Lilith’s POV
I woke up to a silence. My head felt heavy, pounding with a dull ache.
For a moment, I couldn’t even recognize where I was. The unfamiliar surroundings, the sterile smell of herbs, and the soft crackle of a fire nearby did nothing.
"You’re finally awake."
Startled, I turned toward the voice, my body tensing. Standing beside me was Alicia, the lead healer of our pack.
"W-Why am I here?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Alicia’s eyes softened with concern. She hesitated, as if carefully choosing her words. "A servant brought you here," she began gently. "And… you’re pregnant."
Her words hung in the air like a heavy weight, crashing into me with full force.
My eyes widened in disbelief. "What? How… how could that happen?" My voice was barely above a whisper, the question directed more at myself than at her.
I felt my chest tighten, my heartbeat quickening as the reality of her statement began to sink in.
Pregnant.
The word echoed in my mind, twisting and turning, refusing to settle.
I knew how it happened. Of course, I did.
Kael and I… we’d been intimate often. But it was never out of love or desire. No, Kael didn’t see me that way.
Ever since I become his mate, I felt like nothing more than a tool.
“To make yourself useful, I’ll make you my breeder.”
He never treated me like a partner. There was no tenderness, no affection—only coldness and cruelty.
When he was stressed or angry, he’d take it out on me in the most brutal ways.
He’d shove me onto the bed, his grip unyielding as he pinned me down.
"Stop resisting, Lily!" he’d shout, his voice harsh and filled with disdain.
"I don’t care about you! I’m just using you!"
Those words, sharp and venomous, replayed in my mind. Even in his absence, they lingered, echoing in the silence. Night after night, I endured his aggression, his frustration, his need to release whatever anger he carried.
And me? I was naïve. Foolish. Despite the pain and humiliation, I loved him. I clung to the hope that somewhere deep inside, he cared for me too. That maybe, one day, he’d change. So, I let him do as he pleased. I told myself it was okay, even when it wasn’t.
But I never expected this. I never thought I’d end up pregnant.
"Does Kael know?" I asked Alicia, dread creeping into my voice as I fought to steady my breathing.
She nodded slowly. "Yes, the Alpha knows."
"Where is he?"
Alicia’s face fell, and she hesitated again before answering. "He left you here. And… he hasn’t come back since."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. The air seemed to leave the room, and my chest tightened with an overwhelming sense of abandonment. He knew, and yet, he wasn’t here.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up abruptly.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Alicia’s voice was full of worry. "You need to rest, Lily. Your body is still recovering, and your pregnancy is still fragile. You could harm yourself or the baby!"
"I’m fine," I said firmly, brushing past her. My tone left no room for argument, but inside, I was falling apart. "I need to find him."
I barely heard her calling after me as I stumbled out of the healer’s quarters. The cool air outside hit my face, but it did nothing to ease the chaos within me.
I spotted Lucius, our Beta.
"Lucius!" I called out, quickening my pace toward him. "Have you seen Kael?"
He turned to me, his expression a mix of surprise and hesitation. "Yeah… he’s at your house."
I didn’t wait for further explanation. Without another word, I ran, my heart pounding louder with each step. By the time I reached the house, my hands were trembling. I pushed the door open, my voice breaking as I called out.
"Kael? Are you here?"
At first, there was only silence. But then, faint sounds reached my ears.
Low moans and gasps, unmistakable and chilling. My breath hitched.
"Ah, Kael… fuck! Alpha… oohh…!"
I froze, my blood running cold.
