CHAPTER TWENTY

Beta Xavier heaves a sigh, and frustration with a fine blend of annoyance is written all over his features.

"But Lady Natalie..." He begins to stutter and goes still the next minute.

He opens his mouth again to speak but closes it after careful consideration.

"I thought as much." I sigh, my voice low but you could feel the venom from ten miles away.

"Any more objection? I could make my choice and condition clearer with you as an example." I raise my hands, looking from the first elder to the last, and back at Beta Xavier.

They all keep mute. Deadly mute.

"I would take that as no objection from y'all. And don't make me revisit this issue, like Beta Xavier said and I agree with him for the first time, it's longer overdue and I'm getting irritated." I state.

Not giving the elders and Beta Xavier any more seconds of my time for them to fool around, I walk away furiously, slamming the door behind me, when I should be slamming their heads to the wall, Beta Xavier especially.

I keep walking furiously, in haste to lock myself up and ease off this vile energy. For a strange second, my system acts funny.

My legs are wobbling, making my knees buckle, my whole body grows weaker in seconds, and my vision is a bit blurry; it goes blurry and bright like a camera lens being adjusted at intervals. Slowly, I bring my hands to my face, shocked at my level of incoordination, for they're shaky as withered leaves in autumn.

It dawns that I'm passing out, it's a trap I can't elude. I adjust to the wall and lean on it, resting my back gently and hoping my strength doesn't fail me in crucial moments like this.

After long minutes of summoning my strength, I gently stand on my feet, ready to continue my journey, for one thing is certain, I can't let anyone meet me in this state.

One step at a time, I get closer to my private chamber.

Yet again, my stomach hurts, this time, it's too piercing to ignore, like it would burst and my guts would pour out... Or like it would rather eat me from the inside out.

I wrap my arms around it, half running towards my private chamber. What could possibly be wrong with me? My breath is labored, as I pant for air.

Slowly, my wolf retracts, first with my furs creeping back, and then my claws going off. It's like she grows weaker with each second and even worse than my system.

I swiftly take a bend, almost colliding with the servants, as they jolt backward and step aside in terror.

"I'm sorry, Lady Natalie." They apologized when I originally should have been the one apologizing.

Tighter, I clutch my stomach, narrowing it down to my belly button. Still running and having little to no time to watch out, I kick a hard mass, and I'm in the air the next second, with my head aiming for the ground like misfired ammunition.

Thankfully, a guard at the extreme is swift enough to save me at his own detriment. I land on top of him, as he takes my fall.

"I'm ... so sorry, Lady Natalie." He manages to spill.

"You don't have to be." I stutter, haphazardly getting off him, and continue running for my room.

"It's my honor." I hear the guard whisper with pride.

Finally getting in, I barely close the door before leaning on its frame for support, still gasping for air.

It's like the virus is hovering around, my head, arms, legs, stomach, throat... every damn place. I wrap my hands around myself, holding firm each of my body parts.

I itch my scalp, like I want all of my hair out, it hurts so badly. In haste, I take off the scabbard, tossing it to the extreme, as though the tightness of it around my waist made matters worse.

Still, I feel like I would pass out no matter what I do. Clutching my throat, I let out a cry, an asthmatic cry as I gasp for air more intensely. The tightness around my throat intensifies like there's an obstruction in my respiratory tract.

I rush to my bedside and pull out a small can of water, not minding using a cup, I gulp down its content in one attempt... it's my life. I try to cough, perhaps it would relieve it, at first, it's a dry non-productive cough.

Forcefully, I repeat the action, and I feel fluid well up in my mouth like the problem is almost fixed, still, the tightness doesn't pipe down. I spit the liquid out.

And my eyes widen on spotting my sputum. The amount is not much, nor as colorless as the water I just gulped, or probably as colorful as what I ate earlier; It's small and red in color. One you would obviously think it's blood, my blood. How?

I gasp, afraid to cough and see more blood leave my tract. I rush to the mirror to see my reflection. The streak of blood lurks around my lips, I bring out my tongue to confirm it's now red. My skin is flushed and pale, I'm like a shadow of myself.

'What's is wrong with me.' I try to summon my wolf.

Instead of a response, she gives a low growl, weak and unconcerned. At first, I think it's also being affected, but then again, she might be meting a punishment on me by remaining silent.

'How can you possibly let your vessel suffer? Speak to me.' I cry in frustration, asking with my last strength.

I hell don't deserve this.

Where have I possibly gone wrong? I couldn't help but wonder, as I struggle to breathe like it's my last. Could it be the moon goddess punishing me for hurting my mate? It wasn't intentional... Wait... Is Hendrix dead?

Oh no. I grow weaker.

Slowly but steadily, I crumble to my knees, slipping into oblivion, and the sad thing is, I couldn't help but watch life slip away from my grip.

Author's note: Even though she's still the rugged-ass, tough-pants Natalie, I can't help but feel pity for her, who wouldn't?

For a start, I truly appreciate your support and read thus far. It means a lot. And I hope you enjoy reading this piece as much as I did writing it. Much love, Lennin Lucky.

Feel free to like and comment, vent in the comment space, and let's gossip, lol. It's been a while.