Deandra’s POV

“I told you not to come here, we can’t be seen like this.”

I stopped in my tracks and hid behind a wall wondering who Hope was talking to.

“Hope, that’s my child in there and you know it.” I gasped a bit too loudly and caught myself just in time before I was discovered.

“Keep quiet,” Hope hissed and looked from left to right.

This shameless woman, I thought as I listened to their conversation. I should have known the baby wasn’t Daniel’s but he had been so confident that the child was his that I never suspected anything.

“If anyone hears you, our plan will be ruined.” She looked around again before she leaned in and whispered, “I want what’s best for this child and so do you so why don’t you just take the money and leave?”

I shook my head in disgust at that and left my position behind the wall ready to go and confront her when I heard footsteps coming from the opposite direction.

I could practically hear Hope’s heart racing loudly in her chest

“Andra, what are you doing here?” I heard Hope’s tiny gasp of surprise at the mention of my name and I smirked.

“I was just on my way to the kitchen when I thought I heard voices and decided to check. What are you doing here anyway?”

He looked around and frowned when he saw no one then sighed. “I was just going to our bedroom to get my phone. Did you see it before leaving?”

I shook my head but reached for his hand. “Can we talk?” I asked, changing the subject. I wanted to settle things between us and make sure we were back on good ground again.

“I wanted to know if we were okay. I didn’t…” Daniel shook his head and pulled his hand away.

“I can’t get past the fact that you threatened Hope and the baby, it’s my baby too Andra. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to the baby. I would never forgive…” he trailed off but I could hear the words he didn’t say. He would never forgive me.

Tears filled my eyes but I held them back as I nodded my head. “What can I do to make it right?”

“Treat Hope nicely, apologize for what you did yesterday and then we will see from there.” He walked away after speaking and I stood there rooted to the spot not believing how much my life had changed in the last two days.

“Do you know it’s rude to eavesdrop on people’s private conversations?” I jerked and turned my head to look at Hope who was standing there with a triumphant smile plastered on her face.

No doubt she had heard what Daniel said and she was happy that she was once again winning and I was losing. But not for long…

“I already told you that Daniel will always pick me over you. Why don’t you want to accept that and move on?”

I nodded and smiled. “You’re right, Daniel will never see me the same way again and I can’t blame him since I can’t give him children.”

The next thing I did shocked us both ] went down on my knees and sighed. “I am sorry for yesterday, pushing you to the floor and threatening your child’s life.” I paused before continuing again, unaware that Daniel and Yolanda were watching from a distance.

“Daniel was right, you are part of the family now and that child is as much mine as it is Daniel’s.”

I rose to my feet afterwards, sent Hope one last smile and then walked away.

I couldn't believe how low I had gone because of Daniel and the love I had for him. But the main reason behind my actions was I wanted my child to grow up with his father, I didn’t want my child to have a broken home with parents that were divided.

***

I don’t know how long I stayed in the kitchen crying when Daniel joined me and wrapped his arms around me. I almost burst into tears when I felt his arms around me but I held them at bay.

“Thank you for apologizing to her. I owe you for everything."

I simply nodded my head and stepped away, not wanting to get swayed by his words.

"I'm making dinner, would you like something?" I asked, and coughed to cover up the sniffles.

"We'll all eat." He replied just as hsk mother walked in and frowned at our closeness.

"Since we're celebrating, why don't we get the chef to make something big and beautiful?" Daniel agreed immediately and I was whisked away to our bedroom by Daniel who was acting all nice and friendly with me now.

Later that day, we sat down to eat dinner and I was back in my usual seat beside Daniel. I was ready to tell him about the baby and I couldn't wait for us to be alone.

Hope had barely touched her food and I could tell she wished she were sited so close to Daniel alas….

“Do you both have names yet? I mean for the baby whether it's a boy or a girl." Yolanda asked and my fork dropped my hand and landed on the plate noisily.

Daniel shifted in his seat and refused to meet my eyes when I tried to catch his attention.

Hope who loved attention took the floor and told Yolanda, “We decided not to rush things and surprise ourselves aft

"Let's make a toast." Yolanda proposed and we all raised our glasses.

"Oh no Deandra, I think you should drink this instead. I had it made specially for you." Hope said, suddenly rising to her feet just as a maid walked into the room.

Deandra's POV

Every fiber of my being was at alert as I stared at Hope.

Something felt off.

I was confused by the new turn of events but I didn't want to read too much into it either.

"What's in it?" I asked, feigning interest and she smiled.

“It's something I took before I got pregnant. I hear it's very good for pregnancy."

"Oh you should have that instead. Lord knows you need it." Yolanda added eagerly, an insult buried somewhere in her words and I sighed looking to Daniel for help.

