Chapter 132: Selene knows

"GET OUT!"

Selene froze.

Malachi had been angry around her before. She had seen his temper, had watched him snap at people, had even been the one person who could sometimes get through to him when that temper became unbearable.

She knew him well, since she had stayed when everyone else had left him alone with the wreckage of what had happened. So she wasn’t afraid of him.

Not usually.

"Alpha," she said carefully, stepping around the scattered scrolls, "Whatever happened, you can talk to me about it,"

His head snapped toward her.

"I’m not trying to fight with you." She lowered her voice, approaching him cautiously. "I’m trying to help."

"I don’t need your help."

"You always say that when you’re angry."

"Selene." The warning in his voice should have made her stop, but it didn’t.

She had spent too many years knowing exactly how to handle this man down. It cannot suddenly change because Della is here. She could talk him down if she put in more effort. She could sit beside him like before until the rage passed. She could remind him of who he was when his emotions threatened to consume him.

She had done it before.

She could do it again.

"Whatever happened, you can tell me."

The look on his face worsened. He was in no mood to speak or exchange conversation with anybody right now, and if Selene knew what was good for her, she would leave before it gets much worse. "Nothing happened!"

"Malachi—"

"GET OUT!" His roar tore through the study again, and Selene jumped so violently that the scroll in her hands fell.

Malachi stepped toward her, his entire body trembling with barely contained fury. "You don’t get to decide when I’m calm enough for you to start talking to me. And you sure as hell don’t get to stand there pretending you understand what the fuck is happening inside my head!"

Selene’s eyes widened.

She had never heard him speak to her like that. He’s been doing a lot of things he would never do ever since Della walked into his life, like doubting her!

"I’m only trying to help you," She snapped, hurt rapidly turning into anger. "After everything I’ve done for you, you don’t have to speak to me like I’m some—"

"I SAID LEAVE!" The sheer force of his voice sent her stumbling backwards, and her face burned.

"Fine!" She spun around, stormed through the doorway, and walked straight down the corridor.

Her eyes stung from fury, and she wiped angrily at them and glared back at the closed door. At this point, she’d had enough of that man and his tantrums about Della.

She’d seen him walk out of the healing wing minutes ago, filled with rage. Every single time Della was involved, she would turn him into some kind of emotional monster. The Rotblood had this annoying hold on him that Selene couldn’t stand!

One she would never accept!

If she was going to have to teach that Rotblood more lessons about standing in her way, she would not hesitate to do so. Seems like the market mob incident wasn’t enough!

After Selene had calmed down a little, she walked toward the healing wing. She stood right outside the closed door, quietly listening for any familiar voice.

Especially Della’s.

Just then, she heard footsteps approaching from inside and quickly pretended like she wasn’t doing anything and was just walking by.

Moira opened the door and walked out. She had taken off her work apron, and from the looks of it, she was probably closing for the day.

A smile broke out on her face the moment she saw Selene over there.

"My lady," She greeted respectfully, smiling so hard she felt the burn on her cheeks.

"Veinseer Moira," Selene greeted back, keeping the softness in her voice and returning the smile.

Moira’s eyes lingered on her for a moment before she sighed, "You look upset."

Selene immediately shook her head. "I’m fine."

"Of course you are." Moira said softly.

She leaned casually against the wall instead. "Alpha Malachi is simply in a terrible mood today."

Moira’s smile faded slightly.

"He won’t let anyone near him. Not even me."

That earned her a sympathetic look, "After everything you’ve done for him..." Moira shook her head. "Men can be so ungrateful sometimes."

Selene’s lips curled faintly.

"He’s been acting strangely ever since that woman entered his life," Moira continued, lowering her voice.

Selene’s eyes sharpened, "What woman?"

Moira looked at her, and Selene immediately realised how that sounded. She quickly smiled. "I mean, I know who you’re talking about. I simply find it amusing that everyone seems to think she’s the reason behind his temper."

Moira glanced toward the closed door behind her, "You do know that Della is here, right?"

Of course she knew that. But for the sake of where this conversation might be heading, she decided to pretend she didn’t, "What?"

Moira looked almost surprised, "You didn’t know?"

"Know what?"

"That the Rotblood is here."

Selene stared at her, then she gave a little scoff, forcing herself to look unimpressed. "I wouldn’t know why she would be here."

"Because she’s badly injured."

"She’s alive?"

"Barely, when they brought her in. She was trampled badly," Moira continued. "Broken bones. Internal injuries. Her wrists and fingers were damaged terribly. There were injuries everywhere."

Selene’s expression remained carefully blank, "And yet she survived." That part was genuinely said.

"Unfortunately." Moira’s hand curled by her sides, recalling how her daughter her suffered because of that Rotblood. Then, she leaned closer and whispered again, "And she’s pregnant."

Selene paused for a moment, and then her face changed before she could stop it, "Pregnant?"

"With Malachi’s child."

The words seemed to strike Selene directly in the chest, and she gripped the side of her dress tightly with one hand shaking uncontrollably now. She knew this conversation would lead somewhere, but she never expected...that!

"I had no idea," She managed to say.

"Neither did most people."

Pregnant?

Della was pregnant with Malachi’s child?

"Are you certain?" she asked.

"I attended to her myself when she was brought here unconscious." Moira’s voice became quieter. "There was no mistaking it. The child is there."

Selene’s fingers curled against her arms, "Then why isn’t Malachi with her?"

Moira gave a humourless laugh, "Because he doesn’t believe the child is his."

"What?" Selene’s head snapped toward her.

"He thinks she conceived it with someone else." She whispered again.

Selene’s heart began pounding, and Moira seemed to enjoy the revelation now that she had finally gotten her full attention, "Apparently, he saw something between Della and Alpha Cassian before the rejection. Whatever he saw—or thought he saw—has convinced him that the child may belong to Cassian."

Selene’s lips slowly parted.

Cassian?! He...had that kind of relationship with Della? There’s no way! Cassian has more self-control than that!

"Oh, this is getting worse," she whispered to the excited woman next to her.

"Much worse." Moira folded her arms. "The baby’s condition isn’t good either."

"What do you mean?" Selene’s eyes narrowed.

"The child is suspended."

"Suspended?"

"The pregnancy has essentially stopped progressing. No normal growth. No proper development. It’s alive, but barely." Moira’s expression darkened. "And it’s dying."

"Does Malachi know about the dying child?"

"I don’t think he would care even if he does. After all, it means the Rotblood cheated on him with another man. I’m pretty sure that’s why he furiously left. I’ve never seen him so angry before,"

Selene thought about the state she’d found him in, and now it made sense.

Her expression slowly hardened, and she looked toward the healing wing.

Behind one of those walls was Della.

Alive.

And carrying Malachi’s child.

Something ugly twisted inside Selene, and Moira noticed the change in her expression and immediately reached for her hand, "Don’t worry, my lady. Whatever happens, you know where my loyalty lies."

Selene looked back at her and Moira smiled warmly, "Some women are simply not meant to become Luna."

Selene’s smile returned, and this time it was genuine, "No," she whispered. "They’re not."

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