Daphne's POV

Slap! Slap!

Two resounding slaps rang in my ears, jolting me awake. My eyes shot open in shock, landing on the guards standing in my room. How did they get in?

Before I could ask what was happening, rough hands grabbed me, yanking me from the bed,

"Where are you taking me? What did I do?" I kept yelling in pain as they pulled me without allowing me to walk on my own. This already gathered an audience because I saw the servants pause their work as they watched me getting dragged. They didn't just stand to watch, they followed us until I was thrown to the cold ground.

I didn't need to look up to know whose feet I was kneeling before. The pink, high-heeled shoes told me everything. Luna Cynthia. Her shoes were always the classiest.

"Rise," she commanded.

I scrambled to my feet, my knees wobbling.

"We both had an agreement yesterday, didn't we?" She asked and I suddenly fell back on my knees.

"My Luna, it was-"

"Answer my damn question!" she snapped.

"Yes. Yes, my Luna"

"And yet, you still had the audacity to disobey me."

"No, my Luna! It was the Alpha who-"

Smack!

Her hand struck my face before I could finish. Her sharp nails tore across my cheek, sending a searing sting through my skin. My eyes welled with tears as I felt the warm trickle of blood.

"Beat her until she can no longer move."

Terror seized me. "No! No, My Luna, I didn't do-"

A heavy boot smashed against my ribs, cutting off my words.

"I didn't do anything!" I sobbed, but my pleas fell on deaf ears.

They didn't just beat me. They delivered kicks, punches, and relentless blows down on me like I was a traitor, an outcast.

The servants watched, unmoving. Not one of them intervened. Not one of them could.

By the time they were done, I lay crumpled on the ground, my body throbbing with indescribable pain. Every breath I took felt like knives slicing through my ribs. My vision blurred, the world around me tilting. As the guards walked away, I remained there in the pool of my own blood.

"Help..." I whispered, barely able to move, my voice cracked.

No one made a move. No one dared to help.

Darkness crept in, and I slowly embraced it.

When I woke, my body was heavy, my limbs refusing to obey me. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils, I didn't have to look, I knew I was in the pack hospital.

"Shit..." I cussed as I raised my hand and tried to massage my head. I hissed in pain and finally dropped my hand. My face and hands were covered with bondages. I sighed as I recalled what happened that landed me here

A soft shuffle of footsteps pulled my attention toward the door. The doctor entered, her expression unreadable.

"You're awake."

"I am." My voice trembled.

"How do you feel?" she asked gently.

"Weak."

She carefully lifted my hands, removing the bandages. "Your wolf must be weak too. You aren't healing as fast as you should, which is why I had to wrap you up." She smiled faintly. "But you're strong, Daphne."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Strong? I was nothing but a battered omega.

She continued working in silence, peeling off the last of the bandages. The pain was gone. The wounds had healed. Physically, at least.

"That's better," she said. Then, after a pause, she added, "I have news."

I barely had the strength to care. The only thing I wanted was to ask if she could help me escape. If she could hide me in the hospital until I found a way out of this hell.

But her next words erased every thought from my mind.

"You're one month pregnant."

Everything inside me froze. The words echoed in my skull, over and over.

Pregnant.

Me? A barren omega? Carrying his child?

I struggled to process it as my hand trembled as I reached for my stomach. Alpha Kian's heir...

"Doctor," I breathed, my voice barely audible, "what did you say?"

"You're pregnant, Daphne. One month gone."

A strangled sound tore from my throat-half gasp, half laugh. I was pregnant. Tears welled in my eyes. I had thought I was worthless, unwanted, but... but this changed everything.

The doctor continued speaking, explaining things I barely registered. My mind was spinning. Excitement and fear tangled inside me, an intoxicating mixture of emotions. Would he be happy? Would he accept me?

Of course he would. Alpha Kian would be overjoyed. He had to be.

The doctor placed another IV in my arm, and soon exhaustion overtook me. As I drifted to sleep, only one thought remained.

I have to tell him.

The next morning, excitement bubbled in my chest as I made my way to his wing of the mansion. My steps were quick, my heart pounding; not with fear, but with anticipation.

I barely noticed the absence of guards by his room door and worse, I didn't even think to knock.

