Chapter 7

Anna’s POV

The light caught my attention. 

It's color—golden, too soft to be the harsh, came from the ceiling light of a hospital or the dim shadows of a prison.

The second thing was the smell. Lavender. Then fresh linen. And then… him.

That damn scent again—spice and cold mint.

I sat up first, my hands impulsely moved to my stomach protectively, i could already feel my heart beating fast.

The room was strange to me. Not lavish, but clean. Cozy. A guesthouse, maybe. I could tell by the light decoration, the neatly folded towels near on a chair in the room, and the faint heater hum somewhere in the wall.

The bed dipped beside me.

I fidgeted, and turned my head to the side.

“Calm down, it's just me”

Yvonne said.

She looked tired. Her hair was packed in a messy bun, dark eye bags where also under her eyes and her glasses perched slightly off-center.

“You really scared the hell out of me,” she said, resting one of her hand on my shoulder. “You fainted.”

I swallowed, suddenly i realized how dry my throat was.

“Where am I?”

“Pack guesthouse,” she said. “Still in Dark Claw territory.”

My blood ran cold.

“You need to calm down,” she added quickly, raising both palms. “He didn’t hurt you. He just… kept you from running off.”

“Oh, how generous of him,” I snapped, dragging the blanket off me and swinging my legs to the floor.

Yvonne winced. “Anna—”

“No,” I cut her off. “I’m done playing nice. He drugged me or something, didn’t he? Why else would I pass out?”

“You collapsed,” she said softly. “From stress, Anna. You haven’t eaten. You’ve barely slept. And you’re pregnant. Your body is fighting itself.”

I turned away, arms crossed tightly.

“This is another prison,” I muttered. “Another cage with soft sheets.”

“He’s not like Gunner.”

I scoffed. “Yeah? And what would you know about that?”

Yvonne looked pained, but she didn't complain.

The sound of the door opening was enough to get our attention.

Instinctively, I already knew who it was without looking.

The air in the room morphed, turning into something sharp.

Mattias.

“Give us a moment,” he said calmly.

Yvonne hesitated, evidently skeptical as she, glanced between us, it felt as if she had she wanted to say something, but eventually nodded to his command and left the room.

I refused to pay him any attention.

“You're awake now,” he said simply.

“No thanks to you,” I muttered.

There was a pause.

“I didn’t bring you here to cage you in.”

I laughed hesterically, but there was a bitter edge to it. “Funny. That’s exactly what it feels like.”

He said nothing.

I stood, facing him finally. “Do you think I’m just going to do what you said just because of a stupid bond? Do you expect me to bow down at your feet just because the Moon Goddess said we’re a perfect match?”

“That’s not it,” he said, with a firm tone. “I expect you to make a choice.”

His response startled me.

Then, I noticed ever since he stepped into the room, he had kept a respectful distance.

“I’m not Gunner,” he said in a lower tone. “I don’t want to have a Luna who I'd  use forced to. I’m not interested in making you my puppet.”

“Then let me go,” I challenged.

He met my gaze, unblinking.

“Are you aware what happens to unmated pregnant omegas who go rogue?”

The words hit me hard.

My arms instinctively covered around my belly, like I was holding an orb.

His eyes softened slightly. “You won’t last a week, Anna. Not alone. Not out there.”

“So what?” I snapped. “You’re giving me a deadline now?”

“Yes,” he said, with a firm tone. “Because this world doesn't run by kindness. And you know that better than anyone.”

He took a slow step forward.

“I’m giving you two choices,” he continued. “One—walk out that door and become a rogue. You’ll be hunted by more than just enemies. Packs will assume you’re unstable, dangerous. Your child will grow up in hiding, if they survive at all.”

I stiffened.

“Or two,” he said, “come with me. Be protected. Have a place. No obligations. No demands. Just safety.”

Silence.

It rang louder than any voice.

I looked at the window. The morning sun streamed through, warm and deceptive.

I wanted to refuse.

I wanted to yell in his face.

But his offer was too appealing to ignore, it made it hard not to about what he said.

A rogue.

Hunted.

Pregnant.

And alone.

I flutter inside, my hand still on my against my womb.

My baby.

My child.

They had done nothing wrong. And yet the world already had claws pointed at them.

Ava stirred inside me, not frantic this time, but soft. Gentle.

We don’t have to trust him yet, she whispered. But we can rest.

I don’t want another mistake, I whispered back.

He’s not a mistake, she said simply.

I looked at Mattias. Still calm. Still unreadable.

“You could’ve let me go last night,” I murmured. “You could’ve let me run.”

“I couldn’t,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because you fidgeted,” he said. “And I understand what it's like to be in a room with other people, but yet feel utterly revoid and alone.”

I felt patched.

This wasn’t fair.

None of it was fair.

I stepped closer, keeping my eyes on him. “If I go with you… it’s for my child. Not because of this bond. Not because I want you. Not because I need you.”

“I understand,” he said.

“And I won’t pretend this is love,” I added coldly. “Because it’s not. It’s survival.”

He nodded once.

“That’s all I needed to hear.”