The Other Part of Me
Chapter 17

Elsbeth Braden and that half-breed had been locked up in his room for four days. Every time Elsbeth passed by Braden's door, she heard that interloper moaning his name out loud as if she couldn't smell what they were doing! The bitch went into heat and now she was monopolizing his time when she had to talk to him about what Magdalena's prediction!

In the beginning, Elsbeth stood by the door, telling herself she wanted to tell Braden of the prediction. If she was honest, she would have to admit it was sheer curiosity of how he would react to his mate's sexual attention. Elsbeth would hear Braden's telltale gasp every time he came, a sound she had been personally familiar with at one point, but what she didn't recognize were the periodic loud moans that would escape his lips. What the hell was that bimbo doing to him to make him react in such a visceral manner?

By the fifth day, she gave up. She realized if she wanted to push that human scum out of the pack, she would have to take a page out of her mom's book and start an uprising against her.

Not many members had seemed bothered when she told the pack she had a human mother, but when Elsbeth began telling the community that their future Luna was only interested in the prodigious wealth of the pack, and that she was ashamed of her wolf-half, ears started perking up.

When she passed the information the Spearhead oracle was given by their beloved Moon Goddess about Braden's future-murdered-heir, she knew she planted the seeds necessary to get rid of her.

All it took was a little doubt.

On the sixth day, Braden and his wanton whore finally rejoined the pack.

Elsbeth caught sight of them as they came down the stairs, hand-in-hand. It made Elsbeth sick to her stomach to see the rosy glow in the half-breed's cheeks and the relaxed body language Braden's frame now conveyed. Equally repugnant was the way they looked at each other.

How could Moon Goddess think this filthy human could lead them? She was inferior just as her whore mother had been!

She cautiously followed them to the dining area. It was finally time to see if her plan had effectively begun to take root.

Elsbeth made her way to the coffee station where she saw Braden's mate; she kept a respectable distance behind the interloper.

"Good morning, Gloria," she heard her say to the matron bringing out fresh coffee.

The older woman responded but there was no smile to accompany the greeting. If there was something Gloria had for everybody, it was a smile. Too bad 'Candy' wasn't aware of this particular characteristic in Gloria. "Morning Elsbeth!" Gloria turned to her, smile in place. "Coffee?" She held the pot up with an empty cup in another.

Elsbeth smiled. "Thank you, my dearest." As she waited for her cup, she heard Braden walk up to the interloper.

"I'm going to head over to the combat pavilion now. I'm sure the warriors lacked discipline these past few days." He smiled at his mate. "Let me know when you come back from the village." He leaned down to kiss her before he departed. "You know, you can really take advantage of this situation," Elsbeth's wolf, Amaya communicated to her. She was a wolf of few words, but she spoke when it was imperative. "If she's leaving the grounds, why don't you send her on an errand to go see our old friends near Lake Reva? If she thinks she is to be our Luna, I have a feeling she'll be eager to please, and well, if she doesn't return..."

She let the sentence linger.

"My dear wolf, I knew there was a reason you were selected for me," Elsbeth smiled wickedly. "Our thoughts are very much aligned." "Mmmmmm," Amaya responded. "I don't want an inferior ruling over us either. I'd sooner turn rogue than to see that happen."

Elsbeth shook her head. "Braden is much loved by the pack, they all rejoiced seeing he was mated, especially since he was mated so late in his life. When she terminates the pregnancy with his little heir, the village will want her head on a platter." She took another sip as her eyes followed Cassie to a nearby table where her loyal Bridgette sat.

She felt her wolf seethe. "We can't trust that old prune. We both know her predictions are never that straightforward."

Elsbeth laughed. "Well I don't see how that can be misinterpreted." Elsbeth placed her cup on the counter and conjured a plan on the way to the interloper.

As she approached the women, she heard them giggling like ridiculous schoolgirls. Oh, the things she had to endure for the sake of the pack. It's a wonder Moon Goddess didn't deign to make her Luna of the Bloodstone Pack either time. "Cassie, Bridgette, good morning ladies." She gave them an exaggerated smile as she choose to sit next to Cassie's free side.

Bridgette was quick to get up. "Elsbeth," she returned coldly. "I must get back to Molly, she'll be waking soon," she was telling the interloper. "Come by the pharmacy at lunch. We'll meander to the schoolhouse." Cassie nodded.

