Chapter 4

My last hope died out.

I stared into Toby’s eyes, searching for something, but there was nothing, just cold emptiness.

They locked me in the dark, damp basement.

That night, under the cover of darkness, I pulled out my phone and scheduled an abortion. Once I severed the final tie between us, nothing would be able to hold me back.

The procedure was set for a week later, on the same day I planned to leave for good.

However, just after I hung up the phone, I felt a faint flutter in my belly, and I hesitated.

Just then, the basement door was kicked open. Tammy stood there, her pregnant belly leading the way.

Now that it was just the two of us, she dropped the act completely. Her face twisted into a smug, scornful grin.

“How boring, Stacy. I didn’t think you would break so easily. Where’s the fun in that?”

She took slow, deliberate steps toward me, her face contorted with malice.

“I warned you—Toby is mine. I am the only she-wolf who matters to him. You thought you could steal him? Be his mate? You and your filthy little mutt deserve everything coming to you.”

She let out a shrill, triumphant laugh.

Blinded by rage, I lost all sense of reason and grabbed whatever was within reach, hurling it in her direction.

It was just an old pillow—worn, forgotten, useless.

Tammy dodged it easily and screamed, loud enough for the whole pack to hear.

Toby and Amy burst in seconds later.

Tammy was already clutching her belly, crying pitifully with her voice trembling.

“I was just worried Stacy might be hungry, so I came down to check on her. But as soon as I walked in, she threw this at me!”

She pointed at a woodcutting axe conveniently lying at her feet, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“It scared me so much, that my stomach started hurting! Toby, what if something happens to our baby? The doctor said I am already weak…”

Her performance was laughable, but everyone believed her.

“Stacy! How dare you try to hurt Tammy’s pup!”

Amy suddenly flew into a rage, shoving me with all her strength.

I crashed into a nearby table, my belly hitting the edge. Pain exploded through me. My face went pale as I doubled over, speechless from the agony.

However, Amy was not done. She stepped forward again, ready to strike, but Toby stopped her.

“Toby, she tried to hurt your child! How dare she try to harm a future member of our family! You cannot let her off so easily!”

Let me off easily?

Had he ever let me off?

I clutched my belly; the pain was so intense it left me numb. Cold sweat streamed down my face, and in the end, I could not hold on, I collapsed beside the table.

Toby did not even flinch. He frowned slightly, then calmly instructed Amy to take Tammy to the hospital for a check-up.

Only after they were gone did he look at me. His eyes were cold now, filled with disappointment that quickly froze into complete indifference.

“You’ve gone too far, Stacy.

“The only reason I kept you close was to protect you, to avoid suspicion about your pregnancy from the other wolves.

“I never thought you would stoop so low lashing out at Tammy and her child out of jealousy. Do you really want the Elders to exile you?”

I shut my eyes in despair, biting back the pain. My voice was barely a whisper as I replied, “Let them exile me. After all, Tammy’s carrying your real child. Mine is just a mutt.”

Toby froze for a moment. He looked like he did not know how to respond for a second.

He struggled to hold back his emotions, lowering his voice. The look on his face was weary and worn out.

“I’ll take care of things. But for now, you stay here. Have the baby. That’s your only priority.

“And stop fighting with Tammy. Please.”

I let out a soft, bitter laugh. That laugh was the last straw.

Before he stormed out and slammed the door behind him, he tossed one last sentence over his shoulder with a cold voice,

“If you refuse to reflect on your actions, then stay here and think. I will come check on you and the baby every night.”

He kept me locked up for days until the day before I was set to leave.

That day, Tammy strutted past the basement, loudly bragging that Toby was taking her to the hospital for a prenatal check-up.

That night, I became strangely quiet, almost obedient.

When Toby came to see me, I asked with a soft voice if he could take me to the hospital too.

It was the first time I had shown him any sign of submission in days.

He looked thrilled, and he wrapped his arms around me tightly.

“Stacy, I’m so glad you’ve come around. I forgive you. Let’s raise this baby together and move forward, okay?

“Don’t worry, I’ll take you to your appointment.”

The next day, he broke his promise.

When Tammy caught sight of me, her mood soured, and she immediately complained of discomfort.

I watched Toby fuss over her and let out a dry, bitter smile.

In the end, he never even realized I had gone to the operating room.

As I lay on the cold, sterile table, a single tear slid from the corner of my eye.

I rested a hand gently on my belly and whispered one last goodbye.