Chapter 3

I couldn't believe it.

The child I had raised like my own daughter had just delivered the cruelest betrayal.

My ragged breathing sent fresh waves of agony through my swollen belly. The pain made me double over, but I forced myself to stay conscious for my baby's sake.

I lifted my head with tremendous effort, my voice breaking with desperation.

"Aria, please. Give me back my phone. If you won't do that, then at least call your brother Marcus. Tell him the baby is really coming. Please."

Aria had already started walking away from the door. At my words, she paused and turned back around.

The triumphant grin from her successful trick still hadn't faded from her face. She crossed her arms and pouted.

"No way! Elena told me you're just pretending. She said nothing bad will really happen. She said you're always acting and trying to fool everyone."

My entire body shook with disbelief and horror.

She was supposed to love me. I had been nothing but kind to her. How could she do this to me?

Suddenly, the pink smartwatch on Aria's wrist lit up with an incoming call.

She glanced down at it, and her voice instantly became sweet and innocent.

"Hi, Marcus!"

My mate's worried voice crackled through the tiny speaker.

"Aria, are you still watching Lyra like I asked? I wanted to make sure she was alright while I'm taking care of Elena. How is she doing?"

Hope flared in my chest like a dying ember catching flame.

I don't know where I found the strength, but I managed to scream toward the door.

"Marcus! Please, I'm begging you to save our child! I swear I won't fight Elena for anything anymore! I'll give up everything! I know she wants father's ancestral estate the most. I'm willing to give it to her. I don't want anything anymore. Just please save our baby!"

My voice came out raw and broken from exhaustion and agony.

But Aria immediately pressed a button on her watch, muting my voice from Marcus's end.

"Shh!" she hissed at me. "You'll ruin everything!"

Marcus's confused voice came through the speaker.

"Aria? I thought I heard something. Is everything okay there?"

Aria quickly unmuted herself. "Oh, don't worry about that, Marcus! Sister-in-law is just lying against the wall playing on her phone. She's watching some video and got excited, so she's making noise. She's being so loud!"

Desperate, I started banging my fists against the chamber walls, creating loud echoing sounds that even Aria couldn't explain away.

"Playing on her phone? But I thought... what's all that banging?"

Marcus's tone carried confusion and growing concern.

I summoned every ounce of strength I had and screamed again.

"MARCUS! THE BABY IS DYING! PLEASE!"

This time my voice was loud enough that Aria couldn't completely muffle it.

The line went quiet for a heartbeat.

Marcus's voice carried confusion and a hint of panic.

"What was that screaming? Aria, what's really happening there?"

But then I heard Elena's voice in the background, sweet and manipulative.

"Marcus, darling, you know how your sister is. She probably thinks it's funny to worry you. Come back and feel the baby kick - he's being so active!"

The phone was suddenly transferred, and Elena's voice came through clearly.

"Hello, sister dear."

My heart sank.

"Marcus is right here feeding me moonberries, but he's worried about you. Let me just tell him you're perfectly fine."

I could hear Elena speaking to Marcus while still listening to me.

"She says she's doing well, Marcus. Just resting comfortably. You know how she likes to be dramatic."

"Marcus!" I screamed desperately. "Don't listen to her! I'm dying! Our baby is dying!"

But Elena continued her dual conversation seamlessly.

"Oh, and Marcus, she wants you to know she's sorry for being so demanding lately. She understands you need to take care of me right now."

Marcus's voice came through, now completely relaxed.

"Good. It's about time she learned some consideration. Elena needs me more right now - she's carrying the future Alpha."

"Marcus, please!" I sobbed. "Just come check on me yourself!"

But Elena's voice drowned me out.

"He says he appreciates your understanding, sister. And don't worry about that ancestral estate anymore - Marcus already moved me in there last week. He thought it would be better for the baby."

My father's ancestral estate - my most precious inheritance.

"Oh, and Marcus is taking such wonderful care of me and the baby. He called every pack healer in the territory to check on me today. He's so devoted."

Marcus's voice came through clearly now, speaking directly to what he thought was me.

"Since you're finally being reasonable, I'll say this once: stop with the dramatics. You and Elena both had full examinations yesterday. The healers said both babies are perfectly healthy. Your constant acting is exhausting everyone."

"That poor child deserves better than a manipulative mother. Maybe Elena should raise both pups - at least then they'd learn proper behavior."

The line went dead with a harsh click.

Aria looked at me with pure delight and skipped away, humming to herself.

Staring at the sealed door, complete despair washed over me.

"Elena says I should go get the guards now to make sure you stay put. She doesn't want you trying to climb out or anything silly like that."

Panic shot through me. If the guards came, any chance of escape would be gone forever.

In desperation, I looked up at the ventilation grate again, this was my last chance.

"Wait, Aria," I gasped, trying to buy time. "Don't you want to see what happens next?"

But she was already skipping toward the door. "Nope! Elena promised me we'd redecorate my room with princess themes if I did this right. I can't wait!"

As her footsteps faded, I summoned every remaining ounce of strength and began dragging myself toward the wall beneath the ventilation grate. If I could somehow reach it...

My body screamed in agony with every movement, but I had to try. It was my only chance.

Just as I heard multiple sets of heavy footsteps approaching - the guards Aria had summoned - another sound cut through the air.

"CRASH!"

Just as darkness began to claim me, a thunderous explosion shattered the silence.

Through my fading vision, I saw a familiar face twisted with shock, panic, and absolute fury.