5

MAYA.

Everything was going well. It all came together, and in no time, we were running our restaurant off-pack restrictions. No men allowed, and thinking this was going to make us less known, it actually made us all popular.

Women trooped in every day — it was our little sanctuary without the restrictions that men brought. Every woman felt safe, and we bonded so well. At first, I thought it was only going to be about food, but our restaurant became a haven for women. No judgment. No domination. It was all beauty and fun.

This warmed my heart, healed a part of me that I thought was lost forever. I rubbed my belly as I watched them from the kitchen. They were happy.

“Maya, you haven’t finished up the menu for the day. I have to come up with herbs to suit them, so hurry.” Giana called out to me. The other women were cutting up the vegetables. I nodded and went to join them.

While we were busy with that, Rayla burst through the back door. Her face was pale, her chest rising and falling too fast.

“Maya… he found us,” she said.

My eyes went wide.

“Who?” I asked, though deep down, I already knew the answer.

“Leonardo. He found us, and he’s fighting to come into the restaurant.”

The knife in my hand fell to the ground with a clang. Celine, who was next to me, stopped chopping. Behind me, the sound of utensils hitting the floor filled the room as the women panicked.

He was here. He found us.

“You promised you’d protect us, Maya. Leonardo found us. I don’t want to be sold to another slavery. Maya, do something,” one of the women begged, her voice trembling.

“What is he saying, Rayla?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. Rayla was a woman I found wandering — she had the build of a guard, hence she became our head of guards.

“He said he just wants to see you. He wants to know if you’re the….” She paused.

“Say it!” I snapped, my heart racing.

“…the thief whore who stole his heir.” She responded.

I chuckled, the sound bitter and cold. Of course, he was going to call me a whore.

Bastard!

I looked away from them, my mind spinning. He was here. I had to protect these women. I brought them here. I came up with the revenge scheme. I did all of this.

“Fine, let me see him.”

“What?” Stella shouted, rushing toward me and grabbing my arm.

“Are you out of your mind? You know what he’ll do to you if he sees you.”

“I know,” I said, trying to stay calm, but the weight in my chest threatened to suffocate me.

“So what the hell do you mean by you want to see him? You should go through the back door and leave.” Giana half-yelled, pointing at the kitchen door, which led to the forest and back to our house.

“And then what? He already found out about me. I have to convince him I’m not the one he’s looking for.”

“And how do you plan to achieve that?” Stella demanded, her voice tight with fear.

I bit down on my lips. My eyes flicked to Giana.

“It’s simple. Force labor.”

The room fell silent.

“You force my labor with magic. Naturally, she-wolves have ten months before labor. If I have my child now, he’ll be convinced that I’m not that woman.”

“No.” Giana shook her head instantly. “We are not risking your life for anything. You are already weak, Maya. Carrying these babies is already detrimental to your life. Forcing labor will take energy from you, which can lead to death.”

I stepped closer, grabbing her hands.

“Giana, how many times will I tell you I do not care if I die? These children are our hope to bring that man down. No matter how much I run, he will find me. Making him believe now, while he’s here, that I am not who he’s looking for will keep the babies safer. Even when I’m gone, I’ll know they’re safe.” My voice cracked, but I pushed through. “Please make this happen. Not for my sake, but for the sake of these women.”

Giana shook her head persistently, tears running down her face.

“Maya, don’t do this,” Stella begged, her voice trembling. “We don’t care about revenge right now. You’ve cared for all of us. Given us hope. Look at this business — you created a sanctuary for women. We need you alive. You can go out to Leonardo, give him his children, and come back to us. None of us really care about revenge.”

“I do. And you do too — you just don’t want to be selfish.” I looked around at the women, my voice rising with conviction. “I will never allow happiness for Leonardo. I will not be the bearer of that happiness. Giana, you will force this labor right now. You will help me deliver these babies — that is what I want.”

My heart pounded against my ribs, the weight of my decision threatening to crush me. I pressed a trembling hand to my belly, feeling the faint kick of one of the babies. Was I making the right choice? Or was I condemning them before they even had a chance to live?

“Maya is right.” Celine’s quiet voice broke through the silence. She stepped forward, her hands balled into fists. “We cannot let that man have his happiness — not after he used every one of us. Maya, you can use my energy to birth those children. I don’t care if I die, but Leonardo will not be happy.”

“What? No, Celine, I couldn’t—” Before I could finish, another voice sounded.

“Yes, Celine. We are in this together. I’ll join my energy with yours to help Maya deliver the babies.” Anna stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination.

“Me too,” Emma said quietly, her beautiful dreadlocks swaying as she stepped up.

“I will join my energy.” Naomi’s voice was steady.

One by one, the women came forward.

Tears streamed down my face. I had never thought I would be blessed with friends — no, sisters — this loving, this selfless. They were willing to give everything for this cause, for me.

Leonardo will never be happy. Never.

Giana wiped her tears.

“Fine. Let’s do this.”

The women circled me, their hands clasped together. Giana closed her eyes, her lips moving in an ancient chant. The air shifted. A cold wind rushed through the kitchen, making the flames flicker. My stomach clenched painfully, and I gasped, doubling over.

The baby… I could feel him coming.