Noro’s eyes widened slightly, and horror struck me.
Oh no. Was Neil spying on us?
My stomach sank. I took a step back, trying to blend into the crowd.
The idea filled me with cold dread. We’d dismissed Neil as a threat, but were we being careless? We’d been loud last night, there was no denying that, but it would’ve been difficult to hear unless he had his ear right against the wall.
But a wolf’s hearing is better than that. Better than a gryphon’s.
Suddenly I felt sick.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Noro said loudly. “And as the magic Keeper of this pride, I’d appreciate if you controlled your mouth, wolf.”
“I won’t stay silent any longer,” Neil growled. “Not when I know you’refuckingthe omega behind Blaze’s back.”
Now the shocked silence gave way to gasps. Gryphons turned their startled gazes to Noro, who was trying to remain neutral and stoic, but I saw his facade chipping away. I could tell how badly he wanted to rip Neil open--and he’d deserve it, after everything he did to the both of us.
“You’re not even bothering to deny it?” Neil went on. “Where is he, anyway? Bring him out! Let him speak his lies, too!”
Noro’s eyes snapped to mine. They were full of fear.
“Matheson, what’s he saying?” Bastian asked me softly. “You’ve been with Noro?”
I bit my lip. I didn't want to lie to Bastian but this wasnotthe time. I backed up, trying to distance myself from Neil, but there was nowhere to run. Everyone was looking for me now, and with my only two forms being a wolf and a human, it was impossible for me to hide.
I can’t run from this. I have to try and lie, like Noro did.
Even if it’s impossible.
I stepped forward. A new silence spread over the crowd--one of pure awe.
They all saw my swollen belly, which had been practically flat just days ago. I was noticeably larger.
Even Neil was stunned. But the way he stared at me wasn’t positive, like the rest--he seemed horrified.
“What the hell?” he muttered.
“Matheson,” Noro said, rushing towards me with concern burning in his eyes. “What--what happened?”
Forgetting everything else, he changed shape to that of a human so he could put his hands gently on my belly. He was as mystified as I was about the sudden change in my body.
“I just woke up like this,” I told him in a whimper. There was more I wanted to say but couldn’t with everyone listening:After we had sex, this is what happened to me. Please, if you know anything, please tell me.
But his surprise mirrored my own, which meant he had no idea about what this was, or why this was happening either.
Shit.
“Look!” Neil yelled, his voice hoarse. “See how tenderly Noro approaches him. I told you the truth! They’ve been having sex behind the king’s back!”
Noro’s head snapped up and I stumbled away from him. In our panic about my belly, we’d forgotten the situation. We’d dug ourselves into an even deeper hole, and I wasn’t sure how we were going to get out of it this time.
Shit, shit, shit.
The eyes on me changed. Where they’d been filled with awe and wonder, now they glinted with wariness, with distrust. They inched away from Noro, a gryphon they trusted so dearly, and towards Neil, a wolf outsider who’d brought them their biggest prize.
Me.
“Well?” Neil demanded. “Are you going to lie more or explain yourselves?”
