Chapter 5

The world went silent around me. My knees turned to water as I stared at the man whose dark eyes were locked onto mine with a terrifying intensity. It felt as if the floor beneath my feet could give way at any moment.

What was he doing? How could he drop a bombshell like that in front of my entire family?

Every gaze in the room was a weapon. My father’s disbelief, my brother’s shock, and Eileen. Her eyes were twin pools of pure, murderous rage, fixed entirely on me. My heart hammered against my ribs so hard I could barely breathe, each beat echoing with dread.

"What?! How is this even possible?" my brother Fred roared. Out of everyone, he was the one I feared disappointing the most. He was the future Beta, the one who held the family’s honor together. Seeing his faith in me crack hurt more than the accusations.

Eileen, still clutching a jagged piece of the broken vase, stopped sobbing. Her face contorted as she turned toward me. "Aubrey, is this true?!" she demanded. There was a flicker of something in her voice, not just anger but a desperate need for it to be a lie.

My father’s brow furrowed into a deep V as he glared at Travis. "Are you serious?" His voice was low and dangerous. "This isn’t a joke, Travis. You can't just invent a scandal to get out of marrying my eldest daughter. And Aubrey? My daughter is not pregnant!"

Hearing my father defend me, even if it was only because he refused to believe I could shame him, made the fear in my gut double.

Travis didn't flinch. He stood there with the cool confidence of a True Alpha, untouched by the storm he had created. "You know me, Mr. Castile. I don't play games, and I don't tell stories. I will marry your daughter. But not Eileen." He spared a cold glance at my sister before turning back to me. "I’m taking Aubrey."

Memories of our night together flashed through my mind. The heat, the pleasure, and the way he had claimed me without knowing who I was. I never imagined it would lead to this nightmare, one that would tear my family apart in a single evening.

"Aubrey," Fred called out, stepping toward me. He searched my face, his eyes pleading for the truth. "What happened? Tell me what’s going on."

I stood as straight as I could, but the words were stuck in my throat. My chest felt tight, my thoughts tangled. "I..."

"Leave us, Travis," my father commanded, trying to regain control of his house.

"No one tells me what to do." Travis didn't move. He looked completely unbothered by my father’s Alpha command. "I need to talk to Aubrey. I’m taking responsibility."

"No!" Eileen shrieked. She was spiraling now, her emotions raw and uncontrollable, so volatile that even her mother, Estella, hesitated to touch her.

I grabbed Fred’s arm as the room began to spin. Eileen’s gaze was pure poison, burning straight through me.

"You slut! You knew he was my fiancé! You did this on purpose to steal him from me!" she screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of betrayal. "Everything, Aubrey! You have to take everything from me!"

I shook my head, tears finally spilling over. I didn't know. I had no idea the stranger in the bar was the man she was supposed to marry. Eileen lunged at me, her claws likely ready to come out, but Fred stepped between us without hesitation, acting as a shield.

"Move, Fred! I’ll kill her!"

The chaos closed in around me, leaving no room to breathe. Fear, shame, and a strange sense of protection for my unborn child surged through me.

Something inside me snapped, and suddenly, I found my voice.

"No. He’s not the father!" I cried out, my voice cracking with desperation.

The room fell into a deafening silence. Every pair of eyes turned to me. I felt like a trembling child standing before judgment, but I didn't care. I couldn't let Travis do this. I didn't know what his endgame was.

"Aubrey..." Travis’s voice was low, almost coaxing, but I couldn't listen to it.

"You're mistaken," I said, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "You aren't the father of my child. Don't throw away your agreement with my sister over a mistake."

"You’re lying!" Travis growled.

He took a step toward me, but Fred shoved him back. "You need to go, Travis. Now. This is a family matter. You heard her. She says it’s not yours. So please, leave while I still have a shred of respect for you."

Fred was barely holding it together. He was a Beta, torn between his instinct to protect his sister and his duty to the pack hierarchy. I knew that once the guests were gone and we were alone, mercy would no longer exist.

"Travis!" Eileen screamed as he finally turned and walked away. She tried to follow, but Estella held her back, whispering urgently to calm her.

"We need to talk. Let him go for now," Estella said. She turned to me, her face a mask of hatred, then looked at my father. "Fix this. She cannot do this to our family."

Once they dragged Eileen away, I was left alone in the living room with my father and my brother. I sank onto the couch, my strength gone, my body heavy with exhaustion and fear. I couldn't deny the pregnancy anymore. My scent would give me away soon enough.

"So, you’re pregnant." My father’s voice was devoid of emotion. It was worse than if he had screamed.

I stood up, shaking. Fred didn't even reach out to help me this time. "D-Dad... I’m sorry."

The slap was so loud it seemed to echo off the marble walls. I fell back, my lip trembling as the sting burned my cheek.

"Is Travis the father?!" he roared.

I shook my head frantically. "N-No, Dad.... It’s not him. Don't... Don't worry. You can still marry him off to Eileen. I’m sorry I disappointed you."

I pressed my palms together, begging for a forgiveness I knew wasn't coming.

"I don't care about your sorry," my father hissed. "I want to know who the father is. Because if he isn't from a high-ranking family, you will get rid of that child. I won't have a bastard tainting our bloodline!"

Horror chilled my blood. "No, Dad! You can kick me out, disown me, whatever! But I won't kill my baby!"

"Then explain Travis," Fred pressured. "Why would he claim a child that isn't his?"

I looked at him, trapped by the truth I couldn't reveal. I had no answer.

"If you won't talk, I’ll find out myself," my father said, his eyes cold and calculating. "I know Travis. He doesn't make claims he can't back up. Tomorrow morning, we’re doing a blood-lineage test. If that child is his, you will be the one walking down the aisle to him."