When The Dawn Breaks
1091 Words
ZARA'S POV
I knew something was wrong the moment my wolf refused to shift.
Three nights had passed since the forest incident.Three nights of nausea, bone-deep exhaustion, and a strange, warm glow in my belly that didn’t belong to fear or hunger.
I sat on the edge of the bed, hands trembling as the truth settled into place.
“No,” I whispered. “No… it’s too soon.”
But my inner wolf answered.
Our baby.
My father stormed into the room at that moment.
The air in the house went chill, power slamming into the walls like a warning.
He glared at me with all the intensity of anger.
"Tell me its not true" he said in quiet anger.
I opened my mouth but no words came out . my hands trembled.
"I'm talking to you!" He roared, his jaw clenched in anger
I jerked
"Dad... I can explain. It was just one night, it didn't mean anything" I pleaded
"There's a baby for goodness sake" he responded.
My hand instinctively went to my now flat belly.
“You let him mark you,” he said, voice quiet in the way that meant violence.
I stood. “I didn’t let—”
His hand struck the wall beside my head, splintering until a gaping hole was visible
“You ran away from your first mating ceremony. You not only embarrassed me but the whole pack. But you came back to your senses and somehow managed to find your way back but now this... This Thing! Growing inside of you was a result of your infidelity. "
He paused, his finger massaged the bridge of his nose.
"You disgust me." He said with rage filled in his voice.
Tears burned my eyes, but I lifted my chin.
“I’m pregnant Dad. I didn't harm anyone."
The word detonated the room.
For a heartbeat, he stared at me then his face twisted with something far worse than rage.
Shame.
“They cannot know,” he said coldly. “A Stranger's heir mixed with our blood? Do you understand what you’ve done?”
I backed away. “It’s a child. My child."
His hand snapped around my throat, tightly but not crushing, forcing me to my knees. Not enough to kill.
Enough to punish.
I screamed in agony.
“You were warned,” he snarled.
“You were supposed to continue the legacy of our pack not to carry a child from another man. But you defied me!"
Pain flared sharp, blinding as he struck me across the floor. I tasted blood, my body curling instinctively around my stomach, my wolf screaming inside my skull.
I didn’t beg.
I wouldn’t give him that.
Instead, I whispered the only truth that mattered. “I'll protect my child"
That was when my father froze.
Fear flickered just once.
“No one must ever find you,” he said. “If he does, our pack will drown in the consequences"
I didn’t see him leave. I only felt the bond surged violently, frantic, blazing like a second heartbeat tearing through the pain.
That was close.
Too close.
I dragged myself upright, staggering toward the doorway as the air outside shifted, heavy with dominance that didn’t belong to my father.
The forest went silent.
Then I felt him.
Not memory. Not longing.
Him.
Strong. Furious. Terrified.
I stepped outside just as he broke through the tree line, eyes wild, mark burning bright against his neck.
Our gazes locked.
The bond snapped tight no mercy, no distance left to hide behind.
His breath hitched. “What did they do to you?”
I opened my mouth to answer...
And the world held its breath.
****
"Zara, Zara wake up!"
I felt my world shaking violently as I slowly opened my eyes to see my best friend, Hannah staring down at me, her forehead creased in worry .
I tried to adjust my position but winced when I felt pain .
My hand instinctively came to rub around my stomach.
"Don't move. Let me help you" Hannah offered .
Once I seated upright, I stared up at her .
"What happened?" I croaked feeling my voice raw.
"You collapsed after your altercation with your father" She explained.
"Why the hell would you go against your father? You know how he is when he's angry especially when he just found out you were impregnated by a stranger " Hannah chided
I stared back at her defiantly.
"I will not regret making this baby. I'm old enough to make decisions about my body"
She tensed.
"Now everyone in the pack will find out and you won't be allowed to go out freely without getting judgemental stares from people. That's if your father will ever let you out" she finished .
" I don't care"
I look away to hide the tremble in my voice.
"Look, there's nothing that can be done now . All we need to do is to find this mystery man and get him to come to your father to ask for your hand." She advised, the eyes lighting up.
I hesitated
" What?" She frowned.
"I don't know where to find him."
"What do you mean?"
"I can feel him..." My hand rubbed against the sore spot on my neck where he marked me.
"...But I don't know exactly where he is"
"So what does that mean for you and the baby?"
I paused, my eyes focused on the notch on my bedpost.
"I don't know"
She opened her mouth to say but we both jerked back at the sound of the door getting slammed .
Warriors clad in protective gear surrounded me, my father stood at the center of them along with Ethan my childhood friend.
"What's going on?"
I stared around the room in confusion.
"These warriors will be assigned to you until your ceremony is done"
"What ceremony?"
My father's jaw clenched as his hand landed on Ethan's shoulder .
"You're going to be mated to Ethan Nightstone in the next two days under the full moon"
My eyes widened in horror
"No!"
"You don't have a choice"
He turned his back towards the door.
"He'll come for me"
He swung around to glare at me.
"You have Two days. If he doesn't claim you and the baby then the ceremony continues." He warned over his shoulder and walked away.
My knees gave out.
Hannah was beside me in an instant .
"How.."
"He'll come for us"
My mark glowed red in response .
- Writer