"Alpha Kian, I have news-"

The words died in my throat.

My world shattered.

There, tangled in the silk sheets of his bed, was Luna Cynthia.

Beneath him. With him.

Their bodies pressed together in a way that left no doubt. Their heated breaths filled the air.

My breath caught. The room blurred.

They turned to me, their gazes sharp, filled not with surprise, but hatred.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!"

I opened my mouth, but no words came. I couldn't speak or think.

Tears burned my eyes. My hands trembled. Why did it hurt so much?

I knew. I knew.

He was the Alpha. He was bound to sleep with his Luna. Why was I so stupid to think it would be any different?

I turned and ran.

Blindly.

Desperately.

My chest burned with every gasping sob. My vision blurred, but I didn't stop.

I couldn't stop.

Until I slammed into a guard.

"I'm sorry," I choked out, trying to push past him.

But he didn't let go.

"Please... please, let me go..." I begged, but his grip tightened.

Terror flooded me. He wasn't just stopping me-he was dragging me back.

Back to them.

The door swung open again, and I was shoved inside.

I barely had time to process before a vicious slap cracked across my face.

Pain. Sharp. Instant.

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

Alpha Kian's voice was like ice.

"Lock her up in the dungeon. No food. No water. Five days."

I gasped as I looked at him. "No, Alpha Kian, I didn't mean to! Please, I didn't mean to!" My voice cracked as the guards tightened their grip on me.

Luna Cynthia's angry gaze remained on me, but I didn't have a choice, I had to beg, "Please, please, I didn't mean to. I'm sorry!"

"Get her out of my sight!" The Luna yelled and I tried to pull away with all my strength.

"Alpha Kian, I came with some information. I just wanted-"

"Out!" she barked, her face filled with disgust.

The guards dragged me away like a ragdoll, my heels scraping against the polished floor. No one came to my aid. My cries were swallowed by the silence of the grand hall. Then, a voice cut through the air.

"What's with the noise?"

We had reached the living room when I saw Queen Luna standing at the bottom of the staircase, her sharp eyes assessing the scene.

"She wronged the Alpha and the Luna so we were asked to throw her in the dungeon," one of the guards explained to the queen Luna before I could.

"My queen, it was a mistake"

"Shut up." Her voice was smooth, dangerous. She stepped forward, eyes burning with disdain. "You've been nothing but a disgrace since the moment you stepped foot into this mansion. Everywhere you go, trouble follows. And now?" She scoffed. "Now, Cynthia has finally decided to put you in your place."

I trembled as she leaned in closer.

"I heard you spent some time in the hospital," she whispered. "Now it's the dungeon. Look at your pathetic life. You, your wretched father, and that whore of a mother-you're all filth." She straightened, her expression unreadable. "Take her away. And make sure she's whipped."

My stomach dropped.

"Please," I whispered, my hands trembling. "No, no, no, please!"

But my pleading fell on deaf ears. The guards yanked me down into the suffocating darkness of the dungeon. The heavy door slammed shut behind me. I crawled to the iron bars, gripping them with shaking hands. "Please, I can't stay here!"

The guards ignored me until one of them turned back, a coiled whip in his hand.

"No, no, no," I gasped, backing away. My body collided with the damp stone wall.

"The audacity to challenge the new Luna," he sneered. "Do you feel no shame?"

I barely had time to react before two other guards stormed in, grabbing my arms.

"Hold her down."

"Wait-!" My words were cut off as my body hit the cold floor. One guard pinned my arms, another restrained my legs. I thrashed, panic clawing at my chest.

Then, the first lash struck.

I screamed.

The whip tore through my dress, my body trembled and burned. I jerked violently, my skin scraping against the rough ground. Blood trickled down my spine.

"Please-!"

Another strike.

Then another.

The pain blurred into something unbearable. My screams faded into hoarse gasps. I lost count of how many times they hit me. I only knew that when the last lash fell, I could no longer move.

I lay motionless, my cheek pressed against the cold stone, my breathing shallow.

Darkness consumed me.

I didn't know how long I lay there, or how many days had passed but I felt the cold liquid slash on me.

I flinched, my body too weak to jerk away.

"Get up, you slut. You have a visitor."

A visitor?

