Forced Breeder For Notorious Alpha Dean

Chapter 4. The Escape

Aria's POV

The news of my pregnancy left me overwhelmed, my mind racing with thoughts I wasn't ready to face. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor while the maid stood before me. She was still speaking, but I could barely make out her words because my mind was consumed by a single terrifying thought.

I was pregnant.

I slowly lowered my gaze to my stomach and placed a trembling hand over it. There was nothing different about me yet. No visible sign that my life had just changed forever. Yet somehow, everything felt different.

I was carrying Dean's child.

A Lycan's child.

My throat tightened as the reality settled in.

This was not the future I had imagined for myself. All my life, I had wanted to rule my pack and prove to my late father that I was worthy of carrying on his legacy. I wanted my people to see me as their Luna, someone capable of leading them and protecting them. I never imagined that I would end up trapped in another Alpha's territory, carrying his child and being valued only because of what was growing inside me.

A breeder.

The thought made my stomach churn.

My fingers curled tightly into the fabric of my dress as panic slowly replaced the numbness.

I looked up at the maid, desperation filling my eyes.

“Please, do not tell the Alpha about my pregnancy.”

I reached for her blouse with trembling hands, holding on as though she were my last chance.

Her eyes widened in horror.

“My lady…”

“Please.” My voice cracked. “I'm begging you.”

She gently tried to free herself from my grip, but I held on tighter.

“If the Alpha finds out that I knew and didn't tell him, I'll be in grave danger.”

“What about me?” I cried. “What happens to me?”

The maid fell silent.

I slowly released her blouse and let my hands fall into my lap as tears gathered in my eyes.

“I don't want this child,” I whispered. “I don't want to be his breeder.”

Something resembling sympathy crossed her face, but it disappeared almost immediately. She looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

“I'm sorry, ma'am, but the Alpha has to hear about this.”

My heart sank.

She turned toward the door.

“Wait.”

She stopped, but I couldn't think of anything else to say. I wanted to beg her again, to make her understand how terrified I was, but the words wouldn't come.

The door closed behind her, leaving me alone with the consequences of a life I had never chosen.

There was no way to hide the pregnancy from Dean for long. His sense of smell was far too strong, and he would notice the changes in my scent sooner or later. As the pregnancy progressed, there would be even less chance of keeping it from him.

I wrapped my arms around myself and pulled my knees toward my chest, trying to hold myself together.

How had my life come to this?

I had spent years preparing myself to lead a pack, only to find myself trapped in a place where my greatest value seemed to be the child growing inside me. Dean didn't need me. He needed his heir.

And I couldn't let that become my entire existence.

I had to leave.

Somehow, I had to find a way out before this child became another chain tying me to him.

I was still lost in my thoughts when a familiar scent reached me.

My body stiffened.

Dean.

I didn't even need to turn toward the door. A moment later, it opened and Dean stepped inside, a smile playing on his lips.

There was something different about him. His usual confidence was still there, but now there was excitement in his eyes.

He knew.

Of course he knew.

He closed the door behind him and walked toward me. I remained seated, my body tense as I watched him approach.

When he stopped in front of me, he gently lifted my chin.

“You don't know how happy this news has made me.”

His voice was low and husky, and despite everything I felt a shiver travel through me when his fingers lingered against my skin.

I hated that.

I hated that my body could still react to him when every part of my mind wanted to push him away.

Dean smiled as though he hadn't noticed my discomfort.

“You're going to be the mother of our pup.”

Our pup.

The words felt like a sentence.

He slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer, completely oblivious to the tension running through my body.

“Our child will be strong. Just like me.”

His smile widened as he placed his hand over my stomach.

“I'll make sure you're taken care of. You'll have everything you need. Food, protection, comfort. Nothing will happen to you or the baby.”

I stared at him.

He spoke as though he had just given me everything I could possibly want, yet all I could hear was another reminder that my life was no longer mine.

I didn't want his protection. I didn't want his comfort, and I certainly didn't want to spend the rest of my life being cared for simply because I was carrying his child.

My lips trembled.

Dean mistook my reaction for emotion.

“You're going to make me a father, Aria.”

I turned my face away.

His hand moved over my stomach again, and my entire body stiffened.

He noticed.

For a moment, his eyes searched mine, but I quickly looked away.

He didn't ask what was wrong.

That hurt more than it should have.

He was so focused on the child that he couldn't see the fear in my eyes. He couldn't see how desperately I wanted to get away from him.

He didn't see me.

All he saw was his heir.

His lips grazed my neck, sending another wave of goosebumps across my skin. I could sense the restraint in him, the struggle to control the urge to mark me.

Then he pulled away.

“You did a pretty good job, Aria.”

