, heart lurching, but Victoria already had her arm in a vice grip. She shook her head quickly, mouthing, ‘No. I wasn’t...’
“What are you doing skulking by the Alpha’s room? Don’t lie to me!” Victoria’s nails dug into Lily’s skin. “You better tell me now or I will slap you!”
Lily’s lips parted, hands flailing as she tried to explain, to gesture that she hadn’t meant to—but Victoria wasn’t having it.
“Save it,” she snapped. “Go. Before I lose my temper.”
Lily hesitated for just a second, but the look in Victoria’s eyes made her turn and bolt down the hall. Victoria watched her run, then turned back to the door.
She paused. Then quietly, she stepped closer.
The voices inside were muffled but clear enough.
“...I’m asking if it’s even possible for her to carry a child safely,” Zayn said. “You said it could kill her.”
“That’s right,” came Talia’s voice. “And you want to try anyway?”
There was a long pause.
“I don’t have a choice,” Zayn muttered. “The Alpha King... made it part of the condition.”
Victoria’s brow furrowed. Her breath caught. free.w e bn.ov(e)l(.)com
“What the hell kind of condition is that?” Talia sounded disgusted.
Victoria leaned closer, her pulse quickening.
“If we don’t produce an heir,” Zayn said, voice low and bitter, “not only will he strip me of my title, but I will also be thrown back to the dungeons... I will never let that happen again, never!!”
He didn’t want to think about what would happen. He had escaped once with his mind damaged but intact; the next time won’t be the same.
“And Lily?” Talia asked softly.
“She doesn’t have a choice,” Zayn said, voice low and rough, “But even if she agreed, I-”
Zayn covered his mouth with his hand, his thoughts were a million miles away. He had buried this deep within himself, a secret he had locked in the vault of his mind and thrown away the key.
Talia narrowed her eyes, “Even if she agreed? What is it that you’re not saying Zayn?”
She had never seen him this hesitant to speak, she wasn’t sure if she should probe. But the matter they were discussing was of great importance. Every bit of detail helped.
Zayn exhaled shakily, dragging a hand through his hair, “I’m sure you’ve heard of the rumors... During those years, there wasn’t anything they wouldn’t do to my pack, to me.”
Talia’s eyes widened a little. Her mouth hung open, then closed as she clenched her jaw and hung her head low.
“I’ve heard some of them,” She muttered, voice shaky.
She had made herself believe they were just rumors. But the pain in Zayn’s voice, the hollow look in his eyes, confirmed her worst thoughts. Connecting the pieces together, Talia came to her own conclusion.
She looked back up at Zayn.
“The poison... the one that’s been banned for centuries, even that-”
That knowing look in her eyes was all he needed to see.
Zayn closed his eyes as he let out a sigh, “They wanted to break me. The line of succession must be secure for an Alpha to rule; they made sure that would never be.”
Zayn held his hands together, knuckles quickly turning white with the strength of his grip.
Talia’s eyes almost watered, she didn’t know how to react to what he told her. "Zayn—"
She tried to think of what other things could have been. “You’re sure it’s not—?”
Zayn slammed the wall with his fist, hard enough to crack plaster. “Goddess,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “The King gave us a year. One year or everything is lost.”
Talia flinched, surprise flickering in her eyes. “One year? We need more time, for Lily, for you... I mean, if I can try to test your blood and see what could be the cause...”
"I’ve had healers look at me in secret." His hand curled into a fist. "Whatever they did to me... it broke something in me."
“Perhaps there is a cure. Every poison has an antidote.” Talia said, cautiously hopeful.
“Perhaps,” He muttered.
No matter how hard he tried, the rage building in his chest remained. He tried hard to control himself but he couldn’t.
“The Alpha King must know something about this. He wouldn’t have made this request if he didn’t.”
Talia shook her head slowly. "And Lily... she’s barely healed. Carrying a child right now... it could kill her."
Zayn’s expression hardened, "That’s why I need you, Talia. We need you. I won’t let that bastard strip everything away because of something I can’t control."
Talia’s eyes softened, she could tell he was at the edge of a very thin line, she wanted to reason with him. "You want a miracle."
"I want a chance," Zayn said firmly. "For this pack. For everything I’ve built from ash."
Outside, beyond the door, Victoria leaned silently against the wall, every word hitting her like a dagger. “Of course, now it all makes sense... this is why I could never get pregnant with his child,” she whispered to herself clawing her palms trying to be quiet.
Inside, Zayn’s voice dropped to a quiet plea. "You’re the best healer we have, Talia. But if you can’t help... then find someone who can. I don’t care how far you have to go, what I have to give. Just bring them to me."
Talia gave a small nod. "Alright. I’ll try." And she meant it, she was already running through her memories of other alternatives.
Zayn looked at her, his eyes filled with something rarely seen in him. Hope. "Just... hurry. Please.”
Talia nodded, but her frown deepened. "I might know someone who can help. I’ll send word to them immediately, but it will take some time for them to get here."
"Do what you have to do. If there’s anything I can do, let me know.."
Before Talia could respond, Zayn stiffened. He turned toward the door, eyes narrowing. "Someone’s there."
He strode to the door, yanking it open without any warning. He looked out into the hallway. It was empty.
But Zayn could feel the lingering presence of someone who had just been there.
He stepped back in, eyes sharp.
"We can’t trust anyone, Talia."
Talia’s face was unreadable. Zayn shut the door quietly and locked it.
"Keep this between us. Not a word, not a whisper."
"You think secrets last long in a place ?" she asked. "Especially ones this big?"
Zayn looked away. His fingers flexed at his sides. "They have to," he said. "For now."
Victoria glanced over her shoulder, sighing in relief once she was sure she was alone. She’d slipped away before Zayn opened his door. She didn’t want him to know she’d been listening.
She walked the long corridor, her lips curled in a bitter smile, but her eyes were intense.
"An heir," she murmured under her breath like a mantra. "He needs an heir."
She clenched her fists.
If she could give Zayn what he needed, what the Alpha King demanded, then the Luna seat could be hers. If Victoria got pregnant before Lily did, Zayn would claim her. He would never let his child become a bastard and go unclaimed. But if Lily got pregnant first, her plan would fall apart.
"No," Victoria hissed. "Not happening."
She needed to move fast.
The first step was simple: ensure Lily never got the chance to conceive. She marched across the training grounds, not really paying attention to where she was going, until she arrived at an unfamiliar door where a burly warrior in armor stepped in her way.
"This area’s restricted."
Victoria blinked, taken aback. "Excuse me?"
"Only assigned personnel are allowed past this point," the guard said firmly. "Turn around."
She crossed her arms and raised her chin. "Don’t you know who I am?"
The guard didn’t budge. "You’re not on the list.”
Her lip curled. "Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?!"
"Yes," came a voice from behind. "That’s exactly why I’m surprised you’re here."
Victoria turned sharply. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Ezra, tell this lowlife who I am..."
Ezra frowned, glancing between her and the guard. "Training grounds are off-limits to visitors. What are you doing here?"
"I was just.." She paused. Then her tone changed. Softer. "Looking for you. Actually."
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes." She stepped closer, lowering her voice; she had a plan in mind now. "I need your help."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "What kind of help?"
Victoria smiled sweetly. “May I speak with you in private? It’s... something important.”
Ezra didn’t respond immediately but drew aside with her out of earshot.
She leaned in, voice barely above a whisper now. "You want what’s best for Zayn, don’t you?"
Victoria pressed just a little closer. "I’m not asking for anything terrible. You’ve always done what’s best for him. That is exactly what I want your help with... I need your help to protect him, from being stripped away from his title and his legacy.”