Chapter 6-Weakness Prohibited

Layla’s POV

The knot in my stomach tightens as Alexander stares at me.

“What did you mean when you said pregnancy?” He asks again. The mixture of confusion and suspicion on his face makes me swallow the nauseous feeling in my throat.

Before I can move, Alexander pulls the computer screen into his line of view. My heart drops, and I can only watch helplessly as he stares at the screen.

However, he finds it blank. The empty screen only adds to Alexander’s frustration, and he growls.

“What is going on?”

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. “Please don’t tell him,” I had just begged the Doctor through our mind-link, desperate to hide the truth. I don’t know if I can trust Alexander anymore; his recent behavior makes it nearly impossible for me to be honest with him.

“I was simply asking if my injuries would affect a potential pregnancy,” I lie smoothly, hoping he doesn’t become more suspicious. Alexander whips his head around, his brows pulling together as he scans me and searches for… something. I’m not sure what, though.

The way his nose wrinkles and his eyebrows go up tell me he’s surprised, but his words are what really catch me off guard.

“Do you actually want to get pregnant?” The slight mocking tone in his voice has my trust curling up into a deep, dark hiding space. I can’t respond. This cold response isn’t unusual for him, but it still hurts. Is the thought or idea of me wanting to have a baby that appalling to him?

I stare up at the man I thought I knew, now seeing someone completely different. This man is different.

I glance at the Doctor, who’s eyes are wide as if she’s watching a TV drama unfold.

“Need I remind you that Pack Law decrees illegitimate children are strictly forbidden,” Alexxander says as if it’s not a decree that kills children on a whim. He doesn’t seem the least bit concerned about what he just said, and I feel the anger and frustration bubbling within me.

Clinging to the final shred of hope, I gather every ounce of courage in me and ask, “If I were pregnant, could you guarantee the child’s safety?”

Alexander’s silence is deafening. It’s louder than anything he’s said up until this point, but I still cling to that thin, frayed string of hope in my chest. That is, until his face falls to a stony expression.

“You won’t get pregnant…” he trails off before adding sarcastically, “Unless you’ve already found a mate you intend to marry.”

I’m utterly speechless. Does he really think that little of me, that he thinks I would’ve found another mate while we’re married?

Or did he expect me to, since it’s what he’s done?

“You might as well confess if you have,” Alexander sneers. “What is it? Have you set sights on the neighboring Prince? Is that why you handled the invitation yourself?”

The hostility has me on edge, but I force that back and force a cold, unbothered laugh out, “I only sent the invitations myself because Camila doesn’t even know how to send an email. Did you also forget they’re hunting for Camila?”

The responding growl sends a shiver down my spine, and Alexander bares his teeth at me, “Stay out of Camila’s business.”

With that, Alexander turns on his heel and leaves the room. The cold feeling hangs in the room long after he leaves, and I cringe when I hear the doctor sigh.

“I see there are some complicated feelings between the two of you,” she comments, and I grit my teeth to fight back the unwanted irritation. The doctor offers a soft smile of comfort and continues speaking, “I’m sorry this is turning out to be a difficult situation. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, and I don’t want to cause you more trouble, so I will hide what I can. You’ve helped me in the past and have made too many contributions to the pack to be cast out.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, feeling slightly better.

“I’m going to prescribe you a drug that will mask the signs of pregnancy, but…” She takes a breath and looks me directly in my eyes. “It is a prohibited drug, so you’ll need to keep it hidden. And I need to warn you; this medication and the pregnancy will severely weaken your healing abilities.”

I’d rather not weaken my healing, but this is the only chance I have to hide the pregnancy.

“Here, take these, and before they run out, come back to see me,” the Doctor says, passing me a bottle of small blue pills. After taking one, I tuck the bottle into my pocket, thank her, and slip out of the room. In the hall, I ignore the glances from pack members and other doctors.

When I reach the end of the hall, Alexander steps in front of me. His eyes move down my body, scanning me as he asks, “Are you alright?”

Like he cares.

I bite back the comment and nod, “I’m fine. Nearly recovered.”

There’s no way I can let him know about my newfound weakness. In his eyes, weakness is the greatest insult to the pack.

“Since you’re so well,” Alexander says, “Go pick up Camila’s prescription.”

I fight the laugh of contempt that tries to free itself from my chest, snatch the prescription slip from his hand, and go to pick up the precious little weakling’s medicine. If I’d ever acted the way Camila does when I was her age, Alexander would’ve been appalled. I had already started training to become a warrior at a younger age than Camila is now.

Showing weakness was never allowed. I could’ve been bleeding and broken, and I wouldn’t have gotten a kind word from Alexander.

So, seeing how Camila is wrapped up in his arms when I bring her prescription to her room has my stomach churning. Honestly, she looks small and pitiful, but what really hits me in the chest is the way Alexander whispers comforting words to her as he holds her.

“Layla, stop daydreaming and put yourself to use,” Alexander says, pulling my attention away from Camila. “Help change her bandages.”

I want to refuse, but I find myself moving toward the two of them. It seems my body, mind, and heart aren’t on the same page because I do as Alexxander says. I examine Camila’s wound, which is less severe than my own.

Using my years of experience bandaging my own injuries, I carefully treat Camila’s wound. She’s so fragile that I lighten my touch to be as gentle as possible. I hate that I want Alexander’s approval even now, but I can’t help it.

This fragile girl has somehow caught Alexander’s softer side—a side I didn’t even realize he had. After five years, I didn’t realize he could care like this.

Even though I’m being careful, Camila still cries out in pain. She jerks back, her hand wrapping around my arm, sending a blinding pain through me. I bite back the cry of pain and force myself to see past the stars dancing in my vision.

However, Camila tightens her grip on my wounded arm, digging her fingers in and sending another wave of agonizing pain through me.