Chapter 2

The other end of the line was silent for a moment. "Ms. Mason, many in our pack are aware that you've repeatedly made false claims that you're in danger. The Alpha left orders that if we ever receive your calls for help, we have to contact him for verification before we send anyone to rescue you."

My heart instantly sank, and I hastily pleaded, "Don't contact Ethan! Please just send a healer to save me. I'm not lying! I'm really—"

But Ethan was already on the line.

It was just a few seconds, but I could hear the surrounding sounds coming from the other end of the communicator.

It sounded lively and warm over there, which was a stark contrast to the desolate cave I was trapped in.

A few elders in the pack were tenderly comforting Alicia, "It's okay, just rest for now. Ethan will exact justice for you. You wouldn't have suffered for nothing."

Soon, Alicia's soft and meek voice rang out. "I'm sure Cecilia didn't mean it. It's my own fault for ending up like this. Please don't blame her…"

Mom sounded furious as she said, "You almost died back there! Why are you still speaking up for her?"

"But Cecilia is all alone in that cave. Will she get scared, just like I was?" Alicia said timidly, "Should we send someone to the cave to check in on her?"

"Don't worry about her." Ethan's low and gentle voice came right after. His gentleness used to be reserved only for me, but now, he had given it to someone else instead. "Those caves are part of my territory. The rock formation over there is stable and extremely safe. There hasn't been an accident in hundreds of years."

The rescue operator asked, "Alpha Ethan, your future mate, Ms. Cecilia Mason, said that the cave collapsed, and she's injured. Should we dispatch the rescue team?"

Ethan replied indifferently, "It's fine. She's just making a fuss to get attention. Thanks for your hard work. If she calls again, just ignore her."

I was choking on sand and dust as I gripped the communicator tightly. I managed to let out a weak groan. "Ethan, I'm not making a fuss… I'm really going to die…"

Another violent spasm racked my abdomen, and I instinctively curled up.

Warm blood trickled down my thigh and seeped into the dirt. The dark crimson slowly began to spread.

I tried my best to twist and turn in an attempt to shove away the huge boulder pressing against my left leg, but the boulder didn't budge an inch.

Instead, every time I struggled, I would pull the muscles in my abdomen, and the pain would almost knock me out.

Stone fragments of various sizes were falling along with the sand and dirt. Soon, I was buried up to my chest.

With the gravel weighing heavily against me, I grabbed the communicator with trembling hands and dialed my parents' number.

As soon as it connected, the sobs I had been holding in erupted out of control. "Dad, Mom, save me! The cave collapsed! The bleeding won't stop, and the pup in my womb can't hold out any longer. If help still won't come, I'm really going to die here!"

The other end of the line was silent for a moment. When my parents spoke, I was even surprised that they sounded genuinely panicked.

Mom's voice was tense as she asked, "What happened? Why are you bleeding all of a sudden?"

Dad hastily said, "You're going to be okay, Cecilia. For now, just send us your location!"

Having finally glimpsed some hope, I choked on tears as I quickly replied, "Okay, please contact the rescue team right now. I can't afford any more delays!"

But before I could say more, Alicia spoke up meekly. "Dad, Mom, please calm down."

Her voice was weak and had just the right amount of timidness in it. "Those caves are part of Ethan's territory. They're completely safe. So, it doesn't make sense for Cecilia to get in danger as soon as she goes in, right? Do you think Cecilia still holds a grudge against me, so she's using the pup to spin lies? I'm willing to apologize to her, so as long as she has it in her heart to forgive me…"

With just a few sentences from Alicia, the panic in my parents' voices disappeared. Their voices instantly turned cold.

Mom sounded perplexed and disappointed. "Cecilia, how much longer are you going to lie to us?"

Dad reprimanded in a low voice, "You locked Alicia up in the basement and let her starve in the cold, and even now, she hasn't fully recovered from the trauma! We only asked you to calm down and reflect on your actions in the cave, but you're threatening us with the pup in your womb?"

Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I shook my head with all my might. "I never pushed her! The cave really collapsed! I'm not lying!"

Mom impatiently cut me off, her voice stern as she said, "Enough! We've been accommodating you ever since you were a pup! Alicia was born weak and sensitive. Why can't you just accept her?"

My heart instantly turned icy cold.

In that desperate situation where my life was hanging by a thread, they actually prioritized Alicia's casual guesses over my own life.

I was crying so much that I almost couldn't breathe. "But Dad, Mom, I'm your biological daughter…"

I held onto the faintest of hope that they would at least still have some semblance of love toward me.

The other end of the line fell silent for a moment.

But in the next second, Alicia let out a weak groan. "Mom, I suddenly feel really dizzy…"

Mom immediately cast me aside, her voice filled with urgent care as she said, "Don't push yourself too hard. I'll make some herbal tea for you right now!"

Dad said, "Look after Alicia first, and don't mind Cecilia. We've just spoiled her too much. She'll settle down once she's done throwing her tantrum."

The connection was mercilessly cut off.

I stared at the darkened screen, stunned. My whole body felt cold and numb.

The rubble was still pouring down on me, and I felt like I was getting buried alive.

I didn't want to give up right then and there. I frantically dug away the loose stones piling up in front of me.

The jagged edges of the rocks sliced my palms, and blood trickled down between my fingers.

Biting my trembling lip, I desperately tried to keep my spirits up. I repeatedly thought to myself, "Hang in there! I have to survive this and protect my unborn pup!"