Chapter 6 – The Secret I Cannot Hide
805 Words
Aria’s breath caught in her throat as she jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat. Her heart hammered inside her chest, echoing the nightmare that still lingered in her mind. In the dream, Damian had discovered the truth. His golden eyes had burned with fury as he reached for her, ripping her unborn child from her arms. She clutched her stomach instinctively, pressing her palm against the small swell beneath her nightshirt, whispering softly into the dimness.
“It’s okay… Mommy’s here. I won’t let him hurt you.”
But even as the words left her lips, she felt the doubt gnawing inside her. Damian was powerful. Too powerful. She wasn’t just carrying a baby — she was carrying his heir. And no matter how far she tried to run, the mate bond tied them together in ways she couldn’t erase.
The bitter taste of nausea rose suddenly, forcing her to scramble to the bathroom. She barely made it before the wave of sickness overtook her. Her knees trembled as she leaned against the cold porcelain, tears stinging her eyes. This had become her morning ritual — one she endured alone.
When she finally staggered back into the kitchen, she found Lila leaning against the counter with a steaming mug of tea in hand. Her friend’s keen eyes immediately narrowed in concern.
“You’re pale again,” Lila said softly. “Aria… this isn’t normal. Tell me what’s going on.”
Aria forced a weak smile, shaking her head. “It’s just stress. I’ve been… overwhelmed.”
“Overwhelmed doesn’t make you run to the bathroom every morning.” Lila’s tone sharpened, but there was worry laced in her words.
Aria avoided her gaze, focusing instead on the chipped wooden table where the sunlight painted faint patterns. If she told Lila the truth, she would only drag her into danger. Secrets were heavy, but they were safer that way.
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Meanwhile, across town, Damian sat in his sleek office overlooking the city skyline. The glass walls gleamed under the morning light, but he couldn’t focus on the numbers spread across his desk. His Beta, Marcus, stood at attention, reading the latest reports from the pack.
“…And the trade deal with the Southern Pack has been finalized,” Marcus said, but his Alpha’s distracted silence stretched on.
Damian’s jaw clenched as he tapped his pen against the paper. He didn’t know why, but something was wrong. He could feel it in his chest — a restless tug that made his wolf pace inside him. It had been weeks since he last saw Aria, yet her scent haunted him, clinging to the edges of his mind.
“Damian?” Marcus’s voice cut through.
“What?” Damian snapped, harsher than intended.
Marcus straightened but did not back down. “You’re distracted.”
“I’m fine,” Damian growled, though even he didn’t believe it.
But he wasn’t fine. Every fiber of his being screamed that Aria was hiding something. Something important.
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Later that afternoon, Aria sat nervously in the quiet clinic. Her fingers twisted together in her lap as she waited, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. The sterile scent of disinfectant filled the air, making her stomach churn.
When the doctor finally called her in, Aria lay back as the cool gel spread across her skin. Then, the faint rhythmic sound filled the room — steady, strong, undeniable.
Her baby’s heartbeat.
Aria’s breath hitched as tears spilled from her eyes. The tiny life growing inside her was real, alive, and entirely hers. For a moment, the fear faded, replaced by something brighter — hope. She reached out, brushing the screen with trembling fingers.
“You’re my miracle,” she whispered. “And I’ll protect you, no matter the cost. Even if it means protecting you from him.”
The doctor gave her a kind smile, but Aria barely noticed. Her world had shrunk to the sound of that heartbeat.
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Stepping out of the clinic, she wrapped her scarf tighter around her shoulders, trying to calm her nerves. The late afternoon sun painted the streets in golden light, but Aria felt exposed, vulnerable. She quickened her pace, her bag pressed against her stomach protectively.
Then she froze.
Her wolf stiffened as the scent hit her — cedarwood, musk, and dominance. A scent she knew better than her own heartbeat.
Her eyes darted across the street, and there it was. A black luxury car, sleek and unmistakable. Parked casually, like it belonged there.
Her breath caught. Damian’s car.
Her pulse thundered in her ears as panic clawed at her chest. Of all the places, of all the times…
She gripped her bag tighter, heart racing.
If he was here… did he know?
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🔥 Cliffhanger: Damian’s shadow stretched across the pavement as the car door opened.
- Writer
