CHAPTER FOUR:

~ Rae's POV ~

“Don't tell them, Lillian. Please. Just not yet”, I whispered, clutching the phone tighter.

Lillian's voice goes off for a moment before I heard a heavy sigh from the other end.

“The academy is in pandemonium, the board are demanding why your father had let you go without fighting off Alpha Damon… And your Mom has been crying non-stop that the Alpha had casted a spell on you”, She lets out in a whisper, her voice barely audible and I knew they would have asked her if she keeps in touch with me after I threw my phone away and I had to borrow this from Damon's Beta.

“RAE!!”, I snapped out from my thought.

“Yes, I asked if you are okay. Are you sure about this decision?”, Lillian questioned for the uptenth time.

“I would be fine, I have to protect what's mine…”

“You could have just… you know. The other options”, Lillian's voice trailed off and a heavy sigh escaped my lips.

“I told you I would never do that, you know the struggles my parents went through before they had me and it's generational, my Grandmother only gave birth to my Mom and Mom only gave birth to me. That isn't an option Lil”, I shut my eyes tight, a tear escaping my eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay? Damon, the pack—this is serious." Her voice cracked.

"I know," I said, rubbing my forehead. "I just… I can't face them. Not yet."

There was a pause. Then, softer, "They love you, Rae. They wouldn't have fucking care if you tell them about the whole thing. They wouldn't judge you as much as you think"

“Lil, you don't know. You aren't sure, what would I fucking tell them”, Tears streaming down my face, I knew how they all look up to me. I was the best they ever had and yet just one-night mistake.

"I'm all they have," I whispered. "I know. Just… please. Keep this between us."

The line went dead and silent sobs racked through my body.

Should I have tell them and give birth to a monster's son under their roof?

A sharp sob escaped my lips and I folded my arms around myself, sinking into the leather of the SUV. The seat still smelled like him and our make out.

Damon had gone to meet the council. Said he'd be back soon. I didn’t ask questions. Maybe because I was scared of the answers. My eyes darted to the front seat and I locked eyes with his Beta who was peering at me like I am some kind of alien.

“Oh, sorry. You can have your phone back”, I smiled, scratching the back of my neck. I had forgotten to return the phone, maybe that was why he was staring.

“It's fine”, His husky voice echoed in the car and I murmured a thanks before drifting off in thoughts.

I can't believe I am doing this, the other night was a mistake as I was drunk.

But is this a mistake? I had allowed him to touch me again? Am I truly spellbound? Or attracted to him?

My fingers brushed against my stomach. The baby. My secret.

I had no one now. No family. No future. Just this unborn child and a bond that could break me.

A sharp sob escaped before I could stop it. I covered my mouth and let the tears come.

I didn’t remember falling asleep.

Something cold brushed my cheek and my eyes fluttered open.

I blinked.

It was darker. Shadows stretched long across the ground. Wind rustled leaves above me. I was still in the car—but the engine was off.

Something is off.

My hand… sticky.

I looked down.

Blood.

My breath hitched. My other hand clutched my blade. My heart thumping loudly in my ribcage.

No.

I scrambled out of the car and nearly slipped.

Bodies.

Lying in the dirt.

Werewolves.

All of them.

I backed up, heart racing, eyes wide. My hands shook as I stumbled through the woods. The trees, the grass, everywhere was smeared with blood.

"No..."

“What the hell happened here?”, I staggered back, my eyes darting to the front of the SUV.

There—by the front of the SUV. Damon’s Beta. His throat was slit, eyes open.

I dropped to my knees beside him. "Please no..." I shook my head.

“Not now”, My life had been a mess already.

I pressed two fingers to his neck.

Nothing.

The blade in my hand fell with a thud. My own.

"What is this? What—"

“Is this a fucking dream”, I yelled, my voice echoing down the woods.

I looked around, heart pounding so loud it drowned everything else out.

The cars. The convoy. Gone.

I was alone.

Or was I?

The back door of the car was open. Has it been open before?

A twig snapped somewhere behind me.

I froze.

Someone had done this.

Someone had left me here, in the middle of it all, holding the knife.

It was a setup.

My breath came out in fast, shallow gasps. My legs trembled. My stomach twisted in knots.

I wiped my hands on my pants, blood smearing everywhere. My head pounded. My body screamed to run but my legs refused to move, I stood there rooted, with tears streaming down my cheeks.

Then I heard them.

Howls and growls.

Not one. Many.

Voices.

I turned just as they burst through the trees—guards, armored, weapons drawn at me.

"Drop the blade!"

"She’s still holding it!"

"Don’t move!"

"Wait, I didn’t do this! I swear—I just woke up!"

They didn’t listen.

Two tackled me to the ground. My face slammed into the dirt. My arms were yanked back, silver cuffs snapping over my wrists.

I screamed. The silver burned like fire.

"Please! Get Damon! He knows me!"

No answer.

"Tell him! Tell him I didn’t—!"

Their faces were cold and one landed a slap across my face, a sob escaped my lips as my face whipped to the side.

One whispered to another, "Council said this might happen."

I froze.

Council.

They had known. They had planned this.

Tears burned down my cheeks as they dragged me to my feet.

My legs barely held.

The Beta. The guards. All gone. And now me.

Framed.

Alone.

I looked toward the trees, half-expecting Damon to come running through.

He didn’t.

Does he know about this? Is he part of the scheme? Had I known.

I swallowed hard. My voice was barely a whisper.

"Damon will believe me."

But even I didn’t believe it anymore.