Chapter 4 Carrying His Betrayal

"Make sure she's okay!"

I heard chaos around me. Voices. Movement. Panic. Everything felt like a blur until my eyelids fluttered open.

The room was dimly lit, but I quickly noticed two figures arguing near the foot of the bed I was lying on. As my vision adjusted, my heart stopped for a second.

It was my brother, Adrian.

My chest tightened. He was still recovering from his recent attack, yet there he was, standing in front of me, visibly exhausted but determined. He looked like he had forced himself to come here.

Across from him stood a healer, trying to calm him down. I struggled to sit up, but my body felt heavy, drained.

I was inside a healer's residence. The sterile smell, the faint chanting outside, the herbs on the shelf, everything was familiar yet foreign at the same time.

That's when everything came crashing back to me.

I remembered now.

I had bled out. I collapsed. I lost consciousness. And now... now I was here.

A wave of dread swept over me.

Could...I be pregnant?

The thought hit me like a truck. I grabbed the blanket tightly, my breathing quickening.

No.

No, this couldn't be happening.

This couldn't be possible!

But deep down, something in my gut told me it was. I felt it in my body. I felt it in my soul. The signs were there. The pain. The bleeding. The exhaustion.

I might be pregnant, with Lance's pup.

A lump formed in my throat. The betrayal stung more now than it ever had. Lance... he used me. Every night, he touched me, kissed me, claimed me. And I believed him. I thought he loved me. I thought we had something real.

But it was all a lie.

He used me like I was nothing more than a breeder. A means to an end. And now, I might be carrying his child.

Even if the healer hadn't said anything yet, I was sure of it.

"Cassie?" Adrian's voice brought me back. I looked up and saw him, struggling to stay upright. He limped toward me slowly, his movements pained, but he didn't stop. He wrapped his arms around me tightly.

When he pulled away, he cupped my face with his trembling hands.

"Are you okay? Are you in pain? What's happening to you?" His voice was shaky. "Do you know why you started bleeding?"

I couldn't answer immediately. I swallowed hard and looked him directly in the eyes. He looked so worried, so scared for me.

"Adrian," I said softly, "would it be okay if I spoke to the healer in private?"

He was confused at first, but then he nodded slowly.

"Okay, sure," he said. "I know a lot is going on with you, but I respect your decision." He stood up straight despite the pain and limped toward the door.

"I'll wait for you outside," he said gently, before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

Once we were alone, I turned to face the healer.

My heart pounded as I asked the question that had been consuming my thoughts.

"You found out I'm pregnant, didn't you?" I asked, my voice low but direct.

The healer stared at me for a while, her eyes searching my face like she was deciding whether to say the truth or keep it to herself.

Then, slowly, she nodded.

Without saying a word, she walked closer and began to clean me up. Her hands moved gently but with practiced care. She did what she needed to do, checking my vitals, feeling my pulse, and assessing my condition.

"You are pregnant," she finally said, her voice calm but direct.

My breath caught in my throat.

"And you didn't tell my brother..." I whispered.

She nodded.

"I heard you just reunited with your brother, Beta Adrian. And I didn't want to overwhelm him by telling him that you're bearing a pup."

My eyes locked on hers. I didn't say anything yet. I could feel my chest tightening with each word that came out of her mouth.

She continued, her tone softer now. "And I know that your former mate not only humiliated you but also abused you."

The moment she confirmed what I already feared, all the emotions I had been holding in burst at once. My throat tightened, and I bit down on my lower lip, but the tears still fell.

I cried right in front of her. No shame, no strength left to hide behind.

"T-This is a mistake," I choked out, my voice trembling.

I was shaking, violently. I grabbed her hand tightly, desperate, and begging!

"I-I want to kill the pup," I said. "Please! Let me kill the pup. Please!"

I screamed the words, the pain overwhelming me. My voice cracked, but I didn't care. I was breaking apart, piece by piece.

The healer flinched slightly at my outburst. Her eyes widened, but she didn't pull away from me.

"Hey, you need to calm down," she said firmly.

"Please," I whispered again, my entire body trembling. "Please..."

She held my hands tighter, grounding me. "I know this is hard for you. I know how heavy this must feel. But you need to think this through. Ending the pup's life won't fix anything. That's still an innocent life inside you."

Her words hit me like cold water. It wasn't just what she said, but how she said it. There was no judgment in her voice. Just truth.

And then, just as I was about to say something, the door suddenly burst open.

My head turned fast, expecting to see Adrian, my brother. I assumed he must have heard my shouting and rushed in.

But it wasn't him.

It was Alpha Dominic.

He stood in the doorway like a wall of strength, his presence commanding. His aura was cold, intense, and intimidating. My breath caught in my chest as our eyes locked.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice deep and cutting. There was no softness in his tone, just the firm, sharp authority of an Alpha who demanded answers.

I froze in place.

The healer remained silent. She lowered her head in respect and said nothing, showing deference to her Alpha.

He stepped further inside, eyes narrowing. "Have you checked what's happening to her?" he asked, not even addressing me directly. "Why is she crying?"

I bit my lower lip hard, trying to stop myself from falling apart again.

"She's doing okay now, Alpha," the healer answered quickly. "It's just... she has a headache. That's all."

I glanced at her, shocked by her answer, but also... relieved. She didn't tell him. She was giving me time.

She stood up and didn't meet my eyes. Without another word, she walked out of the room, leaving me alone with Dominic.

I couldn't meet his gaze.

He moved closer and sat across from me, watching me closely.

"What's going on with you?" he asked directly.

My mind raced. My heart pounded. I wanted to scream the truth, but I couldn't. I wasn't ready.

"I'm fine," I answered quickly. "It's nothing."

I lied.

And I hoped to the Moon Goddess he wouldn't see through it.