Talia's POV.
I was pregnant.
Jared put his arms around me. "I'm going to be a father!"
Alpha Kael's smile seemed real. He turned to my brother. "We're going to be family."
Jade watched me with angry eyes; it was hard to see what she was thinking. "Well, you did not just escape death; now you'll be bringing life."
Luna Selene mirrored her husband's happiness. "You're a lucky charm."
"I'd like to be alone with my brother."
Jared pulled me close and placed a kiss on my temple; the act was gentle. I did not know what to think of it.
"Please, please, I do not want to stay here; please take me with you," I pleaded.
"You're carrying the grandchild of a ruling Alpha; I cannot do that." My brother's voice was stoic.
"Please," I pleaded.
It was then Rhys frowned. "Did he force himself on you?" he asked, horror evident on his face. I saw it there and then that if I said yes to that question, he would tear the pack apart if that was what it took to take me along with him.
"No." I could not lie, not when so much depended on it. I had given my consent.
"Then there is nothing I can do. Mother will come visit you after I tell her of you, and you will know your family. I will do my best to make sure you're treated nicely, but I cannot take you with me." My brother sighed. "I'm glad that I found you. But this is your new home. I'll be leaving first thing tomorrow."
The Alpha and his family came back to take me with them; my brother's friend Ryker said nothing to me, but it was evident he was glad with the way things turned out to be. Now, he could go with his friend on whatever mission they were on.
"It's good to have you back." Luna Selene welcomed me into the house. No one was going to talk about how I almost died, how they had almost taken my life for an offense I did not commit.
"As soon as everyone has settled down from the hustle of the festival, we will begin to prepare for your wedding with Jared. Everything will be settled before you start showing," Luna Selene explained as we moved deeper into the house.
"Where will I sleep?" I asked them. I wanted to curl up in my room and shut everyone out. I wanted to be alone. I needed to think.
"You will share my room with me, since we are to be married." Jared beamed happily.
For a moment, I dared to think he was really happy about the baby.
"Everyone can go freshen up; we will be having dinner with our soon-to-be in-law," Alpha Kael announced.
It would be the last night I would eat with my brother.
"All right," everyone chorused.
"Do you really want the baby?" I asked Jared. I hated him, but I had loved my baby even before I was told I was pregnant. Maybe our baby could bring a semblance of peace between us.
"Well, Father says a grandchild of Luna Amira would be of economic importance to us," Jared shrugged.
Economic importance-that would be my value for the rest of my life.
"Thank you."
My fate had been changed; my value for eternity would be economic importance. But why did my baby have to share the same fate? Why?
Jared sat beside me for dinner; my brother was opposite me, while Ryker was opposite Jared. Ryker did nothing to hide that he was forced to be here and totally ignored everyone when they greeted him. The man was rude and arrogant but insanely attractive. Jade sat beside him, doing everything to get his attention. She had gone to change into a small dress that covered merely her stomach; more than half of her breasts were on display, but that was still a lot because Jade was quite busty. It was annoying that her parents did not say a thing. I guess Ryker was of economic importance too, except that he got to choose his own fate.
"I'll be gone before dawn," my brother told me. "Before you wake up." He handed me a pouch. "Keep it well." It was heavy, and it jingled-gold. "Take care of yourself, Talia."
I wanted to beg him, to plead with him to take me along, but my fate had been handed to me; my fate had always been handed to me. Never had I gotten to choose it.
I wrapped my arms around him. "Thank you for finding me," I whispered.
"Take care of yourself. Promise me." I could see he was also hesitant to leave me, but we both did not have a choice.
"I promise." I lied. It was never my choice. Never.
