Chapter 3 The Brother I Thought I Lost

"My brother died a long time ago!"

This is the story I've always known about my family. Ever since my father, the Beta, betrayed Lance's father, the Alpha of our pack, I knew my whole family was marked for death. I was the only one left.

Then Lance came into the picture, making me his mate. But I later found out he was just using me all along.

My eyes caught his, and he just stared back at me without saying anything. Suddenly, he shifted into his wolf form.

His wolf was massive, towering over me, and it completely threw me off.

"Get on," he said, his voice commanding. I shook my head.

"No, answer my question first! I don't have a brother! My brother's dead!"

"You're wrong about that," he said, his tone calm but firm. "Get on if you want to see him."

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. How could he know? My brother's been gone for so long. But something in his voice, something in his eyes, made me believe him.

"I know those people betrayed you," he added.

"But I won't betray you like they did." His voice was steady, and for the first time in a long time, I actually felt like I could trust someone.

I swallowed hard, trying to make sense of everything. But in the end, I had no choice. My instincts kicked in, telling me to follow him, to trust him.

So, I climbed onto his back, gripping his fur as we began moving through the forest. The wind whipped past my face, cold and sharp. I could hear the rustling of leaves, the soft crunch of twigs underfoot. The sound of Dominic's steady breathing was the only thing that kept me grounded.

After a while, we stopped. The forest opened up to reveal a large community town, obviously belonging to another pack.

"Alpha, you've returned," a voice said from the gates. I froze as guards appeared.

My heart started racing as Dominic helped me off his back. I looked at him, still in shock.

"You're an Alpha, but my brother sent you to fetch me? What the hell is going on here?"

Dominic didn't answer immediately. Instead, he motioned for me to follow him. "Just follow, and you'll understand," he said.

I didn't have much of a choice, so I followed. We entered a huge hall, and then we moved into a room. There, a group of people stood waiting. Healers, maybe. One of them stepped forward. "Alpha, his condition is stable. He's doing better now."

"Good," Dominic said simply, his voice filled with authority. We entered the room, and that's when I saw him. A man lay in bed, covered in bandages, looking fragile but alive.

I swallowed hard when I saw him. I slowly walked toward the bed, my eyes-damn, my eyes were already watering with tears.

"A-Adrian?" I whispered.

He blinked, his eyes slowly focusing on me. "Cassie, I can't believe it. The rumors were true. You're alive." His voice was weak, like he didn't have the strength to believe it himself.

I couldn't stop myself. I rushed forward and hugged him tightly. "I thought... I thought you were dead! When we were just kids, rumors said our whole family was killed..." My voice cracked as I held him, desperate to believe he was really there.

"No, Cassie." He pulled back slightly, his eyes looking straight at mine. "Our father didn't betray the Alpha. He was framed."

"W-What?!" I asked, my head spinning as I tried to process what he was saying.

Adrian nodded slowly, his face serious. "Yes. Our father was innocent. He was supposed to be the Alpha, but they framed him. And when he found out the truth, he tried to take back what was rightfully his. But they... they killed him. Lance's family killed him. After that, our whole family was cast aside. You were the only one left because you were the only girl, meant to become their breeder."

I felt a lump in my throat. "A...a breeder?" The weight of his words hit me. I didn't know that. "And what happened to you?"

Adrian's eyes softened. "I was cast aside, too. When Mom died, Alpha Dominic took me in. He made me his Beta."

I turned to look behind me. Alpha Dominic was standing in the doorway, silently watching us. I still didn't understand. "But why did Alpha Dominic take me in if he's the Alpha? Why did he help me?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"He saved my life," Dominic spoke up suddenly, stepping into the room. His eyes locked onto mine, intense and unwavering. "We were attacked by rogue wolves here, in the village. And thanks to your brother, he saved my life. I didn't even realize there was a rogue wolf trying to kill me from behind. It was Adrian who saved me. That's why he's in critical condition now. But I made sure he'd survive."

Dominic continued, his voice calm but full of purpose. "He asked me to fetch you in honor of what he did for me. That's why I came-to save you." He looked at Adrian and then nodded.

"And I saved your sister's life just before she became the Luna of the enemy."

I stood there, processing everything they'd just told me. There was so much I didn't know, so much I hadn't understood. My brother wasn't dead. My family wasn't what I'd been told. And now, everything I thought I knew was being flipped upside down.

"You must stay here, Cassie, and train with us so you can become stronger," Adrian said.

"I... I don't know-" Before I could finish my sentence, my head suddenly swirled.

"Cassie!"

Before I hit the ground, I felt someone's hands catch me.

"She's bleeding!"

My vision spun, and pain surged through my body... especially down there.

When I looked down, my legs were dripping with blood.

And then I remembered...

I was late.

And that could only mean one thing.

I'm... pregnant with Lance's pup?