Chapter 9

Tesla’s POV

The morning light streamed through the small window, its pale rays illuminating the sparsely furnished room. My eyes fluttered open, and a familiar sense of dread washed over me. The room… it looked so familiar. Where was I?

I pushed myself up, my head still foggy from the events of the previous night. The faint scent of cedarwood lingered in the air, the same scent that always clung to Alpha Henry. My stomach twisted. How had he found out? How did he know I was pregnant?

A sudden sound made me flinch. The door creaked open, and a guard stepped in, his imposing frame filling the doorway. He carried a tray of food, which he placed on the table without a word.

“Eat,” he said gruffly, his tone devoid of warmth.

I hesitated, my eyes darting to the tray before flickering back to him. “Why am I here?” I asked, my voice trembling.

The guard didn’t respond. He simply turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him. I stared at the food, my appetite nonexistent despite the gnawing hunger in my stomach.

Minutes passed before the door opened again, and this time, it was the doctor. The same doctor who had delivered the news of my pregnancy to me just days ago. His presence made my pulse quicken with unease.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice sharper now, fueled by fear and confusion.

The doctor adjusted his glasses, his expression calm but guarded. “Alpha Henry ordered me to check on you,” he said simply, his tone professional.

“To check on me?” I repeated, narrowing my eyes. “Why? He wants me gone. He doesn’t even want me.”

The doctor sighed, pulling a chair close to the bed and sitting down. “The Alpha has… complicated priorities,” he said carefully. “While he may have his reasons for keeping you here, his primary concern is the child.”

My heart sank at his words. “So, I’m just some vessel to him,” I muttered bitterly, wrapping my arms around my stomach protectively.

The doctor’s expression softened slightly. “I’m here to ensure both you and the baby are healthy, Tesla. That’s all.”

I glared at him, tears stinging my eyes. “Do you even hear yourself? He’s keeping me prisoner, and you’re enabling him!”

The doctor hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. “I’m only following orders,” he said quietly.

I shook my head, anger and despair mixing in my chest. “Why does he care about this child? He doesn’t want me. He hates me.”

The doctor’s gaze dropped to the floor for a moment before meeting mine again. “You may not understand it, but to the Alpha, bloodline is everything. This child… it’s his heir. And that means he’ll do whatever it takes to protect it.”

His words hit me like a slap. I wanted to scream, to shout, to tell him how unfair this was, but I knew it would fall on deaf ears.

“Does Katherine know?” I asked suddenly, my voice low but urgent.

The doctor’s expression flickered with something—sympathy, perhaps? “No,” he said after a pause. “And it’s best it stays that way. For your safety.”

“For my safety?” I laughed bitterly. “I’m locked up in this room. How is that safe?”

The doctor stood, his professional demeanor slipping back into place. “Rest, Tesla,” he said, ignoring my question. “I’ll be back to check on you tomorrow.”

As he left, I stared at the door, my mind racing. This wasn’t just about me anymore. It was about my child—a child the Alpha wanted but didn’t deserve.

The door slammed open with a force that rattled the walls. I flinched instinctively, my hands curling protectively over my stomach. Alpha Henry strode in, his boots thudding against the floor with barely restrained anger. His piercing gaze landed on me, and I straightened, refusing to show fear.

“You’re wasting food now?” he barked, gesturing toward the untouched tray on the table.

I stared at him, unblinking. “Why do you care?” I shot back, my voice steady. “You’ve made it clear you don’t want me. So why keep me here?”

His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer. “Don’t push me, Tesla. You don’t want to see what I’ll do if you test my patience.”

I stood my ground, lifting my chin defiantly. “You’re keeping me locked up like some criminal,” I said, my voice rising. “If you don’t want me as your mate, then why? Why am I still here?”

Henry’s lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. Guilt? Doubt? Whatever it was, he quickly masked it with anger.

“You know why,” he growled.

“No, I don’t,” I shot back. “You hate me. You made that very clear. So why not let me go?”

He hesitated, his eyes darting away for a brief moment. When he spoke again, his voice was colder, harder. “It’s not about you. It’s about the child.”

I felt a bitter laugh escape me. “Of course it is. Your precious heir. That’s all this is about, isn’t it?”

His silence was answer enough.

I took a step closer to him, my heart pounding. “If you truly love this child,” I said, my voice firm, “you’ll let me go. You’ll let us go.”

His head snapped toward me, his eyes blazing with anger and something deeper—something conflicted.