Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Emilia’s POV

Three months later…

I waddled along the stony path barefooted. Cuts and bruises marred the tender skin of my feet but I wasn’t bothered by them. I took one step after another, my right hand placed protectively over my abdomen.

My eyes glazed over as the memories played in my mind like a reel. A pained whimper escaped my lips as a fresh stream of tears rolled down my cheeks. I had never thought that one mistake could turn my world upside down like this. My mind veered to the day my father found out that I was pregnant.

I was woken up from my sleep that day by my father’s hollers, “Emilia! Emilia Ryanwood! Come down at once!”

I would have normally ignored him, flopped, and slept back but something about his voice suggested that he was really mad this time. I threw on a gown and walked down the stairs.

My heart sank when I saw the blue file in his hand. I could see the words ‘Amelia Ryanwood’ written on the top of the folder. My heartbeat stopped and restarted; throbbing like a drum. I grabbed the railing to support myself. My voice cracked as I whispered, “Father?”

My father grabbed my arm and dragged me down the rest of the stairs. Thrusting the file into my hand, he glowered, “What is the meaning of this?”

“Father, I… I wanted to talk to you about this but…. Ummm… I….” My voice got choked. I couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth. What was she going to say? That his daughter trapped someone to have s** with her and got pregnant from a one-night stand…. No matter how bold and confident someone is, there are certain things you can’t say in so many words.

My face flushed and I lowered my head. I chewed her bottom lip as I toyed with the keychain in her hand.

My silence infuriated him further. He grabbed my shoulder and shook me up, “Just tell me who did this to you! I swear I will make them pay with their life.”

My heart plummeted when she heard this. The mere thought of Nivaan getting killed was enough to tear me apart. My teeth dug deeper into my lips drawing blood. I could never disclose the identity of my baby’s father.

“Fine, if you are afraid of disclosing his identity; at least tell me his status. Is he an Alpha, Beta….” He paused for a moment and snapped, “Don’t tell me that my daughter is stupid enough to sleep with an Omega!”

I flinched at his words but didn’t say anything. I stood there with my eyes lowered, tracing patterns on the floor with my foot.

Questions rained on me like a torrential shower but my lips remained sealed. In the end, my father picked up a glass of water and splashed its contents onto my face. “Emilia! I am telling you, if you remain quite like this, I will burst. I don’t know what I will do!”

“There is nothing for me to say, father.” I looked at him with a tear-stained face and rasped, “This baby is mine, isn’t that enough for you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Emilia!” His face had turned completely red with anger by now. He poured another glass of water and gulped it in a single draught. He took deep breaths and tried to talk to me in a calmer voice, “Just tell me who the father is, Emy…. I swear I will give you both a chance to explain the situation. I might even accept him if he is a good match for you.”

I let out a long deep sigh. My eyes flashed with an obstinate determination, “This child is mine and only mine. I don’t know who his father is.”

“You!” My father said, shaking his index finger in fury. “You dare to remain stubborn even after committing such a heinous sin!” His expression became extremely cold, “Since you don’t want to tell me the cause of the problem, I will eliminate the root of the problem.” He looked at me with a frosty expression and said in an emotionless voice, “I will fix an appointment with the doctor for an abortion.”

I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her feet. How could my father even think of something like this? I wrapped her arms around herself and stuttered, “The baby has nothing to do with all of this…. He is innocent. If you want to punish someone, punish me…. Leave my child out of this.”

My father remained unmoved by my words, “I have made up my mind, Emy. The only way to save your child is to tell me who that bastard is.”

My lips pressed in a thin line and I hung my head. My father’s jaws clenched together and he grabbed me by my arm, “Fine…. Then let us go and get that thing out of you.”

I pulled her arms away and shook my head vehemently, “No! No one is going to hurt my child…. Not even you….”

Father narrowed his eyes, “You dare to stand in MY house and defy me! Who do you think you are Emilia?

I stood there stunned for an entire minute. I felt like someone had plunged a dagger through my heart. How could my father say something like this? Wasn’t this my house too?

Gulping the lump that had formed in my throat, I said in a cracking voice, “If I have to kill my child to live in YOUR house, I might as well leave….”

Father seemed taken aback by my words. Hurt flashed through his eyes but only for a moment. It was soon replaced by anger. He snorted and snapped, “If you want to leave, I won’t stop you…. You have brought nothing but disgrace to our family. Why would I beg you to stay back?”

My lips pressed in a thin line and I made my way towards the exit with a heavy heart. I had never thought that my father could be so cold and indifferent.

“Go! Just leave and never show me your face again!” My father’s voice sounded behind me ripping my soul apart. My heart ached so much that it had taken a physical dimension. Gripping the fabric near my chest, I staggered out of the house.

I dragged my lifeless body along the long winding path leading towards the forest. My mate had rejected me, My father didn’t want to see my face. The most wanted girl had suddenly become the most despised one in the world.

I stepped on a particularly sharp stone making me wince. I merely wiggled her feet once before walking again. I didn’t mind the pain. In fact, I reveled in the physical torment. It took my mind off the emotional pain, even if it was just for a minute.

