Betrayal

Terra

Was that… Was she… no. No.

"Miranda is pregnant with my heir," Damien said, confirming my suspicions. "My heir will not be born a bastard."

Nausea clogged up my throat and it felt like the world was spinning out of control around me. But more than that I was shaken as I realized what exactly Damien was telling me.

"You… You want to reject me." I stared at Damien waiting for him to deny it but he didn't.

"I have only ever cared for Miranda. You know that."

I did but I still couldn't accept it. I wanted the pretence to end yet I… I couldn't let go of him.

"I am your MATE, Damien. Our relationship is fated, you can't just end things like this."

It was sick, I knew but I wasn't sure I could live without Damien.

Damien's grey eyes met mine and for a second it felt like it was only both of us in the room.

Both of us and all the hurt and pain we had put each other through. For a moment, it felt like Damien was seeing me, really seeing me.

Then Miranda's shaky voice cut through the tension and the moment was gone.

"She's right, Damien. I shouldn't have come here. I'll raise this baby by myself."

She tried to move away but Damien held her back.

"No," He growled, and then he levelled a hateful glare at me."Your manipulation will not work this time, Terra."

"I, Damien Evergreen, reject you, Terra Morgan as my mate."

Excruciating pain slammed into me at Damien's words severing our bond. Diana retreated into herself but it did nothing to stop the intensity of her pain flooding through to me. My tenuous hold on gravity fractured and I fell to my knees trying and failing to hold in a scream of pain as the world blurred around me.

Through the haze of pain that surrounded me, I heard a heavy thud and Damien's panicked voice reached my ears.

"Miranda!" He gasped. "Guards, get the royal physicians!"

I opened my eyes long enough to see Damien carry an unconscious Miranda out of the room while I lay on the ground, broken.

I don't know how long I stayed there on the ground before I could gather enough strength to walk out of Damien's room.

Every step felt like I was walking on needles completely naked and I heard the whispers as the word spread.

"... knew it was only a matter of time..."

"... an omega AND barren, what was the Prince thinking…"

"... Miranda is one of us. She will make a far more stronger queen…"

"... diluting our blood with inferior species…"

I stumbled forward, tears blurring my vision. If I stopped, I wasn't sure I would be able to continue.

My mate rejected me. He cheated on me while we were still mated. He was having a child with his ex-fiance.

The nausea that had been building in me all day crested and I found myself puking on the flowerbeds just outside the palace.

I straightened, the bitter taste of bile in my mouth. I took another step forward but the world moved with me and I stumbled.

Then everything went blissfully dark and quiet.

I came to myself in pieces, my ears ringing, my body heavy and tired.

"... she is severely dehydrated. Her nutrient levels are also dangerously low, especially in her current state."

There was a pause.

"There is no doubt then that she is pregnant?"

That voice. I would know it anywhere. It was Naya's.

"None, the lady is pregnant." The man sounded certain and a rough gasp escaped Naya.

"Oh, Terra." She whispered.

She was still talking to the man but I couldn't hear her.

No. No. No. It couldn't be. There had to be another person in this room even though I could only smell the three of us.

I couldn't be pregnant now of all times. Surely the Goddess wasn't so cruel.

I opened my eyes to a world that was somehow more vicious than the one I had lost consciousness in.

Naya was at my side in seconds, tears glistening in her eyes even though she attempted a shaky smile.

"Terra," She said softly. "Sophia called me."

Of course, she did. Sophia had always been loyal to me even to her own detriment.

"Naya," My voice was little more than a croak. "Am I really pregnant?"

Naya nodded once, her tears spilling over to her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry, Terra."

She pulled me into a warm comforting hug but my eyes remained dry.

I felt hollow inside as I spoke.

"Damien can never find out about this."