My head lolled to the side, my vision blurred, but when I focused on the figure outside the cell, my breath hitched.

"Roxanne?" My voice was barely a whisper.

"Daphne..." Roxanne gasped with her hand covering her mouth, she shook her head in shock. I crawled toward her, my hands shaking as I gripped hers.

"How did it come to this?" she choked out.

A guard's voice cut through our moment. "Three minutes."

I didn't have time to explain everything. I swallowed down my pain and said the only thing that mattered.

"Help me, Roxanne."

"How?" Her hands tightened around mine.

"I can't stay here," I struggled to swallowed, "I haven't had food or water for days. I'm pregnant, Roxanne."

"What?!" Roxanne asked with wide eyes and agape mouth, "You're what?!"

"A month gone," I whispered. "I can't let my baby die in here. Please, tell the Alpha. Beg him. I never meant to interrupt him.... I was just so excited to tell him he was going to be a father." My voice broke. "Please, Roxanne, he has to let me out."

She swallowed hard, "I will. I'll do everything I can. I promise."

I nodded weakly. "And don't tell the Luna."

"I understand."

. Her fingers still intertwined with mine, her forehead against the cell as we both cried together.

"That's enough," the guard barked. "Get out before you join her."

Roxanne wiped her face and stood. Before leaving, she looked at me one last time. "We'll be okay. I promise."

I watched her walk away until she disappeared. Then, I slumped against the cold stone, closing my eyes.

Day one.

Day two.

Day three.

No sign of Roxanne. No sign of the Alpha. No sign of help.

Hunger gnawed at my insides. My body was weak, my movements slow. The only relief came from the morning dew-I pressed my trembling fingers through the high window, gathering tiny drops of water to keep my lips from cracking.

I was ready to eat anything, even the rats that scurried by. I had given up hope.

Then-on the fourth night-the cell door creaked open.

I tried to lift my head, but my body refused to cooperate. Because of how weak I was, I could hardly open my eyes, my throat was dried and my lips cracked.

A shadow moved toward me.

"Who's there?" My voice came out as a whisper, hoarse and filled with pain.

Silence.

Then, a familiar voice.

"Daphne."

My heart clenched.

It was him.

Alpha Kian.

Daphne's POV

The cell opened and the two guards came in and began to pull me out of the cell. I allowed them while I silently thanked Roxanne for finally convincing the Alpha to let me out.

We came out of the dungeon and were pushed into a car. Did they use a car to come pick me up from the dungeon? The dungeon wasn't so far from the mansion so why did they have to use a car? Was it because I was carrying the Alpha's heir?

I entered and rested my head with my eyes closed. The car speed through the pack's land, not heading towards the mansion, something is wrong.

"Where... where are we going?" I asked weakly.

"Shut up. Your chance of asking questions has passed for a long time now!"

I swallowed hard, my heartbeat thudding in my ears, I cannot help but noticed we were passing through the dark forest that led toward the outer edges of the pack's territory.

This wasn't right. This isn't right at all.

I instantly got up, fighting the dizziness as a sense of dread settled in my guts. What's happening?

"Please... what's going on?" I whispered, my voice cracking.

The guard in the passenger seat turned to glare at me. "I said shut up!"

I pressed my lips together and turned toward the window. Tall trees blurred past, their shadows stretching in the moonlight. The car hit a sharp turn, jolting me forward.

It took another twenty to thirty minutes before we finally stopped. They pulled me out of the car and threw me to the ground. I fell down like a sack of potatoes, so weak and tired. My mouth kissed the ground with the metallic taste of my blood but the first thing my eyes landed on was the shoes, those elegant shoes of Luna Cynthia.

My breath hitched. I tried to get up, my body trembling.

"M-My Luna-"

A sharp kick to my face sent me sprawling backward.

My eyes burned as sand and dirt scraped against them. I gasped, my hand flew straight to my bleeding nose.

"Who is your Luna?" Cynthia sneered. "I am no Luna to a useless omega."

I trembled, my body screaming in exhaustion. "Please, ma... I didn't do anything. I am just a lowly omega."

She squatted and yanked my hair up with her fingers, dragging it so hard I felt my scalp pulling out,

"An Omega that's mated to my man, my husband!" she hissed in anger before pushing my head back, "You're not innocent Omega, Daphne. Like I said earlier, I have heard about you!"