Snap! The sharp twang of a cracking twig pulled me out of my reverie. The hair on my back stood and my wolf warned me about a sudden change in my surroundings.

I spun around quickly but there was no one behind me. My forehead creased with deep lines and My pace quickened. I trotted for a few meters before coming to an abrupt halt. I didn’t even know where I was going.

My eyes swept around to find that everything was unfamiliar. A sudden gust of wind assaulted her with a heavy, sweet fragrance: Bromeliads? There were no bromeliads in our territory.

I clearly remembered Ana’s face when she was asked to pluck bromeliads for my birthday. She had mentioned that these flowers could be found only in the Territory Mystical Pack. Had I wandered into the territory of the mystical pack? Just how long had I been walking?

My ears perked up and I looked around warily. My arms wrapped around my abdomen in a protective gesture. I shouldn’t have wandered so far. I was angry with my father but it would be foolish to leave the Ryanwood territory.

I spun around and started walking in the opposite direction. I would be safe once she reached the Ryanwood territory again. Nobody would dare to harm me there. I had taken only a few steps when two people emerged out of nowhere.

My eyes widened in horror and I started backward only to bump into someone. I could feel the waves of heat behind me. My eyes widened in horror and I tore my hair. What was I going to do now? How would I protect my baby?

The sound of crunching and rustling sounded from my left and a woman emerged from behind the woods. She was dressed in jeans; a leather jacket and long boots; her hair tied up in a neat ponytail.

Her expression turned frosty when she saw the four men surrounding me. She crossed her arms over her chest and said in a stern voice, “I will only say this once. Leave and never show your face again in the Mystical Territory. If I see you again, I will kill you.”

“Who is going to stop us, You?” The man standing right behind me mocked before bursting into a peal of guffaws.

The woman didn’t seem fazed by his words. She shook her head as she replied, “I will if I have to. I can’t see injustice happening in front of my eyes.”

The man to my right took a few steps toward the woman as he taunted, “Is that how Alpha Kevin keeps his perimeter secure? Capturing goons with a beauty trap?”

Zap! A silver dagger flew through the air and lodged itself straight into the man’s chest. His eyes widened in horror, he gasped for air before dropping to the ground.

Without any warning, the woman slipped out two more daggers from her belt and aimed at the men. It hit one man in the leg and another in the neck. Loud footsteps echoed in the clearing as a group of five men came running.

“Take them away. Alpha Kevin will interrogate them later,” She commanded without even looking at them. Walking straight toward me, she asked in an anxious voice, “Are you okay?”

My lips pressed in a thin line and I gave her a short nod. My lips lifted in a weak smile, “I think I am as fine as a rejected and abandoned woman can be….”

The woman kept looking at me for a long time as if she was contemplating what to say. She placed her hand on my shoulder and said, “I am Kiara, the Luna of this pack. I am really sorry that you had to go through so much agony.”

“There is no need to apologize. I should be thanking you for saving my life. God knows what would have happened if you hadn’t come on time,” I interrupted; this time with a genuine smile.

“Where do you want to go? My men will take you there. It isn’t a good idea for pregnant women to travel alone.”

“I…Umm…. My father wanted me to abort my baby. So, I ran away. My mate has already rejected me long back. I honestly don’t know where to go.” My face flushed and her fingers gripped the edge of my gown. Who would have thought that Emilia Ryanwoood would say something like this?

Kiara lifted my chin gently and looked into my eyes, “How old are you, Emilia?”

My eyes glazed over with unshed tears, “I feel like I have lived too long; so long that living even a day more is burdensome.” A sigh escaped my lips and I shook my head as if trying to clear my mind, “Sorry, I shouldn’t be bothering you with my problems. It’s just that… nothing”

I stretched my hand towards her and said, “I am Emilia Ryanwood, and to answer your question; I am a little more than eighteen.” I let out a dry laugh, “I finally understand the term, age is just a number.”

Kiara let out a soft groan and pulled me into a hug; a warm and comforting embrace. Patting my back, she said, “I can relate to you on so many levels. I have rejected and been rejected; abandoned and been abandoned. It is all in the past now but I can feel your pain.” She pulled away and smiled, “I think that makes us sisters. Why don’t you come with me?”

My jaws hung open and my eyes teared up, “I don’t think I deserve such kindness, Luna Kiara. You don’t even know me…”

Kiara placed her palm against my cheek, “I know you enough to let you live with me.” I opened my mouth to protest but Kiara placed her finger on my lips and said in a stern voice, “If you refuse again, I will get angry….”

I had nowhere else to go. So, I followed her to the camp that they had set in open grassland. Kiara took me to a blue tent and gave me some clothes to change into and some slippers. They were a bit larger than my size but I wore them anyway.

When I looked into the mirror, I could barely recognize myself; messy hair, pale face, sunken eyes, unbranded clothes, and oversized slippers. F***! Even those were borrowed.

My eyes fell on my abdomen which had started showing ever so lightly. My lips lifted in a smile as I caressed the bump lovingly. I could give up everything else if that meant I could have him….