Chapter 6

“Daphne,” Katerina called in that soft, sweet voice she used when people were watching. “Can we talk?”

Daphne paused at the landing, feeling goosebumps rise on her skin. What could Katerina possibly want to say after making it so clear in the past and present that she hated her existence?

Katerina smiled gently. “We’ve never gotten along, have we? Both in love with the same man, it was bound to be messy.”

Daphne’s eyes widened. Katerina let out a soft, airy laugh. “Don’t look so shocked, it’s unavoidable. Any woman would be stupid not to fall for an Alpha like Storm.”

Daphne took a cautious step closer. “What do you want, Katerina?”

“You overheard Storm and I talking in his office, and I realized I might have been too harsh. Calling you bad luck for my baby, that was just not me.” Katerina’s eyes actually looked remorseful. “I took you for a bitter person because of your losses, but I didn’t think about how hard that must have been. I’m sorry.”

Daphne wanted to believe her. The apology chipped away at some of the anger she’d been carrying.

Katerina pouted her lips slightly. “You’ve been with Storm for so long. You probably know him better than I do, especially with our rocky past. I thought it would be better if we cleared the air between us.”

Daphne still felt uneasy. She looked around expecting someone to be watching, but the hallway was empty. Katerina never spoke to her like this when they were alone.

“It’s fine.” She said regardless.

Katerina’s smile brightened. “Now that we’ve taken one small step toward being friends…” She reached out and took Daphne’s hand before she could pull away, then guided her palm to her own stomach.

“Feel it,” Katerina murmured. “It’s his child. Growing so strong.”

Daphne’s skin crawled. She tried to yank her hand back, but Katerina’s grip was so strong.

“What’s the matter, Daphne? Does it make you uncomfortable? Knowing I have his baby while you struggle to carry anything at all?”

“Let go of me!” Daphne shouted, pulling back with all her strength.

“Feel his heir!”

“Katerina, stop!”

“Feel what you will never have,” Katerina hissed. A menacing little smile curved her lips as she suddenly took a dramatic step back, still holding Daphne’s wrist and yanking hard.

“Leave me alone!” Daphne yelled, trying to step away.

Everything happened in a blur. Katerina lurched backward with a loud cry, fingers still clamped around Daphne’s wrist. Daphne lost her balance for a split second and grabbed the railing just in time to stop herself from falling.

Katerina didn't grab for anything. The smile remained on her lips until the very last second. Then, she let go of Daphne and fell backward with a piercing shriek.

She tumbled down the long staircase, and the sound of her body hitting the marble steps seemed to go on forever. Her screams were endless as her body twisted harshly with every bump down the stairs.

Daphne covered her mouth, fearfully watching Katerina reach the bottom of the stairs, crumpled with dark blood pooling beneath her head.

Everything went so silent and still in Daphne’s head even as the maids gathered, running and shouting for help.

“Miss Katerina!”

“Call the doctor! Hurry!”

“Someone get the Alpha!”

Daphne stood at the top of the landing, her knuckles white as she gripped the railing hand.

“WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

A hand cracked across Daphne’s face so hard, her head whipped to the side. Her tongue tasted the blood filling her mouth as hot pain spread across her cheek.

“You worthless human!” Morwen’s eyes were wild with anger. “You dared to push the Alpha’s mate and heir down the stairs?!”

“I didn't—” Daphne’s voice shook uncomfortably. “She fell—I didn't— she grabbed me!”

The front doors burst open. Storm charged in like a hurricane, his eyes staring at the mess with hot fury.

“Kat!” He dropped to the floor beside her, carefully gathering her into his arms with tenderness that made Daphne’s heart shatter. He pressed his hand over Katerina's stomach, shouting. “Kat, look at me! Stay with me!”

Katerina whimpered, clinging to his shirt. Tears streamed down her perfect face. “I…I tried to make peace with her. Storm… please don't let me lose our baby.”

Storm’s head snapped up. His dark, furious eyes looked even more dangerous with them now locked directly on Daphne.

“What the hell did you do?” he growled.

Daphne flinched. She wasn't a stranger to Storm’s Alpha side—he was defensive and fierce when the pack was threatened—but he had never turned that darkness on her or looked at her like this before. He looked at her like a total stranger.

Below the staircase, Katerina shook in his arms, blood soaking through the pale yellow of her evening dress. One of Storm’s hands cradled the back of her head with heartbreaking gentleness while the other pressed protectively over her stomach.

Daphne’s lips parted. “Storm, I didn’t push her—”

“Did you touch her?” The question felt harsher than Morwen’s slap.

The hall fell into a deathly silence, save for Katerina’s pained whimpers and the frantic footsteps of servants rushing for medical kits. Daphne hurried down the stairs, carefully avoiding the blood smears while her mind replayed the moment Katerina rolled violently down the steps.

“I asked you, did you touch her!” Storm roared.

“Yes, but she grabbed me first—”

A dangerous muscle jumped in his jaw.

On the floor, Katerina stirred weakly against his chest. “Storm…” her voice was small and broken. “Please… don’t fight because of me.”

Tears glistened on her lashes as she curled her fingers into his shirt, giving a flawless performance. “I just wanted us to get along. I thought if I apologized…”

Daphne felt sick. She watched in real time as the servants exchanged glances, already judging her for something they hadn't even seen.

“No,” Daphne shook her head quickly, panic rising in her throat. “That’s not what happened. She pulled me and—”

“A pregnant woman pulled you on the staircase when she knew it would hurt her own baby?” Morwen took angry steps closer. “You couldn’t even come up with a better lie. What kind of crazy woman would risk a child’s life just to settle a grudge?”

Daphne stepped toward Storm. “Storm, you have to believe me. I would never—”

Storm raised his hand, cutting her off. “I knew you were hurting because of the babies. I knew you were angry because I brought Katerina home. But I never thought you’d become cruel.”

Daphne stared at him with her chest aching so badly she could barely breathe. Cruel? Her? The same woman who spent three years loving him through everything, risking her life to give him the heir he wanted so badly.

Warm tears burned down her cheeks. Her heart kept breaking, over and over, every time she saw the anger and disappointment in his eyes. She never cared what anyone else thought of her, but she needed him to believe her right now. He knew her better than anyone, he had to trust her.

“Storm, please,” her voice cracked. “You have to listen to me. I didn’t do it.”

His expression didn’t change, not even a little. His cold, far away look shattered what was left of her. She felt completely hopeless. The fact that he truly believed she was capable of harming a child made everything worse, but she still had to try.

Sniffling, she wiped her wet nose with the back of her hand. After licking her dry lips, Daphne forced the words out before she could cower. “I’m pregnant, Storm.”