Chapter 4
The call ended before I could say a single
Chapter 4
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I stared at the screen, already knowing what this was about.
With a sigh, I threw on some clothes, grabbed my keys, and drove straight to the Adkins estate.
The gates creaked open, and the moment I stepped inside.
There, in the middle of the grand hall, was Lawrence. On his knees. Shirt torn from his back, shoulders tensing with every vicious crack of the leather whip.
Old Alpha Godfrey stood over him, hands trembling with rage, lashing down again and again like he was trying to carve the shame out of his son’s skin.
Blood streaked down Lawrence’s back in angry red welts. His face was pale, jaw clenched, but he didn’t say a word in his defense.
Miranda, ever the drama queen, was off to
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
the side sobbing. Kayla was pacing beside her mate, shouting and stomping like her son was the victim of a war crime instead of his own stupidity.
“Enough! Stop it! Lawrence is your only son!” she cried. “How could you beat him like this over an outsider? If something happens to him, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!”
But Godfrey wasn’t moved. His fury was wildfire–hot, wild, and unstoppable.
“Let him die for all I care!” he bellowed, the whip cracking down once more. “A disgrace like him doesn’t deserve to carry the Adkins name! He’ll crawl back to Sophia, apologize, and revoke that divorce application, or I swear-”
Kayla lunged at him, clawing at his arm, her face streaked with tears. “If you’re going to beat my son to death, you might as well start with me! That orphan girl? She’s got no family, no background–how is she
worthy of Lawrence? They should’ve
divorced long ago! Miranda is the one I recognize as my daughter–in–law. She’s his first love! Her family is respectable. And now she’s carrying his pup!”
I raised a brow, arms crossed.
If only they knew.
If only they knew that Miranda’s precious little pup didn’t even belong to Lawrence. Would Kayla still be clinging so tightly to that delusion?
Miranda cranked up the theatrics, crying harder, throwing herself over Lawrence’s bloody body. “Uncle, please! Stop! Hit me instead–it’s all my fault. Don’t blame Lawrence!”
I almost rolled my eyes.
Lawrence, breathless but still trying to look like the righteous hero, looked up and said, “Dad, if you want to beat me, go ahead. But
I won’t let Miranda raise this pup alone. She deserves better. Our pup deserves a name and a place in the pack.”
Godfrey’s fury only deepened. His chest heaved, his temples pulsing like he was on the verge of exploding.
Then he snapped, flinging the whip to the floor. “She’s pregnant? Fine. But what about Sophia?” His eyes cut to the rest of the room. “She’s carrying your pup too–and she’s a month ahead of Miranda, in fact! That child is the rightful heir to the Adkins bloodline!”
Lawrence didn’t even flinch. “Sophia and I already agreed–we’ll remarry after Miranda gives birth. It doesn’t matter whether her pup was conceived during the marriage or not. It’s still Adkins blood.”
Godfrey stared at him like he was the world’s biggest idiot. “Do you even know the woman you married? You really think Sophia will just
nathetic little plan? Spirito
go along with your pathetic little plan? Spirits help me I raised a fool for a son.”
I stood there at the entrance, quiet, unnoticed for the most part, just watching the mess unravel.
My gaze drifted to Lawrence for a moment -his face pale and bloodied, still painfully handsome in that tragic–hero way. And for a fleeting second, memories stirred. Sweet kisses. Whispered promises. Nights curled up in bed pretending we were in love.
But those images had long since drained of color. Just black–and–white memories of a life I didn’t want anymore.
Then Kayla saw me.
Her eyes widened and she rushed over, grabbing me by the arm and shoving me forward. “What are you standing there for?! You just going to let him suffer because of you? Say something! Beg the Old Alpha to
The shove was harder than she realized. I stumbled, and the edge of a wooden chair slammed right into my lower belly.
Pain bloomed instantly.
A sickening warmth rushed down my legs. My breath caught in my throat. My body curled forward on instinct, cradling the ache, the sudden fear.
Kayla backed away like I was contagious, face twisted in disgust. “I didn’t push that hard! Don’t you dare blame this on me!”
Godfrey stepped forward, concern flashing across his face. “Are you alright? The pup-”
“I’m fine,” I said, my voice tight but steady. My legs felt like water, but I stayed standing. “Alpha Godfrey, can we talk? Alone?”
He searched my face, saw that I meant it, then gave a slow, weary nod. “Come. Let’s go to the study.“”
Behind me, Lawrence was still kneeling in the center of the chaos, watching me with desperate eyes. Waiting for me to turn back. Waiting for me to run to him, to cry, to beg, to
care.
But I didn’t.
Not a word.
Not a glance.
I walked past him like he was nothing.
