Nanny Nia wanted to tell her the baby was fine, but she didn’t know if it was true.
She looked up to Loren who seed to not know either.
Jasmine sensed the fact that they didn’t know the answer to her question and she began to panic.
"My baby!" Jasmine’s voice cracked as she writhed in the arms of those holding her as she clutched her belly. "Is my baby okay?"
"Jasmine please take it easy." Loren said as he gently descended down to the floor.
"IS MY BABY FINE?!" She scread in rage and that took everyone at back.
Loren bent down and reached out his hand to touch her stomach.
He closed his eyes to very closely feel the stomach.
Nanny Nia’s heart was racing rapidly in fear.
She closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip in fear hoping that all was well.
Jasmine would go mad if anything happened to that baby.
Coupled with the fact Xaden still had not returned to the pack.
Things were already difficult as it was.
"You’ll be fine. The baby’s fine," Loren said finally, his hands working gently as he examined her injuries. "You just need rest. The impact didn’t breach anything serious, but your body’s under stress. Any more strain and—"
"She’s going to her room now," Nanny Nia interrupted firmly, eyes locked on Loren, daring him to say anything that might worsen Jasmine’s panic. "Co, child. You’ve done enough."
Loren stepped away understanding Nanny Nia.
Jasmine allowed herself to be carried, exhaustion dragging her down like a heavy tide.
She was placed in the arms of one of the strong Oga’s and her head rested against the oga’s shoulder.
The mont she was picked up, Kire who had acted as shield for her got up alert.
The wolf was not hurt. Perhaps he had been but whatever injuries were healed instantly.
He followed them right behind, watchful with a very close eye.
Within monts, she was tucked into her bed, a soft blanket drawn over her.
Nanny Nia sat at her side, humming softly under her breath, stroking her hair with love.
Until Jasmine was asleep.
Nanny Nia gently eased Jasmine away from her and tiptoed towards the door.
The mont Nanny Nia stood up, Kire was already walking beside Jasmine’s bed and he sat down on the floor.
Watching and waiting for anyone who would dare harm her.
~~~~~~~~
Downstairs, Ned lingered nervously near the staircase, wringing his hands.
"Ned," Nanny Nia called. Her voice was even, but her eyes were sharp. "Co with ."
He followed without protest, but his steps were slow.
He looked like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and he knew Nanny Nia would not tolerate lies.
He hadn’t known her for long, but her grimly yet calm old face scread to demand of respect.
In fact he was afraid of her.
They stopped at the edge of the hallway, away from listening ears. "Speak. Where did the horse co from?" she asked.
Ned swallowed.
"I don’t know. The ranch boy just handed him to and said to give Jasmine when we were keeping our own horses from the
Journey. I’m just coming back today from the journey and I’m as confused as you are."
"Which of the boys?" She asked closely and narrowly.
"The smaller one." Ned said. "The one with red hair."
"Rudy?" She asked closely.
"Yes Rudy!" Ned said snapping his finger.
"I didn’t check the saddle again before she got on," he confessed. "I didn’t even think much into it. I was mainly wondering why Jasmine was even riding a horse in the first place. I had nothing to do with this. Jasmine is my friend. I would never hurt her."
Nanny Nia stared at him for a long beat. Then, without a word, she turned and strode toward the paddock, her face tight with fury.
She had nearly reached the edge of the stables when Erik rounded the corner, breathless and almost crashed into her.
His eyes found hers instantly. "Where is she?"
"Safe, in bed. But shaken."
"I ca the mont I heard—"
Nanny Nia didn’t let him finish. "Co with ."
They reached the horse barn and found different horses.
The horse that had flung Jasmine away stood by the rarest end of the room, chained up and isolated from
The others.
There was no sign of distress or spooked behavior.
It seed to be a simple horse.
Nanny Nia moved to her, hand resting on her flank. She inhaled deeply.
"I can’t sll anything." She said.
"Were we supposed to?" He asked puzzled.
Nanny Nia inspected the saddle still hanging over the mare’s back.
Her fingers moved along the girth strap and under the cinch.
She tugged.
The entire saddle shifted.
"Loose," she said coldly. "It wasn’t even secured properly."
"But I heard them say she was flung off the horse like he was mad." Erik added.
"Exactly." Nanny Nia stated. "A loose saddle? How convenient is it that this horse Jasmine always rides with simply went insane?"
"No." She shook her head. "Soone did sothing to the horse to make it act that way."
"And you think it’s ned? He just ca back from a healing trip with Loren." Erik said baffled.
"He didn’t," Nanny Nia replied. "Soone else did."
Erik’s eyes darkened. "Rudy ."
"That’s where I’d start," she said. "But even if it was him, he’s just a ranch boy. Soone might have given the order."
"You’re saying—"
"I’m saying this was no accident," Nanny Nia snapped. "This is the second attempt on her life. The first was subtle, poison. Easily denied. But this? It was ant to look like a tragic fall. A broken neck. A dead Luna and unborn heir. And no one would’ve questioned it. If Kire wasn’t there to for her to land on his back, only the goddess knows what could have happened."
Erik clenched his jaw. "I’ll find Rudy."
"Quietly," Nanny Nia warned. "We don’t want to alert whoever’s behind this. Not yet. Kire is with Jasmine. She won’t be leaving her room without him," Nanny Nia said.
Their eyes t, a silent understanding between them.
Jasmine wasn’t safe, even within the walls of the pack . And the enemy was inside the gates.
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