Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Sierra pov.

As I witnessed her utter those words, it felt as though a sharp knife had been mercilessly thrust into my being. Overwhelmed by the pain, I instinctively clutched my stomach, squeezing my eyes shut in an attempt to regain composure and catch my breath.

Should I distance myself from this pack as well? Merely contemplating the things she said fills me with an overwhelming sense of fear.

Tears began streaming down my face, my heart shattered into countless pieces, leaving me utterly lost and clueless about what to do next. If only Henry were here, he could find a way to bring a smile to my face.

I shifted my gaze towards the ceiling, fixating on it for several minutes, and gradually, the agony started to dissipate, leaving behind a faint glimmer of happiness.

Fatigue started to wash over me, and the desire to slumber indefinitely, never to awaken, crept into my consciousness. However, just as I was about to surrender to sleep's embrace, an abrupt knock disrupted my tranquility, causing me to jolt up in fear, fixated on the door.

She's returned, but what could she possibly want this time? I remained seated on my bed, my eyes locked on the door, only to be interrupted once again by another knock. This time, I stood up slowly, cautiously making my way towards it.

As I drew closer to the door, I inhaled deeply, trembling at the thought of opening it. But just as another knock resonated through the silence, I summoned the courage to unlatch the door.

With wild abandon, I flung the door open and stared at her, and to my surprise, she greeted me with a warm smile.

"Miss Sierra, Alpha Dean requests your presence in the dining room. It's time for dinner," she announced.

I scrutinized her appearance, noting her striking beauty, before looking back up at her and simply nodded, rendered speechless. Closing the door behind me, I placed my hands on my chest, feeling my heart race uncontrollably.

Should I go to the dining room? What could he possibly want with me there? Couldn't he just send someone to bring the food to my room?

I opened the door once more, only to find the same young woman standing there. Perplexed, I wondered why she had lingered.

"Is there anything else?" I inquired, and she smiled before responding.

"I was instructed to guide you to the dining room, as you seem unfamiliar with the way."

She was right—I had no idea how to find the dining room, a fact I hadn't even considered. Returning her smile, I nodded in acknowledgment and stepped out of the room, following her lead towards the grand dining area.

Upon arrival, my eyes beheld a vast array of delectable dishes spread across the table, causing my mouth to water uncontrollably. Suddenly, an intense hunger washed over me, as if I had not eaten in ages.

I noticed Dean's smile as he glanced in my direction, while Linda seemed to be in a sour mood, her face reflecting discontent.

I walked over to where Dean was standing up, but just as he was about to show me a place to sit, I immediately took a seat without looking at his face. He sat back down and looked at me before speaking.

"You can eat whatever you want. I just hope you don't get hungry while you're here."

I nodded but kept my head down, feeling Linda's gaze fixed directly on me. One of the maids walked over and started dishing out food onto a plate. She handed it to me, and I looked up, offering her a smile, before I began eating.

I was deeply engrossed in my thoughts, deliberately avoiding looking up at either of them.

"So, Sierra, tell us, how did you get pregnant? You can't say you just woke up in the woods as a lone wolf and found yourself pregnant."

I looked up at her when she said that, feeling completely at a loss for words.

"Come on, we're waiting."

I glanced at Dean, who wasn't pleased with Linda's question. Just as I was about to speak, he forcefully hit the table, causing everyone to shake. He turned to look at Linda.

"Why would you ask her such a question, Linda? Whenever she feels like sharing, she will. For now, don't ever try this nonsense again."

Linda was also furious as she stood up and faced Dean.

"Ever since she came here, you've been acting differently. You don't even have time for me anymore. All you ever think about is talking about her and always being with her."

I couldn't believe my eyes when Dean slapped her. Without another word, he walked away, leaving me alone with Linda, her hand covering her cheek.

I looked down, afraid to meet her gaze, as if my blood was boiling deep within me. Slowly, I raised my eyes and saw her staring at me with a cold, dead look, as if to say, "You've only made matters worse."

Feeling like a small, insignificant bug, I suddenly felt a chill, and the desire to eat faded away. I watched as she walked away, and that's when I realized I had been holding my breath.

I waited for a moment before standing up, deciding to retreat to my room and lock myself in, not wanting to feel bad about everything all over again. Just as I began to walk down the hallway, I couldn't shake off the memory of the slap and what had just transpired.

Would Linda make my life a living hell now? I felt uneasy just thinking about what she might do to me and my child, and I couldn't help but feel that this would be worse than what Alex had put me through.

Just as I was about to head towards my room, a hand grabbed my arm, and when I looked up, I saw Dean looking at me. I wondered what he wanted this time, but before I could speak, he whispered.

"I love you."

I was shocked by his words, but as I was about to pull away, he pulled me closer and kissed me.