Chapter 9

In between shadows.
MIRIAM'S POV
As soon as Ivy left, I walked into the room and started pacing about like I misplaced something. This is something I barely do but at this point I had no choice.
I was confused and it was really getting to me. I wasn't sure I would be able to come out of this situation strong. It has really had a toll on me.
It's been over a week now and I have not had time to rest or even think of myself. I kept thinking about Daniel and the fact that he was in love with another. At this moment, I craved what Cherry had because over time, I couldn't get enough of it from Christopher because of the hitches we had in our relationship.
"You claimed to be in love. I just hope you don't harm yourself though." My wolf said.
" That's the last thing I will ever think of, and you know it." I replied.
' I just don't want this to happen again." She said again and I tried to distract myself from my thoughts.
After hearing those words from her, it felt as though ice was placed all over my body. I took a deep breath and relaxed every nerve that was anxiously seeking expression.
I sat on the bed and faced the ceiling. The fan caught my attention and I kept counting how many times it turned as it was quite slow.
It took a long time for Ivy to return but I waited patiently for her. I can't just appear in front of everyone like this, no one will believe me. I need to make a plan to take my place back.
I had left without any notice. Not even my late father would be happy with the decision I took then, but I am glad I am on the way to remedy it already.
As I sat down thinking about all that, I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in Ivy." I responded because I was certain she was the one.
"You didn't have to knock." I said as I heard the door open without even bringing down my eyes to check who it was.
"Daniel said you can come down." The person who had entered the room responded.
That wasn't Ivy's voice so I took a look and it was one of the servants.
"Where is Ivy?" I asked him but made a gesture suggesting that he doesn't know.
"Thank you, you can leave. Please tell Daniel I will be down in a moment." I instructed and he turned and left my room.
I saw myself in the mirror. The sickness, pregnancy and what Chris was doing made me emaciated. My eyes were swollen and my face was dull.
I put on make up and didn't want anyone to see my frail appearance.
I only had a change of clothes then I stepped out of the room.
As I walked on the staircase, I heard a voice telling me to look down. I wasn't sure whose voice it was. I suspected it was my wolf but it did not sound like her but I obeyed and looked.
There were the elders all ranting at Daniel. I didn't hear what they were saying but I sensed it was not something good.
I felt bad that I made my beta, a man I claim to love so much go through so much humiliation because of me.
One perfect thing about Daniel is that no matter what, he would never complain. He was that loyal. Always has my back and will never talk me down no matter how bad I grow.
He will always support me even with my stupid decisions and saves my ass a lot.
I smiled as I saw him stand up for me.
The feeling was something I could not explain, I was grateful I had him although I was going to lose him soon to Cherry.
Seeing the kind of pressure, they were putting on Daniel, I decided I was not going to stay back.
I decided I will go down there to save him from them but before I could make any move, a lady appeared before me. It was Cherry.
"You will have to go back Miriam." She said as she stood in the next stair.
"Who are you?" I asked her with so much annoyance. No one, not even Daniel will speak to me the way she just did.
"I am Cherry." She told me and walked out without even waiting for me to say even a single word to her.
I winked and moved back to my room. I decided to give it a few more hours, they should be gone by then.
As I sat on the bed, everything kept coming back to me. It was as if it was happening again and before I could tell what was going on, I was already in tears. I sobbed so passionately as if I was in a mourning contest which I needed to win.
It took quite long before they left because by the time Daniel came to me, I was already asleep so he had to wake me up.
"So sorry for disturbing you," he mumbled as I opened my eyes.
"Why do you always speak with undertones?" I asked him as I sat on the bed.
He did not give me an answer, he rather smiled and drew me closer.
"She is beautiful." I whispered and although I wasn't looking at his face, I could feel the smile on his face.
"You like her?" He asked and I replied with a weak yes and of course I was so weak.
"You need to get some food so you can go back to sleep. It's late already." Daniel told me as he pushed me away and looked at my swollen face.
