chapter 3

Zelda's POV

I gasped, ending the call abruptly. My heart hammered against my ribs like a frantic bird trapped in a cage. Start a war? That was exactly what I would be doing if I confessed my secret to Bane. The truth, raw and terrifying, threatened to overwhelm me. I was pregnant with his child, yet I was Claus's mate. The realization was a tidal wave, pulling me under and suffocating me with its implications.

There was no turning back now. Claus had already announced the pregnancy to everyone. My life that was once predictable had veered wildly off course. I was caught between two powerful men, a pawn in a game I didn't even understand.

A grand celebration. The words echoed in my mind like a cruel mockery of my inner turmoil. I had to face them all, pretend to be the blissful mother-to-be, the devoted mate. The thought made me sick.

I stood before the mirror, my reflection was a stranger. The white dress, chosen by Claus, clung to my curves and a contrast to the darkness swirling within me. It was a simple gown, yet elegant with delicate lace sleeves that reached my wrists and a flowing skirt that brushed the floor. My hair, usually left loose was pulled back in a neat, intricate bun adorned with small, shimmering pearls. It felt heavy like a symbolic weight on my head. I looked ethereal, almost angelic and a perfect picture of the lie I was living.

But beneath the serene exterior, my nerves jangled like discordant bells. Each breath was a conscious effort, each heartbeat a painful reminder of the secret I carried. I could still smell the lingering scent of Bane's cologne on my skin like an embrace that sent shivers down my spine. The mating mark on my neck pulsed, a silent testament to a night I wished I could erase yet couldn't entirely regret.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, I forced a smile onto my face. It felt alien, stretched and unnatural. This was it. The performance of a lifetime. I had to convince everyone, most importantly myself, that everything was fine, that this child was a testament to Claus's love, not a consequence of my desperate rebellion.

Stepping out of the room, I walked towards the celebration hall, the sounds of laughter and chatter growing louder with each step. The air was thick with anticipation, a celebratory hum that grated on my frayed nerves. As I pushed open the grand doors, a wave of warmth enveloped me and quickly followed by a suffocating sense of dread.

The hall was ablaze with light, decorated with garlands of white and gold, overflowing with vibrant flowers. Guests milled around, their faces alight with excitement. Tables laden with an array of delectable food and drinks lined the walls and a live band played a cheerful melody in the corner. Everyone seemed genuinely happy for Claus and me, their smiles radiating warmth. And that only made me feel worse. The guilt was a heavy stone in my stomach, weighing me down.

I scanned the room, searching for Claus. He was nowhere in sight. A fleeting sense of relief washed over me, quickly replaced by a fresh wave of panic. Where was he? Was he intentionally avoiding me or was this simply another one of his calculated moves?

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't see her until it was too late. A harsh bump sent me stumbling backward, my heels barely keeping me from falling. I managed to catch my balance, my heart leaping into my throat. Looking up, my eyes met a pair of piercing brown eyes.

Freya stood before me in a daring, crimson red dress that clung to her every curve, a dress that screamed confidence and allure. Her lips were a matching, luscious red, painted perfectly and her heels, sharp and dangerously high, added to her imposing height. Her dark hair was styled in sleek waves, framing a face that was both beautiful and cunning.

"Oh, Zelda ! I'm so terribly sorry!" Freya exclaimed, her voice dripping with feigned surprise. "I didn't see you there, darling."

A wave of disgust washed over me. Her act was so transparent, so utterly theatrical it made my stomach churn. Before when I was blinded by my love for Claus, I might have believed her, might have apologized myself for being in her way. But now, with the scales fallen from my eyes, I saw through their charade. It angered me, the sheer audacity of their belief that I was still the foolish, blinded woman they once knew.

Freya stepped closer, her smile widening with a predatory glint in her eyes. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice oozing false concern. Then she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper that was meant only for my ears, a venomous hiss that chilled me to the bone. "I'm glad you finally put that useless womb of yours to good use, Zelda ."

The words hit me like a physical blow, stripping away the last vestiges of my composure. The pent-up anger, the humiliation and the betrayal... it all surged to the surface, a raging inferno within me. I couldn't bear it anymore. I had to react, to push back and to make her stop.

My hand shot out, a desperate and instinctive push. It was meant to be light, a mere shove to create distance, to make her back away. But something inexplicable happened. As my palm made contact with her shoulder, a surge of raw, untamed power coursed through me, hot and electrifying.

