4

Chapter 4

Cora's POV.

“What is going on here?!" The Alpha's thunderous voice questioned as he marched towards us.

The crowd saw it was the Alpha and they parted ways for him. The moment he reached the scene, his gaze landed on me who was still on the ground and then on Kieran.

"Son?" The alpha called, "What is this about?" He inquired.

I froze. My breath caught in my throat.

Son?

The man who had insulted me, pushed me, humiliated me was the alpha's son?

My heart sank. It all made sense now. His accusations. His hatred towards my dad and my family. It all made sense now and I lost any hope I might have had.

"Well... what's going on?" the alpha asked again, this time he directed his gaze on me, questioning me.

"Actually, I... I... I'm pregnant and it's for him. He's the father of my child." I said my voice trembling with intense fear.

Just as I said that the crowd erupted in loud noises and the look on the alpha's face darkened as it looked at his son in a disappointing manner.

He scoffed, "Dad, she's lying. I don't even know her name. She's just some desperate whore trying to pin her pregnancy on me. I don't know where she got this ridiculous idea from but it's definitely not me, dad, believe me."

"Are you sure, Son?"

"Yes dad, she's just trying to cause a scene and ruin my reputation. I suggest you deal with her before this nonsense gets out of hand."

The alpha's eyes narrowed as he looked between us.

"This is a serious accusation," he said, "and I do not take lies lightly, so if you know what's good for you woman, say the truth!" The alpha commanded.

"I'm... I'm not lying... I'm... I'm saying the truth. This pregnancy belongs to him." I said, my heart thumping in my chest, hoping that the Alpha believes me, because I knew what would become of my family if he doesn't believe me.

The alpha sighed, "Well, since none of you is willing to say the truth, I will perform the truth seeking ritual to settle this once and for all."

"Dad, don't you believe me? I'm telling the truth. That baby doesn't belong to me. She's just nothing but a whore! Do you believe this... this low being over your own son?"

"Son, if you are telling the truth, you have nothing to fear. I will perform the truth seeking ritual to find out the truth." The Alpha said, his tone firm.

Kieran's jaw tightened and his eyes were filled with fury. He bent down to my level and whispered; "You just made the biggest mistake of your life and I will make sure you regret this!"

I swallowed hard, my body trembling with fear as I looked up at him, and from the look of things he wasn't joking.

---

The truth taken ritual began and everywhere was quiet. The Alpha stood at the center of the hall while the pack hover out around, their judgmental eyes were burning into me as I knelt in the sacred circle.

My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst. The truth seeking artifacts was laid on my hand. It was glowing.

"Now lady, does the child you are carrying belong to my son, Kieran?" The alpha asked

"Yes, the child I'm carrying belongs to your son, who is also my mate." I said bending my head while holding the artifact tightly.

Just then, the artifact vibrated in my arms and when I looked up to see it, I could see that the artifact glowed a green light which confirmed that I was saying was the truth.

The room erupted in gasp and murmurs.

"This is ridiculous! it's got to be kidding me. She's lying, Dad!" Kieran yield angrily.

"Enough!" The alpha snapped, cutting his son off, and glaring at him, " the artifact has spoken and the truth is clear. You will marry her today!" The alpha yelled.

Wait. What? Marriage? Today?

My mate who I've known to be kieran scoffed, "Dad, you expect me to marry her? Do you know who she is? She is the former head warrior Adam's daughter. The man who—"

"You will marry her and that's final, Kieran!" The Alpha announced, cutting him off.

No. No. No. No. No.

This wasn't how I expected it to be. All I just wanted was for Kieran to accept me as his mate and take responsibility for the pregnancy, nothing more. Marriage? And today?

I found myself shaking my head, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't even know Kieran that well. Yes, we might be mates, and I was carrying his baby, but marriage?

Not like this. Not so soon.

I wanted Kieran to fall in love with me, to love me like a mate would, to love our baby and then to choose me because he wanted to, and not because he was forced to. This wasn't what I had expected.

"Alpha," I heard my father's voice as he stepped out from the crowd. "We agree to this marriage."

"What? Dad! No!" I shook my head, extremely terrified. From the corner, I could see my step mother and step sister smirking evilly, clearly enjoying the situation I was in.

My father turned to me, his voice filled with disgust, "You've already shamed this family by getting pregnant before being mated, I won't allow you bring more disgrace and punishment to this family. So the least you can do is fix it by accepting this arrangement."

"Dad, no..." I begged, tears falling from my eyes, "Please, I—"

"Shut up!" My father snapped, "You will do as you're told, Cora, and that's final!"

"No dad... Please, listen to me. I don't want to marry—" Before I could even complete my statement, I felt a hard painful slap on my cheeks.

My father had slapped me, and again.

"You will not disgrace me!" He yelled, his eyes bloodshot.

Tears began falling uncontrollably from my eyes as I held my cheeks in pain.

Kieran strode towards me, his steps were slow. For a moment, I foolishly thought he was coming to help me, to save me from the humiliation and pain. But when he bent to my level and grabbed my arm, his grip was anything but gentle.

He leaned in, and whispered harshly in my ears;

"You think this would change anything?" He scoffed, "It won't. This will be the beginning of your trauma."

And it was true.