Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Tears streamed down my face as I sought comfort against the tree trunk, unaware of the thorns that awaited me. A searing pain shot through my cheek as I made contact, and I cried out, my shrill voice echoing through the forest, betraying my location to the lurking rogues.

As I stumbled backward, a new agony wracked my body. A sharp cramp seized my stomach, radiating to my heart. I felt a warm, sticky sensation spreading down my legs.

The memories came flooding back – the pregnancy I'd been hiding, the secret I'd planned to reveal to Alpha Landon after the mating ritual. But he'd crushed that dream, and now I was left alone, banished, and carrying his child.

My vision began to blur as consciousness slipped away. The rogues closed in, their footsteps getting louder. I sent a desperate prayer to the moon goddess, my voice barely audible.

"Take my soul peacefully," I whispered, resigned to my fate.

The forest around me grew darker, and I felt my life force ebbing away. The last thing I remembered was the sound of the rogues, their footsteps getting closer, and the faint glow of the moon above, its gentle light a cruel contrast to my own mortality.

I jolted upright, disoriented, with wires attached to my hands. A stranger's voice commanded, "Lie back down, you're not well enough to jump like that."

My gaze fell upon a rugged man, his eyes fixed on a romance novel. My heart skipped a beat as I noticed the haunting familiarity of his features – the same piercing eyes, the same chiseled jawline. Alpha Landon's doppelganger.

"Who are you?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

The man's expression remained impassive, but his eyes flickered with a hint of warmth. "Your savior, I suppose. Those rogues would have killed you if I hadn't intervened."

His calm demeanor belied an intimidating aura, making me shiver. I muttered under my breath, "The goddess would never grant my wish for a peaceful death."

The stranger's attention drifted back to his book, his eyes scanning the pages with interest. I noticed the title – "Moonlit Serenade" – and wondered if it was a cruel joke.

As I lay there, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I'd traded one prison for another. This stranger's motives were unclear, but one thing was certain – I was at his mercy.

"Th—"

"Don't interrupt!" he warned, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I just got to the male lead's POV."

I raised an eyebrow, amused by his fervor. Ten minutes passed before he sighed, closing the book.

"What were you saying?" he asked, his gaze meeting mine.

I stood up, cautiously. "Thanks for saving me. I'll leave now."

His eyes widened, and he burst into laughter. "You think you can just walk out? You're in no condition to travel."

His emerald eyes roamed over me, lingering on my stomach. "Besides, you shouldn't be standing. You might lose the baby."

My heart skipped a beat. How did he know? Of course, he did – he'd saved me.

"You know?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his expression serious. "I do. And I won't let you leave until you're safe... and healthy enough to take care of yourself and your child."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. Who was this man, and what did he want from me?

"I won't lose the baby," I insisted, desperate to escape. "Thank you again for your kindness."

I bowed and hurried towards the door, but instead of freedom, I found myself in the midst of a bustling pack. People walked by, oblivious to my presence. I recognized the surrounding forest, but this pack was unknown to me.

Confusion swirled in my mind. Was this pack hidden from the province's records?

As I took a few tentative steps, searing pain ravaged my stomach, and blood flowed. A guttural cry escaped my lips.

The stranger emerged, his expression a mix of "I told you so" and boredom.

Maids rushed to my side, supporting me as I stumbled back inside. My body numbed, overwhelmed by agony unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

The pack doctor's somber face delivered the devastating news: "You've lost the baby. Your wolf was too weak to sustain the pregnancy."

A mix of emotions warred within me. On one hand, the tie to Landon was severed. On the other, I mourned the loss of my first child, my heart heavy with grief.

Tears streamed down my face as I whispered, "My baby..."

Alpha Kieran's voice dripped with disdain as he lounged in the doorway. "This is what happens when people ignore advice. And I have little patience for those who refuse to listen."

His presence seemed to suck the warmth out of the room, leaving an unsettling chill. The maids' chatter ceased, and they exchanged nervous glances before bowing hastily. "Yes, Alpha Kieran."

As they scurried out, I sensed their fear. And I shared it.

Alpha Kieran's gaze settled on me, his eyes glacial. "You have no right to judge me," I retorted, my words escaping before I could censor them.

His stare intensified, and I felt like I was drowning in an icy sea. People say eyes reveal the soul, but Alpha Kieran's seemed empty, devoid of emotion. His heart, too, must be frozen.

"Pathetic," he scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "A mate like you would be a liability."

His words struck like a slap. I turned to him, my eyes narrowing. "What do you mean, 'mate'?"

The question hung in the air, and Alpha Kieran's expression remained impassive. But I sensed a hint of something beneath the surface – a spark of interest, perhaps, or a hidden agenda.

Alpha Kieran's words struck like a blow. "That's absurd," I protested. "It's not possible."

He sneered, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "Do you think I'd bother deceiving you about something so crucial? That I'd willingly bind myself to someone like you?"

His irritation was palpable, making me want to cower.

But then, a strange sensation stirred within me. My dormant wolf, silent for so long, suddenly perked up, her presence bursting forth like a bubble of energy.

To my shock, she began to giggle, a joyful, mischievous sound that echoed through my mind.

The sudden shift from fear to confusion left me reeling. What was my wolf's game? And why was she so thrilled about Alpha Kieran's claim?