Chapter 8.

STACY

“Why are you touching her?_ It doesn't look like nothing…” I mockingly murmur Nicole's annoying questions a few moments ago.

I feel so stupid for not standing up to her and answering her when I had the chance.

Suddenly Ava’s voice breaks through my haze of anger as I stand over the stove, flipping the eggs with far more aggression than necessary. “Miss Stacy?” she calls softly, stepping into the kitchen.

I turn to look at her, barely masking my frustration. “What is it, Ava?”

She hesitates for a moment, sensing the tension but then proceeds, “Your son is awake. He’s hungry and needs to be fed.”

I close my eyes, letting out a long sigh. The weight of Jason's indecisiveness bears down on me. But my son needs me, so I force myself to calm down. “Thank you, Ava,” I mutter, putting the spatula down.

I walk to my son’s room, pushing open the door. His innocent eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the pain I harbour for months eases. I cradle him in my arms, my heart aching with love as I take my seat in a rocking chair and feed him.

Suddenly, the door creaks open, and I look up to see Nicole standing in the doorway, her face twisted with malice. “Oh, how sweet,” she sneers, crossing her arms. “The former Luna playing mommy.”

I grit my teeth, trying to ignore her, and focus on my son. But Nicole steps closer, her voice dripping with venom. “I know the game you are playing, and I'm here to warn you… You should stay away from Jason. He doesn’t want you, Stacy. And soon, he’ll have a real family with me.” she rubs her stomach in my face.

I feel a tight knot forming in my chest. “I’m not here for Jason,” I reply coldly. “I’m here for my son.”

Nicole’s eyes narrow, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “Your bastard son? Don’t fool yourself. When I give birth to Jason’s child—the rightful heir—your son will be nothing but a footnote.”

That's it! My jaws clench... I have tolerated enough from this bitch! My blood boils at her words. My hands tighten around my son protectively, anger rushing through me like wildfire. I get up and face her square in the face. “Don’t you dare talk about my son like that,” I hiss, my voice low but sharp.

Nicole laughs, taunting me. “What are you going to do, Stacy? Slap me? Oh wait, you wouldn’t dare. You’re too pathetic. No wonder Jason tossed you aside like a piece of shit you are.”

I can’t take it anymore. Without thinking, I slap Nicole across the face, the sound of the impact echoing through the room. Her head snaps to the side, and she stumbles back, clutching her face where a thin line of blood trickles from her lip.

Nicole blinks, startled at first, but then… she laughs. It’s a cold, calculating laugh that sends a chill down my spine. “Oh, you’re going to regret that,” she whispers, her eyes gleaming with malice. She tears at her shirt, making it look like I attacked her violently, then staggers backward, screaming, “Jason! My love!”

I freeze, my heart pounding as panic sets in. “What are you doing?” I demand, confused and horrified by her sudden theatrics.

Nicole gives me a wicked smile, her voice dropping to a cruel whisper. “You just gave me exactly what I needed, Stacy. This bruise… now Jason can kick you out of this pack for good.”

Before I can respond, Jason bursts into the room, his hair still damp and sexy but his eyes are wild with alarm. “What’s going on?” he demands, his gaze landing on Nicole’s torn shirt and bleeding lip. His face twists with fury as he turns to me. “Did you hit her?”

I open my mouth to explain, but Nicole speaks first, her voice trembling with fake innocence. “She attacked me, Jason! She just… she slapped me for no reason.”

Jason’s face darkens, his fists clenching at his sides. He steps toward me, his expression hard. “How could you attack her when you know she is pregnant?”

“Jason, I—” I begin, but he cuts me off, his voice a sharp snap. “I don’t want to hear it. You hit her and you put my unborn pup in danger.”

“Jason, listen to me!” I plead, my voice breaking. “She’s lying! She provoked me! She—”

“Enough! And to you it's Alpha.” Jason shouts, stepping even closer, his hand raising slightly as if he’s about to hit me. For a moment, I see pure rage in his eyes, and fear grips me in a way I’ve never felt before. Jason has never raised a hand to me—never.

But now, seeing him like this, so ready to defend Nicole… I’m terrified.

“Jason…” I whisper, a tear slipping down my cheek. “Has it really come to this? You’re going to hit me now? The woman you once loved?”

For a moment, he hesitates. His hand lowers, but the cold fury in his eyes doesn’t fade. “You need to stay away from Nicole,” he says in a low, dangerous voice. “You are never to enter this house again. If you want to provide milk for our son, you’ll do it from your cottage. But you’re not allowed anywhere near Nicole or this house.”

I feel the ground beneath me fall away. “Jason… no, please…” My voice is barely above a whisper now, raw with emotion. “Don’t take me away from our son. Don’t do this. I can’t be separated from him.”

Jason’s eyes harden, and his voice is like ice. “My word is final. Now get out of my house, Stacy.”

I stand there, utterly stunned as tears stream down my face. How could it have come to this?

“Please_” I implore but he cuts me off by raising his hand to my face.

“I won't ask nicely again,” he growls in a low dangerous tone while holding Nicole protectively.

I’m left with nothing but a broken heart. I slowly put down my son in his crib and turn to walk away.

Jason doesn’t even glance at me as Nicole lets out a sly smile at me.

I gather the little dignity I have left and walk away while my chest tighten with pain.

More tears flow freely now, each one a reminder of the life I’ve lost and the love that has been replaced by betrayal.