CH. 4 THREATENED

NORA’S POV

I sank to the filthy cell floor, my trembling legs unable to support me any longer. Tears streamed down my face, my whole body shaking with the weight of my actions. I never meant for any of this to happen. I never meant to shoot my own sister. But now, with the news of Gina's death hanging over me, I couldn't stop the stream of tears, and I could barely breathe.

The other cellmates stared at me, their eyes burning with curiosity and judgment. But I didn't have the energy to care. All I could see was Gina's lifeless body on the ground when I removed the bean bag and the flash of my finger pulling the trigger replaying in my mind like a broken record.

In the blink of an eye, Thomas appeared at the cell gate with his face contorted with anger and grief, his eyes filled with venom as he started hurling accusations at me. "You fucking monster! You killed her, didn't you? I know what you are capable of, you sick bitch!"

I cried out through my sobs, my voice hoarse. "It was an accident! I would never hurt Gina. I was trying to save her from some thugs!"

"Shut up!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, refusing to listen, his rage spiraling out of control. "I will make sure you rot in this fucking jail! You killed my mate because I wanted to get married to her instead of you! You did this to bring me pain, you disgust me! I hope you are happy now, because I can't sleep or do anything, my wolf and I are going through a lot of pain!"

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. This was not how I expected him to react. I watched as he grabbed a fistful of his own hair, shaking his head like a madman. I got up from the floor and walked closer to the gate so I could talk to him.

"I didn't mean to kill her, it was an accident, please believe me!" I shouted in his face. Before I could process what was happening, he pulled out a pocketknife. His fingers trembled with rage, and time stood still as he moved closer to me and attempted to shove the knife into my stomach. But cops surrounded him, dragging him away from my cell.

"Let me go!" he shouted in their arms. "Let me kill her, she deserves to die!!!" His voice echoed in the station as they went out of view.

I collapsed to the floor, my body limp, and a burden I never asked for weighed heavily on my shoulders — a mother in need of surgery, a lost job, and now the unbearable weight that I might be sentenced to life in prison. It felt like the moon goddess was punishing me for the things I did in my past life. I cried harder than ever. My sobs carried the weight of my shattered life.

***

As I sat in the cold, dank cell with my cellmates, their voices mixing into a symphony of chaos, they were talking to me, trying to get me to crack through my silence. I had been here for three days, and I hadn't opened my mouth yet.

"Hey, new girl!" one of them called out, her voice gruff. "You gonna keep playing the mute card, or you finally gonna talk to us?"

I ignored her, my eyes fixed on the cobwebs in the corner of the cell. They seemed to be mocking me, reminding me of the tangled mess my life had become.

"Just a little chit-chat, sweetheart," another cellmate chimed in. "We all doing time here. Might as well get to know each other, right?"

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I didn't want to be here; I never wanted any of this.

Suddenly, the sound of boots echoing through the hallway broke through the cacophony of the cell. The heavy metal door creaked open, revealing a disinterested cop. He looked at me with his eyes filled with pity.

"You are free to go," he grumbled, tossing a set of keys onto the ground.

I blinked, my heart racing as I slowly stood up, my legs feeling weak beneath me. Free? Was this some sick joke? I glanced at the cellmates, and they all glared at me out of jealousy.

"Who bailed me?" I demanded, my voice sharper and louder than ever before.

The cop shrugged. "Some friend or whatever. I don't know how you knew someone so powerful, but they are waiting for you at the front desk."

Without a second thought, I dashed out of the cell, my feet carrying me as fast as I could towards the front desk. As I burst through the glass doors of the station, my eyes fell upon Alicia. Standing there, her arms crossed and a look of concern on her face. The sight took my breath away.

"What the heck, Your Highness? How did you even know I was here? I—"

She cut in. "Shh, come with me," she said and pulled me aside to a corner of the station. "Listen, Nora. I can help you. I can prevent you from going to prison, and I will pay your mother's medical bills. But there is something you have to do for me, something big." She said quickly.

"What do you mean, something big?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "I don't have any other choice, do I?"

She nodded and let out a sigh. "No, you don't. I need you to be my surrogate. Carry my child. I will take care of everything, I promise. Just say you will do it."

I hesitated, my mind a jumbled mess. The thought of renting out my body for a year felt overwhelming, but I realized this might be the only chance to save my mother, to make things right.

"Fine," I finally said. "I will do it. But you better keep your promise."

"Thank you. You won't regret it, I promise." She beamed and pulled me in for a tight hug, but our moment was abruptly interrupted by a deep, commanding voice.

We both turned to see Alpha George, the soon-to-be alpha of the Darkfire Pack, one of the most feared alphas in all the lands and also known as the God of War, standing there with an intense gaze. I couldn't help but feel captivated by his presence, my breath catching in my throat.

"What the heck is going on here, Alicia?" Alpha George's voice was low and filled with authority, his piercing gray eyes only on her.

Alicia forced a smile and composed herself. "Just visiting a friend, honey. Nothing to worry about," she replied, her voice steady.

"I didn't know you had a friend in jail. I was surprised when my beta told me you were coming here," he said. "Let's go home; I have something to show you." he concluded. My heart pounded in my chest, fear creeping up my spine as I realized that he had no idea what his fiancée was up to.

Alicia leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear. "Go with my bodyguards; they will take you to a place where you can have the baby."

"Right now? I thought you were supposed to give me time to…" she pulled away, before I could finish my speech, and I swallowed hard.

She walked over to him, and he took her hand in his, leading her away without even stealing a glance at me. What more did I expect? He was an alpha male, and I was a fucking nobody.