Daria's POV

The mansion was cold. Beautiful, yes, marble floors polished to a mirror shine, crystal chandeliers that scattered light like diamonds, artwork on every wall. But there was no warmth here. No life. Just like Lucius himself.

I barely saw him.

The first three days, I told myself he was busy. Alpha duties. Pack business. Important things that kept him away. But by the fourth day, the truth became painfully clear that he was avoiding me.

He locked himself in his office for hours. Sometimes he left the estate entirely, gone without a word to anyone. And when we did cross paths in the hallways, his gaze slid past me like I was invisible. Like I was furniture. Or even less than furniture.

My wolf howled for him constantly. The cracked bond pulled at me, like a fishhook lodged in my chest, always tugging in his direction. It drove me half-mad with longing.

I tried to ignore it. Tried to focus on settling into my new room, learning the mansion's layout, and staying out of the way. But the pull only grew stronger with each passing day.

On the fifth day, I gave in.

I began following him. Through the gardens. Down hallways. Anywhere I caught a glimpse of him. I told myself I just wanted to talk, to understand, to maybe somehow convince him we could make this work.

But deep down, I knew the truth. I had become desperate and pathetic. The kind of omega I had always pitied, chasing after a male who didn't want her.

It was a warm afternoon when everything changed.

I had spotted him near the rose gardens, his tall frame moving between the hedges. My heart skipped with joy that maybe today he would finally look at me. Maybe even talk to me.

I hurried after him, my steps quick on the stone path. "Alpha, please. Can we just talk for a moment?"

He kept walking.

"Lucius." My voice cracked on his name.

He turned the corner, disappearing behind a wall of roses.

I ran after him. Actually ran, like some lovesick fool, my breath coming in desperate gasps.

But then the world tilted and my vision blurred around the edges.

My legs gave out, and I crumpled into the rose bed. Then everything went black.

°°°°°°°°°°

When I woke, I was back in my room.

Mira sat beside my bed, tears streaming down her face. But she was smiling. Actually smiling.

"Thank the Goddess," she whispered. "You scared me half to death."

My head was pounding. "What happened?"

"You fainted. A gardener found you and brought you inside." She squeezed my hand. "Daria, I need to tell you something."

The way she said it made my stomach drop. "What? What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong." She took a shaky breath. "I think... I think you are pregnant."

The words didn't register at first. They hung in the air between us, impossible and terrifying and wonderful all at once.

"What?" I tried to sit up, but dizziness swamped me. "How... how do you know?"

"I have been helping at the healing center for months. I know the signs." She touched my forehead gently. "The fainting. The exhaustion. You haven't had your cycle since that night, have you?"

I thought back to that night and she was right. Over a month had passed since the full moon. Since he came to my cottage.

"Oh Goddess." My hand flew to my still-flat stomach.

A baby. Our baby.

Joy exploded in my chest, so strong it stole my breath. This changed everything. He would have to accept me now. He would have to love me. We were having a child together. His heir.

This was fate giving me another chance. The Moon Goddess hadn't abandoned me after all.

"I have to tell him." I pushed the blankets aside, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.

"Daria, wait." Mira caught my arm. "Maybe you should rest first. Make sure. Let me get one of the healers to confirm..."

"No." I shook my head, pulling away. "I need to tell him right now."

I couldn't wait another second. This was our future. Our family. He had pushed me away, but this would bring us back together. It had to.

With that, I rushed through the mansion, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. Staff members stared as I passed, but I didn't care. Nothing mattered except reaching him.

His office was on the third floor, down a long hallway lined with portraits of past Alphas. I had never been there before. Never had a reason.

But now I did.

I was halfway down the hallway when I heard voices through the heavy door. His voice. And Rylan's, his beta.

I slowed, suddenly nervous. Should I knock? Wait until they were done?

My hand moved protectively to my stomach. "No. This couldn't wait."

I stepped closer to the door, ready to knock. Then I heard what they were saying.

