Chapter 4 Werewolves are

His mansion. The words hung in the air between us, distant and foreign. I had never imagined my life would take this turn, that I would find myself married to a man like him, living in his mansion. My mind still buzzed with the shock of everything that had happened-the pregnancy, his sudden appearance, the stark reality of my new life. But in the pit of my stomach, something told me this was my only chance for survival, for a future where I could at least keep my baby safe.

I nodded, taking a shaky breath. "Okay," I said, though I wasn't sure what 'okay' meant anymore.

As we exited the hospital, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The driver stepped out, opening the door with a professional nod.

Kai stood beside me, his commanding presence impossible to ignore. "Get in," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I hesitated for a moment, glancing at him before sliding into the backseat. My hands trembled slightly as I clasped them tightly in my lap, trying to anchor myself to the moment.

The car hummed to life, and we were off. At first, the familiar lights and sounds of the city blurred past the window, but they quickly faded into the background. The towering skyscrapers and bustling streets gave way to sprawling fields and shadowy forests.

The further we drove, the heavier the silence grew. It pressed down on me, amplifying the questions swirling in my head. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Are we there yet?" I asked, my voice small but steady, breaking the oppressive quiet.

Kai didn't look at me. His sharp green eyes remained fixed on the passing scenery. "Not yet," he said simply, his tone unreadable.

I pressed my lips together and looked back out the window. The journey felt endless, the tension in the car growing heavier with each passing mile. Finally, we approached a large gate guarded by men who looked more like warriors than security guards. Their faces were hard, their postures rigid, and their presence alone was intimidating.

As the gates opened, I expected to see a mansion immediately, but what I saw instead took me by surprise. It was like an entire town hidden within the forest. People walked around, some chatting, others working, all seemingly oblivious to the massive car driving through.

"Where are we?" I asked, my voice shaky.

Kai didn't answer. The car continued through the town until we reached another gate, smaller but equally imposing. It opened to reveal a sprawling mansion. The structure was grand, with towering columns, pristine gardens, and an aura of wealth and power that left me breathless.

The car came to a stop, and the driver opened the door for us. I stepped out hesitantly, taking in the sheer size of the mansion. My nerves were on edge as we approached the front door.

Then I saw it-a wolf.

It came out of nowhere, racing through the gates toward us. My breath hitched, and panic surged through me. The wolf was massive, its grey fur shimmering in the fading sunlight. My instinct was to run, but my legs felt like lead.

I placed my hands protectively over my belly, my heart pounding in my chest. "Kai," I whispered, my voice trembling.

To my shock, Kai didn't react the way I expected. He didn't flinch or move an inch. He stood there, calm and composed, as though this was completely normal.

The wolf slowed as it approached, its piercing eyes fixed on us. And then, before my very eyes, it began to change. Its body contorted, shifting and morphing until it was no longer a wolf but a man-a man with sharp features, dark hair, and an air of authority.

I blinked, convinced I was hallucinating. This couldn't be real. Wolves didn't just transform into men. This wasn't possible.

The man, now fully human, approached Kai and greeted him with a slight bow. "Alpha," he said, his voice deep and respectful.

Alpha? What did that mean? I turned to Kai, hoping for some sort of explanation, but he was as calm as ever, as though this was all completely ordinary.

The man's gaze shifted to me, and I felt a jolt of fear. His eyes seemed to pierce straight through me, and I couldn't take it anymore.

I turned and ran.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. I didn't care where I was going. I just needed to get away from whatever this was, away from the man who had turned from a wolf, away from the mansion, and away from Kai.

I kept running, my feet pounding against the gravel path. The towering gate loomed ahead, and I thought, just for a moment, that I might actually make it. But then, out of nowhere, a strong hand grabbed my arm and yanked me back. The sudden force threw me off balance, and I stumbled backward into a hard chest.

My heart raced as panic set in, but something about the scent hit me-it was familiar. The same woodsy, clean smell I'd noticed when Kai had stood close to me earlier. I twisted in his grip, looking up to confirm my suspicion.

It was him.

Kai's green eyes burned with intensity, and his jaw was set in a hard line. But what shocked me the most wasn't his presence-it was the sheer impossibility of it. How had he caught up to me so fast?

"Let me go!" I screamed, my voice cracking as I struggled against his iron grip.

"Stop," he commanded, his voice low and firm. But I didn't listen. I clawed at his hands, trying to free myself.

"Please," I sobbed, my desperation overwhelming me. "Don't hurt my baby! Just let me go!"

At my words, his grip loosened ever so slightly. His gaze softened, and he let out a long sigh. "I would never hurt you or the baby," he said, his voice quieter now, almost soothing.

I stopped struggling, my body shaking with fear and exhaustion. "Then why won't you let me leave?" I whispered, my tears flowing freely.

Kai's expression hardened again, but there was something else in his eyes-determination. "Because you don't understand what you're running from. You're safer here with me."

"So, you can also turn into a wolf?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as the weight of the realization settled over me.

Kai nodded slowly, his piercing green eyes fixed on mine. "Yes," he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I stared at him, my mind struggling to grasp the reality of his words. My head spun with disbelief, and I shook it, trying to clear the fog of confusion. "I must be dreaming," I muttered to myself, my voice trembling.

"You're not dreaming," Kai replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

I stepped back, needing space to think, but his hand gently steadied me, keeping me from collapsing under the weight of everything I'd just learned. "This isn't real. It can't be," I insisted, looking at him like he might suddenly admit this was all some elaborate joke.

Kai exhaled, his jaw tightening. "It's very real. And it's something you'll need to understand-quickly."

I ran a hand through my hair, my fingers trembling as they tangled in the strands. "So, you're saying you're a wolf... like the other guy? Like the one who just-just changed?"

He nodded again, his expression unreadable. "Yes. I'm the Alpha of my pack."

"Alpha? What does that even mean?" I asked, the word foreign and strange on my tongue.

"It means I'm the leader. The protector. The one responsible for keeping my pack safe," he explained, his voice calm but laced with authority.

I stared at him, the pieces of this surreal puzzle clicking together in the most unbelievable way. "And you expect me to just... accept this? To live here, in this-this world I don't understand?"

Kai's gaze softened slightly, though his stance remained firm. "I don't expect you to understand everything right away. But you're carrying my child, and that means you're part of this now, whether you like it or not."

His words hit me like a brick wall. There was no escaping this. No waking up to find it was just a nightmare. This was my new reality, and as much as I wanted to deny it, I knew deep down that I couldn't.

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. When I opened them again, I looked up at him, my voice small and uncertain. "What happens now?"