Chapter 3

In the struggle, I touched something in the sofa cushions.

It was Lila's underwear.

The underwear was torn to shreds and still carried Kael's cedarwood scent.

I felt my brain buzz, and everything before my eyes began to blur.

Kael snatched the underwear from my hand and casually tossed it on the table. "What's the big deal? Yesterday you said the fetal movement was uncomfortable and told me to sleep next door, so I tried it once with Lila on the sofa. Pretty exciting."

"Ugh—"

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I rushed into the bathroom next door and threw up violently until even bile came out.

Lila's falsely sweet voice came from outside the door.

"Elara, are you okay? Don't get upset, you still have the baby. Kael just said that next month when I get my official position, he'll take me to the Far North to see the aurora. Elara, if you want to go, we can take you along too."

That nauseating feeling nearly swallowed me whole. I leaned against the wall, clutching my swollen belly in despair.

Why? Why would Lila do this to me?

Since childhood, I'd always given in to her.

Academy recommendation slots, my room, even my inheritance rights and company shares.

I treated her with all my heart, and she turned around and climbed into my Alpha's bed.

I glared at Lila with red eyes. "What did I ever do to you?"

Lila hid behind Kael, scared, holding out a bowl of herbal medicine.

"Elara, drink some medicine to calm down. It's all my fault. Don't get so angry it hurts your health..."

I raised my hand and knocked the ceramic bowl away. The scalding medicinal soup splashed all over her hand.

"I don't need your fake kindness!"

"Ah!" Lila cried out in pain, tears instantly falling, looking utterly aggrieved.

"Elara, are you being completely shameless?" Kael quickly grabbed Lila's hand, his voice ice cold.

"Lila kindly made you herbal medicine, and instead of appreciating it, you hit her? Look at yourself acting like a shrew. Where's even a trace of the only daughter of White Pack's Alpha?"

"Your mother was right. You're just bad-tempered, malicious by nature, and can't stand seeing others do well!"

I looked at Kael with red-rimmed eyes, finding it utterly ironic.

Since childhood, my mother always saved the best prey, the best room, the best things for Lila.

My friends would eventually all become Lila's friends. Things I liked would eventually end up in Lila's hands.

When I was desperate and depressed, it was Kael who held me and said,

"Even if the whole world favors Lila, I'll always stand on your side."

But now, he was scolding me for Lila's sake.

He glared at me viciously.

"I'm telling you, if anything happens to Lila, I'll make sure you and the baby in your belly suffer!"

Lila leaned in his arms looking at me, the corners of her mouth curling into a provocative smile.

I stood there, trembling with rage.

I was pregnant with his child, betrayed by him and my adopted sister, and in the end, I was the one in the wrong.

"I'm taking Lila to the doctor to treat her burns. You reflect on yourself! When you've figured it out, then you can come out!"

Kael slammed the door and left, driving away with Lila.

I collapsed on the cold floor, my pregnant belly making it hard to breathe. Soon I heard the howls of rogues in the distance.

I dragged my heavy body and called Kael over and over. He rejected every call.

Until the last one, he finally answered. His voice was full of impatience, with Lila's flirtatious laughter in the background.

"What are you fussing about now? Lila's hand is blistered from your scalding. I'm buying her gloves to make it up to her. She cried the whole way, kept asking if Elara hates her. She cares about you so much. Can't you be more understanding?"

The rogues' roars had already reached outside the tent. I trembled all over, begging him through tears.

"Kael, come back quickly! The rogues broke in! The baby and I can't hold on!"

"Enough. Stop using the baby as an excuse to throw a tantrum. I'm busy comforting Lila. I don't have time for your performance."

He hung up directly, and then he blocked me.

The rogue's claws kept scratching at the tent door, making piercing sounds.

I hugged my belly and curled up in the corner, shaking all over.

Tears fell silently to the ground. I finally gave up completely.