CHAPTER 5: Play Along For A While

NARAYA

“Tell me you are joking, Raya.” Zilla's eyes widened behind her glasses. I lowered my gaze, suddenly picking interest in tracing the lines in my palm.

“I’m not.”

“Geez, Raya, you are twenty-three, not eighteen. How could you let that happen?”

Neither of us spoke for a moment as we let the music in the bar take over.

“Was that why you wanted to propose to him?” her voice came in a whisper.

I nodded a bit too casually while still playing with my palm.

“Oh girl.” Her eyes moistened as she pulled my hands into hers. “Why didn't you tell me sooner?”

Zilla didn't wait for a response and jumped right into her next question. “How far gone are you? I know a doctor friend. He can help you take care of—”

“That’s exactly why I didn't tell you,” I interrupted, pulling my hands back. “Because I knew you’d suggested this.”

“Don't tell me you are planning on keeping that…” she pointed at my belly, “—that thing, knowing full well the kind of monster its father is.”

“Please, ma’am, keep your voice down,” a server cut in, his face wearing a worn-out expression as he looked at Zilla.

“You might as well throw us out,” she bit back.

The server didn’t answer. He just dragged his feet to the next table, shoulders slumped like he was carrying the weight of the entire Pack on his back.

“My child is not a thing.” I said, finally meeting her eyes before lowering mine again. “Just because Roger is a screwup doesn't mean my child would turn out like him.”

“And what do you intend to do? Keep it?” she scoffed. “You can barely cater for yourself, and you have your parasitic family breathing down your neck. Now you want to add another mouth to feed? How do you intend to raise that pup alone?”

“And who told you I'm raising my child alone? Besides, are you honestly suggesting I destroy my own child when another woman already birthed his and even brought them into my face?”

“Are you trying to trap yourself further?”

“No. But I'm not harming my baby.”

“Raya, this is—” an aggressive alarm on her phone rang. “Shit,” she cursed, stopping it. “I've got to go. Mother's health. I need to be there to administer her late-night medication.”

She looked deeply apologetic, torn between duty and leaving me. But I was the one who felt guilty. I had selfishly dragged her out in the dead of night only to dump my problems on her.

“It’s fine, Zilla. I understand. How’s Mother’s health?” I asked, realizing I should have done so earlier. Zilla’s mum was more mother to me than mine.

“As much as I’d like to be optimistic,” Zilla shook her head wearily, “Zoey might come next week to relieve me so I can actually focus on work.” Her eyes flicked to my stomach, then my face. “When did you last eat?”

I shrugged. “Dinner. Yesterday.”

“Bullshit.” She snapped her fingers at the server. “Burger. Fries. Now. And water.” She turned back to me, voice steel. “You don’t have to keep it, Raya. But you’re not starving my niece or nephew because its a bastard.”

I wanted to retort with “my child is not a bastard,” but I was too exhausted for the back and forth.

Zilla cleared the bill and offered to drive me home, saying she couldn’t trust me not to go back to Roger tonight. “Please don't unblock him. Don't try to see him. Stay at home and wait for me. We’ll figure out what to do when I drop by later, okay?”

“Thank you, Zilla,” I mouthed after swallowing the last piece of burger she forced on me before stepping out of her car. She handed me the bottle of water, walking me all the way to the gate.

“Everything will be fine, okay? We’ll get through this.” She pecked my cheek and smiled. Zilla didn’t leave until I was at my door. Only then did she put her car in reverse and drove off.

A small smile spread across my face as I stared at my house for a while. Even this wouldn't have been possible without Zilla. She was the one who insisted I get a place of my own instead of living with Roger. Imagine the disaster if I had to go back to him tonight.

I had just turned on the light of my little cozy apartment when his voice rattled through the silence.

“And where the hell do you think you are coming from at this hour?”

I almost jumped out of my skin, dropping the key in the process. It clattered loudly in the silence.

Roger sat relaxed on my bed, leg crossed, one of my journals in his hand. H..how was he here? None of his cars were parked outside.

“I… you can't be here, Roger,” I stammered. “This is trespassing.”

“Trespassing?” He snapped the journal shut with a deafening crack, rising to his full towering height. “But it wasn't trespassing when you arrived at mine earlier, right?”

He began stalking toward me, his Alpha aura filling the room.

“Are you forgetting who pays the lease of this apartment, Naya? If there's a trespasser here, it's you.”

I instinctively backed toward the door, looking for escape, but he was too fast. Before I could turn the knob, he pinned me in place, blocking the exit.

He leaned down, his nose dragging along the sensitive skin of my neck, inhaling sharply. “I asked you a question, Naya. Where were you?”

“I… I,” I stammered, his scent intoxicating my senses. Ava had already slipped into submission. “I don't owe you any explanation,” I managed before pushing him with all my strength.

Roger didn’t budge. Instead, a dangerous smirk played on his lips as he strode toward a bottle of whiskey he had clearly brought with him.

“You are getting more defiant, Naya,” he growled, his silver eyes flashing dominance. “I don't like it.”

He pulled off his leather jacket and threw it aside before moving toward me. “Drink,” he said, holding the bottle toward me.

“No, Roger, stop—”

Before I could react, he grabbed my face, forcing me to drink from the whiskey before kissing me. He pulled away, smirking at his handiwork.

Without another word, Roger pushed me back onto the bed. I struggled, but he overpowered me easily, tearing away barriers between us in a fit of possessive anger and desire.

“Tell me you are mine.” He rasped, his voice thick and husky, dripping with dark satisfaction. When I didn't oblige he tightened his grip around my neck. “Say it, Naya.”

“I… I am yours, Roger,” I choked.

“What?” He demanded, picking up the pace.

“I said I am yours, Roger! Yours and yours alone.”

“And your body?”

“Yours entirely.” I wept.

“Good!”

He drove into me one last time and came with a growl. His chest heaved. He collapsed beside me, wrecked.

Silence.

Roger reached for the nightstand, tapping at his phone screen for a few silent moments before tossing it aside.

“I've sent your family their monthly stipend, plus an extra grand to cover whatever bills they're whining about.” I bit into my lower lip. My head still turned to the other side of the wall, staring blindly into the shadows.

“Just play along with me for a little while.” He muttered rolling over. “Melissa will be out of our lives soon. Don't ruin things for us.”

I stared at the ceiling, tears stinging my eyes as pain throbbed between my legs. One hand drifted to the flat curve of my stomach, shielding the tiny spark of life hidden inside me.

I was done allowing a monster dictate my life.

Gathering every ounce of shattered strength left in my bones, I turned my head to look at him. “I'm done, Roger.” I whispered, voice crooked.

“I, Naraya Veils reject you, Roger Brimstone as my fated mate.” I gritted my teeth against the agonizing pain of the tearing bond, staring down the man who thought he owned me.

“Your turn. Please accept my rejection.”