Chapter 3

Eric didn't come back all night. I assumed he was with the pregnant Victoria.

But I didn't care anymore. I was leaving anyway.

The next morning, my door was kicked open.

Eric's mother, Megan, barged in with six maids.

Victoria followed behind them, her hands dramatically cradling a stomach that was less than a month pregnant.

"Clear this place out."

At Megan's command, the maids pounced on my wardrobe like bandits.

My clothes, books, and even my underwear were tossed onto the hallway floor like trash.

Megan looked at me with disdain. "Victoria is carrying a pureblood wolf pup. She needs the spiritual energy of the master bedroom to nurture the fetus. Move to the servant's quarters downstairs immediately."

Victoria walked up to me, proudly thrusting out her flat belly.

"Sorry, Bella. Since you can't get pregnant with Eric's child, I had to step in and help." She leaned into my ear, whispering so only I could hear. "He pumped so much into me last night... my legs are still weak."

Before I could say anything, Eric returned.

He rushed upstairs, panting, only to see the mess in the hallway.

My underwear had been thrown near the shoe rack, marked with footprints.

A flash of guilt crossed Eric's eyes.

He opened his mouth, about to scold the maids.

Suddenly, Victoria cried out, "Ouch!" clutching her stomach and leaning against the doorframe.

"Eric... the baby seems startled... my stomach hurts..."

Eric's guilt vanished instantly.

He immediately rushed over to support Victoria, his voice cracking with tension. "What's wrong? Did you stand too long? Quick, get her inside and have her lie down!"

Only after settling Victoria did Eric remember I was still standing in the hallway.

He pulled me into a corner, away from everyone's view.

"Bella, I know this is hard for you." His expression was a mix of deep affection and helplessness.

"But I have no choice. It's Pack law. As the Alpha, I must have an heir. If I don't, they'll execute you for 'beguiling the Alpha' and ending the bloodline."

He gripped my shoulders, staring into my eyes with solemn conviction.

"I swear, I didn't touch Victoria. That child was created through genetic extraction—test tube technology."

"As soon as the baby is born and the succession is secured, I'll send Victoria away immediately. You will raise the child. We'll be a happy family of three, okay?"

What a perfect lie.

If I hadn't heard Victoria moaning last night about him going "too deep," I might have believed him.

Test tube technology, my ass.

Looking at his face, written all over with "sincerity," I suddenly felt exhausted.

What was the point of exposing him?

Just then, my phone vibrated. It was a text from Alex: Everything is ready. Tonight.

"Okay." I put my phone away calmly and nodded at Eric.

Eric let out a sigh of relief, clearly not expecting me to be so "obedient."

"I knew you understood me best." He kissed my forehead. "Bear with the guest room for a few days. Once this blows over, I promise I'll make it up to you."

I turned around, picked up my luggage from the floor, and moved into the moldy guest room.

In the afternoon, Eric was called away for a meeting with the Council of Elders.

I was organizing my things when the guest room door was pushed open.

Victoria walked in.

She was already wearing the silk sleeping robe Eric had bought for me.

"Nice atmosphere," she sneered, covering her nose with a handkerchief as she kicked the suitcase on the floor.

"I heard you're going to raise my child?"

She let out a cold laugh and walked over to my open suitcase, which held the only photo I had of me and my deceased parents.

"You think you're worthy?"

Victoria picked up the frame. Her fingers tightened, and she smashed it hard onto the floor.

Glass shattered everywhere. Shards pierced the smiling faces of my parents in the photo.

My reason snapped instantly.

"You have a death wish!" I roared, rushing forward to shove her away.

But I forgot she was a Beta wolf. Even a pregnant she-wolf had five times the strength of a human.

Victoria didn't budge.

She backhanded me, slapping me hard across the face.

My ears rang. I fell to the ground, my palm landing on the broken glass, blood flowing instantly.

Before I could get up, she raised her foot and kicked me hard in the stomach.

"Ugh—"

Severe pain made me curl into a ball. Cold sweat soaked my back instantly.

Just then, steady footsteps came from the end of the hallway. Eric was back.

The arrogance on Victoria's face vanished instantly, replaced by terror.

She suddenly pulled a pure silver dagger from her sleeve.

It was the weapon werewolves feared most; a stab to the heart meant certain death.

She forced the dagger into my hand, then threw herself backward, slamming heavily onto the floor.

"Ahhh—!!"

A piercing scream shattered the silence of the villa.

"Help! Eric! Help me! Bella is trying to kill our baby!"

The door was slammed open, and Eric rushed in.

He saw Victoria cowering in the corner, clutching her stomach in terror, her face covered in tears.

And I was gripping a pure silver dagger, stained with blood.

"Bella!!" Eric let out a furious roar.

Top-tier Alpha pressure exploded in the room. I felt suffocated.

Eric charged over, snatched the dagger from my hand, and flung it out the door.

His eyes had turned crimson. "Are you crazy?!"

"That is a life! That is my child! How dare you point silver at him?!"

"I didn't..." I tried to explain.

I wanted to say she put it in my hand, but he wasn't listening.

"I know you're angry!"

Eric cut me off, his voice filled with disappointment.

"I know you're jealous of her because you're human and can't bear my children! But I already promised you would raise the child. Why do you have to be so vicious?"

"How can you be so selfish? You don't understand what a bloodline means to the Pack!"