Chapter 4

I cupped my cheek in absolute shock. My cheek throbbed in pain. Blood boiled in my veins as I charged forward ready to slap her when my wrist was grabbed mid-air.

I whipped my head to look at him as he let go of my wrist. Grabbing Stella's hand he dragged her out of the room and I watched in grim silence from where they left.

'April please calm down, baby. I'll have a serious word with Stella. How dare she hit you. Please relax, I will come back later,' Liam mind-linked me.

I looked around the empty room, I could still smell the scent of the two of us mixed together, I could still feel his warmth and now I was left here alone and feeling cold with my cheek still aching. Tears brimmed at the back of my eyes but I refused to cry. I waited for him to show up, hoping that he would be scolding his sister but time passed agonizingly slowly and he didn't return.

A tear escaped my eyes and then another and I started to sob. The ache in my heart was unbearable. 

'He's a scum, even though he is our mate but he's a scum,' my wolf, Frea was so mad as she hissed. I was just about to defend him out of habit, but I stopped. It made no sense, my wolf was a part of mine, she was sharing my feelings, and to lie to her was to lie to myself.

I know that my relationship went wrong. But he said he'll scold his step-sister for sure. He said he would. With tears on my cheeks and pain in my heart. I didn't realize it when I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up with a touch on my arm. My head was aching in pain and my throat felt dry. I groggily sat up and found Liam sitting beside me. He was holding my hands.

"I'm so sorry. I know Stella is wrong this time, she shouldn't have slapped you. Believe me, I scolded her a lot last night. She cried, apologized and promised that she will not do it again. Please, April she's just a child and you're older than her. You're mature, just forgive her. Don’t pick on a child. You know how much importance she has in my life, you should accommodate her." He said calmly as if I was the one unreasonable. With each of his words, my heart ached.

How could he expect me to forgive Stella just because she was a child mentally? Even kids know more manners than Stella.

I stayed quiet. I had nothing to say back after what he had just said.

He inched closer and kissed the corner of my mouth as he cupped my cheek making me look at him. "You're my mate. You're important to me," He said the words which I wanted to hear as if he just read my mind but still they felt so meaningless.

"April, I want you to host my birthday party and attend it with me as my mate," He said and my brows furrowed.

"Are you going to announce me as your Luna?" I asked.

"It's just a warm-up baby. You deserve a more grand announcement ceremony. It will be soon, don't worry." He said while caressing my cheek.

“Does it hurt?” He asked, but I didn't answer so he grabbed the medicine from the bedside drawer and applied it on my bruised cheek, looking so considerate and worried about me.

Looking down at our hands, I nodded my head.

Our anniversary was within three days. I had to prepare for that and he knew it. And now I had to prepare for his birthday party as well which was next week. I didn't mind doing my job as a Luna. But I would have appreciated it if he decided to help me a little bit; it was alright. I'll manage.

But knowing that he wasn't going to make my announcement as Luna on both of these occasions hurts.

Within two days I prepared for the birthday party. I made sure to invite lots of packs. I didn't want to make any mistake regarding the party. I want it to be his perfect day. I dropped by Lily. Just two days ago Lily had given birth to a baby boy. I was in awe when I took the baby boy in my arms. He was the replica of his father but had Lily's eyes.

"I know how much you love babies and how you always had yearned to have a family. Why didn't you give Liam a baby yet? It's been five years. I think you guys need a baby," Lily said and my heart churned in pain.

No one knows I'm pregnant. I should be celebrating this news with Liam but I can't even tell him because of his step-sister. 

"I didn't want to force Liam to have a baby. I just want my baby with everyone's expectations. And as Stella was out of the coma, things are pretty difficult these days," I whispered.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked and I sighed. My heart was filled up too much with pain. I want to share my feelings with someone to breathe a little. I have no one in this world except Liam but he didn't seem to notice my pain.

I told Lily about the things that happened after Stella got out of the coma, cutting the part where I found out I was pregnant.

Lily seemed furious though. I just wanted to share my feeling to feel better but I didn't expect Lily to react so angrily.

"You're so naive, April," Lily said as I shook my head.

"It's not like that, Liam consoled me. He even said Stella was sorry," I said not even believing this myself.

"You're just being silly, April," Lily said calmly.

While I was busy preparing for Liam's birthday party, my long-awaited anniversary finally arrived!

It was our anniversary night. I took a lot of time to get ready and look good for Liam. I hope he will compliment me at least. He often compliments me and expresses how much he loves me. I hope we can dance together and share some special moments together.

I got ready and left the room. The pack members knew that today’s our anniversary, and they congratulated me once they saw me. . 

On my way to Liam, I got his mind-link, 'April? Baby, I'm too busy to pick you up. You must go there first,' 

I didn't mind it. He must be busy just like I am while preparing for the function of the anniversary dinner. I would wait for him there, and I would ask him to give me a little gift as compensation for being late for the anniversary.  

I was waiting for Liam in the Dining Hall. I was giddy thinking about the surprise he would give me. He had mentioned before that he was going to surprise me on our anniversary. 

My heart rattled in my chest when I saw Liam walking into the hall along with Stella. 

I wanted to confront him about why he was with Stella when he helped Stella on the seat and approached me. 

