Chapter 12

OLIVIA’S POV I woke to a blinding white light, the sterile scent of antiseptic thick in the air. My entire body ached, a dull throbbing radiating from my abdomen. Panic gripped me as the memory of the agonizing pain in the dungeon came rushing back. My hands instinctively moved to cradle my belly. The pup. Was my baby—? A slight movement to my side made me freeze. My eyes fluttered open in panic, and there he was. Dominic. He sat beside my bed, his broad shoulders hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees. His normally sharp features were clouded with exhaustion, dark circles bruising the skin beneath his eyes. How long had he been sitting there? Had he… been watching over me? For a brief, foolish moment, hope flared in my chest. Maybe he had believed me. Maybe he still— "You're awake," his deep voice cut through my thoughts, flat and devoid of emotion. I swallowed, my throat dry. "Did you… bring me here?" My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. He nodded, but before I could process the warmth that flickered inside me, his next words sliced through me like a blade. "It was only because you're carrying my pup, don’t get any stupid ideas. You’re not off the hook yet." My breath hitched. My fingers clenched around the sheets, knuckles turning white. Of course. It was never about me. It had never been. So foolish of me to even think for a moment that I was the reason of his behaviour. "So that's it," I murmured, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to keep it steady. "You only saved me for the baby." He didn’t deny it. He merely leaned back, his expression unreadable. "You'll be under house arrest from now on. You won’t be sent back to the dungeons—at least not until the truth is revealed. I get that the conditions in the dungeons are not exactly fine for a pregnant woman. " I lifted my gaze to him, searching for something—anything—that indicated he was starting to doubt my guilt. "Does that mean… you believe me now, that I didn’t do it?" My voice was laced with hesitant hope. Dominic’s lips parted, as if he was about to say something, but before he could, a sickeningly familiar voice rang out. "Oh, thank the Goddess! You’re awake!" My entire body stiffened. Evelyn. She rushed into the room, her face an infuriating mask of concern. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders in waves, her soft features alight with relief—an act, I knew. She stopped beside my bed, clasping her hands together. "I was so worried about you, Olivia," she said sweetly, eyes shimmering with fake kindness. "And the baby. Despite everything that’s happened, I want you to know I forgive you. We were friends once, weren’t we? I can look past everything as long as you and the baby are fine. Oh goddess! I can’t even fathom if something were to happen to you or the pup." I turned my head away, bile rising in my throat. "Save your pity, Evelyn. We both know you don’t mean a word of it." Hurt flashed across her face—an act so well-rehearsed it was almost believable. "Olivia, I know you’re upset, but I truly want to move past this. In fact, I even made you some food. You must be starving after everything you've been through and not to mention that in your condition it is a must that you take proper meals." A chill ran down my spine. My hands instinctively shielded my belly as dread coiled in my gut. Did she think I was stupid? I wouldn’t let her anywhere near my pup and I would never eat anything that she bring. Who knows what she can do? "I’m not hungry," I said curtly, refusing to meet her gaze. Her lips pressed into a thin line before she let out a soft sigh. "Still holding a grudge over the truth coming out, I see. But Olivia, you can’t really blame me. I don’t deserve this hate and you know that, everything was decided by fate." My heart pounded as Dominic’s expression hardened. His eyes flicked to me, then back to Evelyn. "Don’t be rude, Olivia," he snapped, his voice sharp with reprimand. "She’s only trying to help." I sucked in a shaky breath, fighting the sting behind my eyes. Of course, he’d take her side. He always did. Evelyn placed a gentle hand on Dominic’s arm, shaking her head. "Don’t be too harsh on her, Dominic," she said soothingly. "She’s still your wife, after all. And she is carrying your child. You know how the hormones can effect any woman in this condition. Please be patient." The reminder was like a slap to the face. Dominic didn’t respond, but his body remained rigid, tension rolling off him in waves. Then, Evelyn tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with something dark beneath the feigned innocence. "But, Dominic… I have to ask. Why does James seem so concerned about Olivia and the baby?" My head snapped up. My stomach twisted violently as realization dawned. She was trying to plant doubts, to drive a wedge deeper between us. My chest tightened in fury. "What are you trying to say, Evelyn?" I seethed. She blinked, all faux innocence. "Oh, nothing, dear. It’s just… James is very protective of you. Almost like he has a personal stake in all of this." “I know what you are doing Evelyn, but not everyone is as dirty as you.” I spat and clenched my fists, and before I could say something much bitter to get her out of here, a bitter laugh escaped Dominic. "Well," he mused coldly, "I suppose we’ll find out the truth soon enough. Once the pup is born, there won’t be any more doubts." My breath hitched. He didn’t trust me. He truly thought there was a chance that the child I carried wasn’t his. "As for you and me, Olivia," Dominic continued, his voice devoid of warmth, "our marriage is as good as over." The finality in his tone sent an unbearable ache through my chest. And then, Evelyn’s final words struck me like a thunderclap. "At least by then, my wolf will have fully healed… and Dominic can finally claim his true Luna." My heart stopped. Her wolf was injured? I swallowed the lump in my throat, my mind racing. Evelyn had returned conveniently after all these years, right as my world came crashing down. She was pushing for my execution, poisoning Dominic’s mind against me, and now… her wolf was injured too? Something wasn’t right.