The Hunt

Chapter Ten

Another week after learning the disbelieving news, Angelique spent her days sleeping, eating, and crying. Refusing to come to terms with carrying a child, a Lycan offspring, she was in denial. Feeling hollow and empty, she resembled a wilted flower aching for needed sunlight. Sitting in the middle of the large bed in a small ball with her chin resting on her knees, Angelique ignored the faint whispers of conversation between a physician and Pearle.  

The stunt and short physician with vibrant green hair was the one who had helped her recover from her illness. He was also the one who discovered the existence of the babe. Ever since she had fainted once more, he visited frequently, but she never acknowledged his presence. She ignored everyone who had come to her room during the week. 

‘What am I going to do?’

Gazing at her shaking hands, she was clueless about her next move.

Meanwhile, Pearle gazed at Angelique in her peripheral vision, a plan conjuring in her mind.  

“How long is she, doctor?”

“She is just three weeks along, my Queen. Based on what you have told me and my discovery, the babe will grow much faster than a Fae offspring.”

Raising an eyebrow as she folded her hands on top of her chest, Pearle insisted with an abominating sneer on her face. 

“So are you saying; the babe will take the course of a Lycan offspring?”

Briskly denying the fact, the physician's grip on his bag tightened. He had heard rumors of the Cold Sprites Queen's vicious dealings with liars. 

“I cannot say, because I have never seen anything like this before, my Queen. It has been three weeks, yet the pregnancy appears to be one month along after consummation. It is much like a Fae offspring, but a bit unsettling since the growth is much faster. It is hard to wrap my head around."

Humming, Pearle pressed, her voice dropping into a low murmur. 

“So, you are saying; the babe will be in full prime at the end of a hundred and fifty weeks?”

Sighing, the physician nodded. He had also lowered his voice. 

“Probably less, my Queen. I cannot quite say. According to my research, it seems the baby is half-Fae and half-Lycan, a most unusual thing in all the Kingdoms. A hybrid, my Queen, means trouble. What should I do?”

Pondering over the thought, she dismissed the physician. 

“It is best to keep this matter only between us. Return in a week. I will give you your order then.”

Bowing, the physician bid his farewells and left the room with a soft click of the doors. Walking towards the suddenly sobbing young Princess, who was gripping the bedsheets in a tight death hold, Pearle placed a hand on her shaking shoulders to ensure comfort. 

Sobbing loudly, as she slowly pulled her hands from the bedsheets to grip Pearle's hands in hers; Angelique's heart filled with anguish.

“Why is this happening to me? What should I do? Please answer me, Pearle. What am I to do?"

Pearle soothingly passed a hand through her hair. 

“It is okay, my flower. You will be fine. I will take care of this.”

Shaking her head, Angelique buried her head in her shoulders while wrapping her arms around her waist. Her sobbing continued until she fell silent on the bed with tear marks painting her face a few hours later. 

She was incredibly miserable. Her days of being protected beyond a wall were over. 

The beasts—the Lycans who attacked her home had tipped her world upside down, and the one who stole her innocence made it worse. Closing her eyes, she wished everything would one day be like it used to, but waking up to the same room seven more days later, Angelique knew her misery had only begun. News of her father's whereabouts was still unknown, and it made her heart heavy. 

Sighing heavily, she carefully threaded her fingers through her hair one morning. Looking over her person in the vanity mirror, she turned around to face Pearle, who had stepped into the room. Always by her side, the Cold Sprites Queen was compassionate and encouraging in her dealings with her delicate situation. It made her feel appreciated. 

Walking over to the seat next to her, Pearle gently brushed a loose strand of her from her face. Eyes misted with an unreadable emotion, Pearle gently brushed her hair from her face. 

“I have not done anything to make your pain go away in the past month.”

Staring with dancing eyes into her impassive swirling ones, Angelique shook her head. Lifting her hands to pull Pearle's hands from her hair, she intertwined their fingers together. 

“You have done everything you could. You gave me closure, Pearle.”

Placing Pearle's palms close to her cheeks, Angelique smiled. 

“Thank you so much.”

Simply nodding, Pearle slowly removed her hands from hers. The trust radiating from the Princess was detrimental to her plans, for she had slowly begun to cave into the compassionate dealings with the young girl. Pearle realized she was growing soft. Quickly, she changed the conversation. 

“What are you going to do now, dear?”

Opening her mouth but then quickly closing it shut, Angelique placed a loose strand of hair behind her ears. Averting her eyes to look down at the frilly end of the white dress—a new dress Pearle had commanded Carlotta to bring to her, she frowned. 

“I thought long and hard about this, and I have made a complicated and reasonable decision.”

“I am sure it was.”

Breathing in heavily, after acknowledging Pearle’s low murmur with a nod, she slowly lifted her head to gaze into her impassive yet expecting eyes. 

“Whatever decision I make should be respected.”

“Of course, it should always be, Princess.”

Curtly nodding, Pearle was growing impatient, but she retained the pleasant small smile on her lips. l*****g her lips to moisten the sudden dryness, Angelique murmured. 

“I will keep the babe.”

“What?”

Puzzled, as she could not comprehend the Princess's decision, Pearle gripped her hands into tight fists.

Her sudden question indicated that she did not quite hear her murmur that she thought she had heard wrong. Angelique's heart burst with different emotions as she gripped her hands in her lap. Lifting her head with utmost confidence, she sternly spoke, her voice echoing around the entire room. 

“I will keep the babe.”