CHAPTER 158: MATERNAL INSTINCT ( DAMIAN’S POV )

"Lucrezia, please, there has gotta be another way."

"Oh, don’t tell me you grew attached to a cyst of cells. I thought you had a bit more brain than that."

"Please, please, please."

"Ugh, as if a man whining isn’t disgusting enough, an omega crying is an even bigger pollution of my eardrums. Stop it! It’s decided!"

"Luther! Luther called! I heard you talking! He will be by your side! Keep me as a card to blackmail him with!"

"You? A card to blackmail Luther? Honey, don’t be ridiculous. He doesn’t care about one of his simps’ bootycall."

"Luther is sensitive. He would do everything to protect a baby."

"I doubt it. It’s a everybody for their own world, honey."

"He will. He is hiding now because I asked him!"

"What?"

Lucrezia’s face twisted in anger. Not even the ridiculous amount of botox could even hold in place the rage she was vibrating inside her.

Confessing about my betrayal was stupidly risky, but I had no cards left to save myself—

No. Not myself, but my baby.

It was pointless to wait for Killian. He doesn’t know where I am. He hasn’t been home in the last week.

At least, before the scandal broke off, he would pass by to check on me. A mandatory act of obligation, drained by any own will or emotion. But he at least pretended.

Bad actor or not, he would come with fruit and cakes, ask about my health, my cravings, my wishes.

He would leave pheromones behind on the blankets and bed. Dry of any desire of affection, yet necessary for the health of the baby. A baby he refused to acknowledge it’s his.

Yet, after that omega appeared on the national television, he was cooped up in his office, drowning in papers and responsibilities. Damage control.

Akna Pharmaceuticals took a big hit the moment the omega accused them of torturing, experimenting on him, displaying research papers about a future mass killing of omegas. All with the seal of Akna’s family.

I am sure he was relieved that the disaster gave him an excuse to distance himself from me and the baby. Our baby.

Not Caleb’s. I feel it. I know it. It’s Killian’s.

No matter the pheromones or what they said. A mother just knows.

Even if Killian knew about Lucrezia tying me up, preparing an abortion of the child I carry in my womb, I wouldn’t hope he would come to save me. The distance between us grew too wide. The wounds, still fresh and bleeding, drowned any sign of affection he ever had for me.

His behavior turned me cold too. Yes, I am desperate for him to look at me with kindness and a platonic care at least, but I am slowly accepting the reality of that being nothing but a distant memory. Not to be experienced again.

So I am admitting my fault. My betrayal of knowing where Luther was at some point and, not only hiding that from Lucrezia, but helping him slither through her grip.

A stupid, desperate gesture.

But what else could I do? How could I save my baby? How could I protect the only thing that will return my affection?

"When we found out about Luther’s location, I hurried up while you prepared the media and the police to warn him. To help him escape."

The impact of Lucrezia’s slap made my teeth bleed. She was not the type to touch an omega without a glove, let alone to damage the soft skin of her hand by hitting what she deemed less than human.

Her hitting me only meant that her fury surpassed her disgust.

I sat there, letting her shake me, slap me, swear at me. It didn’t matter. It was proof enough that Luther would do anything to protect the life of my unborn child.

For the first time since he walked into Killian’s life, I was thankful. Who would have guessed that the man who would steal everything from me—

My dream life, my lover, my future—

Will be the only reason the infant in my womb would live another day?

"I raised you, you ungrateful wh-re, and you dare to betray me? Me? I should kill you with my own hands!"

"I asked him to stay away for the next two and a half months until I gave birth. Is that proof enough that I am useful? That you could use me and my child as a blackmail card?"

"You f-cking waste of air!"

Her hand gripped my face violently. Red nails digging in my skin, causing shallow bleeding, marks on my cheek. It’s fine. It doesn’t matter.

I can handle anything.

"Fine, fine. Here is how things will work from now on. You will be isolated in the apartment until your pregnancy comes to term. Under strict surveillance. I will place cameras everywhere in Killian’s home so you won’t be able to rebel ever again."

A small sigh of relief escaped my throat. The guttural, pitiful sound raised Lucrezia’s brow. It twitched under the tight grip of the botox in her forehead.

