The Attack

Chapter Five

***Bella's Pov***

The silence inside the car felt heavier than it should have.

Neither Adrian nor I said a word since we left the hospital. I kept my eyes fixed on the window, watching the scenery pass while my mind remained stuck on the hospital result.

I still couldn't understand how it had happened.

When the car finally stopped, Adrian stepped out without saying anything. I followed him, and together we entered the main mansion.

The moment we reached the sitting room, I stopped. My throat tightened as I glanced at Adrian, hesitating for a brief moment before forcing the words out.

“I will terminate it.”

Adrian froze.

He turned toward me, his expression tightening as though he hadn't expected those words.

I held his gaze. “I've made up my mind. I'm going to terminate it. This shouldn't interfere with the terms of our contract.”

I started toward the stairs, but his voice stopped me.

“Bella.”

I turned around.

“You don't have to terminate it.”

My brows pulled together. “What?”

“I know it sounds strange, but I want the child.”

I stared at him. “You're not trying to make me your baby mama, are you?”

“No. That's not what this is.”

“Then tell me exactly what it means.”

He opened his mouth, but the words seemed to stop there. His expression shifted before he finally asked, “Who else knows about this?”

I frowned. “I had no idea I was pregnant until the doctor told me.”

His shoulders relaxed slightly.

“Okay, good. Since it's only you, the doctor, and me, we can keep it.”

I stared at him. “Keep it?”

He hesitated. “Yes, as an Alpha in my pack. I'm not obligated to lose my first child.”

My mouth fell open.

“So, I guess that obligation isn't going to stand if this is made public.”

Adrian's expression shifted slightly.

“It still stands,” he said. “It’s just that it would be harder to keep the baby if this became public. That was why I asked.”

I stared at him for a moment, then slowly shook my head. “Well, I'm not interested in keeping it.”

“I know you never agreed to any of this,” he said firmly. “But please, there are rules in my pack that I have to abide by.”

I let out a disbelieving laugh. “And what exactly does any of that have to do with me? Why should your pack, your rules, or whatever you people do in your wolf world become my problem?”

His jaw tightened, but his voice softened when he answered.

“Please, Bella. There are consequences that follow the loss of my first child. As the Alpha of the Blackthorn Pack, I can't simply ignore what it would mean. It doesn't just involve me. It involves you too.”

I stared at him, my fingers curling against my palms.

“Firstly, you didn't tell me you were a wolf before I signed that damn contract,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “Secondly, I didn't even know what happened to me that night. I woke up in your bed, and whatever happened between us was completely against the terms of the contract we both agreed to.”

Adrian's expression tightened, but I didn't let him interrupt.

“And thirdly, I'm pregnant, and you want me to keep the baby?”

My voice cracked on the last word.

I looked at him, waiting for an answer, but the silence between us only made my chest tighten further.

I shook my head. “I have nothing to bear, and I don't care.”

I turned toward the stairs again.

Before Adrian could answer, a loud crash came from outside.

I stopped.

Another impact followed, harder than the first.

Adrian's entire posture changed.

“What was that?” I asked.

A deep growl rolled through the distance, followed by another, then another.

My heart began pounding.

Adrian immediately moved toward the entrance.

“Stay inside,” he ordered.

I stared at him. “What's happening?”

“I said stay indoors. Do not come anywhere outside your room.”

He didn't wait for my response. He rushed through the doors and disappeared from sight.

I remained on the stairs, staring after him.

The noises grew louder.

Something crashed outside.

Then I heard the snarling of wolves outside.

Fear crawled up my spine, but my feet moved before I could stop them. I crept toward one of the side windows and looked through the glass.

My breath caught.

The entire estate had erupted into chaos.

Wolves were fighting across the grounds.

Some were tearing into each other while others circled their opponents, their growls cutting through the air. Blood stained the ground, and bodies moved frantically between the trees and buildings.

I pressed a hand against my mouth. What was happening?

Then I saw Adrian.

He stood several feet away from the fighting, facing another man who looked nothing like the wolves surrounding them. He was still mostly human, but something about him made my stomach twist.

Adrian's voice thundered across the grounds.

“How dare you come to my fortress and do this?”

The man laughed.

“Today is your end, Adrian Blackthorn. You and the entire Blackthorn Pack.”

Adrian's hands curled into fists.

The stranger smiled.

Then Adrian charged.

I watched in horror as his body began to change.

His shoulders widened. His bones shifted beneath his skin, and his body twisted as dark fur spread across him. The transformation happened so quickly that I barely had time to breathe before the man across from him began changing too.

A scream escaped me.

Both creatures became enormous wolves.

They lunged at each other, the impact shaking the ground.

I stumbled away from the window, my heart hammering against my ribs as their snarls and crashes echoed across the estate.

Then someone screamed behind me.

I spun around.

Mara stood at the bottom of the stairs, her face drained of color.

“Mrs. Blackthorn, please come with me. We need to get you inside your room.”

I stared at her. “What's happening? What are those wolves?”

“Please,” she pleaded, hurrying toward me. “There's no time. Come with me.”

She reached for my arm.

I instinctively pulled back, my eyes returning to the window. “But…”

“Please, Mrs. Blackthorn. You need to be somewhere safe.”

Her trembling voice finally made me move.

I followed her up the stairs, glancing over my shoulder as the fighting continued outside.

We had barely reached the upper landing when a deafening crash exploded through the mansion.

The doors below burst apart, making Mara scream as I froze.

A massive wolf stood in the entrance.

Its dark eyes locked onto me.

For one terrifying second, neither of us moved.

The creature lowered its head, its dark eyes locking onto mine. My heart slammed against my ribs.

“Mrs. Blackthorn, run!” Mara screamed, grabbing my arm and pulling me up the stairs.

I wanted to move, but my body felt frozen as she dragged me upward, her grip tightening around my arm.

Then suddenly, I heard a loud growl behind us.

Mara and I turned at the same time. My eyes widened as the massive creature charged straight toward me.

I barely had time to react before it struck.