Chapter 4

Aliya stood at the top of the stairs with one hand beneath her stomach, watching me like an evil hawk.

"Where is he?" I demanded, my voice hard.

"The elders called him,” she shrugged. 

"Then I'll wait inside."

She stepped in front of the door.

"You really don't know when you're no longer wanted."

"Move out of my way, Aliya. This room is mine."

"Why? So you can show him that piece of paper?"

My fingers tightened around the pregnancy report.

Her eyes dropped to it.

Then to the hand I had placed over my stomach.

Her smile disappeared.

"You're pregnant."

I tried to hide the report behind me.

"That's none of your business."

"How far along?" she snapped, eyes red.

"Move away, Aliya."

Instead of moving, she reached out and grabbed the paper.

But I held on fiercely.

In a second, it tore between us.

Aliya looked at the half in her hand.

Her face went pale.

"Five weeks."

I snatched it back.

"Antonio will know as soon as he returns."

"No,” she shook her head, “I will never let you have him again!”

"You cannot stop me."

"These children are Damian's heirs."

"I never said they weren't."

"If you give Antonio his own child, the Pack will forget mine."

"That isn't my problem,” I snapped, “you’re the one trying to ruin my bond with my mate.”

Her eyes filled with more hatred.

"Everything was finally mine," she whispered, her eyes moist.

The audacity of this woman. Am I supposed to pity her?

"You already took my title, my room and my mate. What more do you want?"

"I want you gone!" she snarled.

"Then congratulations. After I speak to Antonio, you can have him."

I turned toward the stairs.

Aliya grabbed my arm.

"You think he'll let you leave after finding out you're pregnant?"

"Let go of me, Aliya," I hissed.

"He'll make you Luna. He'll give your child everything,” she screeched, her claws digging into my skin.

"I said let go!" I pulled free and reached for the railing.

Her hands struck my back.

I wasn't expecting it and holding the rail didn't work as gravity pulled me down the long flight of stairs.

The floor disappeared beneath me.

My screams were loud as pain hit everywhere in my body until my body collided with the ground floor.

Pain exploded through my shoulder.

My hip.

My stomach.

Then I hit the floor, screaming in pain and shock.

For a few seconds, I couldn't breathe.

When I stopped screaming, only letting out sobs, that’s when I felt it.

Warm blood spread between my legs.

"No,” I gasped, refusing to believe this.

I pressed both hands against my stomach.

"No, no, please."

The bedroom door opened upstairs.

Antonio stepped out, frowning.

He looked at Aliya first, and then he saw me.

"Cara?" he called, his eyes filled with familiar concern.

He came down two steps.

Relief entered me.

He was coming.

He had finally seen what she had done.

But Aliya suddenly screamed.

"The babies! They're coming! Ahh!”

She bent over, clutching her stomach.

Fluid ran down her legs.

He stopped.

His eyes moved between us.

"She pushed me," I gasped. "Antonio, she pushed me."

Aliya cried louder.

"Please, Damian. Don't let our babies die."

Antonio ran back up the stairs without hesitation.

He lifted her into his arms.

My cries paused in my throat as I watched in shock as he quickly put his arms around her and carried her screaming form.

"Alfred!" he shouted.

The old butler rushed into the hall.

"Take Cara to the hospital."

Antonio carried Aliya down.

I reached for him when he passed me.

"I'm pregnant,” I said, desperate.

He looked down at the blood around me.

Disbelief crossed his face.

"Not now, Cara."

"Our baby—"

"Don't do this while Aliya is in labor!"

He pulled away from my hand.

Then he ran out of the Pack house with Aliya in his arms.

I watched him leave.

Even after everything, I had believed that if he knew about our baby, he would choose us.

Now I have my answer.