The world spun as I stumbled into the kitchen, my breath hitching. Alpha Bryce knew about the baby. My chest tightened with fear. The Bryce I’d loved years ago was gone, replaced by someone ruthless, unpredictable. I couldn’t let him control my life—my child’s life.
I fumbled for my phone, my fingers shaking as I called my sister.
“Hannah,” I whispered, barely able to steady my voice. “He knows.”
Her sharp intake of breath echoed through the line. “What? Carsen, how?”
“His Beta told him about the baby and the arrangement with Alpha Tyrell.” My voice cracked. “He’s coming for me. I can feel it.”
“Stay calm.” Hannah’s voice was firm, but I could hear the tension beneath it. “We’ll figure this out. For now, you need to stay hidden. Come to my house.”
“What if he checks there?”
“I’ll deal with him if he does,” she said, her voice hardening. “You’re not alone in this, Carsen. You have me. Now get over here before he finds you.”
The next few hours passed in a blur. Hannah ushered me into her small house, locking the door behind us.
“He won’t stop until he finds me,” I murmured, pacing the living room.
Hannah caught my wrist, forcing me to face her. “Listen to me. Bryce can huff and puff all he wants, but he doesn’t own you. And he sure as hell doesn’t own this baby.”
I nodded, trying to draw strength from her conviction.
“I’ll talk to Alpha Tyrell,” she continued. “You need him on your side now more than ever. But for now, stay here. Hide if anyone comes. Understood?”
The fear gnawed at me, but I swallowed it down. “Understood.”
That evening, Hannah and I were in the kitchen, preparing dinner. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables helped steady my nerves. For a moment, it felt almost normal—like the calm before a storm.
Then came the knock.
Hannah’s knife froze mid-air, her eyes snapping to mine. “Go,” she mouthed, pointing toward the hidden compartment behind the pantry.
I hurried, slipping into the concealed room. From there, I could see the entryway through a sliver of see-through glass. My breath hitched as Bryce’s unmistakable figure loomed in the doorway. His Beta stood beside him, a smug expression plastered across his face.
“Good evening, Hannah,” Bryce said, his voice like velvet over steel.
“Alpha Bryce,” Hannah replied coolly, blocking his entrance.
“You know why I’m here.”
“I don’t, actually,” she said, folding her arms.
Bryce stepped closer, his presence suffocating. “Don’t play games. Where’s Carsen?”
“She left days ago. I haven’t seen her.”
“Liar.” His growl reverberated through the space, but Hannah didn’t flinch.
“If you cared so much about her, you wouldn’t have driven her away,” she shot back. “You reap what you sow, Alpha.”
His Beta shifted, clearly uncomfortable. “Alpha Bryce, perhaps we should—”
“Search the house,” Bryce barked.
Panic clutched my throat as the Beta began to move. My heart thundered in my chest, but I stayed rooted in place, barely daring to breathe.
The Beta prowled through each room, his steps growing closer to the pantry. My fingers clenched into fists as I pressed myself against the wall.
“Hurry up,” Bryce snapped, his gaze boring into Hannah. “She’s here. I can feel it.”
The Beta returned moments later, shaking his head. “No trace of her, Alpha.”
Bryce’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t move. His eyes flicked to the dining table, where plates and food lay neatly arranged. He stepped forward, his expression darkening.
“This food…” His voice trailed off, his gaze narrowing. “It’s her recipe.”
My heart plummeted. He knew.
“It’s a family recipe,” Hannah said smoothly. “We both cook it.”
His fury was palpable, his fists tightening at his sides. But after a tense moment, he turned on his heel, storming out with his Beta in tow.
The door slammed shut, and silence enveloped the house.
Minutes later, I emerged from the hidden room, my body trembling. “He’s not going to stop,” I whispered, clutching the counter for support.
Hannah placed a hand on my shoulder. “Which is why you need to leave soon. But Carsen, running won’t solve everything. You need protection. Alpha Tyrell can give you that.”
The weight of her words settled over me. “What if he doesn’t want me? What if this just makes things worse?”
“Then we’ll find another way,” she said firmly. “But we can’t do this alone.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “I don’t want to drag you into this, Hannah. Bryce won’t hesitate to hurt you.”
“Let him try,” she said, her voice like steel. “I’ll protect you, Carsen. Always.”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm inside me. If I wanted a future—if I wanted to protect my child—I had to make a choice.
“Okay,” I said finally. “Let’s talk to Alpha Tyrell.”
Hannah smiled, her grip on my shoulder tightening. “That’s my girl.”
As the night stretched on, my resolve hardened. I wouldn’t let Bryce win. For the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of hope. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—I would fight for my freedom. For my baby. No matter the cost.
