When Derrick came back, I forced myself to stay calm, masking the emotions raging inside me.
“What’s wrong, Charlotte?” he asked, his hand on my shoulder, his voice dripping with false concern. His touch made my skin crawl.
I forced a small, pained smile, biting back the bitter words threatening to spill out. “Do you remember when you promised me the moon and stars?” I asked quietly, my eyes locking onto his, searching for any hint of guilt.
He hesitated, a flicker of something—guilt, perhaps?—crossing his face. But he quickly regained his composure. “Of course, Charlotte. You know I’d do anything for you and our little one.” The words felt hollow, a cheap cover-up for the jasmine scent that still lingered on him, mocking me.
With a quiet, controlled fury, I responded, “It’s funny, I’ve suddenly developed a craving for dumplings from the edge of our territory—the ones they sell on the east side.” My eyes challenged him, daring him to deny my request. I knew he’d been there recently. Samantha had streamed it live, flaunting his devotion.
He tensed. “Those aren’t good for you, Charlotte. You should be careful about what you eat,” he muttered, avoiding my gaze.
He turned to leave, mumbling, “I’m exhausted. Maybe you can ask someone else to fetch whatever it is you need.” The disregard in his voice, his complete lack of shame, was like salt in an open wound.
I watched him retreat, disappearing into the shadows of our mansion, leaving me standing alone in the silence. I allowed myself to feel the full weight of his betrayal. I pressed a hand to my stomach, feeling the life within, the true bond that mattered now.
“You’re my true bond,” I whispered to my unborn child. “Together, we’ll reclaim our strength.”
As dawn broke, the silvery light cast long shadows across the pack’s territory. I stood at the edge of the woods, breathing in the morning air, feeling a strange calm settle over me. I would not be his victim. I am the Alpha’s daughter, and I had a duty to my child, my pack, and myself.
Derrick may have broken our bond, but in doing so, he’d unleashed a power within me that I was only beginning to understand. I could feel it now—a strength that pulsed through my veins, an untamed power fueled by the pain he had inflicted.