"The omega is useful for one thing." Lucius's voice was cold. "An heir. Once she births the child, I will dispose of her."

My hand froze inches from the wood.

"And you are certain the child's blood will work?" Rylan asked.

"It has to. The curse demands the blood of my offspring. A direct bloodline." There was no emotion in his tone. He could have been discussing the weather. "She is nothing more than a vessel. A means to an end."

Rylan chuckled, the sound making my skin crawl. "So we just keep her close until the child is born. Then you will finally be free of the madness."

"Exactly."

My hand fell away from the door. Every fragile hope I had built up over the past few minutes shattered like glass.

Not love. Not fate. Not even basic decency.

Just use.

I wasn't his mate. I was his breeding tool. An incubator for the cure to his curse. And once my baby was born, once he got what he needed, I would be thrown away like garbage.

"Disposed of." Those were his exact words.

I backed away from the door slowly. Years of being invisible had taught me how to move without being noticed.

I made it back to my room without anyone seeing me. Locked the door. Pressed my back against it and slid to the floor.

Mira appeared from the bathroom, concern written all over her face. "Did you tell him?"

"No." My voice sounded empty. "And I am not going to."

"What? Why?"

I looked up at her, my best friend, the only person in this entire pack who had ever cared about me. I placed both hands over my stomach, protective and sure.

"Because we are leaving."

"Leaving?" Her eyes went wide.

"Yes." My voice grew stronger, steadier. "My child will never be his pawn. I won't let him use us and then throw us away like we're nothing."

"Daria, if you run, he will hunt you. He's an Alpha..."

"Then we will run far enough that he can't find us." I stood up, my mind already racing with plans. "I need your help, Mira. Please."

She stared at me for a long moment. Then she nodded.

"Tell me what you need."

Daria's POV

I began planning my escape the next morning.

Mira arrived at dawn with a basket of bread and cheese, her expression carefully neutral in case anyone was watching. The moment my door closed, she grabbed my hands, her grip fierce and desperate.

"Tell me what you need," she whispered.

"Supplies. Food that won't spoil. Water skins. A warm cloak." I ticked items off on my fingers. "Money, if you can get any. And a map of the northern forest routes."

"The northern path has the fewest guards," Mira said immediately. She had already been thinking about this. "But Daria, it's dangerous. There are rogues in those woods. And you are pregnant..."

"Staying here is more dangerous." I interrupted. "At least out there, my baby has a chance."

Her eyes glistened, but she nodded. "I'll get what I can."

Over the next three days, Mira became my lifeline.

She smuggled supplies to my room piece by piece. Nothing large enough to be noticed missing. A water skin from the kitchens, tucked under her apron. Dried meat wrapped in cloth from the storage cellar. A dark traveling cloak from the donation pile meant for omegas in need.

I kept to my room as much as possible, playing the part of the quiet, obedient omega. Grateful for the Alpha's "generosity."

The staff began to relax around me. The guards at the gates stopped watching me so closely. Even the maids barely glanced my way anymore when they brought meals.

It was perfect.

I avoided Lucius entirely, though it wasn't difficult. He made no effort to see me so our paths never crossed. It was as if I didn't exist to him at all.

On the third night, Mira slipped into my room just after sunset. Her face was pale and her hands were shaking as she pressed a small leather pouch into my palm.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Everything I've saved over the years." Her voice cracked. "It's not much, but it's yours. For the baby."

"Mira, I can't. You..."

"You can, and you will." She gripped my shoulders, her eyes hard despite the tears. "Promise me you'll survive. Promise me you'll give that child the life they deserve."

My own tears spilled over. "I promise."

She pulled me into a tight embrace, and for a moment, we just held each other. Two omegas who had been dealt the worst hands life could offer, clinging to each other in the darkness.

"When will you go?" she whispered against my hair.

"Tomorrow night. The moon will be dark so no light will give me away."

She pulled back, nodding. "I'll make sure the staff is distracted. There's a celebration in the main hall tomorrow evening. Most of the guards will be drinking."

