CHAPTER FIVE: THE ULTIMATE.

Astrid's POV.

I sat in my room buried in the world of my book, trying to escape the chaos that had become my life. It had been a month since the concubine selection ceremony, and I still couldn't believe what I had done.

Just as I was getting to the good part in my book, the door burst open and Scarlett stormed in. Red with anger, her eyes blazed with fury, and I shrunk further into my chair-not wanting to piss her off her anymore.

"What did you do, Astrid?" Scarlett spat out, venom lacing in her voice. "What did you do to make the alpha forget about me?"

I said nothing, not wanting to incur her wrath. But Scarlett would hear none of it.

"Answer me!" she screamed, pounding her fist on my dresser. "What did you do?"

I swallowed hard and tried to find my voice. "I-I did what I was told," I stammered. "I spiked his drink, and.and he fell asleep."

Scarlett's face turned purple with rage. "You're lying!" she yelled, advancing on me. "You're lying, Astrid!"

Before I could even have time to react, Scarlett's fingers wrapped around my throat, clasping tight. I tried to pry them off, but she was far stronger.

"Tell me the truth!" Scarlett hissed out, eyes aflame with anger. "Tell me what you did, or I'll suck the life out of you!"

I tried speaking, but my voice came out hoarse from the pressure to my throat. I did manage to croak a few words.

"I-I did what I was told.I swear."

Just as I felt my life slipping out of me, our father burst into the room and snatched me from Scarlett's grasp.

"What are you doing, Scarlett?" he thundered, his face dark with anger. "What's going on here?"

Scarlett's face was still twisted in rage, but she composed herself.

"I'm trying to get the truth out of Astrid," she spat. "She's been lying to me, Father. She's been lying about what happened with the alpha."

Our father's face hardened. "What are you talking about, Scarlett?

Scarlett's voice spat with venom. "Astrid impersonated me at the concubine selection ceremony. And now, the alpha hasn't invited me to his chambers since. I know Astrid did something to make him forget about me."

Our father narrowed his eyes at me. "Is this true, Astrid?"

I nodded, feeling my face flood with a wave of nausea.

Scarlett's face contorted with rage anew. "If I lose the concubine role on your behalf, Astrid, you'll surely pay for that. I will kill you in the worst ways known to man."

Cold sweats broke on my forehead, even with the stillness of the air as words spoken from Scarlett remained, still lingering within. A surge then burst inside of me and caused me to lurch towards the bathroom.

"I-I need to." My voice trailed away to a mutter.

Just as I had almost entered the bathroom, I had thrown up everything I had had for breakfast. After that, everything started going blurred, dizzying, my legs wobbly, shaking-weak, trembling uncontrollably. In one swift unconscious turn of action-as I returned toward my bedroom, my legs gave in and everything went black.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and gradually took in the room. The bright fluorescent lights above me made my eyes squint, and I raised my hand to block off the brightness. As my vision focused, I was lying in a hospital room, and my family stared back at me- disgust etched across each face. My father, mother, and Scarlett gazed down on me.

My mother's eyes were cold and unforgiving , her face pale. My father's brow was furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. Scarlett wore a frown , and I could see the anger simmering just below the surface.

Just as Scarlett opened her mouth to speak, in came the doctor-a friendly smile spreading across his face. My father immediately got to his feet and went to him.

"What happened?" he asked, sounding a little worried.

The doctor smiled but then lost the smile and said, "Well, it would appear Astrid is going to be just fine. We did, however, find one interesting thing during the examination."

Dad narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"

He took a deep breath before telling us, "Astrid is four weeks pregnant."

The room erupted into pandemonium; the blood dropped from my face. Mom gasped. Her hand went to her mouth. Then my father's eyes widened with a shock belied by his frail stature-like he'd taken some gut blow. Scarlett was white in anger, the sparks in her eyes in some furious sparkle.

"You silly girl!" Mom spat the moment the doctor disappeared, venom oozing into her voice.

My father's face had turned beet red with anger. "This is a disaster," he growled. 

Scarlett's face contorted in anger as she hissed, "You're going to pay for this, Astrid," her eyes ablaze with anger.

As the curses and insults rained down on me from my family, Scarlett's anger overflowed, and she wrapped her hand around my neck, squeezing tight.

"Who's the father?" she spat, her eyes ablaze with venom. "Who is the father of your filthy bastard, you cheap whore?"

I tried speaking. My voice came hoarse from the hold Scarlett had on me. I shook my head, refusing to answer.

Her grip tightened, and I was feeling my life drain out. I was getting dizzy. My vision started to blur.

I mumbled, "Alpha.Ethan."

Scarlett's eyes grew wide, and the grasp loosened at my neck. I swallowed a couple of lungs-full, my fading vision dissolving back to distinctness.

Scarlett snarled, lunging atop on me. 

Her hands reached out and grasped my neck, starting a clamp that would slice my air flow. Father moved forward, pulling Scarlett away from me.

"Not now, Scarlett!" he shouted. "You'll squeeze breath from her!

"Let me kill her." Scarlet hissed, wriggling at her bonds.

My mother came forward, ice-cold, hard eyes. "Astrid, you have two options," she said, ice dribbling from her tone. "You can abort the baby, and n

ever mention a word about it, or you can leave the pack.for good."

What's your choice?