"Just take it. You never know what might be useful." He said his tone innocent and I almost cried. He wasn't aware of what these people around him were capable of.

"Go on," Hope urged and my suspicion grew.

Why was she so eager for me to drink it?

"Look, I didn't put anything in it." She defended as she reached for another glass I hadn't noticed before. "I made a cup for myself just in case you had doubts."

Daniel frowned and I sighed. She was trying to create a rift between Daniel and I again and this time it'd work.

"Fine," I took a sip first to sample the taste and then downed the entire thing regretting my actions immediately when I saw how big a grin Hope was wearing.

"That wasn't so bad was it?" Daniel asked as we started eating and I shook my head. Aside the taste, Hope's mixture wasn't so bad.

But as I ate, I couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling at the back of my head.

****

Later that night as I crawled into bed, I was hit with a sharp pain in my abdomen.

Dress filled me as the pain increased and I screamed, holding my stomach while praying for my child's safety.

I knew I should never have drank Hope's mixture.

The door to my room was flung open and Daniel burst into the room looking frantic. No doubt he had heard my scream.

Behind him, Hope was rubbing her eyes sleepily, looking thoroughly annoyed that I had woken her up but she was the least of my worries.

The pain had increased and I could feel myself skipping out of consciousness fast.

"My stomach hurts, I am…ah!!" I collapsed on the floor, tears trickling down my cheeks.

“She's bleeding," Daniel pointed out in a horrified voice and I gasped, the sound weak and thin.

“Save my baby," I muttered, desperately as I fought to stay conscious.

Daniel just stood there in shock at my announcement while Hope looked guilty.

"What's going on here?" Yolanda asked, walking in and then gasping when she saw my condition. "Oh dear, that doesn't look good. We need to get her to the clinic,"

Her words snapped Daniel out from his thoughts and I felt myself being lifted off the ground.

"My baby," I whispered before darkness took over. The next time I opened my eyes I was in a hospital gown lying on a hospital bed with tubes connected to my body and machines beeping around me.

I tried to sit up but I couldn't, my whole body hurt.

"Please don't try to move Luna, you need to remain flat on your back." I heard the head doctor's voice and I felt a tear slip down.

"My baby?" I asked, my voice hoarse and a sense of deep loss washed over me.

She shook her head sadly and sighed. "I'm sorry but you lost the baby. If you hadn't been brought in when you were then we'd have lost you too."

She checked my vitals and then made her way out of the room just as. Daniel and Hope e walked in.

Immediately my eyes fell on her, I lost control.

"You! You did this!" Daniel caught me before I could lift myself off the bed and lug for her. He held me, begging me to be calm but I was past that.

"Let me go. You did this too, both of you killed my child!" I pushed him away, past the point of reason.

"I didn't…" Hope started to say in her defense but Daniel stopped her.

“If there's anyone to blame for the loss of this child then it's you!” Daniel yelled suddenly and the room went silent save for the beeping from the machines.

“What?" I asked, unable to keep the shock out of my voice. He was blaming me?

Daniel continued talking, not giving me time to process his words. “If you had just told me, or even mother then we'd have made sure you were well taken care of.”

He shook his head as I opened my mouth to speak. “I know I was wrong for cheating on you with Hope but you were wrong to keep this child from me. It was my child!”

"Don't you dare yell at me? You have no right to yell at me. What was in that drink you gave me, you witch?” I asked Hope and she shivered taking a step back at the ice in my tone.

He left afterwards with Hope and I threw the pillow at them before breaking down in tears. I cried and cried and cried until I was reduced to hiccups.

****

“Are you sure you want to leave now?" The head doctor asked, frowning and I nodded.

“I can't stay here anymore. There's nothing left for me here.” Daniel had been completely brainwashed by Hope and he couldn't even see that she had deliberately tried to kill me to keep her secret hidden.

I had lost my child so what reason did I have to stay?

“I understand you're grieving and want to run away but can't you stay a while here at the clinic, just until you're healed a bit.” She added the last part quickly when I opened my mouth to protest and I sighed thinking long and hard about it

In the end, my mind was made up. I just couldn't stay. I shook my head as he sighed, resigned.

I was left alone after that and I cried some more. When the door opened much later, I didn't move feeling too drained to do anything.

“If you want to leave, we have to go now."

Looking up, I stared into his eyes and felt emotional again.

"They killed my child,” I whispered and he sighed.

“I know. Come on," He led me out of my room and out of the hospital through the back door where a car was running and waiting for us.

"I'll make them pay for this. They'll pay for killing my child.” I whispered as he drove us out of the pack border.

“Don't worry, they'll pay for everything," he promised me and I leaned my head back his words giving me some comfort.