I clenched my jaw.

“I'll throw a feast tonight. Everyone should celebrate the arrival of our little one.”

He sounded genuinely pleased as he walked toward the door.

I watched him leave without saying a word.

The moment the door closed, the strength left my body. I covered my face with both hands as a sob escaped my lips.

A feast.

He was throwing a feast to celebrate the child that had turned my entire life upside down.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear down the walls around me and run until there was nothing left of this place.

Instead, I sat there until my chest ached from holding back everything I wanted to say.

Then I remembered my mother.

I needed to see her.

If there was anyone who could understand what I was going through, it was her.

I forced myself to stand, using the bed for support when my legs threatened to give way beneath me. After steadying myself, I made my way toward the door.

I had barely stepped into the corridor when I saw someone approaching.

Lydia.

Her expression was cold, and the moment her eyes settled on me, I knew she had come looking for me.

I tried to walk past her without saying anything, but she caught my wrist and pulled me to a stop.

“I heard you're pregnant.”

Her voice held no warmth.

I said nothing.

Her gaze dropped to my stomach, and the disgust on her face was impossible to miss.

“I suppose I should congratulate you.”

There was nothing congratulatory about her tone.

I tried to pull my hand free.

“Let me go.”

She tightened her grip.

“Do you want to leave this place?”

I froze.

My eyes snapped toward hers.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice.

“I asked whether you want to leave.”

My heart began pounding.

I studied her face, trying to determine whether this was some kind of trap.

Lydia noticed my hesitation and gave a humorless laugh.

“Don't look at me like that. I'm not suddenly your friend.”

“I don't understand.”

“I can help you escape.”

Her words stunned me.

“You, your mother and as many of your pack members as you can take with you.”

I stared at her.

“Why would you do that?”

Lydia scoffed.

“Don't flatter yourself. I'm not helping you because I care about what happens to you.”

She released my wrist only to fold her arms across her chest.

“You are a threat to me, Aria. You always have been. The Alpha's attention was already divided because of you, and now you're carrying his child. Do you honestly think I'm going to stand around and watch him become even more obsessed with you?”

I remained silent.

She stepped closer, her eyes hard.

“I want you gone.”

The bluntness of her words caught me off guard.

“I want you out of this pack and out of the Alpha's sight. I don't care where you go or what happens to you afterward. I only care that you don't stay here and take my position from me.”

Her words hurt, but there was something almost comforting about the honesty behind them. Lydia wasn't pretending to care about me. She wanted something, and she was willing to help me because getting rid of me benefited her.

“Why should I trust you?” I asked.

“You shouldn't.”

I blinked.

A cold smile appeared on her lips.

“You don't have to trust me. You only need to understand that I want you gone badly enough to make sure it happens.”

She glanced toward the dining hall.

“The Alpha is throwing a feast tonight. Everyone will be distracted, and I'll create the opportunity you need.”

“Dean will notice if I disappear.”

“He will eventually.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“But by then, you should be far enough away that he can't catch you immediately.”

I swallowed.

“What about the guards?”

“I'll take care of them.”

Her answer was immediate.

“When you leave the dining hall, your mother will come with you. Take as many of your people as you can. I'll make sure they know what to do.”

I hesitated.

“What if something goes wrong?”

“Then you run.”

Her expression hardened.

“You have one chance, Aria. Don't waste it.”

She turned to leave, then stopped.

“And don't mistake my help for kindness. The moment you become useful to me again, I'll have no reason to help you.”

I stared after her as she walked away.

I didn't trust Lydia.

I didn't like her.

But for the first time since learning about my pregnancy, I could see a way out.

And if Lydia's hatred was the only thing standing between me and a life of captivity, I was willing to use it.

---

By nightfall, the entire pack had gathered in the dining hall.

Music filled the room as servants moved between tables carrying food and drinks. Laughter echoed through the hall, and everyone seemed to be celebrating.

Everyone except me.

I sat beside my mother with my hands folded tightly in my lap, trying not to let anyone see how nervous I was.

Across the room, Dean looked happier than I had ever seen him.

He stood among members of the pack, accepting their congratulations with obvious pride.

“My heir will be strong,” he announced.

Cheers erupted around him.

I forced a smile.

My stomach twisted.

My mother caught my gaze from across the table, and for a moment neither of us spoke. She didn't need to ask what was wrong. She already knew.

We were leaving tonight.

I only prayed Lydia had done what she promised.

Dean suddenly looked toward me.

“Aria.”

I lifted my eyes.

“Eat something.”

Several people laughed.

“You need to keep your strength up.”

I picked up my fork and forced myself to take a small bite.

“Good girl.”

My fingers tightened around the utensil.

