Chapter 5

~ ELENA’S POV ~

Was Rhoda pregnant? I thought. 

I waited for Lisa to confirm that the door was locked before making her way back to me. I sat, ready to listen to all she had to say. Maybe if I needed answers, Lisa was just the right person to begin with. 

I tried to steady my composure as she approached. Her smile softened as if she had just given me the news of a lifetime. Inside, my mind raced. What other news was waiting for me ahead? 

She sat by my side, and I saw her hands fidgeting as it clutched the hem of her dress. She was nervous. “I suspected foul play after I was sent out of the room when you went into labor,” she started, drawing my interest in.

“I refused to leave completely. When I couldn’t hear your voice again, or that of a child, I knew something was wrong. The mid-wives all left your room and I came in. I wasn’t able to… to save you. But I saved the baby,” she narrated.

I swallowed hard. She’d left me speechless. I searched my mind for the perfect reply, but non was found. All I could hear was the hammering of my heart in my chest. A son? A childish knew nothing about. Garrisons child.

My head swirled with questions which were going to put me in a difficult position if I dared ask. How was I suppo too pretend to live a child I knew nothing about? A child whose father killed me? How was I going to be his mother? 

I swallowed the rising panic and cleared my throat my throat, ready to play my part. “Where’s he…urm…and how’s he?” I asked. The words came out with several hitches in my throat. 

“He’s safe Luna. I hid him outside the walls of the castle. No one can be trusted at this moment,” she resoonseded. I nodded and placed my palm on hers. With a forced smile, I said to her, “ thank you for always being there for me Lisa”.

Lisa’s smile returned to her face as she stood up from the bed, smootheninh her gown. She bowed. “I’m just a bell ring away. If you need anything, whatever it is, just call on me,” she said. I returned her smile and watched her leave. 

Her departure came with a suffocating silence. At least I was finally able to breath properly and be myself for a while. I collapsed on the bed, thoughts flooding my mind. My hands trembled as they reached for my stomach, reminding me of my own lost child. 

“Why?” I blurted. “Why have you done this to me?” I added. I wanted to hear the moon goddess’s reason for bringing me back to life in such a manner. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for a second phase of suffering. 

How long could I keep up with this charade? Right now, I felt like I was Viola. A pretentious liar. In my heart, I was still Elena. Maybe I could be the Rhoda they wanted me to be. I had to become her to survive here. 

There came another knock on the door and it gently opened. Garrison walked in, his large frame casting a shafts on the floor. I sat up, wiping the remnants of my tears and forced a smile. Inside, my heart was racing. Had he found out?

His ash eyrs flicked around the room as he made his way to me. He sat, his hand gently cupping my cheeks. “ How are you feeling?” He asked. His voice was different. His eyes gentle. A stark contrast to that I saw last night. 

I nodded, letting him pull me ckoser. “ A lot better,” I answered. The air between us thickened as our eyes were just an inch away. The atmosphere in the room became hot, sparking with unspoken words and emotions I knew nothing about.

“You can’t imagine the pain I felt when I heard the news, Rhoda. It was almost as if my world crumbled. I couldn’t think straight. And the beast might have pushed me into doing something I would regret with time,” he said. 

His errs searched mine and I could see in them was a compassionate man, filled with affection for his mate. How was he then a different person out there. He barely looked like he could hurt a fly.

His words sounded so sincere and full of love. Unfortunately, his Rhoda was gone. He leaves closer, his breath warm against my skin. My body lit up as his lips brushed mine, a deep passionate kiss. I felt a suffocation sensing pricking my skin.

I pulled away a little, forcing a smile immediately. “I’m… I’m sorry but…” I stammered. His hand traveled to the side of my neck, and I saw the affection in his eyes. 

“I understand. It’s not every time someone comes back to life after getting…killled. I’ve called for a celebration to welcome you back. The lycans of Raven Hall believe you are now a goddess, sent down to us. And you must have a message from the moon goddess,” he chuckled, his eyes squinting, 

I chuckled, finding it funny. How pathetic. A goddess? I sighed, nodding with a smile. “ I’ll be ready in due time,” I said, hoping that would send him out of the room. But instant, his brows furrowed. 

There was this look of confusion as his index ran behind my neck, like he was searching for something. He pulled away slowly, his smile faltering. 

“What’s wrong, Garrison?” I asked, now running my own finfers behind my neck. 

“Your birthmark Rhoda. You used to have a birthmark by the side of your neck,” he dropped. I stiffened, my heart thudding as my fingers stopped searching. 

“I…”

*****