CHAPTER 19: 19-IN HER WOMB

Haiden:

"I’m sure many of us didn’t want to come here willingly. But it is what it is," I used a much gentler tone because I could tell the girl was not in the mood to back down from the wires. The way she kept clenching her fists while taking shallow breaths made me worried for her. She seemed distraught and had come to terms with something already planned in her mind.

"Listen, why don’t you step back from the wires and tell me what exactly is going on?" I began to panic when she took another big step closer to the wires.

"I cannot stay here," she repeated her words, making me anxious.

Damn it, why did I have to find her?

I looked around to find a lurker. Of course, there were none. Ugh! My hands started to swell as I contemplated how to help her. I wasn’t really an emotional type of person. Selling comfort wasn’t my thing either.

So it was difficult.

"Is your squad bullying you? You can tell me and—I can help you," I bit my tongue at my own hypocrisy. I’m bullying someone in my own squad, how will I face someone else and question them for acting the same way I do?

"Aren’t you the one who was accused of trying to throw his squad member over the fence?" And she hit me with the truth. I awkwardly averted my eyes and scratched the back of my head.

"Hey, hey, stop!" Just when she got me distracted, I watched her try to rush over the wires. I reached her and grabbed her arm, pulling her back. That’s when my eyes widened as I saw her sweater move.

She stepped back and placed her hand on her belly, tears falling even harder now.

"I can’t be a crusader. I’m pregnant." As she broke down, it all made sense why she wanted to escape so badly.

"Oh, ummm— and you think you’ve figured out a way to change your life?" I didn’t even know what I was saying.

"Listen, you cannot cross these wires. I tried to make someone cross. And secondly, do you think the world out there will be a safer place? The lurkers will find you, and what they’ll do to you will be worse," I tried to make her understand, but she kept shaking her head, sobbing.

"Go back to your room. I’m sure when you give birth, the Ringleaders will change the rules for you. They’re not stupid people. They would never make a pregnant girl go to the North. Just... ..please go back to your room and trust the Moon Goddess," I uttered with a shaky tone. I was honestly scared of her.

She seemed like she was ready to throw herself at the wire. But her situation was so scary.

Not just scary—sad, too. Think about it this way: pregnancy is the most amazing thing to ever happen to anyone. During that time, the mother deserves love and respect. Care.

But here she was, pushed to stay in a room full of strangers. Some of them might be like me. And then the pressure of going to the North. It was such an unfair thing to happen to someone. I felt bad for her.

In fact, I felt too deeply for her.

"I’m Haiden from Black Squad, by the way. Alpha Haiden of the Magical Fangs Pack," I introduced myself, holding my hand out to her for a handshake.

She stared at my hand before her shaky one reached out and held mine. She was so warm, and trembling.

"Omega Sadie Benson of the Crimson Blood Pack. And now in Red Squad," she uttered softly, retrieving her hand and looking back at my face, but this time with much more hope in her eyes.

"You think they won’t take me to the North?" she questioned.

"Of course they won’t. Why would they, when they know you won’t be able to fight? In fact—I don’t want to be mean, but you’ll be a responsibility to your squad," I said, noticing her giving it some thought before she nodded in agreement.

"Then I will go back to my room," she uttered. "Thank you, Alpha Haiden. Thank you for stopping me from making a mistake in haste."

The way she smiled, like she was truly grateful, made me feel so shy.

I always felt pride when someone complimented me. It made me believe I had done something right. Of course, I couldn’t expect a single compliment from Clementine. She’s the reason I feel like I’m a horrible person.

She was so full of herself, just like her father. Goddess, I hated her.

"Stay safe," I said, turning around only after I saw her enter her room.

I made my way back to mine, but by then, we were already being asked to come to the hall again so they could tell us what was expected next.

My squad was already in the hall. Better this way, I didn’t want to interact with Clementine.

"Where have you been?" Yorick turned to whisper, eyeing me.

"Dude, I met a girl," I replied, keeping my eyes on the Ringleaders as they stood together, talking about something.

"Where? Is she cute?" Troy turned to join in, his eyes full of hunger.

"No—I mean, yes. She was gorgeous. But she was either trying to hurt herself by throwing herself on the barbed wires, or trying to escape," I mumbled, making sure others weren’t listening.

Clementine was standing in the front row, giving us her back. I wanted to yank off her hat and show everyone her bald head so bad. But that was just me, always thinking about how to make her suffer.

"Oh, what? So let me guess, you saved her, and then in return for thanking you, she let you hit?" Yorick made me believe he only thinks with his dick.

"No, I—ugh. She was– pregnant," the minute I said that, Troy’s and Yorick’s eyes widened as I subtly pointed at the girl with my eyes.

She was standing with her squad-mates, all alone. It did seem like nobody spoke to her, maybe for that very reason. Or maybe they were just bitter bullies.

"So, just like many of you have suspected: your first mission is here. And everyone—every single person, despite their condition—will be going to the North,"

That’s when the Ringleaders had finished their conversation and let Lenora from Red Squad step forward to make the announcement.

Let’s just say, her words made Sadie snap her head and look at me like I had betrayed her.