Tori’s POV
Their eyes were icy cold and full of nace.
"Don’t even think about running. Behave yourself!" one of the kidnappers snarled.
As they dragged through a dark alley, I struggled with all my might.
"Let go! You bastards!"
Then, one of them swung a stick violently and hit hard on the back. I let out a scream of pain. During my desperate attempt to escape, I ran like crazy, but tripped over sothing and fell heavily to the ground. I felt an intense pain as my legs scraped against the rough ground and blood oozed out. Watching them approach step by step, I scread in horror.
Slow, steady beeping filled my ears—and yet, the throb within my head was trying to dull all of my senses.
Slowly, I opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. I was once again within the hospital, and that was the last place I wanted to be.
The steady beeping ca from a machine that was dripping fluids into my arm—not a comforting sight. I hated being bedridden and invalid like this and feeling like I wasn’t capable of taking care of myself.
“She’s resting now, but she is okay.” Ava’s voice made turn my attention to the partially-closed door. I wasn’t sure who she was talking to, but I had no doubt it was Jace or Kas. They always seed to be there for when I was in trouble.
“I can’t believe this happened. I’m so sorry! I should never have let her go alone,” Kas whispered.
I hated the guilt I heard in her voice. She wasn’t to bla for this.
“You know Cayden’s rules, and yet you didn’t follow them,” Jace’s angry voice replied.
I wasn’t going to allow Kas to take the fall for this. It wasn’t her fault. At the end of the day, I knew what I was supposed to do and what I was not.
“I’m awake,” I called out.
Within seconds, the door opened, and their three faces ca into view.
“I am so sorry we woke you. You need to rest,” Ava quickly said, coming to my bedside to check on .
“I’m fine. It was just a small fall, and the stomach bug I have isn’t helping my balance at all.”
My words had the three of them stopping in their tracks and glancing among one other.
I wasn’t sure what was going on, but from the looks of it...it was serious.
“Tori... It isn’t a stomach bug,” Ava said soothingly, causing a surge of unease within .
Deep inside, I knew what she was going to say, because the thought had crossed my mind earlier.
“Am I pregnant?” The question was spoken softly, but with their werewolf hearing, they knew exactly what I asked.
A smile ford on Kas and Ava’s faces.
“Yes! Yes, you are.”
Even though I knew that was the goal we were trying to accomplish, so part of still couldn’t imagine myself being pregnant.
My hand ca to rest upon my stomach as nervousness and worry filled .
The situation was different now. Cayden was going to end up getting married to that girl, and he didn’t need anymore. So, what was going to happen to ?
Was he going to make get rid of the baby?
Panic gripped , and my eyes filled with tears.
“But he has Sophia now...”
“What are you talking about?” Jace asked, looking at confusedly.
Kas quickly sighed, rolling her eyes. “She’s been going around telling everyone she is getting married to Cayden. That was what started the argunt in the garden room. She confronted Tori and told everyone that she’s a breeder. Quite loudly, I might add.”
“And you’re telling you weren’t prepared for that scenario?”
Jace wasn’t pleased with this latest news, and his brow furrowed in anger. Kas imdiately fell silent with a guilty look on her face.
They had to let what happened go, I thought. The alliance I heard them talking about couldn’t be ruined because of .
“Please...” I tried my hardest not to let the tears fall. “Don’t tell him. I don’t want to ruin anything you are trying to do. I can just go a–”
“Go where?”
Cayden’s voice caused to stop in mid sentence.
My heart raced, and I watched from the corner of my eye as he made his way into the room and toward .
“You’re not going anywhere.”
I quickly cast my eyes down to my lap and tried to hide the fact that I was trembling. I had thought that, over ti, I would get past my fear of him, but instead, I felt like I was back at square one.
“I’m sorry...”
“Is it true?” Cayden asked loudly, ignoring my apology. “Is she pregnant?”
“Yes, Alpha. She is.” Jace’s voice was firm.
“Look at , Tori.” The command was softer than when he had co in. Even though I didn’t want him to see the state I was in, I knew I had no choice but to obey.
Slowly, I let my gaze drift up to et his, and saw a flash of anger course through those gorgeous eyes of his.
“What the h*ll happened to her?!”
Kas, Talon, Ava, and even I cowered back in fear of his anger.
He moved toward , and I involuntarily flinched in terror. I didn’t miss the small trace of hurt that flickered in his face and then quickly disappeared.
“It was all my fault!” Kas cried out. “I accept any punishnt you deem just.”
“No, it wasn’t Kas’ fault!” I urged. “I shouldn’t have left her side. I’m sorry...”
“It was Sophia, Alpha,” Jace interrupted . “She cornered Tori...”
Cayden didn’t let Jace finish the story. “She touched what is mine,” he said. His lips ford a thin line, and I had no doubt that he was beyond angry at this mont.
As if wheels were turning in his mind, he stepped back from and turned to Jace. “Set up a eting with Roro and the king. We have things to discuss.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Jace replied quickly, bowing his head as Cayden turned and walked out the door. The Beta followed shortly after.
Cayden wasn’t upset that I was hurt. He was upset that Sophia touched sothing that belonged to him. I was nothing more than a piece of property to him.
“Tori, you are fine to go back to your room shortly,” Ava said. “Kas and I will help you to do that, but first, I want you to wait until these fluids get into your system. You were rather dehydrated.”
I nodded my head and watched both she and Kas take their leave.
When the room beca quiet, it took a mont to let reality sink in.
‘I’m pregnant.’
‘I am actually pregnant with Cayden’s child.’
I couldn’t stop rubbing my stomach, wondering how far along I was, or if it would be a boy or a girl. I hoped it would be a boy—that way I would be able to give him his heir.
An heir I would never get to see grow up...
The idea now that I would be handing my baby over to him, and never be able to be part of his life, hurt.
I hadn’t really cared before, but now, it felt different. I had a life growing inside of . Soone who would be a part of ...
I didn’t want to be forced to leave my child.
Tears fell down my cheeks, one after the other. I knew that the next few months were going to be hard. To Cayden, this might be a job, but to ...it would change my whole life.
A few minutes went by, and I started to feel a bit better. The tears seed to take my despair with them, and beneath it, I found a sudden and strange resolve.
If I wanted to be part of my child’s life, then I had to figure out how to transform myself within the next few months.
And Sophia...she would be the least of my worries right now, compared to the little life growing in .
I still couldn’t believe I had been abducted. It was a terrifying ordeal that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. However, in the midst of this nightmare, there was a glimr of hope. I discovered I was pregnant. At first, I was filled with shock and disbelief, but then, a fierce sense of protectiveness surged within .
Thankfully, after what felt like an eternity of worry, I learned that my baby was unhard. This little life growing inside beca my sole focus. I knew that no matter what, I had to keep my child safe.
And then there was Sophia. She had been a constant source of trouble, causing pain and distress ti and ti again. Her actions were unforgivable. She had tried to break , but instead, she had only made stronger.
If I wanted to be part of my child’s life, then I had to figure out how to transform myself within the next few months. I needed to beco more resilient, more capable of facing any challenge that ca our way. Sophia would be the least of my cares right now compared to the little life growing in . But that didn’t an I would let her get away with what she had done.
I started making plans. I would educate myself about pregnancy and child–rearing. I would find a way to build a safe and loving ho for my baby. And once I was in a better position, I would make sure Sophia paid for her actions. I would not let her have the satisfaction of thinking she could hurt and my child without consequences.
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