"Thank you." The words felt inadequate for everything she had done, everything she was risking. "Thank you for being my friend."

"Always." She squeezed my hands one last time, then slipped back out into the hallway.

I spent the rest of that night packing.

I didn't sleep. Just sat by the window, watching the stars, one hand resting on my stomach.

"We are going to be okay," I whispered to my unborn child. "I won't let him hurt you. I won't let him use you. I promise."

°°°°°°°°°°°

The next evening arrived too quickly and not quickly enough.

I dressed in the dark clothes Mira had stolen, rough wool that wouldn't catch on branches, sturdy boots meant for traveling. I strapped the bag to my back, tested the weight. It was heavy, but manageable.

From the main hall below, I heard laughter and music. The celebration was in full swing. Mira had done her part.

Now it was my turn.

I moved to the window and the moment I pushed it open, cool night air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine and earth.

My room was on the second floor. Not a terrible drop, but far enough to be dangerous. Far enough that I could hurt myself. Hurt the baby.

But staying was certain death. And jumping was only a risk.

I climbed onto the ledge, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. Below, the garden stretched out in shadow.

"For my baby," I told myself. "Everything for my baby."

With that, I jumped.

The force stole my breath. Pain shot up through my legs, jarring my bones. I rolled instinctively, the way I had seen warriors do in training, and came up in a crouch.

Nothing was broken or twisted.

My hand flew to my stomach. "Please be okay. Please."

I waited, holding my breath. There was no pain. No cramping. Just my racing heart and the adrenaline flooding my veins.

"Thank the Goddess."

I didn't waste another second. I ran.

Through the gardens. Past the stables. Toward the tree line at the edge of the estate. Every shadow made my heart leap. Every sound sent panic spiking through me.

But no one shouted. No one raised an alarm.

The forest swallowed me whole.

°°°°°°°°°°

Day One

The northern route Mira had described was barely a path, more like a deer trail winding through dense undergrowth. Branches caught at my clothes and hair. Roots tried to trip me with every step.

But I kept moving. One foot in front of the other. Away from the Blood Pact. Away from Lucius. Away from everything.

By the time dawn broke, I was miles from the mansion. My legs burned and my lungs ached, but I was free.

I found a small stream and refilled my water skin, then forced myself to eat some of the dried meat even though my stomach twisted with nerves. The baby needed food.

I kept walking.

°°°°°°°°°°

Day Two

My supplies were already running low.

I had rationed carefully, but the dried meat wouldn't last more than another day. The bread was gone and I had been surviving on berries I found along the path, praying they weren't poisonous, and water from streams.

My body ached everywhere. Blisters had formed on my feet. My muscles screamed with every step.

But I couldn't stop. Lucius would have discovered I was gone by now and he would send search parties.

I had to get as far away as possible before they picked up my trail.

°°°°°°°°°

Day Three

I was lost.

The forest all looked the same now with endless trees, endless shadows. I had tried to follow the stream, thinking it would lead me somewhere. But it had petered out into marshy ground that sucked at my boots.

My water skin was nearly empty again. The dried meat was gone. I had eaten the last of it this morning.

All I had left were the berries. And hope.

My hand rested on my stomach as I walked. The baby. I had to think of the baby.

"We are going to make it," I whispered. "I promise. We are going to make it."

°°°°°°°°°°

Day Four

I could barely stand.

Hunger gnawed at my insides like a living thing. My vision blurred at the edges. Every step was agony, my feet were raw and bleeding inside my boots.

But I kept moving. Because stopping meant dying.

I found more berries. Shoved them in my mouth without even checking what kind they were. At this point, it didn't matter. Poison or starvation-either way, I was dying out here.

The forest seemed darker and colder today. Like it was closing in around me.

My wolf had gone silent days ago. Too weak to even whimper.

I was alone.

°°°°°°°°°°

Day Five

I couldn't walk anymore as my legs simply gave out.

