The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna

Chapter 288 Avery's POV I woke to the sound of voices outside my tent. My eyes snapped open. The sun was barely up, casting a pale glow through the canvas. I sat up slowly, pulling the furs around my shoulders just as the tent flap opened. Asher walked in first, followed by the old doctor with her bones and beads. My stomach dropped. "Good morning, poppet," Asher said. He smiled, but there was something even colder and nastier about it than normal. "The doctor is here to perform a routine checkup on you and the baby." "A checkup?

Why?" "Just to make sure everything is progressing as it should." The doctor shuffled forward. "Lay back down, girl." I obeyed, lowering myself onto the mattress. My heart pounded as the doctor pulled the furs away and lifted my shirt, exposing my stomach. She pressed her hands against my abdomen, prodding and poking in various spots. Asher stood at the foot of my bed, watching. His arms were crossed, and his expression was unreadable. They knew. Or at least, they thought they knew. So Lindsey had told him what I'd said after all.

She'd gone straight to Asher and reported my lie about not being pregnant, probably in exchange for another one of those candies. My theory was correct. The doctor pulled out her pouch of herbs again and waved it under my nose. The smell hit me immediately, and I gagged, turning my head away. "Please," I gasped, covering my mouth, "that's awful;" "Hm." The doctor pulled the pouch away and turned to Asher. "She's still pregnant. No doubt about it." Asher's brow furrowed. "You're certain?" "Positive." The doctor tucked the pouch back into her robes. "The nausea response is still strong.

a moment longer, studying me like he could see right through my skin and into the meat and bone beneath. Then, he turned and walked out. I waited until I heard his footsteps fade before letting out a breath. My

to work in the garden, just to ensure she could spy on me. Well, nothing I planned on telling her would be true from here on out. Anything that came out of my mouth would be purely designed to confuse them both. "Good morning," she said. "I got the seeds you wanted." "Thank you." I moved to grab the watering can. I stepped forward, pretending not to see

see you there." "It's fine." She dusted herself off and wouldn't meet my eyes. I turned back to the garden, but inside, my blood was boiling. Two candies. That meant she'd been rewarded