Chapter 14

Tessa’s POV

“Are you pregnant?”

The words, harsh and accusing, ricochet through my skull like bullets. I look up at Mira and Madeleine with wide eyes and fumble for something to say.

“How–how could I be pregnant?” I stammer out hastily. “I mean, Evander and I have always used contraception, so…”

Mira furrows her brow, clearly doubtful of my words but not entirely sure how to press for more detail.

Before she gets the chance, though, Madeleine cuts in. “Well, what a coincidence! Mira invited me here for shopping and we had a great time.”

Quick as a viper, Mira steps in again. “We have!” She says quickly. “In fact, Madeleine…”

Mira reaches into one of her bags. All I can do is watch as she begins unloading trinkets and baubles into Madeleine’s arms: expensive perfumes, jewelry, bonbons…

“All of this is for you!” Mira proclaims, studying Madeleine intently.

Madeleine’s brow furrows ever so slightly as she looks over the stack of items. I can’t help but find myself rather struck by confusion–Madeleine, for all the wealth her family commands, isn’t really one for flashy displays of wealth. She tends to find them tacky.

This isn’t even particularly niche knowledge–it’s quite well-known.

Madeleine studies the items for a moment more before tucking them into her own bag.

“Thank you, Mira,” she says indifferently. “That’s… sweet of you. Tessa, how’s your day been so far?”

I’m not usually someone who enjoys seeing the disappointment of others, but the way Mira’s face falls at the lack of a clear reaction is priceless.

I look up at Madeleine as I answer her question. “My day has been…” Awful. Dreadful. Humiliating. “Fine.”

“Well, it seems like you could use a pick-me-up,” Madeleine says. “Tessa, why don’t you come with me to shop?”

Mira’s mouth falls open. “I don’t–why would you–ugh!”

Her face is flushed an angry red, knuckles white around the handles of her bag. Her gaze flickers between Madeleine and I for a few moments, clearly at a loss for what to do. Finally, after several moments of tense, loaded silence, she turns on her heel and storms off.

Madeleine sighs as she watches her go. “A short fuse like that won’t do her much good with a husband like Evander,” she muses.

I look at her in surprise.

“What?” Madeleine asks, shooting me a mischievous grin. “I know my son.”

Before I can respond, I suddenly catch sight of a news screen just up ahead.

And when I see the headline displaying the latest gossip, my stomach sinks.

Evander Redding and Mira Smith pronounced Fated mates!

Disappointment and sadness well up in the pit of my stomach. The public has already started making Evander’s current marriage more and more of a popular topic, heavily suggesting that I’ll soon be discarded–though the world at large doesn’t know who I am.

After all, Evander and I have never appeared in public together.

And we don’t have any kids.

People seem to think that Evander’s been expecting a divorce since we both got married.

And the worst part is that it’s all true.

I could never be good for him. In the eye of the public, I could never be what he needs. After all, if he were to ever become Alpha president, how could he allow a deaf woman to be the First Lady?

I’ve dealt with harsh public perception before.

But my heart still sinks as I process this newfound level of harshness behind it in light of Mira’s arrival.

Madeleine follows my gaze to the news sign. She purses her lips, then sets her hand on my arm gently.

“Hey,” she says softly. “You and Evander aren’t separated just yet, you know. And deep down, the world is a lot kinder than it seems.”

I manage a smile. “Thanks,” I tell her.

She grins. “In fact, I’ve got something with me now that might cheer you up.”

“Oh?” I watch as Madeleine reaches into her purse and pulls out a crisp cream-coloured envelope.

At once, I recognize the smooth gold lettering on the front of the envelope, as well as the crescent moon seal embossed on the back.

It’s an invitation to the upcoming Alpha Ball.

Ever since losing my hearing, I’ve always avoided social events. But every year, in order to project the image of a stable marriage, Evander and I have attended the Alpha Ball together, pretending to be the perfect couple.

Everyone knows our marriage is little more than an elaborate facade.

Still, we’ve always done our best to maintain the appearance of harmony.

It’s something of a hassle every year, but still, the ball has its charms, and Evander and I have always had our moments. Besides, something about the clothes, the food, the music…

Usually, it’s a nice enough night.

I’m disappointed Evander and I won’t be able to go this year, all things considered.

“Why are you giving me this?” I ask as Madeleine sets the invitation into my hand.

“It’s your invitation, of course!” She replies brightly.

I blink. “But Evander and I…”

We’re about to divorce. There’s no way he’d allow me to attend such a performance anymore.

Madeleine rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. You’re still married, so you’ll be Evander’s partner for the ball.”

My heart suddenly feels like it’s been flooded with pure sunlight. “I… you’re sure?”

“Beyond a doubt, dear,” Madeleine says sweetly.

I beam, tucking the invitation into my pocket. “Thank you.”

“Of course, Tessa.” She grins. “Now, shall we shop?”

And with that, we start down the street together.

< << 0 >> >

Later that day, I’m in my bedroom unpacking some of the clothes I bought with Madeleine when my door swings open abruptly.

I look up just in time to see Mira barge into my bedroom, eyes screaming bloody murder. There’s iron in her posture and something steely in the set of her jaw. I recoil instinctively. Mira slams the door shut behind her, then glares at me, clearly furious.

“Don’t think that just because Evander’s mother is nice to you, everything is fine!” Mira spits.

The sheer amount of vitriol packed into her words is enough to send shivers down my spine.

I blink. “I don’t–I don’t know what you’re talking about–” I begin, stammering.

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. I saw the way you were looking at those baby clothes. It doesn’t even matter if you’re really carrying his child anyways–my heir will be the one chosen by the Moon Goddess!”

My breath catches.

I have no idea what I could even say to her.

What if… what if she’s right?

Alpha bloodlines are complicated things. In our world, only one child from an Alpha couple can inherit the purist Alpha bloodline. Even full biological siblings born from the same parents can have noticeable bloodline differences.

It’s not a biological determinate–the child chosen by the Moon Goddess is the one that becomes the Alpha heir.

“Evander and I are Fated mates,” Mira declares confidently. “I will be the one to bear Evander’s Fated heir!”

And with one final dirty glance shot my way, Mira turns on her heel and storms out of my bedroom.

As the door slams shut again, my mind races back to my medical report, and the knot in my stomach only tightens.