The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger by Ejiofor Dorcas

188 The truth of her birth II

Twenty–three years ago.

Miriam POV

Mother Liora made up a tale about me needing to go on a mission of self–enlightenment, citing that I was the youngest person ever to be appointed as the next High priestess and as such, ! needed to.

I was tucked away in a little cottage on the outskirts of Golden Gate Pack, in the house of a middle–aged midwife and her husband. They would take care of me and, in turn, give my baby to couples who needed it when the time came.

Months passed, and my belly grew with the life inside me. Mother Liora seldom came to visit me. She would send either Terra or any of the younger priestesses but never came herself. I couldn’t tell if she was still disappointed in me, but I didn’t have many options either.

Worse still, I tried to keep my distance, from the child growing within me, praying every night for the strength to follow through with my vow, but as the life within me stirred and grew stronger, so did my love for the child.

Often, I would remind myself that I was only the carrier and nothing more, and the baby was not mine to keep, to begin with. But it was impossible. Every kick, every flutter, felt like a bond being formed that I knew I could never sever.

How was I supposed to stay detached? This was my child, a part of me and the thought of giving it away tore me apart.

“You should eat the herbs dear,” the midwife said gently, interrupting my thoughts. “The baby will be here anytime soon. You need to be strong for her.”

I nodded wordlessly picked up the bowl of herbs she had set before me and slowly started eating it. After a while, I was feeling nauseated – it was a symptom I started experiencing recently but the midwife assured me it was nothing to worry about.

I dropped the bowl anyway and turned to her. She was grinding something on the stone.

“How do you know it’s going to be a girl?” I asked quietly.

that girls take your

at my baby bump, it looked

couple you intend to…”

mid–sentence, abandoning the stone she was grinding with. “We’ve talked about this several times, I cannot tell you that but the couple are

figure out how

06:53 4

The truth of

grow in my

want to know,” I

After a few seconds, she sighed, taking in a deep breath. “After the baby is born and we give it away, a few weeks later, all of this guilt and emotions will disappear. But if it is

with hope.

nodded. “I do.”

I had seen Priestess Liora, Priestess Khaliah and Priestess Tania present. They had helped to deliver the

the crying child. They were waiting for the birthing of my placenta. It was Priestess Tania who noticed

a good job,” she murmured, smiling at me. “It’s a girl

my head sideways to the midwife who was at the other side of my leg. She

turned back to Mother Liora who had passed the baby to Priestess

priestesses exchanged worried glances. “Miriam, we agreed…”

placenta comes out, it’s okay for her to hold the

three women exchanged worried glances again before Mother Liora placed the child on my chest. She was a small, beautiful girl with a patch of brown

way and had promised to follow Mother Liora’s command, but at this moment, all I wanted to do was run. To take my baby and go far away from the temple, from