Freya didn't just stumble. She was suddenly, inexplicably thrown across the room as if by an unseen force. Her body sailed through the air for a horrifying second before colliding with a table laden with refreshments, sending glasses shattering and food scattering everywhere. A collective gasp rippled through the hall, a sudden, stunned silence falling over the joyous crowd.

All eyes, wide with shock and disbelief, turned to me.

I stood frozen, my hand still outstretched and my mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened. My heart pounded, not from anger but from a terrifying realization. I hadn't done that. I couldn't have. I was Zelda and the weak, incapable Zelda .

Then, a blur of motion, Claus rushed to Freya 's side, his face contorted with concern. He knelt beside her, his hands gently cradling her head, his eyes that were usually cold and calculating were filled with a raw, agonizing worry. The sight of his genuine care for her, the woman he had cheated on me with, twisted a fresh knife in my heart.

"Zelda , what happened?" Claus's voice was a low growl, laced with a barely controlled fury. He looked at me, his gaze sharp and accusing.

I tried to speak but my throat was tight, choked with a mixture of fear and disbelief. No words came out. He slowly stood up, still holding Freya protectively in his arms. He looked at me again, his eyes narrowing with a strange mixture of confusion and suspicion in their depths.

"How...how did you do that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "How were you able to do that?"

Whispers erupted, spreading like wildfire through the hall. "Zelda is weak, she couldn't hurt a fly."

"There's no way she has such hidden power."

"Unless...unless it's the work of the child in her womb."

The whispers grew louder, each word a hammer blow against my already fragile composure. "Claus has no such power."

"The only person who could possess it... Bane Blackwood."

The rumors which should distant and ridiculous, now sounded like damning accusations, echoing the terrifying truth that gnawed at my soul. This wasn't just speculation; it was the horrifying reality staring me in the face.

Claus's gaze dropped, fixating on my stomach. His eyes that once filled with concern for Freya , now burned with a chilling intensity. He looked up at me again, his voice colder and sharper. "How did you manage to pull that off, Zelda? Was it the doing of the child?" When I remained silent, unable to form a coherent thought, his suspicion hardened into a terrifying certainty. "How come this child has such powers when suddenly..."

"Probably because the child is mine "

A deep, masculine voice cut through the stunned silence, clear and authoritative. Everyone turned, their heads swiveling towards the grand entrance.

There he stood. Bane Blackwood.

He walked into the hall with an almost regal stride, his presence commanding attention, his gaze sweeping over the shocked faces of the guests before settling on me. He was dressed in dark, tailored clothes that accentuated his broad shoulders and powerful build.

His dark brown hair was perfectly styled and his piercing blue eyes held a familiar intensity, an unreadable depth that simultaneously terrified and calmed me.

Shock coursed through me again but this time, it was laced with an unexpected, almost overwhelming sense of relief. Bane... He was here.

Claus, jolted out of his stunned silence, finally found his voice. "Bane? What are you doing here?" he demanded, his grip on Freya tightening.

Bane's gaze remained fixed on me. "I came for what's mine." His voice was low, resolute and filled with an unwavering certainty that sent a shiver down my spine.

"What exactly is yours?" Claus scoffed, a mixture of anger and disbelief contorting his features.

Bane took a slow, deliberate step forward, his eyes never leaving mine. "I came for my mate and my unborn child."

The words hung in the air like a deafening silence falling over the hall. Gasps erupted, louder and more shocked than before. Claus stood frozen, his face a mask of utter disbelief. He looked between Bane and me, his eyes wide with a dawning horror.

"You're a liar!" Claus roared, his face contorting with rage. "Guards! Get him!"

A handful of pack guards, loyal to Claus, moved forward, their expressions grim. But as they neared Bane, he simply glared at them, his eyes burning with an unspoken threat. The guards faltered, stopping their advancement, an almost imperceptible tremor running through their ranks.

Claus turned to me, his eyes blazing with fury and betrayal. "Zelda ! Is this true?" he demanded, his voice a guttural growl.

I couldn't speak. I could only lower my head, my silence a damning confirmation. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by Claus's enraged growl. Fear, cold and paralyzing, gripped me. I was trapped, exposed with nowhere to run.

Suddenly, a warm and strong hand gently took mine. Bane walked towards me, his gaze still fixed on my face, a flicker of concern in his blue eyes.

"Are you okay, Zelda?" he asked, his voice was a low rumble, surprisingly gentle amidst the chaos.

I could only nod, still in a state of shock. He leaned down, his lips brushing my ear, sending a jolt through me. "Do you trust me?" he whispered, his voice barely audible above the rising murmurs of the crowd.