He'd saved me once before and now he was doing it again.

“My name is Ryder," he told me and I looked up in confusion.

“If you're going to work with me, you should at least know my name." His name was the least of my concerns but I stored that information away for later, focusing on my game plan.

“I'll be back.”

Deandra pov

The human world was very different from what I thought it would be like, they were very accommodating and I almost forgot about my species.

“Andra, why are you seated here?” Ryder asked me when he got back from a business meeting.

“I had a lot on my mind so I came here to cool it off.” I replied to him as we both went into the house. It's been a very emotional period for me, thinking about the things that happened in the pack and how my once-happy family turned sour.

“Are you still thinking about him?” Ryder asked as we both sat on the couch.

“It's hard not to.” I replied almost immediately. The only thing that I could think of is how to get back at him for what he put me through. I want him to go through pains just like I did and as for Hope, I'll make sure she goes through hell.

“It's fine, I know it's hard for you to move on after all that has happened, I just need you to be calm.” Ryder advised me. Ryder had been the one calming me down so that I don't end up doing something I will regret.

“I want him to pay dearly.” I clenched my teeth with my hands on my belly, each day I remember how I lost my child makes me hate them even more. After so many years of trying I finally got pregnant only to lose it like that.

“Listen to me Andra, look at me. You need to be calm, if you go about it the wrong way, you might end up regretting your actions.” Ryder advised me again. I was wondering why he took the whole thing seriously and why he really cares about how things play out between me and Alpha Daniel.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked. Ryder's facial expression changed the moment he heard the question I asked him.

“Why are you asking me such a question?” I could tell he was not comfortable with the question I asked him.

“Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?” He asked. Ryder was suddenly acting suspicious, with the way he refused to answer my question I couldn't help but suspect his kind gestures towards me.

“You helped me twice now which makes me curious about you, and you always arrive at the right time.” I explained to him.

“I think you're a good person and you don't deserve to be treated the way they were treating you that's why I'm on your side, I have no other reason.” There was so much sincerity in the way he spoke to me, that made me believe him.

It felt good to have someone on my side who genuinely cared about me. Hearing him say those good words made me feel better.

“I'm sorry the question made you feel a kind of way, I was only curious because of how you've been nice to me,” I explained to him so that he won't feel bad about the question I asked him.

“I can't keep calm anymore, I want all of them to go through worse pain than I went through.” I added.

*******

It was getting dark already and I was yet to have dinner because I didn't have the appetite to eat anything.

While I was in my room struggling to sleep I heard a knock on the door. I know it's Sarah, she's here to call me for dinner.

“Go away.” I said to her tiredly. I know that going downstairs would mean I have to eat dinner but I was really not Interested in eating anything.

I reluctantly stood up from the bed and walked out of the room. While walking downstairs I sighted Ryder sitting in the dining area.

I got to the dining area and sat down quietly. I was not in the mood to eat anything but no matter what I said, Ryder would not understand me.

“What took you so long?” Ryder asked the moment I sat down.

“Nothing, I was trying to process if I should be here or not.” Ryder stared at me when he heard what I said to him. He could already tell there was something bothering me.

“Hey, I know it's not easy for you, but remember you have something you're pursuing. This is the time you need to be strong.” Ryder encouraged me. I felt better after hearing him talk to me.

Remembering what I will achieve very soon boosted my energy.

“Maybe that's what I really needed to hear,” I said to him and let out a soft smile before digging into my food. While I was eating the only thing that clouded my mind was how I would become victorious in the fight I'm about to start.

The only thing that bothered me is the way I have to remain calm like Ryder had been saying.

Ryder couldn't hide the smile as he watched me eat my food.

“I have decided that I'm going to leave your house.” Ryder was shocked to hear what I said.

“Why? I mean you're comfortable here so why do you want to leave?” He asks me curiously.

“Ryder this is my fight and I want to achieve everything on my own.” I explained to him. Ryder was not okay with my decision to leave but my mind is already made up and I cannot change my mind.

When we were done eating I stood up and headed back to my room, the moment I got to the room reality hit me again with the fact that my life turned upside down in one day, I lost everything that I had, my love, my baby and almost my life all because of Alpha Daniel.

I stood up and walked towards the window while thinking about the whole thing. I heard my phone ring so I walked back to the bed and picked up the phone. I was wondering who the caller was because I couldn't recognize the number that was calling.

“Andra.” The caller mentioned my name, my heart skipped a beat as I recognized the caller's voice. I cannot believe he has the guts to call me.

I had to pretend like I didn't recognize the voice just in case it's not who I think it is, I dropped the phone back on the bed and rushed out of the room angrily.

“Andra, why are you running like that? Are you okay?” Ryder asked and grabbed my hands.