Chapter 3

The morning sickness in my first trimester hit me relentlessly.

I had planned to endure it in silence, but Victor was far more anxious than I was.

Early the next morning, he pulled me out of bed and insisted on taking me to a pack Healer.

"I don't need to go. I'm fine," I protested, pulling away.

"Be quiet," he commanded with absolute authority. "The pup isn't just yours."

I froze.

He knew... and he was willing to accept the child's existence?

My mind raced with confusion the entire way.

After the examination, the Healer mentioned that we needed to pick up specialized wolf supplements from the apothecary in town. Victor accompanied me there himself.

Just outside the shop, we ran directly into two people I never wanted to see again.

Liam was tenderly supporting Sophia, who leaned weakly against his chest, looking pale, fragile, and utterly helpless.

What an awful coincidence.

"Allison?" Liam gasped upon seeing me. His face contorted into an expression of profound, agonizing devotion.

He let go of Sophia and hurried toward me.

"Allison, why are you here? Is he... is he treating you badly? You look so pale."

Beside him, Sophia's eyes instantly welled with tears as she whimpered, "Allison, please don't blame Liam. He's just worried about you. I haven't been feeling well, so he brought me to town. Are you... are you okay? Alpha Victor hasn't been too cruel to you, has he?"

Watching her sickening performance made my stomach churn with disgust.

"Whether I'm fine or not has nothing to do with either of you," I shot back coldly.

A flash of hurt crossed Liam's face. "Allison, how can you say that? I know you're angry with me, but don't worry. I will find a way to get you out of this nightmare soon."

He reached out, trying to grab my arm.

That sanctimonious face made me want to retch.

[Don't let him touch you!]

Inside my head, the wolf's voice shrieked with fierce urgency.

[He has a syringe hidden in his pocket—it's pure Wolfsbane! That’s how he killed your pup in the past life!]

My pupils shrank in horror. Terrified, I took a frantic step backward, slamming straight into a broad, solid chest.

Victor was already behind me. He slipped an arm around my waist, pulling me securely against him.

He felt my panic. A flash of gold ignited in his eyes as he caught a scent in the air.

"What is it?" he murmured, looking down at me, a trace of tension bleeding through his voice.

Shivering from the shock, I couldn't form words; I could only grip his sleeve with white knuckles.

Victor lifted his head, his lethal gaze locking onto Liam.

Liam’s outstretched hand hung awkwardly in mid-air.

"Carter," Victor spoke, every syllable coated in frost. "Reaching out like that... are you trying to interfere with a member of the Crimson Pack?"

Liam’s face paled, then flushed with embarrassment.

"Alpha Victor, you misunderstand. I only saw that Allison looked unwell and wanted to check on her."

"Check on her?" Victor let out a disdainful scoff. "My mate doesn't need concern from an outsider."

Keeping his arm wrapped around me, he turned to leave. As he brushed past Liam, he stopped, dropping his voice so only the three of us could hear:

"Liam, keep your hands to yourself. If this happens again, I won't hesitate to cut them off."

The raw bloodlust in his tone sent a shiver down my spine.

Even after we got back into the car, I couldn't stop trembling.

Victor said nothing, simply pulling me tighter into his embrace.

[Tsk, look at that Alpha aura. Not bad at all. Worthy of being my dad.]

[Did you see that scumbag Liam's face turn completely green? Serves him right. Anyone who dares touch my mom deserves to die.]