One moment I was stumbling forward, the next I was on my knees in the dirt. The world tilted sideways, and I couldn't tell which way was up.

I needed water.

I heard it nearby-the gentle sound of a stream. It was so close. If I could just reach it...

I crawled.

Hands and knees through the undergrowth. Leaves stuck to my sweat-soaked face. Thorns tore at my palms. But I kept crawling, dragging myself forward inch by inch.

Thankfully the stream came into view with clear and beautiful water flowing over smooth stones.

As I reached for it, my arms gave out.

I collapsed face-first into the dirt, my outstretched hand just inches from the water's edge. I had been so close.

Tears streamed down my face, mixing with the dirt and blood. "I'm sorry," I whispered to my baby. "I'm so sorry. I tried. I tried so hard."

My vision darkened at the edges. The forest sounds faded, birds, wind, water, all growing distant and muffled.

This was it. This was how it ended. Not at Lucius's hands, but out here in the wilderness. Alone and forgotten.

At least my baby would never know pain. Never know what it felt like to be used and unwanted.

But then I heard voices. They were distant and muffled. Like I was underwater.

"...found her by the stream..."

"...barely alive..."

"...with child..."

I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids were too heavy. Triedto speak, but my throat was too dry.

The world swayed, then everything faded to black.

Daria's POV

I could hear voices everywhere, as though underwater.  

"She's fading!"  

"The child, too!"  

"Silas, you gotta decide!"  

Choose?  

Choose what?  

My head was spinning since I attempted to open my eyes, but all was blurry. Shapes, weird shapes, swerved upon me--rags. Hands. Light flickering. I did not know what was going on. I simply felt acute, cutting pain hammering again and againthrough my stomach.  

I heard Silas scream, I will not choose!  

They are going to shoot you, said a witch of the younger generation, and to lose them both!  

My breath got stuck. It seemed as though my heart wassqueezing. There was a time when I attempted to raise my hand, but it was not my hand.  

"Please..." My voice shook. "My baby... please save my baby..."  

I was leaned over by one of the witches. "Don't talk, child."  

I ignored her. "Save... her."  

Silas leaned over me and touched my hand. "Daria, no. Don't speak. You need your strength."  

I blinked hard. In and out of focus, his face came. "Save... my baby."  

His eyes were full of pain. "I will not lose you either."  

There was a furore of shouting in that room once more.  

"Begin the ritual!"  

"No-she's too weak!"  

"We don't have time!"  

Magic sparked like electricity. I could feel that it was getting hot around me. One of them touched my stomach with a palm. I was touched on the forehead by someone else. There was the onset of a chant - shaky, desperate, loud.  

I choked, and a rush of energy passed through me.  

"What-what is that?" one witch screamed.  

"She's rejecting the magic!"  

The baby--the baby is sucking out her life!  

Pain exploded in my core. My voice tore with the scream, but I could not stop it. It was as though fire ran in my veins.  

She will not get through the whole ritual, Silas! Another cried.  

"Quiet!" he snapped. "We're saving them both."  

"That's impossible!"  

And then we shall do the impossible!  

My eyes became cloudy at the periphery. I heard chanting rise again. The air shook. My stomach sank in the hands of someone.  

Then everything turned red.  

I was hot, hotter than at any time I had been hot. My back arched. The witches fell a-stumbling back.  

"What was that?" someone yelled.  

Something wrong with the child, child, something wrong!  

"It came from her womb!"  

There was another rush inside me--larger, fiercer, frightful. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. The witches screamed.  

"Brace yourselves!"  

"It's too strong!"  

"She's going to tear apart!"  

"Silas, stop the ritual!"  

"I can't! Her magic is awakening!"  

Magic? My baby had magic.  

There was a violent shockwave out of my body. Candles shattered. Herbs flew across the room. One of the witches was thrown into the wall. Another fell to her knees.  

I started to lose myself once more.  

"Silas..." I whispered. "Save her..."  

His fingernails held on to my sides. "Daria, listen to me. Your child is powerful. Too powerful. You must hold on."  

