Chapter 2

OCTAVA:

The elevator ride felt like forever. Each second ticked in my head like a ticking time bomb. My palm was slick, and my palm shallow. I shouldn’t have been this nervous, he was my husband for crying out loud, not a stranger, but ironically, that’s what Jakeson had always been to me, a stranger who shared my bed without ever really touching my heart.

The Beta’s words echoed in my ears like a war drum.

“Luna, the Alpha is in room 307, currently preparing for a meeting.

A meeting on a Sunday morning? That didn’t quite add up, but maybe I was overreacting. I guess the hormones were already kicking in.

Still, I held onto the small box that contained a silver chain with a tiny wolf charm. Something I had purchased as soon as I left the hospital.

I had purchased it after leaving the hospital. I thought it would be the cutest way to inform him that we are having a baby.

The words alone had lit up something inside me. Something that had been dead for a long time. Hope.

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped into the quiet hallway. I found room 307 pretty easily.

I knocked softly on the door, my heart thundering against my chest as the nervousness returned.

Although I was carrying good news, I couldn’t help, but be nervous by Jake’s reaction. What if he was indifferent?

It had been five whole years since we had been trying for a child.

No, I was being dramatic. I was finally giving him an heir, the one thing he had always asked for. Even the coldest of tyrants would be moved.

When there was no answer, I knocked again. Maybe he was in the bathroom.

I turned the handle when he didn’t answer. The door creaked open, and I froze at the scene before me.

Jakeson was inside, shirt half unbuttoned, hair wet, standing beside a woman who was unmistakably pregnant, Her belly was round as a ball beneath a silk robe, her long black hair spilling down her shoulders.

He was adjusting the blanket over her legs tenderly, like a man taking care of the woman he loved.

“Jakeson!” My voice cracked. “What is this?’ I whispered, my chest tight.

He froze, the warmth that had shone in his eyes just seconds ago turned to stone. He straightened slowly, the air between us tightening.

The woman turned her head towards me just then and smirked.

“You must be Octava, I have heard so much about you.” Her tone was mocking.

My throat went dry, “Who are you?” I questioned.

She gave a small laugh, tracing her hands around her rounded stomach.

“Elma. The woman who is doing what you couldn’t do in the past five years.” Her words sliced through all my defenses, and removed every tiny benefit of the doubt I was about to give Jakeson.

I staggered backwards, my eyes blurring.

“You are lying!” I accused

“Am I?" she taunted. “He’s going to be the father of my babies." She leaned back, her smile cruel.

“Something your fragile human body could never give him.

I looked at Jakeson, desperate for him to deny, to say something to the contrary, but all he did was stare at me with the same detached expression he always wore around me, like I was an inconvenience, and not a wife.

“Say something.” I cried.

“Tell me she is lying, please.”

His jaw tightened, but the silence stretched until it became unbearable. The only sound was my heartbeat slamming against my ribs.

Elma stood up, brushing her robe down dramatically. “He doesn’t have to say anything, darling. The truth is standing right in front of you.”

She took a deliberate step closer as if to intimidate me.

“Why don’t you be a good girl, and leave? You’ve embarrassed yourself enough, human .”

“Enough!” I snapped, anger bursting through my chest. “You don’t speak to me like that in the presence of my husband!”

“Your husband?” she burst out laughing like she was in a comedy show, and I was the main act. “Oh, sweet human, wake up. He was never yours. He was always mine. You were always nothing, but a cum bucket to him.”

Her smile was the last thing I saw, before my hand moved on its own, sharp, sudden, a slap that echoed through the room. Her head jerked to the side, and her hand flew to her cheek.

For a heartbeat, everything was still, then she let out a theatrical gasp, and stumbled backward, deliberating hitting her stomach on the edge of the bed, before collapsing to the floor.

“My baby!” she screamed, clutching her stomach like she had been hit by a truck.

I froze in horror.

“No, no… I didn’t mean to. She is pretending!” I tried to explain to Jakeson as I took a step closer to her.

The words had just flown out of my mouth when Jakeson pushed me to stay away from her, I fell to the ground, hard and fast.

But Jakeson had already moved to her side, lifting her gently, panic flashing in his eyes, but not for me. He didn’t even care that he had hit me.

“Jakeson…” I reached for him, tears spilling down my face.

“She’s lying, I didn’t…”

“Enough Octave!” he snapped. “Why did you come here? Why couldn't you just stay home where you belong? If anything happens to her, I swear I will make sure you regret it.”

Elma moaned dramatically in his arms, and he turned toward the door.

“Stay here,” he ordered, his voice clipped. “I’ll deal with you later.”

“Jakeson, please!” I cried out, grabbing his wrist.

He jerked away like my touch burned him. “Don’t. Don’t touch me.”

Something inside me shattered. He carried Elma out, calling for help down the hall. The door slammed behind them and I was alone.

Pain shot through my stomach, the same one that had led me to the hospital.

Only it was more intense, more painful. I screamed for help, but nobody came.

Slowly, I crawled out of the room, trying to call for help.

My body weakened just as I got out of the room, and the world spun around me.

The last thing I saw were legs shuffling towards, and a woman's scream, before I lost consciousness.