: First Encounter Astridâs POV Nova never left my side. She stayed beside me, keeping me company in this little boring room where silence enveloped us as I secretly grieved on my own.
I curled on my bed, facing the opposite direction as emptiness filled my heart. My eyes remained open, unblinking as I thought of the unborn child that lost.
I pressed a hand to my stillâflat abdomen where my child used to be. The comforting swell that had given her so much joy was already gone. Thereâs just nothing in there but the unyielding flatness of my own skin.
With a shuddering breath, I closed my eyes, shutting out the world. In the darkness, I allowed my tears to finally fall, mourning not just the child I had lost but also the mother I would never be.
I felt hollow and useless, the emptiness inside me echoing, swallowing me whole in a depressive state.
I know my tears couldnât bring my baby back. It would never erase how I failed as a mother and the crushing guilt that I couldnât keep my child safe.
For this mistake, I will only forgive myself once those who killed my child get what they deserve. I will only learn to forgive myself once I see Giselle suffer for her sins with my very own eyes.
âDo you feel alright? Do you feel hurt anywhere?â Nova asked me with concern as she sat behind me, oblivious to my tears.
I held my breath. âIâm alright,â I answered, trying my best to remove traces of tears in my voice.
âYou should eat, Astrid. Try to eat at least a little,â Nova insisted as my food ran cold beside her.
Suddenly, the door opened. âIs that how you show your gratitude to us for saving you?â A cold female voice spoke!
âAâAsha,â Nova stuttered as she watched Asha saunter inside the room, towards my saline bag, and make some notes on her tablet.
I wiped my tears away and slowly pushed myself up.
âDo you know how much it cost us to save your life?â Ashaâs brows furrowed as she stared down at Astrid, her eyes narrowing to piercing slits. âAre you going to waste all of that by killing yourself to hunger?â
I averted my gaze, my jaw set in stubborn defiance. I know they have spent countless hours tending to me, but in my grief, it all felt so meaningless.
Nova stood up, âDonât worry, Asha. Astrid just woke up. Itâs normal for her not to have any appetite to eat.â Nova defended me.
However, her words fell on deaf ears.
âYour friends brought you all the way to our Pack, risking their lives just to save you. They care so much about you, but you donât even care about yourself,â Asha pressed, her tone sharp and uncompromising. âThe world doesnât revolve around you, Astrid.â
I flinched at her words, which felt like a slap to my face. How dare she speak as if she knew anything about the pain that I was going through? I just lost my child! Canât I grieve about that?
âYou have no idea what Iâve been through!â I shot back, my voice trembling with barely contained emotion. âIâve lost EVERYTHING. The least you could do is show a little compassion instead of berating me like a child!â
Asha scoffed. âCompassion? Or do you mean pity? You can go wallow in your own selfâpity party if you want. We all have been through our own struggles. You are not the only person who experienced miscarriage.â
âAsha, stop!â Nova intervened when Ashaâs words became too personal.
âI get it, Asha. You spent countless hours trying to pull me back from the brink of death. Maybe you havenât even slept the whole night; thatâs why youâre feg so cranky, but the least you could do is at least respect my fegs instead of invalidating them,â I retorted.
âWe had to sacrifice our Packâs sacred treasure just to save you, Astrid! Your worthless life was saved in exchange for our most valuable treasure. I wonât let our Packâs treasure to fall in vain!â Asha yelled back angrily.
âWhat?â My eyes softened when I heard her words. âWhat do you mean? Why would you use your Packâs sacred treasure to save me?â I asked the fire in my eyes dimming to a smolder.
Asha scoffed. âYou were as good as dead when they took you to our Pack. Only the Lunar Elixir could save you, so we had to use it.â
âBut why would you?â I asked again, my brows furrowing together. âWhy would you do that? Why canât you just let me die?â
âCanât you just see how important your life has become? You are just a mere omega, but because of the Lunar Elixir, your life has become valuable even though it only cured you of your normal state without enhancing your powers.
Because of the Lunar Elixir, you have lost your right to your life. Itâs your duty to take care of yourself,â Asha spoke.-
âWait! You didnât answer my question!â I blurted out as I grabbed her arm when she suddenly turned to leave.
Asha stopped in her tracks. She glanced over her shoulder and glared at my hand. âGet your hands off me,â she commanded frighteningly.
I gasped in surprise when Asha suddenly pulled my arm. âThis bracelet!â Asha spoke with wide eyes. âWhere did you get this?â
Se Souchon Author Itâs Asha and Astridâs first conversation, yet thereâs too much hatred already