Nina's POV
Richard's face stayed frozen in shock, his eyes glancing between mine as if his brain was still working to decipher what I had just said. For a second, I thought he wouldn't even speak, then he sucked in a trembling breath.
"You're… pregnant?" he asked, his voice low and nearly a whisper.
"Yes I am" I said, hugging my arms over my stomach protectively. I didn't have the patience to explain the truth to him while sugar coating it.
"Does Dwayne know?" His voice grew sharper, tinged with something between suspicion and desperation. "And that it is not his?"
I scoffed, shaking my head not willing to exaplain further. "The child isn't yours, Richard. That's all you need to know."
"You're lying!" He refuted shaking his head in disbelief.
"You know I'm not." I said, knowing fully well he could sense something different in me.
"If you're pregnant now, it then means you've been cheating on me this entire time." He completed through gritted teeth, his hand balled up in a fist.
"What if I was?" I sneered, "Just let me be Richard."
We had always made sure to use protection when we made love so he knew for a fact that the child wasn't his.
You couldn't miss the hurt in his eyes, and for a second, I almost felt guilty. Almost. But then the memories of his betrayal pushed past my momentary compassion like a knife.
The thought made my stomach churn, and I struggled not to roll my eyes. I wouldn't allow the pains of him to get to me, not when he had been the one to break everything we had created.
Richard moved closer, lowering his voice. "Who's the father?" he said cautiously, and before I could respond, he shook his head. "No, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter; I'll raise the child by myself. You don't need Dwayne, Nina. You do not need this pack, and you do not need him. Let's leave all of this behind, just you, me, and the baby."
I stared at him, incredulous. "Protect me?" I asked, my tone thick with disbelief. "Richard, this is my business, my cross to bear. You don't get to swoop in and play the hero now."
"Nina, you don't understand," he said urgently. "If Dwayne finds out you're pregnant, he's going to kill you! You've witnessed what he can do. And the baby…" He gulped, his voice cracking. "He won't let it live. I can't let that happen. Please, just come with me. I'll keep you safe."
I took a step back, shaking my head firmly. "That's not your decision to make, Richard. And it's not your fight. I can handle this."
His shoulders sagged as if the weight of my words had physically hit him, but I didn't stay to watch his reaction. Without another word, I turned and walked away, heading back toward the packhouse with my head held high.
I was almost at the entrance when I felt a shadow fall over me. Startled, I froze.
Dwayne stood there, his eyes frigid and inscrutable.
"Where have you been?" he said, his voice narrow and silky as a knife held to my flesh.
"I… I — I just stepped outside for some air," I said, my heart racing under his unblinking gaze.
His eyes skittered down to my stomach, lingering there a moment longer than I was comfortable with. His intense stare sent shivers down my spine.
"You're not to be seen by commoners before the Luna welcoming ceremony," he said coldly. "Do you understand? Just stay inside and don't set a foot outside of the packhouse again unless you wish to bring more shame to me."
He pivoted on his heel, looking fully ready to walk away, but I reached out and caught his hand, halting him mid-stride.
"Am I really such an embarrassment to you?" I asked, shivering as I locked gazes with him.
"Yes," he said, jaw clenched tight. "You are."
His words was like a slap across my face and I found it hard to breathe. Without giving me time to protest, he angrily pulled his hand back, turning and walking off while I was left standing there, broken and deserted.
I was standing in the hallway and trying to gather my breath, when I heard something behind me that sent shiver down my spine. Laughter. I quickly twisted and there stood her—the girl that was with Dwayne sometime ago.
She was standing with her back on the wall and her lips curved upwards, laughing out almost, hysterically, as though my suffering was the funniest joke that she had ever seen.
"What's so funny?" I asked, my voice hardening as I squared my shoulders.
"Oh, poor Luna," she said between giggles, her tone dripping with mockery.
I rolled my eyes, refusing to let her see how deeply her words cut. "I don't have time to entertain whores like you."
Her laughter stopped abruptly, and she straightened, her eyes flashing with malice. "This 'whore' has your man begging her every night," she sneered.
Anger constricted my chest, burning like fire, but I clenched my fists and kept my expression neutral. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.
"Good for you," I said coolly, turning away and walking down the hallway without looking back.
Her laughter followed behind me, a nasty cacaphony, but I didn't turn back.
The next morning, I woke up with puffy eyes and the events that had happened the previous day were still fresh in my mind. I barely slept throughout the night and I was feeling depleted, empty inside.
I forced myself out of my bed for breakfast.
After washing up, I went down the dining hall, knowing fully well the awkward tension that waits me. But I could not have been prepared for what I saw when I entered the room.
My family was there. My step-mother, my father, Richard…and Sheila.
Sheila sat at the table, her arms folded across her chest, a rather self-satisfied smirk on her lips and a twinkle in her eyes when she looked at me. This slow, self-satisfied smile spread across her face and I felt a sinkin
g feeling in the pit of my stomach. Things were about to go very bad.