Chapter 5

OLIVIA’S POV The air crackled with tension as Dominic stood frozen, his golden eyes burning into mine. "Is this real?" His voice was rough, edged with something I hadn't heard in years - doubt. My hand trembled against my stomach. "You're the Alpha. Use your senses. Feel our pup's heartbeat yourself." A muscle twitched in his jaw before he closed the distance between us. When his calloused palm pressed against my belly, the entire pack seemed to hold its breath. Then his breath hitched - that tiny, miraculous thump of life between us undeniable now. Luna Grace's sudden clap shattered the moment. "Marvelous!" Her delighted smile didn't reach her cold eyes. "This calls for celebration!" For one fragile heartbeat, I dared to hope. Maybe this child would be my redemption. Maybe Dominic would finally— "Congratulations, Olivia." Evelyn's honeyed voice dripped poison as she materialized at Dominic's side. "I suppose even mistakes can bear fruit." My nails bit into my palms. Mistakes? She meant the lies she'd planted, the crimes she'd framed me for. The fire in my veins burned hotter when Dominic snapped: "Silence." His command vibrated with Alpha power. "You're here by Elder Alyosha's grace alone. Remember your place." His words should have soothed. Instead, they stung - I wasn't his to protect, just his to tolerate. And now I was trapped in this gilded prison, not by Dominic's will but by biology. James' warning echoed in my skull: Without the Alpha's renewed mark, our pup would die. I had to tolerate all this for my pup. That evening brought surreal changes. No kitchen duties. No scornful glances. Grace even ordered Evelyn to keep her distance. As the pack murmured congratulations, I touched my stomach and whispered to the Moon Goddess: Please let this fragile peace last. When dinner ended, Grace turned to Dominic. "Escort her to her room. She needs rest." Before retiring to bed, I visited Elder Alyosha to thank her. The warmth of Elder Alyosha’s hands lingered on my belly long after I left her room. Her words echoed in my mind, wrapping around me like a fragile shield against the storm that was my life. "The truth will come out, child. You are stronger than you think. You are the one in the prophecy, and as a mother, you must grow even stronger." I had never cared much for prophecies, but her unwavering faith in me sparked something deep within my heart. For the first time in years, someone believed in me without question. Someone saw beyond the lies and betrayal. With a quiet sigh, I made my way back to my room, exhaustion tugging at my limbs. The weight of the past few days sat heavily on my chest, but when I opened the door, I froze in surprise. Dominic was there. He stood by the window, his broad frame silhouetted against the moonlight. I hesitated at the doorway, uncertainty clashing with the small flicker of warmth in my chest. "You’re late," he muttered, his voice devoid of its usual hostility. I stepped inside cautiously. "I went to see Elder Alyosha," I admitted, watching for any flicker of reaction. "I wanted to thank her." His lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing. Instead, his gaze dropped to my stomach, and after a long pause, he walked toward me. I tensed instinctively, expecting another round of cold indifference, but what happened next caught me completely off guard. Dominic knelt in front of me, his large hands hesitantly resting on either side of my waist. His forehead pressed lightly against my belly, and for the first time in five years, I felt something tender in his touch. I sucked in a shaky breath, my fingers trembling as they found their way into his thick, dark hair. "Dominic…" His grip tightened slightly, his voice low, almost vulnerable. "I feel it," he murmured. "The heartbeat." Tears burned at the corners of my eyes. I had endured five years of nothing but distance, cruelty, and silence from this man. And now, in this quiet moment, I saw a glimpse of the mate I had once dreamed of. I didn’t know what possessed me, but I slid down to my knees beside him, wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders. He didn’t pull away. Instead, his arms came around me, holding me close. The warmth of his body seeped into mine, and for the first time in so long, I felt safe. It didn’t matter that this was for the baby. It didn’t matter that he still didn’t trust me. Just for tonight, I wanted to pretend. Just for tonight, I wanted to hold on to the hope that maybe things could change. I fell asleep in his arms, his warmth lulling me into a fragile sense of peace. ________________________________________ The morning sunlight streamed through the hospital window as James examined me, his brow furrowing in concentration. "You’re doing much better than I expected," he finally said, stepping back. I exhaled in relief. "Really?" He nodded. "Your vitals are stable, and your body is responding well. If you keep this up, your pregnancy should be smooth." A small smile tugged at my lips. My hand instinctively went to my belly. I thought back to last night—Dominic’s warmth, his touch, his momentary tenderness. Could it be? "Maybe it’s because of Dominic," I murmured absentmindedly. James’ sharp gaze snapped to mine. "Olivia…" I shook my head quickly. "I just mean… if he’s around, if he’s softer to me, then maybe… I can earn his trust. Maybe things can change." James sighed, clearly unconvinced, but I held onto that fragile hope. I had to. Because if I didn’t, I didn’t know how much longer I could survive this. ________________________________________ I returned to the packhouse feeling lighter than I had in weeks. I had a good check-up, I had spent the night in Dominic’s arms, and for the first time, I dared to believe that maybe, just maybe, we could rebuild something. But that hope shattered the moment I stepped inside. A sharp, searing pain exploded across my cheek, sending me stumbling backward. The force of the slap was so strong that my vision blurred for a moment. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I gasped in shock. My hand flew to my stinging cheek as I looked up—only to meet Dominic’s enraged gaze. My breath caught. "Dominic…?" His golden eyes burned with fury, his chest heaving. "Elder Alyosha is dead." A cold chill ran down my spine. "W-what?" "Don’t pretend you don’t know," he spat, his voice like ice. "She was the only reason you were allowed to walk free, and now she’s dead. Murdered. And I know you had something to do with it." The world tilted beneath me. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. "No… no, I swear, I—" "Enough!" His voice cracked like a whip. "I should’ve never trusted you. I should’ve never let you anywhere near me again!" His words cut deeper than any wound ever could. Just hours ago, I had held onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, I could earn back his trust. That maybe he could care for me, even if just a little. But now, staring at the man who had just struck me, the man who looked at me with nothing but loathing in his eyes… I knew the truth. I would never be anything more than a murderer in his eyes. No matter what I did, no matter how much I begged. And that realization shattered me more than anything else ever could.