Pregnant with the Alpha's Baby

Chapter4

“We knew since yesterday afternoon” The elder, one of the experienced men who read and used to moonpool for the pack said, rubbing his hand over his unusually proportioned head.

“We just wanted Don to arrive and be first to hear this scandalous news”

Everyone stated in intense confusion.

“What news?” Beta Baron said.

The elder looked around and pointed at me “The moon pool revealed to us that you are pregnant,” he said, his voice ringing out clearly for everyone to hear.

Pregnant? The word hit me like a blow. My mouth opened, but no sound came out at first. Then, in a whisper, I managed, “That’s not possible...”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Then it hit me, I have worse things to worry about. “It’s Don’s child,” I said more firmly, finding my voice. “We—”

“You expect us to believe that?” another elder interrupted. “You slept with him before your wedding? You would bring shame to our pack, to this alliance?”

“Well, what do we know about her” another man said “Her pregnancy says enough, But we know Din well. He doesn’t even look her way. It’s more likely you were with another man”

“Defiling yourself just days before your ceremony.” The first elder said while shaking his large head.

“That’s not true!” I shouted, desperation breaking through my voice. “I didn’t—”

“Enough lies!” The elder’s words cut through mine.

My father, standing stiffly beside Alpha David, didn’t step forward to defend me. Instead, he remained silent, his gaze cold.

Alpha David spoke next, his voice laced with fury. “If she’s pregnant, she’s jeopardized this alliance. We will not tolerate such treachery. If Don were here, she’d already be cast out.” He faced the elder “Our loyalties are to you and we hope we can still find a way to make the alliance work. Do with her as you judge fit”

I gasped, turning to my father and shaking my head.

My father stared at me with sad eyes only for a second, then changed to a more angry and abandoning expression.

My chest tightened as I realized what was happening. My birth pack, the people I had grown up with, My father, they weren’t defending me—they were siding with them.

Two guards grabbed my arms, dragging me to my knees. I thrashed against them, screaming, “I didn’t do anything! Please, listen to me!”

They didn’t listen.

Blow after blow landed on my face, the first one from a female Elder and the next set from alpha David.

They beat me to the ground, not caring that I had just been pronounced pregnant. Pain seared through me, but it was nothing compared to the betrayal twisting in my chest. My own father looked away, pretending not to see.

When they were done, I was hauled to my feet, bloodied and aching.

“Lock her up,” Beta Baron commanded.

Tears streamed down my face as they dragged me toward the cells.

I wished someone would come and show reason and stop this, but no one did.

I was thrown into the cold, dark cell, the door slamming shut behind me. Alone and broken, I crumpled to the floor, clutching my aching stomach. Still partially in denial of all of this.

That I was pregnant, that I was a disgrace, that I was thrown in a cell, and that Don was coincidentally absent for all of this.

For the first time, I wasn’t just afraid for myself—I was terrified of the life growing inside me.

The cell door creaked open, and I looked up, startled, to see Julia standing there. Her usual cold demeanor was replaced with a rare flicker of urgency.

“Get up,” she hissed. “They’ve decided to kill you at dawn.”

My heart dropped, and for a moment, I couldn’t move.

“Now, Jane!” she snapped, her voice shaking. “I can’t stop them, but I can get you out. Hurry!”

I stumbled to my feet, ignoring the pain in my battered body. “Why are you helping me?”

“I don’t care for you,” She said sharply “But I’m not a heartless monster, especially since I know who the father of that baby is.”

“He might kill everyone when he comes back for what they did to me and his child”

“Get a grip” Julia hissed “Are you still delusional? He canceled your wedding and went away without even telling you, you had to find out at the same time as maids. He does not care for you. And he probably does not care that he slept with you.”

She paused to push open the wooden door that led to a quiet escape “Even if he believes you slept with no one else but him, do you think he will put you over his pride and reputation and admit he broke sacred rules? He broke the because he doesn’t care about you in the first place”

All of this was too hard to hear, and I started sobbing.

Julia led me through the dark corridors without comforting me much.

“This doesn’t change anything,” she muttered. “I still think you’re a fool, but I won’t stand by and watch them murder you.”

“If Don is made aware all this is happening do you think he wouldn’t bother to come help me?”

“If he isn’t aware already,” Julia said, rolling her eyes “Who do you think ruined the moonpool.”

I painfully raised my head “It can’t be him! Don’t say what you don’t know. Why would he ruin his own moon pool”

“You tell me,” she said “He’d have a lot to gain by making the moonstone pack feel indebted to him.”

We reached a side exit, and she shoved a small satchel into my hands. “There’s water and a little food. Run. Don’t stop.”

“Do you think I can survive? Won’t they come after me?” I whispered.

She didn’t answer, only pushed me toward the door. “Go!”

—

I darted through the forest, the chill of the night air biting against my torn skin. My legs ached.

The sound of howls in the distance sent a jolt of fear through me. They were already tracking me.

Stumbling over a root, I fell hard, my vision swimming. Blood dripped from my palms, but I forced myself up and kept moving.

Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I collapsed near a stream. My vision darkened, but before I lost consciousness, a gentle voice reached me.

“She’s hurt. We need to help her.”

Warm large hands lifted me, and the scent of herbs surrounded me.

“You’re safe now,” A very masculine voice said soothingly.

Then everything went black.

—***---

Don

I stormed into the war room, barely keeping the fury in my veins from spilling over. The reports of Jane’s disappearance, the moonpool destroyed, and the scandal surrounding her pregnancy—it was chaos, and I wasn’t there to stop it.

“Where is she?” My voice cut through the murmurs like a blade, cold and sharp.

Baron stepped forward, his expression tight. “She escaped. The maid helped her after… the pack locked her up.” His hesitation spoke volumes.

“Why would you all pass judgment before I return.”

“We are very sorry alpha,” Baron said as he kneed down. “I did not know that You cared for her at all”

My absence made things worse.

I clenched my fists, every muscle in my body taut with rage. I shouldn’t have left. Guilt clawed at my chest, but I shoved it down, channeling it into anger. My pack had no right to lay a hand on her, no matter the accusations.

“They’ll pay for this,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

Baron shifted uncomfortably. “What should we do now?”

I turned to face him, my blue eyes blazing. “Just get out,” I snapped.

—

As I settled down on my bed, my mind betrayed me, pulling me back to her. Jane. She was a fire I couldn’t extinguish, a storm I couldn’t control. The memory of her tearing through my defenses….

She’s just a girl, I should be more worried about the moon pool and if she really did it. Why would she do it?

Was she angry that I left?

Damn, I should have gone to see her before I did.

That night. The night I let my guard down when I gave in to the pull that had been driving me mad since the moment I saw her. She was everything I tried to deny—strong, infuriating, irresistible.

Now she was gone. That distraction is gone.

My wolf howled inside me, restless and aching.

Why did it matter that that distraction is gone? It was the bond that made me this bothered by it. The damn mate bond.

But she should feel this bond too, How can she run away like this? If she really did destroy My moonpool, just what does that say about how she respects me?

I grunted in pain and annoyance. How dare she, I need to see her again. I need to be face-to-face with her. I need to touch her.

I shook my head, trying to concentrate, why was my head so foggy? I need to make her pay

and I need to find my child.

I stood up, giving up on sleep.

I needed her. I didn’t care what it took or who stood in my way. I would find her.

At any cost.