2

Chapter 2

Cora's POV

As he took each step towards me, the expression on his face changed.

From disbelief. To Contempt.

And then to disgust.

"The moon goddess must be mistaken!" He growled, "You? You’re my mate?"

My heart pounded so hard in my chest I could barely breathe. I couldn’t speak. Couldn't move.

"You’re the slut from the club. The one I used and discarded. And now the Moon Goddess wants me to be with you?” He scoffed. “No. I reject this."

"No…" I whispered, my voice trembling. "You can’t. I’m… I'm pregnant with your pup."

He let out a mocking laugh.

Everyone was looking at us.

"Just one night and now you’re pregnant?” He scoffed. “How convenient!”

"I’m not lying. I’m carrying your pup."

"A whore like you, who opens their leg for no matter whatever strangers.” He spat. “How am I supposed to believe that pup’s even mine?"

I was devastated, I wanted to tell him that I’m not a whore, I also hope the night never happened. But the words stuck in my throat when I saw the look on his face and all I could say was "It's yours. I swear it's yours."

"Abort it," he snapped.

"What?”

"I said get rid of it!”

I stared at him in shock. Still trying to understand the words he had just spoken.

"But it’s our child…”

"Then it’s none of my damn business."

"Enough!" Alpha Tobias's voice thundered through the hall.

Everyone fell silent as he stepped forward.

“What is going on here?” He demanded.

I opened my mouth to talk, but no words came out. I just stared at my new mate. The man who was so eager to get rid of me.

“Father…” he muttered, turning his direction to the Alpha. My breath caught in my throat and I gasped.

Father?

That meant only one thing. This man here was no other person than Kieran. The Alpha's only son. And the next in line Alpha of the pack. I'd never laid my eyes on him all my life because I was never opportuned to step foot into the Alpha's mansion.

"This whore here is just trying to pin a pregnancy on me. It's nothing serious." He said.

From the crowd, I saw my father step forward.

“Alpha Tobias,” He said quickly, bowing his head, “Kieran.”

He turned his gaze between them, with a forced smile on his face.

“Please understand that none of this was meant to bring shame and dishonour to you or your son. I had no idea this matter involved him. If I had known, I would have handled things differently. Please have mercy on my daughter. She's stupid and useless. I’m sure there are other ways to solve the matter.”

Kieran turned to look at my father. And then to me. The disgust on his face deepened.

"So this is your father?”

I nodded slowly.

He chuckled bitterly. "No wonder..."

He turned to Alpha Tobias. "Father… isn’t this the former head warrior, Adam, who failed to protect my mother?”

Alpha Tobias didn’t respond. The look on his face told me everything I needed to know.

My heart sank.

It was true.

So the rumours were true… about how my father failed to protect Luna Evangeline when she was suddenly attacked by gunmen many years ago outside the pack borders.

She had been on her way to a dinner party when the attack happened. Father and two other warriors were escorting her at the time. In the attack, both warriors and Luna Evangeline were killed, but my father survived, bearing only a few injuries on his body.

And ever since then, the rumour had circulated that he had orchestrated her death. Because he was the only one who made it out alive.

"The murderer’s blood lives on..." Kieran mocked with disdain, glaring at me like I was poison.

"I will never take her as my mate! That thing inside of her isn't mine. She's not only a whore, she's also the daughter of a murderer!"

“No… It's yours. I swear.” I pleaded, falling to my knees. No one was on my side. Even my father. This was the best I could do for them to believe me.

Alpha Tobias turned to me.

"If you’re lying," he said coldly. "You’ll be executed by dawn."

"I swear by the Moon Goddess." I whispered, holding my stomach protectively.

He turned to his son. The look on his face showed how disappointed he was with him.

"You’ve disappointed me, Kieran. And you know actions have consequences."

"Father—"

"Silence!" Alpha Tobias snapped. "She’s your mate. She’s carrying your child. You will marry her. Now!"

"No!" Kieran growled.

"Alpha. I agree with you.” My father said, staring at me with disdain.

"No! Dad please…" I cried, crawling to him and holding him by his shirt, but father yanked my hands off of him until I lost my balance and fell to the ground shamefully.

"Shut up!" he snapped and turned to the Alpha. “She has no choice. She will marry him."

I bit my lips, trying so hard not to cry. I didn't want this. I didn't want to be forced into a marriage like my mother was. Kieran would hate me, and he’d hate our baby. That was exactly what happened before. My father hated my mother, and he hated me. I had seen what hatred could do and I didn’t want that to happen again.

But from the look of things… I had no other choice. I'd have to try my best to make Kieran love me and the baby.

Maybe…. if I marry him, he would change. Mother died the moment I was born, so she never had the chance to change Father. Maybe once the baby is born, once he sees it's really his. He would soften.

He wouldn't hate us anymore. He would look at me differently. He would learn to love the baby and me.

"Then it is settled." Alpha Tobias announced. He turned to the crowd. "Someone call the pack priest. A wedding is about to begin now."

Before I could say a word, Kieran stormed towards me angrily and grabbed my waist roughly. The look on his face showed nothing but hatred and disgust for me.

"You've finally gotten what you want, huh?" He hissed. "This marriage means nothing. You are nothing. And I promise to make your life a living hell."

And he did.

---

Living with Kieran was pure hell.

From the moment we stepped into his house, he made it clear that I meant nothing to him. The very next morning after our forced marriage, he brought his lover, Lyra, into the house.

She was everything that I wasn't. She was very beautiful, confident and was adored by the pack members. She was the daughter of the pack’s head warrior and she had no problem flaunting her closeness to Kieran in front of me.

They lived like mates and did all sorts of things only mates should do. It was clear that he loved her and not me.

As my pregnancy grew, so also Kieran’s hatred for me.

One night, he came home drunk.

"You whore!" he roared. "You've ruined my life!"

"I didn’t–" I tried to explain, but he grabbed my arm and pushed me hard against the wall. I fell directly on my stomach with a loud thud.

"The baby…" I gasped, holding my stomach tightly.

Then suddenly, I felt warm sticky liquid pouring between my thighs.

Blood.

"Kieran! Please, help me!" I cried, reaching for him.

But he yanked my hand away and walked out.

---

That night, he gave the order.

His guards dragged me into the woods and dumped me in front of three grinning rogues.

“Finish her. “ One of the guards tossed a pouch of coins to the rogues. “Leave no trace behind."

The rogues grinned and the guards left.

"Let’s have some fun with her before we kill her off." One of the rogues suggested as he reached for me.

I struggled to fight but their grip on me was tight. They hit me. Slapped me. Kicked me. Laughed while I cried.

But I didn't give up.

I had to survive. For my baby. For revenge.

The rogue leaned over me, his hands grabbing my clothes. And just as he was about to tear them off–—a voice, loud and commanding, filled the air.

"All of you. Kneel!"

The rogues froze.

"Shit! It's him!” One whispered.

A figure stepped out from the trees.

He was tall. Powerful. Dangerous. I couldn’t see his face but I felt him.

The rogues began to shake.

“W-We were just––” one of them stammered, his voice cracking.

“About to rape her?” The man cut in. His tone sounded cold and deadly.

"N-No... we... we didn’t mean to––"

He chuckled. Then with a snap of his fingers, warriors stepped out from the trees.

They were all armed.

"Slaughter them." He ordered. "And bring me their heads."

"Yes. Head Warrior!" the warriors shouted in unison.

The rogues couldn't survive. And within seconds, they were all dead.

The man walked toward me. His strong arms gently lifted my body from the ground.

His voice was soft as he stared at me.

"You’re safe now, Omega."

And then, everything faded to black.