She continued, tone shaking with anger and frustration:

"If Luther will show any sign of disinterest in you and your tumor with teeth and hair, you will be killed."

I expected this outcome. Yet I couldn’t help but tremble. Our lives hang in the whims of an overhyped omega. An omega I’ve been nothing but mean and jealous of.

Tears rolled down my face, mixing with the blood of the marks Lucrezia left on my face. She retreated her hand, loosening the grip and wiping thoroughly her hand as if she had touched mouldy, damped garbage.

"Thank you."

"You should be kissing my feet for the amount of mercy I show you, brat. But don’t bother. My Louboutins are too expensive for the lips of a human c-m rug to touch them. Disgusting, useless sl-t!"

"Yes, ma’am! Thank you, ma’am!"

Humiliation was nothing for me. Ever since I was a child I was disciplined into obeying this woman and her nephew. It came naturally, as if I was breathing to be degrading myself for their satisfaction.

It didn’t mean anything to me anymore. Not the insults, not the fake gratefulness of being tarnished.

It was nothing more than an empty act requested to survive.

"Now, let’s discuss your punishment."

Lucrezia threw her spoiled handkerchief in my face as the echo of her red-bottom designer heels faded further away from me.

She sat in her satin chair, balancing her tiptoes in an unsteady rhythm. I could see she didn’t expect my betrayal or my defensiveness.

Not a lot of things could be read on the plastic face of this woman, but now? All I could see was frustration. Anger. Helplessness.

I nodded my head along. Not that my approval would mean anything to her. I just—

I couldn’t do anything, but submissively accepted whatever she threw in my way.

"I usually just kill those who dare to cross me, but I can’t dispose of you or put you in danger your pregnancy."

"Thank you, ma’am!"

"Quiet

!"

I gulped.

It was fine. Everything it’s fine.

I will get out of this mess safely with my child. She can’t do too much.

"I can’t sell you out since other alpha’s pheromones might harm the parasite. I can’t torture you. I can’t withhold your food or pocket money."

My heartbeat threatened to burst my eardrum as I had to consciously force my lungs to breathe in and out. I was cold, yet that was not the reason I shivered.

The worst was out of the way.

I will get out of this punishment easily— at least for the moment.

"I’ll be visited by an important representative of a foreign company dealing Carbaglu— a drug usually used to treat high levels of ammonia in the bloodstream. Our research showed that a chemical component in Carbaglu increases fertility in the beta female."

Why is she telling me this?

She never bothered to explain the technical details of a business deal to anyone but Clara. Not even to Killian.

So—

Oh.

"The representative is a beta. I usually have Clara show such a representative the hospitality of Akna Pharmaceuticals, but this beta is rather particular in taste. He had implanted a secondary-gender gland and, although useless in any other department, it gave him the ability to smell pheromones."

Lucrezia’s crimson lips curved into a smug smile as she tapped her nail on her thigh.

I couldn’t help but shudder. It was irrelevant for her to explain what was expected of me, yet she took pleasure in describing it.

"The guy has a weakness for pregnant omegas, especially those with a sweet pheromone scent. The business papers should be completed in a month. A perfect pregnancy window where the s-x is not only safe for the baby, but recommended for the mother as it helps increase hormones and decrease the chance of pheromone self-overdose."

"Please."

"Oh, don’t whine! I am being merciful really. One man, no pheromones to disturb the clog of cells you are carrying in your womb, just a month. Plus, it’s not like it’s the first time you sold your body for the benefit of this family. Or do you want Killian to be the one asking you?"

"I—"

"Excellent. I expect nothing less than an impressive performance. I’ll make sure to send you enough outfits to make your appearance desirable. If you let me down, I’ll simply find something else to blackmail that brat into obeying."

Lucrezia’s gaze sharpened as her voice dropped lower and threatening.

"This is your last attempt to save yourself, Damian. Don’t waste it if you want that child to live!"

I let my head hang low and muffled my tears. With all that was left of my voice I thanked her.

The first time since my childhood, this mandatory act drowned me in the ache of my wounded dignity.