CHAPTER 4: HER DEATH

RAYA'S POV

Melissa and I stood in silence, the weight of the room pressing down on us. Lason’s toys and baby décor lay untouched, scattered like fragile memories frozen in time. The thought of packing them away felt unbearable, like saying goodbye all over again.

“Help me get those toys and clothes from the drawer and put…”,

“What do you think you're doing?” A sharp voice interrupted me. I turned to see Draco leaning on the doorway, his eyes dark.

I cleared my throat, “I'm getting a couple of Lason’s things to go with”

His eyes narrowed, his lips pulling up in an ugly curl, “You're not leaving with anything of his” he snorted,

“Why are you heartless? Just let me have some of his things” I fumed,

“I won't allow his last memories to end up in the hands of his murderer. You don't deserve it, now shut up before I do something you'll regret” he hissed,

My throat felt dry, my jaw ticking, “You have no right to do that. Lason was my son too” I sparked, my pent-up frustration bursting through

His eyes hardened and In a blur of motion I felt a sounding slap on my face, my head spun from the impact,

My vision thinned, and through the ringing in my ears, I heard him bellow: “Don’t you raise your voice at me again. Don't forget I am your Alpha!”

I staggered back, crumpling to my knees. Melissa rushed to my side,

I looked up, tears streaming down my face, “why do you hate me so much! Why are you intent on leaving me with nothing?” I choked, blood mixing with saliva, “what did I ever do to you?” I screamed, my heart twisting,

“Get her out of here!” He commanded, “now!” He growled, slamming the wall, “This should be the last I see her”, his fists remained balled at his side, his temper running out,

I trembled, worried what drastic action he would take, Melissa grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out, “wait” I said, but she wasn't listening, she was determined to leave,

I twisted to look at Draco; his eyes were bloodshot, with a murderous intent in them. It sent a wicked chill down my spine.

We snatched up a few things on our way out, Melissa suggested we take a walk in the forest,

“I'm tired and confused” I admitted, rubbing my swollen cheek, I felt nauseous,

After years of confinement, Draco found me and claimed me as his mate. His love was a twisted mix of cruelty and fleeting tenderness. Looking back, it was clear any affection he showed was for the child we once had.

Melissa appeared distracted, “did you hear me?” I called,

“Yes. I think you…” she started, but I couldn’t make out the rest of it, dizziness clouding me. I bent over, behind a tree and emptied the contents of my tummy. I straightened, and cleaned my lips,

“Melis…” I mumbled, the words dying in my mouth when I realized she wasn't there,

The hairs on my neck stood straight, I was about to whip around when a wet handkerchief smelling of bleach appeared, covering my nose until I passed out.

I woke up to a dull ache in my body, “oww” I groaned, i studied the room in confusion, it was engulfed in darkness, and the events that led up to this weren't clear,

I noticed the pool of blood beneath me, I shivered in the silence as a dreadful thought seeped into me. My tummy felt hollow, then it hit me I must have been pregnant that explained my days of feeling nauseous,

A fleeting smile stretched across my lips, but reality came crashing back. I had just suffered a miscarriage. “No...” I muttered in denial, my voice shaky. I lost my child—again. A bitter whimper escaped me as tears trickled down my face, guilt and anger seeping into every bone.

Even as overwhelming grief threatened to pull me under, my mind scrambled for an escape plan. My thoughts were cut short when the door flung open, a flood of light spilling into the room.

A man stepped in, Melissa standing beside him. “Raya, I’m glad you’re awake,” she said, her face unreadable.

I didn’t understand what was happening, but I was glad she was here. “Melissa, what’s going on? Why am I here?”

I struggled to sit up, to look at her.

She eyed me in thought. “You’ll find out soon enough”

I stared, eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”

She crouched to my level, a bitter smile on her lips, “Raya, I’ve lied to you... about everything,” she said softly, taking the dagger and vial from the man beside her. “Draco and I… we’ve been together for a while now.” she paused, a sliver of remorse in her orbs “ And I'm sorry, but I have to get rid of you.”

I let out a dry laugh, “Is this some sick joke of yours?” I asked,

“It's not, everything I've said is true. I must do this to protect us–Draco and the pack.” She sobered up, “I hope you can understand me”

Tears burned my eyes, but no sound came out. How could I scream when the betrayal felt deeper than words could ever express?

It never crossed my mind that Melissa and Draco were having an affair, but now I realized it was painfully clear. I’d been too naive to notice and now it was too late, the sting was sapping,

I cupped my face. “Why did you befriend me? Why play the role of my best friend till the end? Why?” I screamed, my voice thick with hurt and anger.

I raised my head, and looked her in the eye, daring her to speak. She squirmed, guilt flickering in her eyes.

She exhaled. “You’re innocent, and it's best it remains that way; some things are better left unsaid, Raya, I was always your friend, but there's only so far that can go. Right now, you’re in my way.” Her tone was final.

“I wish you peace in the afterlife,” she said, leaning over and pushing me flat to the floor.

“Melissa, I trusted you, don’t do this to me. Please!” I begged trying to talk some sense into her,

Under her weight, I trashed, trying to escape her hold.

She raised the dagger. My eyes locked on its shiny tip, a crippling fear coursing through me.

I didn’t want to die. My heart pounded mercilessly, my breath ragged. “Melissa, please!”

Her hand trembled, the dagger hovering over me. For a moment, I thought she might spare me—but then I felt a sharp pain as she slashed the dagger across my throat. My warm blood trickled to the floor; the pain lasted but a moment and clips of my life played in my mind—Lason, my unborn pup, Draco, my parents. The pain of betrayal was unbearable.

After all, I’d survived, this was the defeat I faced? I took one last look at Melissa. “I'm sorry”, she whispered; her eyes betraying the mask of indifference she had on.

With my last breath, I swore to myself: if I ever had the chance, I would avenge myself and my pup. I didn’t know how, but I would.

As the darkness swallowed me whole, something shifted.

A golden light pierced through, pulling me from the abyss. A soft, otherworldly voice echoed—

"Hear me, child.”