“There Is No Leaving”

Liora Ashwin POV

Two days went by, and nothing was heard from my mysterious savior. He came around, but only when I was asleep, which I was most often. My body was weak, and I needed as much rest as possible. The herbs weren’t helping much; most of them knocked me out. Though highly nutritious for the baby, they made me drowsy and weak.

I was fast getting used to the healer’s calm eyes and her lips that never seemed to move, yet words spilled out. But like always, that calmness did not last.

By sundown of the second day, I lay on my bed just after my bath. I felt a little energetic, so I lay down, watching shadows pass by under the small opening of the door. My mind still lingered on his words, but my body wouldn’t let me think much on it. It was too exhausted, even for that.

The door creaked open, and an unfamiliar figure stepped in. Her blonde hair spilled over her back, her radiant skin sparkled even under the dimmed light, and her honey-like eyes swept through the room as if inspecting a murder scene.

“So it is you?” she snarled, her voice sharp but wrapped in disgust.

“Me?” I murmured, but I couldn’t get another word out when the door creaked open again. This time, it was the healer. She hurried in and bowed without delay.

“You shouldn’t be here, my lady.” The words came out with so much urgency.

“Why… so this is his secret. The reason he canceled our engagement.” A bitter laugh tore through her. “The Alpha wouldn’t be happy knowing you defied his orders and came to her. He will.”

“He will what?” the blonde lady snapped, her gaze flickering with something dark, just like the kind of hatred I saw in my sister’s eyes.

“We took him in. It was my father who gave him everything. My family made him Alpha. We made him reclaim what was stolen, and now he feels he can discard me like a piece for this.” She pointed at me. 

“You!”

She lunged at me without warning. In a second, my hand went to my stomach, shielding my baby. The healer leaped forward, pulling her back, and then the door burst open.

Time froze.

His scent invaded the space. It wasn’t calm, no. It was dangerous. Like killer instinct.

“Yella!” he yelled.

Her hand stopped mid-air. Her gaze softened, and she straightened up, fixing her dress.

“Babe,” she cried, almost as though I was the one at fault.

Mr. Mask’s gaze flickered to the healer.

 “Leave,” he ordered.

I watched her steps shake. She hesitated, but only for a second as she slipped past him. Her eyes glanced at me with pity as she closed the door behind her.

“Kael, what is the meaning of this? One minute, we are preparing for our marriage, and the next, you come back home with a pregnant woman. I demand to know who fathered the baby in her womb,” Yella roared.

“Kael…”

 So that was his name.

Alpha Kael glanced between me and the blonde as if contemplating who to choose. I wasn’t expecting it to be me. I had nothing to offer. Unlike her, I had no father who could aid me. I came with no skills, and my child… I didn’t even know its father.

Alpha Kael’s gaze settled on me. He opened his mouth to speak, then halted.

“What’s this?” he asked, and before I could answer, his long strides brought him to me. His hand reached for my neck, yanking it to the side.

“Whose claws are these?” His voice dropped dangerously cold.

“I, ” I stammered. I was so focused that I hadn’t felt the pain, but now it hit me.

“Come on, Kael. You should be concerned about me and not her,” Yella stomped her foot.

“Out!” Kael roared.

Yella jerked back and rushed out, tears streaming down her pale face like an opened dam.

I pushed myself up on my elbows, ignoring my body’s protest as pain tore through the new wound and those on my back.

“You said I was under your protection,” I said, my hand pressed to the wound on my neck.

 “Is this what your protection looks like?”

Alpha Kael’s gaze hardened, his fist clenched.

“I don’t need a lecture,” he hissed.

“I am not lecturing you, and I certainly have no intentions of coming between you and your fiancée. All I want is to leave.”

“No,” he replied calmly.

“What do you mean, no? I am not yours to claim. It’s only been two days, and even your woman doesn’t trust you around me. What then will happen when I give birth?”

Before I could react, he leaned down, grabbed my chin, and forced me to look into his cold, wolf-like eyes. My body trembled under his touch, and my wolf quivered.

“Who said anything about leaving, Liora Ashwin?” His voice dropped coldly. He leaned in even closer, his breath on my neck as his scent violently invaded my lungs.

 “There is no leaving.”

“I didn’t agree to this,” I said, my voice trembling with every word. “I don’t want to be claimed… to be owned.”

“You don’t need to agree,” he cut in.

The words made me shift backward. He leaned down, my breath hitching. Our lips were barely inches apart.

“For you to survive… for that thing in you to live.” His lips curled upward as he stepped back slightly, his eyes staring into mine as if trying to read my soul.

 “They must fear touching you more than they hate you.”

His words dripped like venom.

“But I, ”

“No buts, Liora,” he snapped, his hand gripping my chin again. He was so close I could see my reflection in the dark surface of his mask. I felt my pulse pick up, my heart pounding so fast I feared it would burst through my ribcage.

His thumb slowly brushed my jaw, and my wolf whimpered. It felt drawn to him, not scared… just confused.

“I will mark you.”

“No, ” I pushed him backward, but the man did not move. His hands left my chin but seized my wrists.

“I already have a mate,” I whispered.

“And see where that got you.” His words stung more than whips.

 “What you carry shall bear my name, and so will you.”

Then the door closed behind him, sealing my freedom within me