Chapter 4

Back in the corridor, Alice rolled her eyes in disgust. "I'm so relieved you escaped that toxic situation years ago, sis."

I gently patted her hand. "Ignore those uncultured wolves. Your brother is already on his way."

After Alice helped me sit on a bench and went to fetch water, I received a sweet message from Ethan saying he'd arrived at the parking lot. Just as I was about to reply with a smile, a piercing scream cut through the air.

I looked up to see Emma dragging Alice by her hair, forcing her head toward a cleaning bucket on the floor. Alice's forehead was already bleeding from the impact, and her white dress was soaked through.

Despite my pregnant belly making movements clumsy, I rushed over in rage and slapped Emma hard across the face.

Emma fell to the ground with a scream, her carefully styled curls now matted with dirty water. Alice broke free, blood seeping from her mouth, but still positioned herself protectively in front of me.

Her eyes flashed golden for a moment as her wolf pushed forward, ready to defend.

"Be careful of your belly!" she warned.

Derek's furious roar echoed from behind as he grabbed my neck with such force that my vision darkened. "Who gave you the audacity to touch Emma?"

Before I could react, two of Derek's pack warriors emerged from the shadows. They seized Alice's arms, twisting them behind her back with brutal efficiency.

The silver-laced restraints they snapped around her wrists made her cry out in pain as they burned her skin, effectively suppressing her wolf's strength.

Emma immediately threw herself into his arms, displaying red marks on her wrist. "I only wanted to chat when she suddenly attacked me!" she sobbed tearfully.

When Alice tried to defend herself, explaining that Emma had insulted me first, Derek silenced her with a vicious kick to her chest that sent her flying two meters like a broken doll.

My wolf snarled within me, desperate to shift and protect my sister-in-law, but the pregnancy hormones had weakened our connection.

As I rushed to protect Alice, Derek grabbed my hair and slammed me to the ground. Sharp pain shot through my abdomen as I curled up protectively, cold sweat instantly soaking my back.

Emma stood over me triumphantly, deliberately stepping on my supporting wrist with her high heel, grinding the sharp point into my skin until I broke into cold sweats.

"If you truly still love Alpha Derek, I would willingly step aside," Emma continued her act dramatically. "I can no longer stay by his side like this."

Derek's protective fury intensified as he lifted his foot to stomp on my pregnant belly. "I'll eliminate this bastard pup to end your arrogance!"

Under the crushing pressure, I let out an agonized scream while warm liquid flowed down my inner thighs. As my vision blurred, I still desperately protected my stomach.

Alice crawled over frantically, the silver restraints dragging behind her as she fought through the burning pain, screaming, "This isn't your pup! It's my brother's! Please stop!"

Through the blood filling my mouth and excruciating pain, I grabbed his pant leg and declared with my remaining strength, "I am Alpha King Ethan's legal mate, carrying the legitimate heir of the Royal Pack."