"I... I can't..."  

"Yes, you can," he said firmly. "You survived a cruel pack. You survived the woods. You were a survivor of the curse of an Alpha. You can survive this, too."  

A new pain passed through my stomach, and another scream tore out of me. I tasted blood in my mouth.  

"She's haemorrhaging again!"  

"Her pulse is dropping!"  

"We're losing them!"  

"Silas, choose now! The mother or the child!"  

"No!" he thundered. I will not take one in place of the other.  

"You're going to kill them both!"  

"I said NO!"  

He grabbed me in both hands on the belly. There was a blinding golden light on his palms.  

"Silas, what are you doing?!" a witch cried.  

"Stabilising her."  

"It will drain you!"  

"I don't care."  

The glow intensified. I was hot in myself--this time not painfully so. My breath came somewhat level.  

"S-Silas?" I whispered.  

"Yes, child?"  

"What... what are you doing?"  

Giving you all the strength I may. His voice trembled. It may not be enough, but I will not permit you to die. Not you. Not your baby."  

Another witch touched him on the shoulder. You are robbing with your life-force, Silas. Stop."  

"No," he whispered. "This is my granddaughter. I lost her mother. I will not lose her, too."  

The agony came back, but more acute than ever. A scream burst from my chest.  

"Push the energy to the child!" one witch shouted.  

"I'm trying!"  

"She's slipping!"  

"No-hold her! Keep her awake!"  

"I can't!" I cried. "It hurts- it hurts so much-"  

An unpleasant chill swept through me. My limbs went numb. My breath became short. The grouping of the witches united in a humming.  

"She's going into shock!"  

Silas, afore before thou kills thyself!  

"Just a few more seconds!"  

Her heart--her heart--Silas, her heart is failing!  

I caught the wild frantic thuds subside... subside... subside...  

Silas grabbed my hand. "Daria, do not leave me. Do you hear me? Stay alive!"  

My eyelids fluttered. "My baby... please... let her live..."  

I experienced a second rush--strong, wild, bright.  

Then it burst.  

I burst out magic like a star out of my womb. The whole room shook. Shelves tipped over. Smoke filled my lungs. The witches screamed and covered their faces.  

"What is happening?!"  

The child--she is letting forth power!  

"She's not a normal baby!"  

"She's a hybrid-witch and wolf!"  

Silas's voice broke. "Moon Goddess..."  

Something within me slackened. A warmth diffused through my belly. The pain slowly faded. Not gone-just gentler.  

Someone said in shock, "She is stabilising. The child--she got them both straightened out.  

"That's impossible."  

"No... It's a miracle."  

I took a breath. Then another. Then another.  

The chanting slowed. The shaking stopped. The light dimmed.  

One of the witches bent to examine me. "Her pulse is steady."  

Another checked my stomach. "The child... is safe."  

Silas let out a broken laugh. "Thank the Goddess."  

But then his body swayed.  

"Silas?" I whispered. "Are you... Alright?"  

He didn't answer.  

"Silas?" My voice rose. "Silas, talk to me."  

His knees bent. The hands fell out of my stomach. His breathing hitched.

"Silas!" a witch screamed. "You went overboard!"

He gave a weak smile. "Daria, chill. Your kid's strong..."

I tried to get on my back but could not. "No. No, stay with me. Please. Don't leave me."

He touched me with his shaky fingers on my cheek. "You're safe now... both of you..."

"Silas, stop talking like that!"

His eyes fluttered. His chest lifted... and dropped... and then....

He collapsed beside me.

"Silas!" I screamed.

Witches rushed to him.

"Check his pulse!"

"He's not responding!"

"He's not breathing!"

"Silas, wake up!"

I faintly touched him with my fingers, just touching his robe.

"Grandfather... please..."

Everything spun. The world darkened again. I felt like a stone weighing down my body.

And as my sight was shutting down to black, I heard no more cry:

"Silas is down! We're losing him!"

And then--

Silence.

Did he just die?