An unexpected news

“I was winning, I was winning against every single man at that table, and..." he paused and held my gaze.

"And what, Father?" I asked, panicked.

"I challenged all the men in the room, but I didn't know that their Alpha was present," he announced, and Clara gasped, "Alpha Ethan was there?" she asked, and he nodded.

"What happened, Father? What happened?" I asked, feeling restless.

"He challenged me to a game and used his mansion as a wager," Father spoke, and I widened my eyes and looked at Mother, who was crying, and then I understood what was happening. "Father, you used this house as a wager and lost the bet?" I asked in anger and stood to my feet. "How could you, Father? How could you do this? Where do we go from here?" I yelled in pain, but Dad's next words seized my voice in my throat.

"I didn't wager the house, but I used you," he announced, making me dumbfounded.

"What!" Nora, my wolf, yelled, while I remained numb, hoping that what I had just heard was wrong.

"Tell me you are joking, Father," I said, but he shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Zoey. I was winning; I thought luck was finally by my side. I never knew it was going to be a disaster," he pleaded and tried to touch me, but I pulled away.

“Don't you dare touch me, father!" I yelled. "And I don't care what you have done or who you made that silly bet with, but I won't agree to it. You have no right to wager me. I'm a human being, not a thing." I yelled and tried to walk away, but Mother stopped me, tears streaming down her cheek.

"Zoey, your father didn't make a bet with an ordinary man. Alpha Ethan is not someone to joke with," Mother pleaded, while I scoffed with anger.

"And so what, Mother? I don't care. What are you even saying, Mother?" I asked with burning anger. "That I should accept my fate and go to this man? What if he kills me or makes me his sex slave?" I yelled, and no one replied.

"This is ridiculous," I scoffed and stormed up the stairs.

•••••••••••••

I struggled to regain full consciousness as I heard strange voices surrounding me. With great effort, I forced my eyes open and took in the sight of the people in the room. Sitting on the bed and flashing a relieved smile at me was an unfamiliar woman who appeared to be in her forties.

"You are finally awake," she spoke with a warm smile while I slowly sat up, scanning the room and meeting the gazes of the two women who stood beside her.

With a confused gaze, I moved my eyes around and realized I was in a strange room and I couldn't remember how I got there.

I moved my gaze back to the woman and then to the young ladies who stood beside her. By their looks, they didn't seem like spirits or angels, rather they looked like humans.

With furrowed eyebrows, I remembered jumping off a cliff, which should mean I should be dead, but by the looks of things, something was strange.

"Calm down, you are safe here," the woman assured me. Just as I was about to ask her how I got here, I noticed the door opening, which forced my gaze towards it.

I watched a man walk in, a familiar man, and I blinked repeatedly to recall where I had met him. Then, realization hit me. He was the man I saw in the forest, but why is he here?

"I see that you are awake," he spoke as he made his way towards me, while I stared at him with furrowed eyebrows, wondering who he is.

By the way he dressed, I suspected he was royalty. Rings filled his fingers, and he was dressed in traditional attire worn by royalty when they go out for official outings.

"How did I get here?" I threw the question at the man who stood by my side and remained silent, causing me to feel uneasy.

"Calm down, you are safe here," the lady smiled at me again, but I wasn't at ease.

"I believe you remember seeing me at the cliff," he said, and I nodded. "Well, I saved you after you attempted suicide," he announced, while I furrowed my eyebrows before asking, "You saved me?" I asked, and he nodded, confusing me more. I remember jumping off the cliff, so how did he save me?

"I jumped off the cliff and pulled your unconscious body out of the water," he spoke up as if he was reading my thoughts.

With a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes and rested my head on the wall. As I absorbed the information, my mind raced to make sense of it all. I couldn't believe that I had attempted suicide, but then I wasn't bothered. All I worried about was who these people were.

Opening my eyes again, I looked at the man who had saved me. "Why did you save me?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. "I don't even know you."

He took a step closer, his expression serious but compassionate. "I couldn't let you go through with it," he replied softly. "No one deserves to feel so alone and hopeless that they want to end their own life."

His words hit me, stirring up a mix of emotions. I felt grateful for his intervention but also a sense of guilt for burdening someone else with my pain. The woman who sat before me placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"You are too young to think of suicide, and if you think of doing such again, then think of that innocent baby growing in your womb," she said, her voice filled with genuine concern. "Baby?" I asked, confused.

"Yes, are you not aware of it?" she asked, and I stared at her, feeling panic rush down my spine.

The woman's words echoed in my mind, and a wave of panic washed over me. A baby? How could I be pregnant? I couldn't remember anything about it. Thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to make sense of the situation. How did I not know? What was going to happen now?

"I... I had no idea," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. My hand instinctively went to my abdomen, as if I could somehow confirm the truth of her words just by touch. It felt surreal, overwhelming.

The man who had saved me stepped forward again, concern etched on his face. "We found out about the pregnancy when we examined you after the incident," he explained gently. "You're still in the early stages, but it's important to take care of yourself and the baby now," he urged.

Tears welled up in my eyes, a mix of emotions flooding through me. Confusion, fear, and pain. A baby... my baby. It was supposed to be good news. Alpha Ethan would have been so happy to hear this. This was what he wanted, a baby, an heir. This was the main reason why he brought me into his life, to give him an heir.

"How far along?" I asked.

"A month and a few days," she responded, and a droplet of tears dropped down on my cheek.

What was I going to do? How do I go back to Alpha Ethan and tell him that I'm pregnant with his child? Would he believe me after calling me a whore and a slut?

With a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes and communicated with my wolf, Nora, who had been quiet.

"What should I do?" I asked, and she quickly gave a response. "Whatever you think is right," she responded, and I sighed before opening my eyes to see the eyes of the strangers on me.

"Are you married or do you have a mate? We can contact him for you," she inquired, while I shook my head and held her gaze.

"There is no one," I murmured in pain and saw her flash me a pitiful glance, which I hated.

The room fell silent for a moment as my words hung in the air. I looked at her, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion. "No one?" she repeated, her voice filled with concern.

I nodded, feeling a lump forming in my throat. I have a mate who doesn't recognize me and a family I wished not to return to. My mind raced with thoughts of the consequences, the judgments, and the uncertain future that awaited me and my unborn child.

Just as the silence grew unbearable, the man who had saved me stepped forward once again. His expression changed, becoming more solemn and regal. He took a deep breath and spoke, his voice carrying a weight I couldn't comprehend.

"I am Adrian, the Hybrid King," he declared, his voice resonating with authority. My eyes widened, and my heart skipped a beat.