Chapter 3 Secret Pregnancy

Vanessa POV

Their footsteps were sounding louder as I felt they were getting closer. At the moment, Fear gripped me tightly and I completely forgot how to think.

"Over here!"

Oh my, that voice. Panic struck me more like lightning because the voice sounded so familiar, it sounded so much like Adrian's voice, Caleb's skilled scout.

I quickly tried to run away from the place we had rested even when my body hurt all over, my knees were weak, and my ribs were sore.

The bruises from my last run still showed on my skin. The trees that once felt friendly now looked scary, like they were judging me. I breathed out, and my breath turned to mist in the cold morning air.

I ran through the bushes, thorns cutting my arms and feet, and I was running too slow as I was feeling weak. My vision was blurry, and everything was spinning.

Suddenly, something hit me from behind. I screamed and fought, but a strong hand grabbed my hair and pulled me back. The world spun around me.

"I've found her!" Adrian's voice was sounding victorious.

Then came the others, they were all Caleb's guards.

They dragged me without care, tied me up, and threw me into a cart like an animal. My hands were tied so tight I couldn't feel my fingers.

My feet were sore, and I shook, not just from the cold, but from anger, shame, and sadness.

Later that day, we reached Bloodhowl. The sky was red, and a bell rang as we passed the gates.

The omega had been caught, the disgrace had returned.

The pack gathered quickly, and a crowd formed. Then the crowd moved, and I saw him, Caleb, with Rhea beside him.

He stood tall in black, arms crossed. His eyes burned with anger like fire on dry leaves.

Then he stepped forward.

"Did you think you could run from me, Vanessa?" he asked in a low and dark tone.

I said nothing as I only stared. I knew If I opened my mouth, I would spit blood and curses.

Whack!

"Answer me!" he roared, striking me with the back of his hand.

Pain exploded across my cheek, and I tasted blood. I held myself as I didn't flinch, I wouldn't give him that.

"You fool! You dare run from your duty, from your pack, and from the Alpha." Rhea was not just looking angry, she was embittered.

However, it made me laugh, then I released a bitter sound. "I didn't run from duty, I ran from the chains you guys put on me. You call this a pack? No, Caleb, it's a cage!"

His eyes narrowed, my words made him more furious.

"Very well." He turned to the gathered pack. "Let everyone see what happens to those who defy Bloodhowl. Then, take her to the quaters!"

Caleb gave a signal, and the guards grabbed me. They dragged me forward and beat me in front of everyone.

I don't remember how many times they hit me or how long it went on.

All I remember is the pain, the laughter, and the silence of those who once called me sister. They left me bruised and broken, then dragged me to the omega quarters.

It wasn't a room, but a den for traitor omegas. They threw me down the steps into a dark, wet space. The air smelled of rot and old blood.

There were no beds, no blankets, just cold straw. And when I looked up, words were written on the wall,

'There's no food, no medicine for traitors! Only silence and pain.'

Then they shut the door.

-

I was left with my bruises, unhealed and I felt unwell.

As days passed, according to Caleb's order, I was dragged out of the den just to be paraded before the pack from time to time. During the parade, they laughed at my broken state and called me names.

"Traitor!"

"Whore!"

"Such a useless omega."

Someone even spat on me, as they tossed me back down like garbage and dragged me back to the den. Without doubt, I wanted to die, but death didn't come.

During the night, I was curled in the corner, trying to stay warm with my own breath as I felt weak and feverish.

Suddenly, I heard soft steps. Then, I heard a key turned in the lock, which made my heart stutter.

Who could it be?

After a while, a familiar face appears, Luis. She was the oldest omega, quiet and often ignored. Maybe it was because she was once mated to a Lycan and cast out.

She closed the door, looked around, then knelt beside me. She gently touched my neck and forehead, then spoke softly.

"I knew it, I observed you during the parade," she whispered. "You're carrying."

She stopped and stared at me, her sudden expression made me blinked slowly. "I am carrying what?"

She didn't stop staring at me as sorrow filled her eyes. "You're pregnant, Vanessa."

I froze. The words broke the silence like thunder. My mouth went dry, and I felt cold and hot at the same time.

Pregnant?

"No, that can't be," I gasped. But my wolf stirred again.

"Yes," Luis said with a sigh. "You're carrying twins with Lycan blood, you must be strong for them."

I haven't slept with anyone, except that night with the stranger who vanished into the woods like smoke.

Could he be a Lycan?

"Luis, please help me, what should I do?" I was so scared that I forgot how to think.

She stood up and was about to leave. "Caleb must not know about this." She said, "But I'll be on my way now to contact the Lycan responsible through the old connection at the border."

Then she secretly left the den. She was risking it for me, because Caleb had banned anything of that sort.

If she's caught communicating with Lycans through the old connection, she would be severely punished.

After so many hours, I became restless. I needed to know if Luis had succeeded. Soon, I heard the border's alarm bell ring.

However, something was definitely not right because that particular bell only rang when an intruder had been caught.