I didn't reply but his grip on my hand tightened, a silent reassurance. He then turned to face the stunned crowd, his voice ringing out, clear and unwavering. "I only came for what is mine. If any of you have the audacity to intervene, try me." His eyes, cold and challenging swept over the faces of the pack members, daring them to defy him.

I hadn't seen this side of him before, this calm and authority that commanded respect without a single raised voice. He simply held my hand, his presence a shield against the swirling chaos. Then, without another word, he calmly led me out of the hall, past the stunned guests and the hesitant guards and into the cool, dark embrace of the garden.

Not a second later, we heard it, the pounding of footsteps behind us, Claus's furious roar echoing through the night. "Guards! Get them!"

Bane didn't break his stride. He quickly pulled me towards a sleek black car parked discreetly amidst the trees. He opened the passenger door, gently ushering me inside, then slid into the driver's seat. The engine purred to life and with a swift turn, he drove off, leaving the angry shouts and shocked whispers behind.

We sped through the dense forest, the trees a blur of dark green against the pale moonlight. The sounds of pursuit gradually faded, replaced by the rhythmic hum of the engine and the beating of my own frantic heart. He drove with practiced ease, navigating the winding paths until we were far from the pack house and far from Claus's reach.

Finally, he pulled the car to a stop in a secluded clearing, the silence of the forest enveloping us. He turned to me, his expression unreadable in the dim light filtering through the window. "Are you okay?" he asked again, his voice softer now, tinged with genuine concern.

I slowly began to regain my bearings, the adrenaline slowly subsiding. The chaos of the hall, Claus's fury, Freya 's hateful words—it all came crashing down on me. But a new question, more pressing than any other, formed on my lips.

"How did you know?" I whispered, my voice hoarse. "How did you know the child was yours?"

A faint smile touched his lips, a fleeting glimpse of something almost gentle. "After I heard the news of your sudden pregnancy, I felt...uncertainty. A strange pull. And then your call came. It only confirmed what I already suspected."

I shook my head in disbelief. My impulsive panicked call had been the catalyst. "But...how did you know I was Claus's mate?" I asked, confusion clouding my thoughts. "We'd never even properly met."

He chuckled, a low, warm sound that sent a strange warmth through me. "I'd seen you once before, at the pack house. Claus was there and he looked...angry and overprotective. It was obvious then."

My mind raced back to that day, the brief glimpse of him, Claus's possessive fury. I couldn't believe he had actually seen me or remembered me. "Then why?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, a desperate need for answers. "Why did you...why did you sleep with me?"

His gaze met mine, intense and unwavering. "I didn't want to. I knew the complications it would cause. But at the same time, everything about you captivated me, Zelda. I couldn't fight the desire. And," he paused, his eyes holding mine, "I don't regret it."

A sigh escaped me, a mix of despair and something I couldn't quite name. I looked around the secluded clearing, the tall trees enclosing us as a sense of isolation settling over me. Everything felt like it was my fault. My choices, my pain and my recklessness.

Bane must have sensed my thoughts. He reached out, his calloused thumb gently brushing away a stray tear I hadn't realized had fallen. "Zelda ," he said, his voice firm, "I promise to protect you. And to provide for you. I'll do everything that needs to be done for you, until you give birth. And if, after that you decide to leave, I won't stop you." He paused, his gaze searching mine. "But if you stay, I'll make sure you and the baby are looked after, truly cared for."

The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken emotions. The weight of his promise and the gravity of the situation, pressed down on me. My life had escalated to an unimaginable point. I was pregnant with a child who possessed powers beyond my understanding, a child of a man who was supposed to be my mate's enemy. And now, I was on the run dependent on a stranger.

I knew I wouldn't survive out there alone, especially with a child on the way. And going back to Claus, to his lies and his betrayals was no longer an option. The thought made me sick.

"So," he asked, his voice breaking the silence, "will you come with me? Or will you go back to Claus? If you decide to go back to him, I wouldn't blame you." His eyes held a gentle understanding, an absence of judgment that was both surprising and comforting. "But for now, I need to know. Do you trust me?"

I looked at him, truly looked at him. The man who had unknowingly marked me, the man who had brought me solace in my darkest hour and the man who was now offering me a future, however uncertain. He was a stranger yet he felt more like a sanctuary than Claus ever had.

"I'll come with you," I said, my voice barely a whisper, but firm with a newfound resolve.