Chapter 2
1144 Words
Lily's POV
When I wake up, I'm looking at a white hospital ceiling. The mate bond pain has become a dull ache in my chest. But something else has replaced it. There's a new feeling inside me that I don't understand yet.
Dr. Mara walks in with a chart. Her face looks serious. "How are you feeling, Lily?"
"Better."
She sits down next to me on the bed and takes a deep breath. "We need to talk about something. You're pregnant, Lily. About six weeks. Who is the father? I need to know as the pack doctor for the maids."
The words hit me like a punch to my stomach. They steal what little breath I have left. Pregnant with Aiden's baby. The baby of a man who just got engaged to someone else in front of the whole pack.
"Please Dr Mara. Keep this secret for me. No one can know I'm pregnant."
I touch my stomach, my hand trembling. This baby will grow up the same way I did. Unwanted. Alone. Without a father who cares.
Nova bursts through the door.
"Thank the goddess you're awake! You were unconscious for two whole days."
Two days. That means Aiden and Salena have probably finished their mating ceremony by now. The thought sends fresh pain through my already broken heart.
"Nova, I'm pregnant."
Her eyes get wide with shock. "Aiden's baby?" she asks. We both know the answer.
"Lily, you have to tell him. A child changes everything. He has to know."
"No! He made his choice when he chose Salena as his mate and luna."
"But Lily—"
"He threw me away, Nova. You don’t understand? He used me for two years and threw me away. Why would I give him another chance to reject me and hurt me? No, Nova. I can’t let him know about the baby."
The following morning, the doctor let me return to work.
Working in the storage room, sorting the tablecloths for the alpha meeting holding in the pack. The door suddenly opens behind me. I expect to see one of the other kitchen staff but instead Aiden walks in and closes the door behind him.
For a long moment, neither of us speaks. He looks uncomfortable, like he was forced to be here.
"You're upset," he says, moving closer to me.
I stare at him with what's left of my broken heart. "Upset? You think I'm just upset?"
"Lily, you have to understand…"
"Understand what exactly? That everything you ever said to me was a lie? Aiden, for two years... You asked me to wait for you. I trusted you. I believed you that one day, you would make our relationship public. I was so stupid to believe your lie."
His jaw gets tight with annoyance. "Don't be so dramatic about this. We had fun...."
"Dramatic?" I repeat the word like it tastes bitter. "Is that what I was to you? Fun?"
"You knew what this was, Lily. We had fun. We had a nice time together. You helped me relax. But we both knew I'd have to marry someone… appropriate when the time came."
Each word feels like another knife in my chest. "Appropriate?. What does that mean exactly?"
"You know what I mean. You don't expect me to marry an omega. Do you? No now!"
"I need someone from a good family with power and connections. Someone who can actually help make the pack grows stronger."
"Salena brings real value to our alliance. You... What could you possibly bring? You're just an omega with nothing to offer."
"I don’t expect you to get upset about this. Lily... I need to get back to the venue. Salena is waiting for me.
The moment the door clicks shut, my knees give out. I slide down the wall. My breath comes in rough gasps as his words echo in my head. I’m just an omega with nothing to offer.
After a few minutes, I force myself to stand up. I splash cold water on my face. I pull myself together and return to my duties.
I push through the doors to the hall where the alphas are having their meeting. Right across the hall, Aiden and Salena are sitting. My hands shake as I hold the tray walking through the hall.
"Server!" Salena's voice cuts through the room. "Bring me a drink."
I walk over to the head table where she sits beside Aiden.
"You're the little omega who ran out during my mating announcement," she says loud enough for nearby tables to hear every word.
I keep my eyes down. "I was feeling ill, Luna. I apologize."
"Ill?" Her laugh sounds like breaking glass. "Or were you just upset that your Alpha finally chose someone actually worthy of him?"
Heat flushes my cheeks. Everyone is staring at me with judging eyes. Aiden sits in complete silence. He doesn't even bother to look in my direction.
"I need more wine," Salena holds up her empty glass..
I reach for the wine jug on the table, my hand shaking. It slips in my grip. Before I can catch it, red wine spills across the white tablecloth and onto Salena's dress.
She jumps up with a piercing scream. "You stupid omega! Look what you've done to my dress!"
The glass jug falls from my hands and breaks on the floor. The entire room goes deadly quiet as everyone turns to stare at the disaster I've created.
"I'm so sorry," I gasp desperately. "It was an accident, I swear…"
"Accident?" Salena's eyes burn with fury. "That was no accident. You did that on purpose because you're jealous!"
"No, I would never…"
"Quiet!" Aiden's voice booms across the hall as he stands up. When he looks down at me, his eyes are colder than I've ever seen them.
"You have shown complete disrespect to your Luna. I will not allow that."
He turns to Salena, "How would you like this handled, my mate?"
"Fifty lashes should teach her some proper respect," Salena says.
I look at Aiden desperately. I wait for him to reduce the punishment or show some mercy. But when his eyes meet mine, they're as cold as winter ice.
"As my Luna commands," he says without any emotion. "Guards, take her outside immediately."
Two guards grab my arms roughly and start dragging me out from the hall. We get to the town square. The guards tie me to a post with my back showing. Their eyes are empty. They don't show any care or pity.
One guard raises his stick. With a loud c***k, the first hit lands on my back. I jerk back, and the pain spreads through my body.
I bite my lip to keep from screaming. The second hit, third, tenth... I lose count as the hits blur together in a wave of pain.
- Writer
