Chapter 27
Maureen
I had never felt so exhausted in my life.
Weeks had passed since the attempted poisoning, yet the fear it left behind clung to me like a second skin. Every corner of the pack's territory seemed like a trap, every glance from a servant a threat. Even Nara, the only one I trusted, now looked wary, as though she feared for herself as much as for me.
The baby inside me kicked that morning, sharp and insistent. I pressed a hand to my stomach, the movements sending a pang of fear through my chest. That tiny life was a promise, but also a burden. One misstep could mean death—for both of us.
I forced myself to the window. The sun was rising, casting long shadows across the pack grounds. The guards were already patrolling, moving methodically, their eyes sweeping the paths. I counted them—four by the front gate, two near the stables, one by the herb garden. I had memorized the patterns.
*If I ever run…* I thought. *I have to be smarter. I can't afford mistakes.*