My heart stopped.

How did she know?

"I'm sorry" I cried and hiccuped at the same time, "I didn't mean to be mated to him. I told him to reject me but he refused"

A hot slap landed on my cheek, and I whined falling back on the ground.

"Oh don't worry, he doesn't have to reject you no more. You see, I cannot live to hear that Kian has a living and breathing mate so with the permission of Queen Luna, I can kill you and I will tonight!"

"No!" I lay prostrate on the ground as I cried, "Please, please spare my life. I beg you"

"Don't touch me!" Luna Cynthia yelled, "You made a huge mistake not listening to me. You could have quickly run away, left, and never returned but you decided to not only sleep with my man again but to get pregnant for him!"

I snapped my eyes up to look at the woman who had risen up to her full height. How did she know? My mouth opened to ask,

"How... how...?"

No one knew I was carrying the Alpha's baby. Not even the doctor. The only person who knew was-

A movement in the shadows caught my eye.

Roxanne stepped forward.

My body went cold.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. My voice cracked as I looked at her, begging her to say it wasn't true. But Roxanne wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Roxanne? You?" My voice trembled as I pushed myself up to a kneeing position. My whole body shook, not from the pain but from betrayal.

"How?" My breath hitched, "How could you tell? I trusted you. I told you to keep it to yourself... to tell only the Alpha." Roxanne finally lifted her head, her expression unreadable.

Cynthia smirked, "And not tell me? Not tell her Luna? How could my personal maid keep something so important from her mistress?"

'Personal Maid?' My stomach dropped.

Roxanne was her personal maid?

Cynthia chuckled at my shocked expression, "Would you like to tell her, Roxanne? Or should I do the honors?"

Roxanne gave a small bow, "Whichever pleases my lady."

I flinched at her words. My lady.

That's when I saw it-the small smile tugging at Roxanne's lips.

I felt sick.

"What happened to you?" My voice cracked. "You were my best friend. Why?"

Roxanne finally met my gaze, but there was no guilt-just calm acceptance.

"I was tired," she admitted. "Tired of always defending you, tired of being the only one standing beside a wolf-less omega. No one wanted me. But now? Now, I am respected. I am Luna Cynthia's personal maid. Do you know what that means?"

My heart clenched.

"How could you throw away our years of friendship for that?" I whispered.

"You wouldn't understand," Roxanne said simply and took a step back, distancing herself from me, "I'm sorry."

"You're not," I bit out. My eyes burned with unshed tears, "If you were, you wouldn't have done this."

She didn't respond. She didn't deny it.

Cynthia sighed dramatically,

"Enough of this touching farewell." She turned to me, her gaze glinting with cruelty. "Now, about your fate-"

"Please," I gasped, bowing my head. "The Alpha cannot know about this. If he finds out, he'll kill me."

Cynthia smiled. "Oh, darling... you're dying either way."

"No!" I sobbed, lowering my body in submission. "I'll go far. I'll leave the pack forever. Please-"

A single gunshot rang through the night. I slowly with wide eyes looked down at my stomach that was now clutched by my hands. Hot pain exploded in my stomach, a scream caught in my throat while my breath hitched. My shaky hands pressed against the wound but more blood seeped through my fuingers.

I collapsed to my knees, gasping.

No...

"My baby..."

Before I could fully process the pain, another shot fired. A choked sob escaped me as I hit the cold, hard ground.

Through blurry vision, I saw Luna Cynthia standing over me, the gun in her hand,

"I warned you, Daphne," she hissed. "I make people disappear."

She kicked me but I was too weak to move or whine. The pain was too much, consuming everything that my mind was pulling me toward the abyss.

I heard the sounds of car doors slamming and engines starting before they sped off, leaving me to die.

I lay there, staring up at the night sky, watching the stars blur. My life flashed before my eyes. Every happy memory was with Roxanne. And just like that, they all faded, replaced with nights in Kian's arms, his touch, his scent.

How did my life get this bad? How did I end up like this?

My eyes slowly began to close when I felt arms lift me up from the cold ground of death. I didn't know If it was the moon goddess finally taking her property that came to earth to do nothing but occupy space, not until I heard a masculine voice filed with urgency,

"Hang on. You'll be alright. I'll make sure of it."

