AITHNE'S POV
 "..." I opened my mouth to talk but words failed me.
 "Y-y-y-ou..." A miserable stutter was all I could get out.
*Don't let her get to you!*
*She's the one who's supposed to be cowering with shame and fear right now! And she would, once she's exposed.*
 I shut my eyes briefly and took in a sharp breath.
 Majesty has been forced to motion within me because of Varda's words.
 I won't let her do this to me -- to us. 
 How dare her conclude on my matter like that, without an examination or treatment by a physician yet? She must be really insane to think of such a thing. 
Wouldn't the moon goddess be so cruel if that was really my situation?
 "You don't get to say that to me." I finally said, looking her directly in the eyes. "You have no right to conclude about my abilities when I haven't even been examined by the physicians!" I yelled.
 "Oh," Varda's lower lip pursed outwards in an attempt at a pout. "Oh, my dear." She paused, "I'm sorry I must have hurt you with my words just now. I shouldn't have announced the news to you like that." She paused, casting a lazy gaze on my legs. 
Is it that she's not aware that I know what she had done? Or she's just so thick-skinned and unbothered about the fact that I could expose her in the next second? Or she underestimates me so well she doesn't think I'm capable enough to ruin her?
 "But since you insist," I watched her roll her eyes from my bloodied legs on the bed back to my face. "...and for clarity purposes, the physicians would examine you right away and begin treatment as well." She gestured with a hand at Odin's father beside her, "Beta Kamen and I must have gotten ahead of ourselves in our attempt to sympathize with you on the death of your mate. After all, the Beta lost his beloved son also." There was an obvious hint of sarcasm and mischief in her words but I won't let her get to me.
 "Don't you realize you are not making any sense right now?" I finally said, giving her my best bored look, not concerned that Eris, the Beta or the physicians were present.
And it became her turn to be stunned by my audacity...
 "And do not involve the Beta in this. Weren't you the one so sure I had lost my ability to shift because of my injuries just now? And you also announced in the hearing of all present, that I had lost my Alpha title as well. Why don't you explain in details what gave you, 'Luna Varda' such certainty. Because as you can see, I haven't been examined yet and neither have I heard from the Alpha since my return. So to what source do we owe the proclamations you just made?! Or perhaps," I narrowed my gaze at her, "do you wish me ill, dearest stepmother?" Varda's jaw hung open in shock and disbelief as well as that of the four werewolves in the room. Eris stole sneaky, stunned glances between myself and my stepmother. He probably couldn't believe his ears.
 If not for the sake of my father, I would have exposed her here right away. But I want the Alpha to be present when I do so. Or rather, I want the Alpha as the first person to hear of her evil deeds.
 "W-what?!" She finally exclaimed. "How...how could you pronounce such sentiments about me, your stepmother? I know I certainly didn't give birth to you, but I have treated you as a child from my very womb."
 "Oh my, have you now?" I cut in sarcastically, honestly irritated by her pretense.
 She continued, ignoring my sarcastic interruption. "I have no idea you thought so little of me, Seraphina. All I meant was to show that I cared, to thank you for saving Morwen, to sympathize with you and also to let you know what I think of your situation now and... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..." She wiped her eyes, faking a sob.
 "Uhmm," Eris suddenly cleared his throat. "I'd go see to it that Jeyre arrives quickly and attend to My Lady." He said but no one paid him attention, so he bowed and quickly exit the room. The male and female physicians seemed rather uncomfortable at being present in such a situation but they dared not interrupt or leave, not when they had come in to check on the Alpha's beloved daughter and heiress. 
 "What are you both doing?" I motioned towards them. "Won't you come check on me and begin treatments or do you want my injuries deteriorating further?" I snapped, not because I was angry but because I was so much irritated by watching Varda pretend before me when pains were clawing within my flesh and sending jolts to my bones.
 "Apologies, my lady," they bowed slightly before instantly rushing over to my side.