Elsbeth knew Bridgette had never been fond of her, in fact, neither had her mother. Not that Elsbeth cared at all but she was certainly glad it worked to her advantage this time.

"I noticed you and Braden have been missing from the pack these past few days. You must have just experienced your first heat with him." Cassie blushed.

"Oh, come now, Cassie. Braden is our Alpha, and you are to be our Luna, the whole pack wants Moon Goddess to bless your womb with as many pups as soon as possible." The interloper smiled stiffly and avoided eye contact.

Well, well, it seems Magdalena's prediction was going to be spot on. She definitely recognized a woman who did not want to have pups.

"You mustn't be so shy, Cassie. I understand you were brought up human but you're with your wolf family now. We communicate as openly and confidently as we turn into our wolves. We hide nothing." Cassie looked at her and smiled. "I noticed that."

Good. Eye contact with a smile - she was beginning to trust her. "Did you know I was Luna for a neighboring pack?"

Her nemesis shook her head. "No but I'm just getting to know everyone; on top of that, I'm learning your ways and I'm meant to do some combat training too." She sighed. "It's daunting."

Elsbeth smiled. "Please, you must come to me for advice whenever you need it. As a former Luna, I'll know about your trials and tribulations better than anyone else here. I am at your service." She made a show of bowing her head. "I'll likely take you up on that," she shrugged. "I'll need all the help I can get." Cassie fully turned her chair to face Elsbeth. "Which pack were you with?"

Bingo.

Elsbeth mirrored her body language to speed the sense of comfort between them. "I was born into Bloodstone but my mate was the Alpha from Spearhead. Naturally, I went to live with him, but when he passed, I came back to my real family." "Hmmm, I'm sorry for your loss, Elsbeth. I hear that's a very painful thing to go through."

It managed to surprise Elsbeth that she was sorry too. Although she loved being Luna more than she ever came to love Jonathan, she accepted she was deeply fond of him. She had been perfectly matched to him as she loved being spoiled and he loved giving her everything she wanted. Even sex with him gave her immense pleasure.

Elsbeth hated weakness but she allowed herself this moment of nostalgia for her dearly departed mate.

"Do you have children?"

"You mean pups?" Back to the present. That in and of itself was a reminder as to why she was ill-equipped to be Luna. "No. He already had full-grown offspring who were beginning to replace their mates when we were mated. We didn't think there was rush for us to reproduce just yet, but...," she ended the sentence there. "Anyway," Elsbeth sat upright in the chair. "I overheard Braden say you were going to the village, is that right?"

Cassie was staring at her with pity, the bitch. "Yes, I have to buy a few things since I only packed for a two-week vacation not knowing I'd end up living here."

Perfect. Elsbeth started scratching her back, her arms, and any part of her body that was currently hidden with her clothes. "I am in desperate need for a favor," she said desperately. Cassie nodded. "Sure."

Amaya was right, she was eager to please.

"I let my wolf out to roam the Spearhead land and it seems they have changed the landscape. It seems as though my wolf came across a poisonous plant and now I'm reaping the consequences." She continued to feign scratching. "The soil in the bottom of Lake Reva seems to be the only thing that can ease the discomfort, and I'm fresh out. Would you mind filling a mason jar for me, please?"

Cassie shook her head, "No, I wouldn't mind at all, but have you talked to Bridgette or her mate about it? He's the pack, doctor, right?"

Elsbeth began scratching more furiously. "The soil has a special compound specifically aimed to kill the bacteria that causes this rash. It's an old Native American trick. Our wolves aren't familiar with their remedies and it acts quicker than whatever the pharmacy will have."

Cassie nodded and stood. "Well, since it's obviously bothering you a lot, I'll head out now. How do I get to the lake?"

Elsbeth kept the act up. "Thank you, Cassie. Lake Reva is south of the village, just drive on and you'll come across it. I'm afraid it is a bit out of the way but at least the scenery is beautiful this time of year." Before she left, Elsbeth added, "I can tell you have ideal Luna qualities. I'll be in my room."

As soon as Cassie was gone, Elsbeth stopped scratching.

"Hopefully, that'll be the last we'll see of her." Amaya hissed.