Chapter 2

Layla’s POV

My feet grow heavy, making me stumble. Quickly, I steady myself, regain my footing, and look around. Everyone is too busy looking at Alexander and the girl—no, the woman—he’s holding. I watch with a churning sickness as he carefully bandages her wounds.

The sickness quickly turns into something sharper, more bitter, and I recognize it as distress. However, Alexander doesn’t notice. He’s oblivious to the pain burning in my chest.

The only people looking at me are the men who accompanied Alexander, and even then, their faces show no surprise at the situation. Instead, all I see is pity—aimed at me. Did they know already?

My gut churns painfully as all eyes fall on me, but I turn to Alexander and the girl. He’s holding her, like he used to hold me. He isn’t worried about anyone else… just her.

The looks they give me, the tenderness Alexander shows the girl, and the anger he’d displayed moments ago all tell me the girl wasn’t lying. She is Alexander’s mate, and I’m… nothing.

Alexander stands, scooping the girl up in his arms. He doesn’t even acknowledge me as he turns away, and every bit of warmth flees from my body. My hands become cold and clammy while my feet become heavier than concrete.

All I can do is watch as he carries his mate toward the VIP ward. My world grows cold, but even as it darkens, I find myself following Alexander into the hospital. He calls out orders, and like the dutiful Delta I am, I follow.

Out of habit, and a necessity for a semblance of normalcy, I arrange the doctors and settle the paperwork and logistics. It takes time, and the time passes like a blur, but I only stop once everything is complete and in order. I stare down at the paperwork, my eyes on the name at the top.

Camila.

The door behind me opens, and when I turn, Alexander steps out. Instinctively, I reach out for him.

“When will you be coming home?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper. Cold, hard eyes cut to me, and I step back with surprise.

“I will be staying here tonight to watch over the girl,” he snaps, sending another wave of bitterness and nausea through me.

“Where did you find this girl?”

Alexander’s eyes narrow on me, and he sighs as if my question is irritating.

“Camila was at the border, running from wolves from the Thornheart Kingdom,” he answers shortly. “I rescued her since she’d been unfortunately caught in the crossfire while they searched for a missing princess.”

I don’t miss how he calls her by her name, instead of stating that she’s his fated mate. It soothes a bit of the hurt in my heart, offering a small sense of relief. If he still cares about my feelings, there is hope.

“I have something important to discuss with you,” I speak, knowing that I can’t wait much longer. This girl showing up is going to ruin a lot.

Alexander waves a hand, “Whatever it is, decide for yourself. You have the authority to take care of any trouble or issues that arise right now.” He doesn’t look at me as he says this. No, his eyes are on the door to the ward where his mate is. “Also, you don’t need to concern yourself with anything else in this matter.”

That same stinging, burning pain from earlier returns, and I fight not to rub the aching spot. He doesn’t realize how much this concerns our private life.

“In fact, everything from here on out will be nothing but official business between us,” Alexander adds, deepening the wound in my heart.

He never wanted our relationship made public, and since this is a very public space, I bite my tongue. Announcing my pregnancy here will only make things take a turn for the worst. Telling him in private is the best choice. But…

“Alexander, please. I need a moment of privacy with you to talk about something that can’t be ignored,” I plead. It hurts to resort to begging, but if this girl is about to have as big of an impact on us as I think, I’ll need Alexander to know about the baby. He won’t just abandon me. He will protect our child. He’s not like the bigoted society we live in that thinks fatherless children are a stain on your reputation.

He may be cold at times, but he wouldn’t leave me or our baby to fend for ourselves.

“Tomorrow morning,” he says, raking a hand through his hair. The reluctance in his voice strikes at the already sensitive string within me that’s begun to fray. “We can meet in the ward tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say softly, bowing slightly before turning to leave. If I stay longer, he might change his mind. So, I head out. I try to ignore the people I pass, but I hear someone call out my name.

Turning, I find Steve, Alexander’s Beta, jogging to catch up with me. The frown on his face tells me he knows exactly what happened, and since he’s the only one who knows about my relationship with Alexander, I let him pull me into a hug.

“Everything will be fine,” he says softly, the sympathetic look on his face somehow making me feel more unsteady. Until I tell Alexander, I won’t feel better.

He doesn’t understand what I’m feeling.

Beta Steve squeezes my shoulder in a comforting gesture, adding, “Alexander isn’t a heartless man. He cares for you, so he won’t treat you unfairly.”

His reassurance makes me feel a little more at ease, but I can’t stop my mind from racing toward the worst. Will he? Does Alexander truly care for me as much as Beta Steve claims?

I hope so. After five years of marriage, I hope Alexander won’t drop me like I’m worthless.

Sighing, I continue through the hospital halls, thinking over my duties for the rest of today. Before I can get too far, I remember something. I need to ask Beta Steve for the list of rogues they had brought back from the border.

I turn back, and just as I reach the hall where I left Alexander, voices reach my ears. I stop when I hear my name.

“Layla?” Alexander asks.

“Yeah. Why was she at the hospital?” Beta Steve questions. “Did you notify her in advance that you were coming?”

There’s a pause, silence filling the space until Beta Steve speaks again, this time sounding surprised, “So you didn’t tell her. You mean she was just… here? Did you even bother to ask why?”

Silence again from Alexander. What is he thinking? Does he also suspect something? It didn’t seem like it when we talked. He was too focused on Camila.

Beta Steve lets out a short, lighthearted laugh, though it sounds a bit forced. “She looked pale, man. Almost like she’d seen a ghost—or had some life-changing news. Don’t tell me she’s actually pregnant. What on earth would you do then?”

I hold my breath, my teeth sinking into my lip until I taste iron. I wipe the blood away and wait for Alexander’s answer that could change everything.

His response comes quick, this time, sharp and hot, “Impossible. If she is pregnant, there is only one explanation—she betrayed me. Both she and her bastard child will have to die.”

Every ounce of hope I’d been holding onto slips through my fingers.