Chapter 9 Nine

ASPEN VESPER

A terrible burn in her chest woke Aspen from her light sleep.

She sat up, stole a glance at a still-asleep Luna Raven and wondered if she needed a quick check-up. Perhaps her frequent shortage of sleep, which helped her reach her career goals faster, was finally catching up to her, Aspen wondered.

"Doctor Sabrina," an unfamiliar voice reached her ears. "I brought you new clothes."

Aspen looked to her right and noted the huge bag in the hand of the fairly aged woman standing in front of her.

"All of this for me?" Aspen asked.

"Oh, some are for your mate. The Lycan King prepared enough to last you two for a week."

"How nice of the Lycan," Aspen dryly said while she accepted the bag from the woman. "Thank you for this. You may leave."

As the woman, who seemed mesmerised by Aspen's face, walked out, Lance's gentle strides walked into the room, the scent of heavy disinfectant preceding every step he took.

"You look angry," Aspen pointed out as she dropped the heavy bag in her hand and got to her feet.

"I met Lycan Kailin, and it annoys me that he doesn't remember you."

Her brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"He denied having a true mate." Lance's gaze fell to the floor. "Or something like that. He refused to acknowledge your existence. It annoys me that-"

"Shh." Aspen placed a finger on her porcelain lips. Then, with a lowered tone, she said, "The Luna might be awake. We can never tell."

"Oh." He took two steps closer, found the curve of her hip and asked, "Are you okay with staying back for a week?"

"We have to do it," she whispered in response. "Were you able to get the document?"

"It was easier than taking a dump after eating loads of chocolate." That made Aspen sneak out a laugh. She was reminded of the time Lance ate more chocolate than he could handle and ended up struggling to take a dump for two days. He basically lived on the toilet during those cursed days. "Oh wow," Lance grinned, "do I sense a little merriment from you, or am I imagining it?"

The woman cleared her throat and reduced the mirth written all over her. "Have you sent the document?"

"Our messenger is inching closer and closer to The Rebel Pack as we speak."

"Good." Aspen got rid of the hold the Alpha King had on her waist. It didn't bother her that much, but having his touch linger could cause the man to think that it would be alright to touch her as he liked. "I thought of a few things for my plan while I was asleep," she gently said.

"Oh, thank goodness. I was afraid you would struggle to sleep."

Aspen did not share his excitement. "I want to find a way to haunt Kailin and Raven. Since Kailin has chosen to acknowledge my existence, it makes perfect sense to use images of me and maybe titbits of my memories with these people to rouse my presence in a way that gets on their nerves. What do you think?"

Lance nodded. "We can get these old pictures and titbits of memories from somewhere, right?"

"Yeah..." Aspen dragged a breath. "That might require you using your shifter skills to take a little," two of her fingers formed a gap, "trip to my room in my father's house."

"You think all your stuff is still there?"

"Yes. My father is against getting rid of people's things. He always said he'd rather burn himself than get rid of his family's belongings."

"Even if any of you died?" Lance asked.

"Yes. So, can you please use your abilities to find something that could be useful?"

"You don't have to ask. I'll go there once I get a chance to change out of my-"

Aspen reached for the bag she had dropped. "Some clothes are here for you." She unzipped the bag, and a huge, packaged bra jumped out.

"Are you that big?" Lance asked while they took seconds to observe the undergarment as though it was some sort of obscene, confusing art.

"I am hardly a C-cup. That bra is the biggest size there is."

Lance shook his head and reached for clothes that looked like his. "They can't even do something as simple as finding proper clothes." Once his new clothes were hanging off his arm, he passed out a shallow exhale and asked, "Do you need me to get something else, Doctor Sabrina?"

"Maybe a new mask," she muttered.

He subtly pointed at her mask. "This type is not easy to find in places like this."

Aspen was aware of that. But she feared the mask was already weakening. "Please try your best to find a new one. Wearing this for a week was not the plan, and that's why we didn't come with a dissolver."

"True." He smiled. "Don't worry, I will try my absolute best to get another one."

"Thank you, Lance."

The man, after throwing a reckless wink that made his fine face more handsome, walked out of the room.

Aspen turned her attention to the woman on the hospital bed. She sighed, let a smile settle on her lips and stood there like a deranged stalker. After minutes of silence, Raven stirred out of her lengthy slumber.

"Doctor," her sister called weakly while her eyes struggled to get used to the lighting in the room.

"You are fine, Luna Raven. You survived."

"I did?"

Aspen wondered if it was too early to inform her about the loss of her fetus. She decided seconds later that it was too cruel to mention it at that moment, so she just said, "You did well, Luna Raven. You can rest up, and we'll talk later."

"Okay, doctor."

Aspen studied the heart monitor for a while, after which she reached for a stethoscope and confirmed her sister's stability.

As she did that, Aspen said, "Don't worry Luna. I will take good care of you. You have to stay alive. Otherwise, you will miss a very good show and that will really suck."

"It will," came Raven's dazed response.

"It sure will," Aspen lowered her voice, "my dear sister."

~~~

ONE WEEK LATER

Having her last day in the palace catch up with her so fast was not something Aspen appreciated. She felt worse that Lance went in search of her belongings and found nothing. Her family did a good job erasing every indication of her existence in their house. So, the very start of her grand plan became shaky. And now, her last day in that palace had arrived without anything to show for it.

This development destabilised Aspen in a way she did not like, and it took a lot in her soul to not hurt Raven, whom she could easily kill.

Thankfully, Raven had gone for a walk to get strength back in her limbs, so Aspen threw angry punches into the air while she swore loudly.

"Fuck!" she groaned while her entire soul burned with fury. "Fuck this!"

"Doctor Sabrina?" It was Kailin's voice.

Hearing that fuelled the anger in her soul. But since she was aware that her anger could give her away, Aspen took some minutes to calm herself.

"Doctor Sabrina?" Kailin called again. "Is there a problem? Where is the Luna?"

"She went for a walk."

"Face me when you speak to me, Doctor Sabrina."

"Oh, fuck you," she muttered.

"Excuse me, Doctor? You can't speak to me that way."

"I don't care, Lycan Kailin. I am a lowly brat who can speak to you as she wishes."

"Look into my eyes and repeat that."

"Gladly." Aspen turned, and her mask fell to the ground as though it was paid to make a mockery of her.