bChapter /bb198 /b

    April POV

    It’s been a week since I arrived at this pack, my chest still burns with the rejection, and I hate how everyone looks at me like I’m something to be hidden, something dangerous.

    I get it, my father and Rnd are still out there, they coulde for me, and that puts this pack at war. Which is the only reason that I’ve inot /ifought against the pack. I’m weirdly, in a routine. But everything feels off, everything feels twisted. I’m not meant to be here, I’m meant to be with Eryx.

    There’s a foolish part of me that’s holding onto him, thinking that he wille back and that he didn’t mean it. But then there’s the part of me that remembers the disgust in his eyes when he looked at me, the sneer he made.

    The door opens and I sit up straighter as Damon walks in. He smiles at me, and takes a seat. “How are you settling in, Aprilb?/bb” /b

    Sighing, I shrug. “I’m still questioning everything,” I say.

    “Understandable, my parents haven’t told me much,” he says.

    “So, there’s no update on the truth?” I ask.

    “They are sticking to the story. They saved you because it would gain them power over your fatherb, /bEryx doesn’t love you. They are set on that story and haven’t said anything different.”

    I had hoped that Damon would talk to his parents and they would tell him the truth, but maybe that is the truth? I’m foolish for waiting for something else, for something to happen that clearly isn’t going to.

    Once Eryx and his parents deal with Rnd and my pack, I’m safe, but I won’t be going back there. I’ll have to find another pack, a ce

    where I’m epted and wanted.

    I can still feel magic in me, but it doesn’t feel the same as before, it doesn’t feel twisted like the Hollowed Queen, it feels calm, beautiful, and

    kind, which makes no sense.

    “I’m sorry, I understand you wanted another answer,” Damon says.

    “I just wanted something that tells me what is going on.” I don’t like that this happened without me knowing, there was no warning. He imed me, had me im him, then the day after it was like I was the devil to him.

    He moves closer slowly. “April,” he stops and sighs like he’s bracing for something bad. “You’re so focused on your feelings, on getting answers, you’ve not noticed something else.”

    What else? I stare at him. “You know something?” I ask. “Do you notice something about Eryx, about his rejection?”

    “I mean you,” he says. “April, you’re pregnant.”

    My eyes widen and I lean back, no. I would feel it, I would know if I was pregnant. I wouldn’t have not noticed. My head shakes instantly and he sighs. “Believe me, you are. Focus and you will feel it, you’ve been more focused on everything and anything that you didn’t notice.”

    bI /bcan’t be pregnant. I close my eyes and try to focus, not on the magic, not on anything but my body and inside. Then I feel it, my heart stops for a brief moment. It’s there, a warmth in my stomach, a pulsing magic, a baby.

    No. My head shakes, and tears spring to my eyes. “He already hates me, imagine him finding out this,” I whisper. This isn’t right, he rejected me, I shouldn’t be pregnant. He’s going to hate me so much more now. He wanted to keep his distance from me, and here I amb, /bbpregnant/b. Which now I know he will say I did on purpose.

    b0.53 /bMON

    Aug

    “From what my parents have said, there has been no contract. The family requested no updates be sent, they will contact them when you’re safe to leave, so there’s no way of him finding out.“.

    I hope not. “I don’t know what to do now, Damon,” I whisper.

    “How do you mean?”

    “I mean I have no mate, no pack, nothing. I can’t go back to my families pack once the war is done. I’ve got nothing.”

    He chuckles softly. “My parents already think you’re staying here and are bing part of this pack, April.”

    What? I look at him, shocked. He has to be mistaken, no way would someone like his parents wee me to the pack after the threat I’ve imposed, just having me here is bad. “Why would they?” I ask.

    “Because you’re not your family and everyone deserves somewhere to call home. So if you’re wanting to, then stay here.”

    Stay here? I hadn’t even considered that, not at all. But now that I do, I can’t help but feel like he’s right, this could be my home. I’ve not spoken to many people here. Damon and his parents mostly, but maybe I could make this my home?

    “Would that view be the same when they find out I’m pregnant?” I ask, knowing it will change their view. “I’m mateless, rejected, with a child,

    Damon.”

    “Do you think that changes anything? You were dealt a cruel hand in your life, April, and you don’t deserve punishment for other peoples failures.” He looks at me and smiles. “You’re pack of this pack, remember that, no matter what happens.”

    I nod, and wipe away the tears. I’m d, I’m not sure where else Eryx could have sent me, but at least this pack feels like a home, even if it is tense right now.

    “Thank you, you don’t need to be kind to me,” I whisper.

    “I don’t, you’re right. But I want to be, I’ve been here, April.”

    I get that, and he has. His mate rejected him three years ago, so he does understand how I feel, even if right now I feel alone in all this.