Daphne's  POV. 

"Ma'am, the executive meeting is in 10 minutes," My P.A, Linda, who just walked into my office said in a tone that was barely above a whisper, more like she was trying not to distract me from what I was working on. 

I looked up from the silver macbook pro in front of me and asked with raised brow

"Executive meeting?"

"The meeting you asked me to inform them about."

Oh, yes, that's true. I totally forgot I had arranged for a meeting. I was going to reply to her when I glanced at my phone that was vibrating on the table. 

"Hold on," Raised my hand to her before picking up my phone seeing it was my babies calling.

"Hello, sweethearts," 

"Mummy!" They both exclaimed, causing me to pull the phone away from my ear to avoid hearing disorder due to their shout. They were so loud and were talking at the same time, blabbering on the phone that I couldn't pick a thing. 

A chuckle escaped my lips, these two have been my joy for the past six years now and I cannot help but be grateful to the moon goddess for giving me such lovely kids even after all that had happened.

"Hold on, hold on, hold on. You both remembered what I told you? When everyone is talking, no one is...."

"Talking" they echoed and I smiled. 

"So can Davis go first?" I asked and I heard Davis's voice but it was covered by Davina who yelled, 

"But Davis spoke first this morning at the dining table!"

I sighed before saying, 

"Fine, Davina, you speak," I didn't complete my statement before Davina began, 

"You promised you would be home early today so we could have tea at the new tea house, yet you aren't here. Are you having a busy day again? Won't you be able to make it? Don't tell us you are going to postpone..." she continued to whine in annoyance while I glanced at my wristwatch to check what time it was.

Damn! I'm late. It was past 3pm already. Time did run like a flash today. 

"Is it time already?" I asked, forging ignorance and they both yelled, "Yes!"

"I'll be there in a jiffy" I replied in a whisper that I was sure they heard because they giggled. The moment I hung up, I gave Linda a sorry look, 

"Can the meeting be postponed?" I asked as I stood up arranging my bag.

"Sure, I'll relay the message to them, ma'am" 

"Take this document; make sure it gets to Lawton before the end of the day." I ordered as I hurried out of the office with Linda tailing behind me.

"Ma, when should I fix the meeting?" she asked as she pressed the elevator button to the ground floor.

"Oh, reschedule the meeting to tomorrow morning by 10am," I instructed her. We made our way out of the elevator together, as I walked out in a hurry, I heard my employees,

"Good afternoon, ma Debby,"

"Good afternoon, Miss Debby"

I only nodded with a straight face as I walked out of the building. We got to the parking lot and my driver opened the car for me. I was able to give Linda a few more instructions before finally stepping into my Rolls Royce and the driver took off.

I sighed, relaxing on the seat as I stared out the window. A small smile graced my lips as I thought of how life had been for me. It's been six years. Six good years, how I have moved from being a slave, lowlife, and weak omega to becoming the CEO of one of the world's biggest jewelry companies, Gex-Luxury Jewelry Brand.

All thanks to my father, Eric Han who had saved me that night from the cold hands of death. He nursed me back to health, delivered my babies-only two were able to survive the blow as for my last baby, she died, taking a bullet for her mother. Eric Han made sure I didn't give up; he took care of me and adopted me as his daughter.

The minute I was back to my feet, I was no longer Daphne Jameson but Debby Eric Han. Different, successful, focused and diligent. I live my life only for my kids, and Eric Han, my father.

Getting home, I was greeted by the presence of Davis and Davina. They stood at the entrance of the house, with a small white board, with some words written on it. 

I walked closer to take a look and I read through,

''CAN WE COME WITH YOU PLEASE?" 

I chuckled as I kissed them both on the forehead, 

"Come with me? Where, honey?" 

"To the event you will be attending on the 13th," Eric's voice drew my attention. 

"An event?" I narrowed my eyes, "You know, I don't go for-" 

"You mentioned until you are ready and I think you are now." 

A shiver ran down my spine causing me to shake my head. I wasn't ready, I'm not. I know I'm not ready yet. 

"Everyone wants to see the new face of Gex- Luxury Brand, Debby, and I want to introduce you to the world" 

My heart began to pound in my chest.