Training nearly broke that morning.
Not in the way pain usually does.
Being sharp, imdiate, obvious.
But in a quieter, more terrifying way.
Like sothing inside was being pried at with patience.
The elders had brought back to the standing stones, the sa circle where the wind never stopped singing.
My feet were bare against the cool ground, my palms slick with sweat, my back aching under the weight of my belly.
"Breathe," the eldest murmured again. "Into the spine."
I did.
I always did.
The pull ca faster this ti.
Stronger.
My wolf surged upward, furious and desperate, clawing against sothing unseen.
I gasped as the pressure slamd into my ribs, my vision flashing white for a heartbeat.
Then there was a crack.
Not sound.
Sensation.
Like a seam tearing.
I cried out, instinctively clutching my stomach as my knees buckled.
Hands caught imdiately.
"Enough," the elder snapped.
The world steadied slowly, my breath coming in ragged pulls. The baby kicked hard, distressed, as if reacting to my panic.
"What was that?" I demanded hoarsely. "Sothing changed."
The elder’s face smoothed too quickly.
"Nothing you need concern yourself with," he said. Too calmly.
I stared at him. "You saw sothing didn’t you? Because I felt sothing."
A pause.
Brief.
Dangerous.
"We are close," he said instead. "Very close. But not yet."
My chest tightened. "I’m exhausted. My baby could co at any ti. The plan is for to unleash my wolf so that I can go through my birth successfully."
"You will be ready," another elder said gently. "It is only a matter of days."
Days.
They always said days.
They dismissed shortly after that, insisting I rest. My legs trembled as I walked away, the echo of my wolf still rattling inside like a beast locked in too small a cage.
Sothing was wrong.
I could feel it.
❧
The massage chambers slled of warm oil and crushed herbs.
Normally, that scent cald .
Today, it made my skin prickle.
As I slipped out of my training robe and reached for the soft linen dress prepared for , I sensed movent behind .
I turned.
She stood there again.
The sa midwife from before.
Older. Severe. Her posture too straight, her gaze too intent and her smile too fixated.
She made my skin crawl.
"Good day your majesty." She said evenly in her soft voice that should make pleased but rather made uncomfortable. "I’m here for your session,"
My stomach dropped.
Seeing her here, while her body touched .
I didn’t want it.
"No," I said imdiately.
She blinked. "Excuse ?"
"I said no," I repeated, sharper now. "I won’t be having a massage today. Especially not with you."
Her lips pressed together.
"That is what I am assigned to do your majesty." She stated
"And I’m declining," I snapped. "Thank you, but your services are no longer needed."
Sothing flickered in her eyes.
Annoyance.
Not concern.
"I insist," she said. "You need to have -
"I decide what I need," I cut in. My voice shook, but I held her gaze. "Please leave."
Silence.
Then she turned abruptly and exited the room.
My hands trembled as I continued dressing, my heart pounding too fast.
Why did she keep appearing?
Why did it feel like she was watching rather than caring for ?
A knock sounded at the door.
I froze.
"Yes?" I called cautiously.
The head she-wolf entered, her expression apologetic, practiced.
"My apologies," she said. "My staff inford you were upset."
"I wasn’t upset," I replied. "I was uncomfortable."
"Is there sothing wrong with the care you’re receiving?"
"I don’t want her," I said simply.
She nodded with a calm smile. "Of course. We can arrange another masseuse."
"Can you arrange Lydia?" I asked.
The hesitation was instant.
Brief..... but real.
"I’m afraid not," she said smoothly. "Lydia resigned."
"Just like that?"
"Yes."
No explanation.
No concern.
No curiosity.
"I’m not interested anymore," I said, my voice flat. I stepped past her and shut the door firmly.
As I left the chambers, I could feel it.
Eyes.
Following .
The won watching from doorways. The way conversation stilled just a beat too long when I passed.
The head she-wolf caught up to at the stairs.
"We truly hope you’ll allow us to assist you later," she said carefully. "You’ll need proper care if you want to deliver your baby safely."
That did it.
I stopped and turned on her.
"I don’t need threats dressed as concern," I said coldly. "I am the one who decides what is safe for my child. Not you."
Her expression tightened.
"My apologies," she murmured. "Of course. I never ant any harm."
I turned and saw their eyes on before they all hastily pretended not to be aware.
It made further upset, now I looked like the crazy mad woman.
I descended the wide stone steps toward the waiting carriage, my heart racing.
This place was watching .
Managing .
And I didn’t know why.
❧
It happened just before I reached the carriage.
A servant rushed past , arms full of folded towels, head bowed. She collided lightly with my shoulder.
"Oh! Forgive , my lady," she said quickly, bending to gather the fallen cloth.
"It’s fine," I said automatically.
As our hands brushed, she leaned closer.
Her voice dropped to a whisper so soft it barely stirred the air.
"If you truly want to find Lydia," she said, eyes never lifting, "follow the fireflies at midnight tonight."
My breath caught.
"What?" I whispered.
She was already gone.
The towels gone.
The corridor empty.
If I wasn’t sure if had happened, I would have believed I had been hallucinating due to how quickly it had happened
I stood there frozen, my heart hamring violently against my ribs.
Fireflies.
Midnight.
Lydia hadn’t resigned.
She had disappeared.
And whatever was happening in this place.
Whatever they were preparing for here
I was no longer sure my father was telling everything.
I placed both hands over my belly, grounding myself.
"I won’t let them hurt you," I whispered.
But for the first ti since arriving here, I wasn’t sure who they were anymore.
And that terrified .
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