 I silently watched Varda as she pretended to sob into her handkerchief, totally forgetting Beta Kamen's presence until he suddenly cleared his throat.
 "I came to check on you, Aithne. But it seems this isn't the right time. As such, I must take my leave now." Beta Kamen suddenly said and I turned my gaze to him immediately.
 "Beta Kamen!" I hastily called before he had turned to leave. "I'm hoping you haven't misunderstood -- Ooh!" I winced sharply as the female physician tried to remove the blood-stained clothings from my legs. I forced my gaze from my legs back to the Beta. "But you see, the Luna was pre..." I paused, glancing at Varda just in time to see her stealing a glance from her kerchief to me. And I felt satisfied the instant I saw the brief flash of fear reflect in her eyes. 
*Good. You ought to be scared.* Majesty growled in my head.
 I returned my gaze to the Beta. He had been patiently observing me. I managed an attempt of a smile at him. "I would drop by the house to pay my respects properly and also explain the situation well to you. Trust me, it's not what it seems. My apologies for t..."
 "I believe you owe me no explanation," he interrupted curtly, "you should apologize to the Luna. She had only stated facts and hadn't meant to hurt you deliberately -- I believe..."
Did he just say facts? Does he also thinks that I lost...
I shook the unwelcomed, unbelievable thoughts out of my head. 
 "...In my honest opinion," he was saying, "your tone and choice of words weren't necessary. She's not just your stepmother, she's also the Chosen Luna of Mooncrest Pack." He turned around without bothering to spare me a moment to say something and tears welled up in my eyes.
Clearly, he didn't understand, even though he was Odin's father.
Odin would have seen through Varda's pretense -- as he always did -- if he were here. He was the only one who truly understood me...
 "I'm wishing you fast recovery, Aithne. I would be on my way now." With that, Beta Kamen wasted no seconds more as he exit the room.
 "Hmphh!" Varda smirked, no longer pretending thoroughly now that the Beta was out of the room. "How unfortunate for you, my darling. It seems you just got on the bad side of your -- would have been -- father in-law and that of course, would be to your disadvantages and," she paused, taking a step closer to the bed, then leaned down and whispered beside my ear, "...my advantages."
 She leaned back up. "I had only stated facts like Beta Kamen had said, when I said you lost so much. I mean, anyone seeing your situation would know it's not a matter of sugar coating," she continued, making a growl -- obviously Majesty's -- escape from my throat.
 "Aren't you scared?" I suddenly dared, meeting her eyes. And of course she understood what I meant. 
 "Scared?" She repeated, before suddenly bursting into laughter, and of course earning the curious stares of the physicians. "Oh, my dear," She smiled dismissively at them. "My darling stepdaughter seems to be scared about the treatment, physicians. Please do 'well' to take good care of her and make sure it doesn't hurt as much as it looks like it would," She sarcastically added, as she eyed the set of surgical items the female physician was setting up. 
 "Yes, Luna." They bowed.
 "Well, then." She turned to me. "I'd leave you for a while, Aithne." She beamed falsely at me. "When I'm back, we would discuss properly on reasons why I don't have to be scared. You just wait and be good," she smirked, "then, you'll see." 
 "For now," she pat my arm slightly. "I'm off to meet the Alpha with Morwen. Don't worry, when I'm back, I wouldn't hesitate in sharing some good news with you." She gave me a mischievous smile, nodded at the physicians turning around and exiting the room, leaving me speechless.
What's with her attitude? Why doesn't she seem the least bit bothered about what she's done? Does she have a secret weapon of some sort which she feels would protect her when I finally expose her to the Alpha?
Wait, she's clearly going to meet my father now with Morwen. What by the goddess, does the witch have up her sleeves this time?
 A lot of questions traveled through my head as the female physician lowered me back on the bed. 
Majesty too was restless within me.
 I sincerely hope to be able to prove Varda and the Beta, wrong the next time I see them.
 And that would only be possible if at the end of my session with the physicians, nothing had been discovered wrong with my abilities...