CHAPTER FOUR: A PUP AND A PROMISE

I heard Caius say my name. Then everything went black. I fell. His arms caught me.

*

*

The first thing I felt was softness. Then I smelled the air. It was cool and calm.

I opened my eyes. The ceiling was not one I knew. This was not my small bed in the servant’s room. The air here was different. It felt rich.

Then I knew.

I was in the Alpha’s room.

I sat up. My body was sore. I heard men talking.

“We must be sure. Are you certain?” That was Caius. He sounded worried.

“Yes, Alpha,” another man said. “I did the test three times. The girl is pregnant.”

My heart stopped.

Pregnant?

I put a hand on my stomach. Who is pregnant? No… it cannot be me…

“Who is pregnant?” I said. My voice shook.

Caius turned fast. “Go now,” he told the other man.

The man left.

I looked at Caius. I felt panic. “I do not understand…”

He walked to me slowly, like I was a scared animal. “You are pregnant, Ayla.”

I could not move.

“No,” I said softly. “No… this is wrong. Everything is wrong. First, I was… hurt. Then people said I did a bad thing. You put me in the dark cell. And now… now there is a baby in me? This is all wrong!”

My legs felt weak. I fell. Caius ran and caught me. He held me in his arms.

“Shhh,” he said softly. “You need to sit.” His voice was kind now.

He put me back on the bed.

He moved a piece of hair from my wet face.

“Ayla,” he said, his voice tight. “Was I… the first man you were ever with?”

Tears fell down my face. “You took my first time,” I whispered. “You did not even ask…”

My words changed him.

Right away, he pulled me into a hug. His arms were around my shaking body.

“I am sorry,” he whispered into my hair. “I was bad. I let the wolf in me take over. I did not know… but I promise you, I will keep you safe. And the baby. You are my mate, Ayla. That will never change.”

I did not move. Then, after a long time, I spoke into his shirt.

“That cannot be. An Alpha does not want an Omega.”

“We cannot question the Moon Goddess,” he said softly. “She chooses. We follow.”

“But… Sylvia,” I whispered. “She will kill me.”

“She will not hurt you,” Caius said. He pulled back to look at me. “I promise.”

I swallowed hard. “So what do we do now?”

“We tell no one,” Caius said firmly. “No one can know you are my mate. And no one can know about the baby.”

I looked at him, hurt. “No one?”

“It is to keep you safe,” he said. “I am a new Alpha. The old men are watching. If they find out my mate is an Omega–”

“They would be angry with you,” I finished.

“No,” Caius said. “They would try to hurt you.”

We were quiet.

Then I stood up. “I have to go back to work. If I am gone too long, people will ask questions.”

“You are right,” Caius nodded. “But from now on, you will be my personal maid.”

I was surprised. “What?”

“This way, you are near me. I can keep you safe. You will not work too hard. You will move to the maid’s room next to mine. My door will always be open for you.”

He stepped close. He kissed my forehead softly.

I could not breathe.

“I will tell the head maid,” he said. “Rest. I will come back soon.”

He turned and left.

The door closed.

I sat in silence. My hands shook as I held my stomach. Everything happened so fast.

A baby was inside me.

I am an Omega. I carry the Alpha’s child.

“I cannot have a baby in this cruel world,” I whispered to myself. “Not after all the bad things.”

But Caius seemed… different. His words felt true. His touch did not hurt like before. His eyes were soft. The kiss on my head made my face feel warm.

I lay back on the bed. I curled up in the warmth. My fingers touched the spot where his lips had been. For the first time in so long, I felt peace.

I had not slept well since my mom and dad died, since I became a dreaded servant in this pack.

My eyes closed.

I was deep and peaceful sleep when loud voices woke me.

“What do you mean, Alpha? You will make that dirty Omega your personal maid?!”

It was Sylvia’s voice.

My eyes opened wide.

Oh no.

The door to the room flew open.