The next night,Natalie arrived at the pack celebration in formal dress.
It was held for the Swift Pack’s eldest daughter’s coming-of-age rite,a promise made long ago,so she had to attend.She sat quietly in a shadowed corner,nursing a drink.
As expected,it wasn’t long before Daniel and Jennifer made a grand entrance.Jennifer linked her arm with Daniel’s,smiling politely.The others assumed Jennifer was his mate and began praising them.
“Daniel and his mate have such a sweet bond!We’re so jealous.”
Daniel smiled softly,accepting the compliments as if they were true.
Not wanting to watch them any longer,Natalie took her glass and stepped out onto the lodge balcony for air.Her champagne was nearly finished when Jennifer came up beside her.
“Natalie,you’ve already lost.Daniel loves me now.Can you really leave little Rihanna without a father?”Jennifer said.
Natalie answered with a cold smile.“What exactly are you saying?”
“I want you to leave right now.I want to be Mrs.Chalamet.”
Natalie nodded.“Don’t worry.I’ll go.I gave up on Daniel long ago.”
She turned to leave,but Jennifer grabbed her arm.Before Natalie could ask what she meant,someone came up behind and pressed a damp cloth—drugged—over her nose and mouth.Everything blurred.Just before the world went black,she saw Jennifer’s smirk.
When she opened her eyes again,she was tied to a chair,unable to move.Jennifer sat bound beside her,wearing a smug expression.“Natalie,if Daniel knew we were both captured and could only be saved one at a time,who do you think he’d choose?”
Natalie stared at her.“This was your doing?”
Jennifer laughed.“So what if it was?I only want Daniel.Is that wrong?”
A voice at the door announced,“Boss,Daniel is here.”Two men in black stood behind them,knives glinting.
As Daniel stepped in,the leader grinned.“Daniel,lucky man.Two beautiful wolves,but you can only pick one.Choose now,or both die.”He began the countdown.“Three…two…”
Before he reached one,Daniel pointed at Jennifer.“Her.Let her go.”
The man smirked.“Daniel doesn’t hesitate.Fine.Deal with the other one.”He ordered someone to untie Natalie,then shoved her to the floor.In seconds,blows rained down on her.
Natalie clutched her belly,trying to shield the life within.A brutal kick landed.The man laughed at her pain.“Daniel,leave now.If I change my mind,she won’t survive.”
Through the chaos she searched for Daniel’s face and begged,“Please…save me,save our pup…”
But Daniel did not turn.He took Jennifer’s hand and walked away without looking back.
Tears tracked down Natalie’s face and fell onto the floor as she pressed both hands over her stomach,feeling the tiny life slipping away.She closed her eyes,filled with pain and despair.
