Before the king
Chapter 11: Avalyn’s POV
I stared in pure shock at the object Lydia had in her hand. In all my years of existence, this had to be the biggest syringe I had ever seen in my life. The long needle pointed directly at me, making me gulp loudly.
“Come on Avalyn, I promise this will be the last time for a while I need to stick you with a needle,” Lydia reassured me, but I wasn’t comforted. I hated needles. I hated them so much.
“That’s not very reassuring, Lydia,” I whispered, mentally preparing myself to take the shot.
Dawn laughed from behind me, patting me on the head in a comforting manner. “Just relax, it’ll be over soon. It’s the last one for today.”
I took a deep breath as I willed my heart to stop beating erratically. “I’m ready…” I whispered, hoping to God that it wouldn’t hurt like the last time.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
Lydia nodded and proceeded to do her thing. When she was done, she pulled out the needle and placed it on a silver tray, before sticking a bandage on the arm she’d drawn blood from.
“See. That was not so bad, was it?” She asked.
“I’m sorry,” I replied softly.
“Oh you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for sweetie, I’m going to take care of you. You’re safe here.” Lydia assured making me smile. I was sure she was always great with her previous patients.
I was getting some of my strength back after just a few days of being here. That was all because Lydia was the best doctor –or mage– ever. She would come into the room every single day to make sure I was doing all right. She would make sure I took all the healing potions she brewed, promising that they’d make me feel better in no time. And she wasn’t wrong.
I started noticing my body repairing itself after the third day. With the healthy meals Dawn would bring down for me three times a day, and the healing potions Lydia made, I would be up and running in no time. And I could tell they were all thinking the same thing.
Honestly, the thought of getting better filled me with dread. Because it meant I was getting closer to being bred by their king, whom I had still not met yet. I didn’t know what he looked like and I really hated to imagine how horrible he would be if his mate was already this way towards me.
It’d been four days since I arrived here, and though I still didn’t feel safe in their territory, my guard had dropped significantly around Dawn and Lydia, especially Dawn. She would stay by my side every day and tell me stories of her adventures as a young werewolf growing up in the woods. It was entertaining learning more about their kind.
The door suddenly burst open, revealing Mr. Greg, the Beta. Even though he had been making an appearance every day in the room I was placed in, he’d come in every day to ask Lydia how I was doing and remind her how much time we had left. I would have found his constant pestering funny and somewhat comforting if it hadn’t been for the situation I was in. He walked into the room and went straight to Lydia who was still standing in front of me, taking notes in an old book she held in her hands.
“Lydia.” The Beta greeted with a slight nod. “Can we have a word?”
“Of course, Beta,” Lydia said. She turned to me and smiled. “I’ll be right back, Avalyn. Please try to drink the soup Dawn brought for you while I step outside for a bit.”
I nodded my head in understanding as I watched them both leave the room. When they were gone I turned to Dawn and asked, “Do you know what that’s about?” To which she shook her head in confusion.
“But we won’t sit here and wait for them to plan our deaths, are we?” she said and grabbed my hand.
We moved to the door and glued our ears to it.
“Did you need me for something, Greg?” Lydia’s voice echoed through the hallway.
“How is she doing?” Greg asked.
I turned to give Dawn a stare as I realized I was the one they were talking about. Were they planning my death now?
Dawn pulled the door slightly open so we could see their faces and I was grateful for that. Now I could see them coming with the knives…
“Uhm… well, she’s doing much better. She still has a long road ahead of her, but she’s making progress every day,” Lydia said.
“That’s good. I see she’s eating,” Greg said as he threw a glance back at the door.
Dawn and I instinctively dodged away so that he wouldn’t see us.
“Can she be moved to her room soon?” He asked. His eyebrows shot to his forehead and I wondered what had happened.
“What’s it? What’s going on, Lydia?”
Even he felt it. I held Dawn’s hand as we waited for her response.
She hesitated for a moment and then she said, “Look Greg, I know Willow wants the King to breed with Avalyn as soon as possible, but it isn’t time yet.”
“In theory, Avalyn is ready enough to go to her own room in a few days. However, I don’t personally feel comfortable with it.”
Oh my God! They want me to move to their King already?
Lydia continued, “All the trauma she’s been through… it’s not going to make her feel at home here, she’s still recovering. And with her here, I’m easily able to ensure that she’s taking her potions and eating properly. But if we take her away and keep her in the Alpha’s palace… well, it’s going to make things more complicated.”
“Willow gave us two weeks, and she will expect Avalyn to be ready by then.” Greg insisted and I felt my heart tighten as panic seeped into me.
“Right now, with the way she is, she won’t be able to conceive safely. Her body is much too weak… don’t get me wrong, she’s been cooperating and done everything I’ve asked of her. But whether her body heals up at the speed we want her to… well, that’s not something I can control.”
“Greg I honestly don’t know if she’ll be ready by Luna’s deadline. Do you really want to see her wrath if she loses the Alpha’s child?”
I was about to hug Lydia at that instance, the woman defended me more than my father could. But her next words made me freeze.
“Or worse, if she dies in the process.”
“That isn’t for you to decide, Lydia,” Greg said.
“I know.” Lydia sighed in exhaustion.
“I need her moved to her room as soon as possible. That’s an order.”
“Yes, Beta. I understand.” I could feel her reservation, but she pushed it down and flashed him a forced smile. “What room should I have her prepared to go to?”
“The suit is directly close to the Alpha’s. Willow wants to keep her as close as possible.”
“But–” Lydia began to protest, but the look Greg gave her stopped her mid-sentence.
“I know Lydia. It doesn’t matter where she’s going to be staying… Also from now on, every piece of information about her goes directly to me. I need to know when every detail of her health comes in.”
“Yes, Beta. The results of my recent testing will be ready in a day or two. Then after that, she can be moved if it’s really required of her.”
“Good. Just keep me posted.” He walked passed Lydia and headed back into the room.
Dawn and I scurried back to our positions and I picked up the soup to start taking again.
“Mr. Greg,” I greeted with a warm smile.
“It’s just Greg please.” He corrected, smiling back at me.
“So… am I moving soon?” I asked cautiously.
He looked straight at Dawn to see her hands raised in mock surrender. She must have had a history of eavesdropping for him to look at her like that.
He let out a deep sigh and said, “Yes Avalyn. They’ll have your room ready by next week.”
“… Oh okay…” I dropped my head to my lap, as I realized Lydia couldn’t save me.
“It’s going to be okay Avalyn,” Lydia said, “I’m still going to come to check up on you every day, and Dawn will be there for you as well. Plus, you’ll love the beds they have over there. It’ll feel like sleeping on clouds, I promise you,” Lydia said trying to lighten the situation.
“I promise Avalyn, I will help take care of you. You can trust me,” Dawn said and I saw Greg glaring at her.
I felt like a small little fly between them. I didn’t want to do this. I felt a lump in my throat and I swallowed hard.
“I don’t want to be his breeder,” I whispered as tears trickled down my cheeks.
Lydia sighed, “I know you don’t.”
I felt her warm hands around me and I flinched at first but then leaned into her as I realized that she was only hugging me.
The world wasn’t fair to me at all. I didn’t deserve this…