Chapter 3

Three weeks later***

"You idiot! You think you can compete against me?" Rebekah screamed as she pushed me causing me to stumble back but I made sure not to break my disposition in front of her.

"Rose has been the one spending the night with the Alpha for days now! All I did was sleep with him once, so why were you still picking on me? Why?!" I blurted, getting frustrated at Rebekah's deliberate meanness to me when I didn't deserve it.

"That's the thing! Even though now he's sleeping with Rose, he walks in front of your room every night and has officers stationed near your room."

I froze at the realization, 

"What?" I asked quietly. "He has officers stationed near my room?"

"Isn't that weird? You're the only one he stationed officers for outside your room. Why would he do that unless he has some sort of attachment to you, Why?!" Rebekah screamed. "So you can pretend to not know he has feelings for you but I'm not dumb! Even though he chooses Rose these nights, he still has some sort of entanglement with you!"

Rebekah pushed me and I stumbled until I hit the wall. The impact coursed pain throughout my body but I remained still, my gaze fixated on Rebekah's hostile ones.

"Adriana, I really don't know what tricks you tried on the Alpha but I assure you, it won't work for long!" After Rebekah stormed off, I got a whiff of a metallic and strong smell which filled my nose.

My hands reached down to my dress and as I lifted it up the sight of light blood sent me into a frenzy.

I moved myself to the bathroom to inspect what could be wrong and that was when I realized that I was pregnant. And the incident with Rebekah made me almost lose the baby.

It took a minute for me to go into a spiral frenzy.

"Oh my God! What do I do?!"

My fingernails scratched against the wall as I slided down against it, feeling hopeless and in despair.

I cupped my head with my hands and shook my head dramatically. "I can't be pregnant! My mate doesn't even want me, why would he want the child!"

Not to mention that I was currently being bullied by Rebekah. At this rate, I would really lose the baby. I didn't even know how much love I had for the child I'd just discovered was growing in my belly, I didn't understand what it took to grow it happily but one thing I knew was that I didn't want to lose it.

So I made up my mind to leave the Marshall mansion. That was the only way my baby could survive.

But for now, it would not be that easy, I had to cover the scent of the child growing in my womb.

So I devised a plan.

***

I cracked open a spoiled egg and rubbed it over my previously worn panties which had a bit of my discharge. Then I squeezed a bit of onion juice and fish. I waited for the panties to dry then I wore it over the thighs under my dress.

"Oh! What is that offensive smell?!" A girl frowned and made a puking sound as I went to the dinning table where we all ate as instructed by the mansion nuns.

The other girls squeezed their nose in disgust and the head of the harem walked towards me with a pointed look.

She grabbed my hand and said, "Adriana let's talk outside," Then she dragged me out without awaiting a response. It was safe to say that she did not need my opinion.

As we were alone in the corner she gave me an irritated look. "Just what is going on with you, girl? You smell horrible."

Even though it was just us two in the corner, the girls could hear us and I could very well hear their insults and giggles.

"I… have toilet infection and my period is drawing near so… My hormones have also been out of whack and my discharge have been looking odd these days."

"Did you go to the healer?"

"I have started using the drugs as prescribed in the books,"

After a couple seconds of deliberation she said, "You'll stay in your room for the next one week. We cannot have you have contact with the Alpha when you're in this state."

"No… My life belongs to the Alpha, I have to serve him— No, I need to serve him!"

"Not while you're in this state. I command you to go to your room immediately! You're not to eat more than once in a day until you've healed from your… your…"

"I understand ma'am," I said with a bow.

"Call me Chief Dera,"

"Yes Chief," I said as she walked away.

A smile crossed my cheeks as I walked out and down the hall until I got into my room.

Two nights. I had two nights to devised a plan and escape before the chief sent me an healer to personally see to my well-being. As a property of the Alpha, I was not even allowed to be sick for too long.

"I'll protect you, baby," I said as I placed my hand on my tummy.

Then I undressed and put the dirty panties to the side while I thought carefully about my plan.

First, by 7:30 the girls all gathered to have dinner. That was insignificant. The most significant thing was knowing the arrangements of the officers in the mansion.

From what I knew, the shifts of the officers would change from 3pm, then 7pm, then 12am then 6am, then 11pm.

As I was thinking, then it suddenly occurred to me the excuse I would use.

By tomorrow 6am, I could leave the mansion and I didn't even have to be sly about it, just smart.

The next day came in the blink of an eye and I didn't hesitate. Neither did I try to talk myself out of it, it was my only chance.