I wanted to throw it at him, but I lowered my eyes instead.

The minutes dragged by.

I kept waiting for something to happen, terrified that Dean would somehow sense what we were planning.

Then, from the opposite side of the hall, a loud crash shattered the conversation.

A servant had dropped an entire tray of glasses.

The sound was deafening.

Everyone turned toward the commotion as shards of glass scattered across the floor. Several servants rushed forward to clean up the mess while others tried to see what had happened.

Dean stood from his seat.

“What happened?”

The room became noisy as people began talking over one another.

My mother looked at me.

It was time.

I pushed my chair back.

“Excuse me.”

Dean turned toward me.

“Where are you going?”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“I feel nauseous. I need some fresh air.”

He studied me for a moment, then his expression softened.

“Of course.”

He turned toward one of the guards standing near the entrance.

“Go with her.”

My blood ran cold.

The guard immediately stepped forward.

My mother stood.

“I'll go with her.”

Dean nodded.

“Take two guards.”

For a moment, panic threatened to overwhelm me.

Lydia had promised to handle the guards, but Dean had just added more protection himself.

Still, I couldn't turn back.

We walked out of the dining hall, the guards following closely behind us.

The moment we stepped outside, the cool night air touched my face.

I inhaled deeply.

My mother walked beside me, keeping her expression calm.

“Keep walking,” she whispered.

We moved through the courtyard toward the outer grounds.

The guards remained behind us, watching our every movement.

I glanced around.

Then I saw them.

Several members of our pack were scattered around the courtyard, pretending to be occupied with various tasks.

My heart skipped.

Lydia had done it.

They were waiting for us.

We kept walking.

One of the guards eventually frowned as he noticed more people gathering.

“Where are they going?”

My mother turned.

“They're coming with us.”

The guard's expression changed.

“The Alpha only gave permission for you and Lady Aria to get some fresh air.”

My heart began pounding.

The guard looked toward the others, then back at us.

“This isn't what the Alpha ordered.”

He turned around.

“I need to inform him.”

I knew what would happen if he reached the hall.

Dean would come after us.

There would be no second chance.

I looked at my mother.

She looked at me.

Neither of us said anything.

The guard took another step.

I reacted before I could think.

My hand closed around a heavy object resting on a nearby table, and I swung it with all the strength I had.

It struck the guard across the head.

He stumbled before collapsing to the ground.

For a second, everyone froze.

My hand trembled as I stared at the unconscious guard.

I had never attacked anyone before.

The reality of what I had just done hit me all at once.

“Aria!”

My mother's voice snapped me out of it.

I looked at her.

“Run.”

The courtyard erupted into movement.

Our people rushed forward, helping the others through the grounds as quickly as possible. A few stayed behind to make sure the fallen guard wouldn't raise an alarm immediately.

We moved toward the outer gates.

My heart pounded so violently that I could barely hear anything else.

Then a shout came from behind us.

“Stop!”

Another guard had spotted us.

My mother grabbed my hand.

“Don't stop!”

We ran.

People scattered through the grounds, some moving toward the gates while others deliberately ran in different directions to confuse anyone who tried to follow.

Then I saw the gates.

They were open.

My chest tightened with relief.

Lydia had kept her word.

We rushed through the gates and into the darkness beyond them.

I didn't stop until the lights from the pack compound were barely visible behind us.

Everyone slowed down, trying to catch their breath.

I turned around.

For a moment, I simply stared.

That place had been my prison, but it had also become part of my life.

It was where I had been forced to live, where I had fought against Dean, where I had dreamed of finding a way back to my own pack.

Now I was leaving it behind.

My eyes filled with tears.

My mother took my hand.

“Don't look back.”

I swallowed.

“What if he comes after us?”

“He will.”

Her answer was quiet but certain.

“But we'll keep moving.”

I looked at the path ahead.

I was terrified. I had no idea where we would sleep, what we would eat or what would happen when Dean eventually found us. I didn't even know whether we were truly safe yet.

But for the first time, the uncertainty ahead of me belonged to me.

I placed a hand over my stomach.

The child inside me was still a part of the life I had been trying to escape, but I refused to let that child determine who I would become.

I would not spend the rest of my life as Dean's breeder.

I would find my way back to my pack.

I would reclaim my father's legacy.

And I would decide what happened to my life.

My mother squeezed my hand as we started moving again.

“We'll figure this out.”

I looked at her through the tears in my eyes.

“We will.”

Then we disappeared into the darkness, leaving the pack behind.

I wanted to believe we were finally free.

But somewhere in the distance, a howl tore through the night.

My blood ran cold.

Dean knew.

And now that he knew we had escaped, there was only one thing I could be certain of.

He would come for us.