Stella said before me, “it's my fault, I took a long time to pick out my dress, today is a big day for you two, you know Liam is my lovest person in the world, I just want to dress up to celebrate your anniversary. It was me who made him late,  you won't be angry for that, right?” She spoke to me in her exclusive tone for Liam, gave me a sweet smile, acting as an innocent baby girl.

I felt angry, what the hell?

"Take it easy, Stella, April is the kindest angel in the world, she won't be mad at you,” He reassured Stella then winked at me, “ Will you, baby?  Let's order first, I’m so hungry, after that I will reveal the surprise for you, you will like it! I promise." He said and I looked away, I swallowed back what I was going to say, okay, let's see what the surprise is first.

He took his seat between me and Stella. We ordered food. Liam ordered fish and I was surprised. Liam hates fish. He can't bear the smell of fish which is why I haven't eaten my favorite dish for years.

For a minute my heart warmed up thinking that he ordered it for me. He will bear the smell of it for me because I love fish. I felt better with this thought of mine. 

This made me even more curious about what Liam said about the surprise, so I asked him, “What’s the surprise?”. Liam smiled mysteriously, then looked at Stella.

At the same time, Stella raised her glass in the air. "Ta-da, it’s me! I'm sorry April. For everything. From now on I'll treat you as my family." Stella said with an apologetic face.

I was surprised no doubt but Liam had scolded her that night. Maybe she has changed now. Maybe we could really be a family like she said, and then our baby would be born in love and anticipation.I touched my belly and contemplated if I could tell them about my pregnancy now. This could be my anniversary surprise to Liam. “Liam-” I stopped when the waiter came forward. Liam didn't hear me.

The fish was served. I was about to dig into my favorite food when the plate was gone from in front of me and Liam put it in front of Stella. 

Then I could feel the smile on my face frozen.

Stella was unwilling to have it but Liam said fish is good for her health. He insisted on her eating it and he even cut the fish and fed her some of it with care.

I felt chills of shock running down my spine as my heart constricted in agony.

Once I had the fish at Lily's place when I got back home Liam had smelt it on me and he pushed me away roughly, I still couldn't forget his disgusted face. And now, his face had a smile as he fed fish to Stella as if he never hated this food.

How could he bear the smell of it now; not only that, he was feeding it to another girl. He could've ordered one for me as well. Has he forgotten that I'm weak too, and I also need to eat healthy food?

Liam faced me and he smiled. "The arrangements are amazing. You did a great job, April." Liam complimented me and I noticed how Stella's face looked unhappy. "This fish tastes bad," Stella grumbled as she asked the waiter to throw it away.

"No, why are you throwing it away?" I asked angrily when Liam spoke up.

"Why did you suddenly get angry, baby? Oh, I got it, you also want it,I remember you said you like fish. Okay, take it, as Stella dislikes it. This way we won’t waste food," Liam said as he stood up.

"I can't bear the smell of it any longer. Finish this before I return," Liam said as he left the table and I felt so humiliated at the moment. 

I loved Liam so I gave up on my favorite food for years but now I have witnessed what Liam does when he loves someone. 'I don't like him anymore. We should break up with him.' Frea said.

I agreed with my wolf. For the first time I wanted to break up, but…what about my baby? I thought we should continue, for the baby. 

But this behavior of his was not acceptable. I had to talk to him one on one someday.

I was still thinking of Liam when I heard a burst of laughter, it was Stella.

"Look at you though you're his mate. He only cherishes me. He will never marry you and you'll never become the real Luna of the pack because it will make me unhappy and Liam can't see me sad. If you continue to stick to my family then the only identity you can have is 'the little orphan' , and you can have my leftovers," Stella said as she pushed the plate of fish towards me.

"Eat it, because you only deserve my leftover, little orphan," She mocked.

I felt fury coursing through my veins. Grabbing that plate I threw the material of it at her face. 

The next second, I saw her smug expression become aggrieved and she even started saying sorry. 

I felt confused.

"What the f*ck?" Liam yelled loudly behind me.

I stood up ready to tell him what Stella said but I gasped loudly when an ice cold water was splashed on me. I breathed in rapidly, my eyes wide as I stared at Liam stunned.

"Are you out of your mind? How could you throw fish at Stella? If you didn't want to eat it you could've just said it. She's younger than you, she’s just a child, April. Are you insane?" Liam was mad.

He just saw what I did but he didn't hear what his step-sister said to me.

"Calm down for God's sake," Liam said to me.

I was about to explain when Stella sobbed. "I j...just wanted to accept you as my family, April. Why did you get angry when I asked you to be my friend?" Stella cried and my eyes widened in shock.

"S.. she's lying," my voice came out shaky as Liam gave me a cold look. 

"I feel dizzy," Stella mumbled as Liam immediately picked her up in his arms. Tolerating the smell of fish on her. "I'll take you to the hospital," Liam said, panicked.

Before he could take a step a huge muscular frame blocked his way.

I watched with teary eyes as Jason moved toward me. Liam paused as he stared.

Jason gave me a handkerchief and I took it hesitantly as I wiped my face. I didn't look at him. I was too humiliated and hurt.

Jason faces Liam. "You need to go to the hospital more than your sister, and I suggest you visit a psychiatrist unit."

Jason said in his deep voice. He seemed fearless.