All Chapters of Sleeping with the Alpha Who Despised Me: Chapter 201 - Chapter 210

River POVThe sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky when I parked the car outside Steven’s school. I’d been restless all day, pacing, checking my phone every five minutes, trying to distract myself with meaningless tasks. But the moment I saw the school gates, a strange wave of calm settled over me. Seeing my son always did that,like he was my anchor to reality, kept me from being completely swept away by the storm raging inside me.I got out, clutching my bag tighter than necessary, and walked toward the usual pickup spot. A few parents were already there, chatting, laughing, some holding their children’s hands while others watched their kids run ahead with backpacks bouncing. I smiled faintly. Soon Steven would come running toward me with that big grin that always melted my heart.But minutes ticked by, and my baby boy was nowhere in sight.I frowned, glancing at the stream of students spilling out of the building. “Okay… maybe he’s just inside, taking his time,” I muttered und

River POVBy the time Hailey pulled into my driveway, I was shaking so badly she had to lean across and open my door for me. My fingers couldn’t even manage the handle. The whole drive home had been a blur, just the sound of my heartbeat thundering in my ears and the glow of my phone screen burning that awful message into my mind.I stumbled into the house, feeling like a ghost in my own skin. Hailey stayed close, never letting go of my arm, as though afraid I’d collapse if she loosened her grip.The moment we stepped inside, I broke away and started pacing the living room. My chest was so tight it felt like I’d been running for hours.“River,” Hailey said gently, closing the door behind us. “Sit down. Just breathe, please.”I shook my head violently. “I can’t breathe, Hailey. My son is out there with—” My voice cracked, and I pressed a trembling hand to my mouth. Tears burned hot against my skin.She set her bag on the couch and crossed over, blocking my frantic path. “Listen to me.

Zed’s POVThe drive to River’s house was a blur. My hands gripped the wheel so tightly I thought it might snap. Her silence, her lies, her audacity to keep something this massive from me, I couldn’t breathe. Every second that passed felt like Steven’s life was hanging by a thread, and she hadn’t told me. My son. Our son.By the time I pulled into her driveway, rage and fear had melted the poison in my state into one toxic fire in my chest. I didn’t bother knocking. I shoved the door open, nearly tearing it off the hinges.They were all there, River, Hailey, Jay, and Peter, clustered in the living room like nothing was wrong.“Are you out of your mind?!” I roared, slamming the door shut so hard the walls rattled.River jerked up, startled, clutching a pillow to her chest. “Zed—”“Don’t you dare say my name like that,” I snapped, pacing forward, fists trembling. “You knew. You knew Steven was kidnapped, and you didn’t tell me!”Her lips parted, her eyes wide with guilt. “I—”“You what?

River pov The drive felt endless.Each passing tree blurred together, shadows leaning across the road as though they were trying to pull me back, to warn me. My hands were clenched so tightly on the steering wheel that my knuckles ached, but I couldn’t loosen them. Not when every mile brought me closer to Steven.My heart hammered against my ribs, so loud I could hardly hear the tires on the gravel. Every time my phone buzzed on the passenger seat, my whole body jerked. The kidnappers hadn’t sent anything more since the last chilling text, but I kept expecting another command, another threat.I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry as dust.This is it, I told myself. No turning back now.I tried to breathe the way I did before going into surgery, steady and deep, but it didn’t work. The thought of Steven tied up somewhere, maybe crying for me, tore my chest open all over again. I pressed a hand over my stomach as if I could keep the ache inside from spilling out.“Please hold on, baby,” I

River povMy eyes snapped open to darkness.For a moment, I thought I was still dreaming, still trapped in some nightmare where the shadows pressed down on me and my chest felt too heavy to move. But then the throbbing in my wrists reminded me this was no dream. Rope bit into my skin, tight and merciless, and every shift made the fibers scrape against raw flesh.Steven stirred beside me, letting out a soft groan. He was slumped awkwardly against the wooden post, his head resting near my shoulder. Even in the dim light of the warehouse, I could see how pale he looked, his lips trembling as though from cold, or fear.“mom” he whispered hoarsely.I swallowed, forcing calm into my voice even though fear clamped its claws around my chest. “I’m here. I’m right here, baby.”My arms ached, my ankles burned from the ties, but I leaned as close as I could, brushing my cheek against his hair. “We’re going to be okay. Do you hear me? I won’t let anything happen to you.”I didn’t know if that was