"Are you sure you are okay?" He asked while examining every part of my body.
"I'm good Daniel. You don't have to be bothered." I said as I pushed his hands away from my waist.
" You have never been like this. You look pathetic." He screamed and stood to his feet immediately.
"I'm pregnant!" I retorted and he became calm.
"I'm sorry Miriam, I just wasn't comfortable with the way you look." He said as he bent before me holding my knees with both hands.
"It's fine, can you go get me something to eat now?" I said to him as I brushed my fingers through his hair.
" Sure." He uttered and stood up to leave.
" You know what?" I asked and he turned to face me immediately.
"I'm coming with you; I am tired of this room already." I told him and he smiled at me.
" We still have a lot of people you wouldn't want to see around. So just stay here." He said holding my shoulders.
"I thought you were able to come because they were gone?" I asked, looking surprised.
" We have a lot to talk about Miriam. But you have to calm down and put yourself together for the meantime." He said and walked out of the room. Holding my face in my palm, I thought of what to do.
I cried myself to sleep without even laying properly on the bed.
"Miriam, what did you do?" Were the words that woke me up. It was Ivy.
I was too weak to even move from the position I took so she had to help me up.
"Why did you sleep without eating your food? This is not healthy. No it's not." She said as she brought me some water from the bathroom to wash my face.
"How do I look?" I asked her and she looked at me as if she was taking a careful examination.
"Not too bad." She said with a smirk on her face.
"Nothing to worry about Miriam, you will be alright, okay?" She continued with a reassuring voice and I forced a smile.
" Who is down stairs?" I asked her and she couldn't give me a definite answer.
"What is going on Ivy? Daniel has refused to talk to me. Please tell me what the matter is." I begged her but she still said nothing.
" You know at this time; you should bother yourself less. Daniel has been taking care of things perfectly and I am sure he would not mess up this time." She told me and held me in an embrace.
" I really want to leave this room. I feel stuck here and it is really not good for me. I want to walk around and feel my world." I said to Ivy and she gestured as I spoke.
" Don't make fun of me." I told her and we both started laughing.
"It's all going to be fine, okay?" She said and hugged me again. She also kissed my hair and I felt pretty good.
"Now you have to freshen up, you look like puke." She said and gave me a smirk.
I smiled at her reaction and stood up from the bed.
"You know, apart from your swollen face, no one will tell you are pregnant. You look really good." She said to me as she tried to bury her laughter.
" Don't patronize me Ivy, I know I am ugly so no thanks for the compliment." I told her as I wrapped the pink towel I saw around myself and walked into the bathroom.
I stood in the bathroom, looking into the mirror and thinking uncontrollably of the happy times I had with Chris. I shook my head, pushing those thoughts out of my head. I will never go back there again.
I had my bath and came out meeting Ivy in my wardrobe.
"What are you doing?" I muttered as I walked into the room.
"I think you need a wardrobe change, Miriam. These clothes are not worth it anymore." She said as she kept moving her hand through my clothes.
"Leave my way." I told her and pushed her away.
She fell on the bed laughing in such a manner that I have never seen her laugh before.
"I know there is something, rather someone behind this incessant laughter of yours. Just give me a little time to settle in and I will fish it." I joked and she increased the velocity of the laughter such that I couldn't help but join her.
Afterwards, she told me she needs to go check if I can come down for a while and she walked out of the room.
I sat there praying for a positive result and then I spoke to my wolf.
"Aren't you going to say something to me?" I asked her but she remained quiet.
"You know what? I'm sorry, please just say something." I begged but nothing came.
Almost immediately, Ivy walked in.
"Coast clear, let's go have lunch." She said as she dragged me along.
"Lunch? I thought it's still morning." I said as I joggled behind her.
"Let's say you are going to have breakfast, while I am going to have lunch. I had breakfast a longtime ago." She said as we walked down the stairs.