Chapter 1

After discovering that she’s pregnant, Luna Deandra of the Dagger Pack throws her husband a surprise party to break the news to him but instead of the happy ending she had been expecting, she gets her heart broken when she receives evidence of husband’s infidelity with his childhood friend.

Heartbroken, Deandra drinks herself to sleep after crying and wakes up the next morning worried about her child’s life. On her way back from the hospital, she runs into a mystery man who saves her from a public confrontation with Daniel, her husband and his childhood friend, Hope.

He proposes a possible alliance and promises to help her get back at Daniel and Hope for the betrayal. But Deandra doesn’t know him and is worried about his intentions. However, after facing further humiliation from Daniel’s family and Hope, who is also pregnant with his child, she makes up her mind and aligns herself with the mystery man who turns out to be Daniel’s estranged half-brother, Ryder.

Years later, Deandra is now a mother to three children and is married to Ryder, who is now Alpha of the Stone Pack. She is back and ready to get her revenge on Daniel and Hope and Ryder is more than happy to help her as well as get his own pound of flesh.

But will Daniel simply accept defeat or will he fight to get Deandra back? And what will happen to the Alpha title of the Dagger pack? Who will become the Alpha int the end?

Chapter 1

Deandra’s POV

“Congratulations, Luna, you’re pregnant,”

I blinked a few times after that announcement and took a few deep breaths but nothing could quell the rush of emotions inside of me at that statement.

Who would believe it?

I had been feeling pretty sick for weeks now and if Daniel hadn’t pushed me to do this, I probably wouldn’t be here right now, receiving the best news in my life. For three years since I had been married to Daniel, Alpha of the Dagger pack, he and I haven’t had a child in all those years.

It wasn’t as if we never tried, it was just that we never could have them. Daniel always joked that maybe it wasn’t our time but secretly I could see that he wanted a child just as much as I wanted one.

“Luna, is everything alright?” The head doctor at the pack clinic asked to pull me out from my reverie and I shook my head in the negative.

“I’m fine,” I assured her. I was more than fine, I was happy. This news meant so many things and the point at the top of the list was that I wasn’t barren and could actually have children. It also meant things between Daniel and I could get better than before and we could become a real family.

Before it was just two of us but now, we’d have a mini version of us running around and hopefully before long, we would have another.

“Just make sure you get lots of rest. I can’t over emphasize how important that is right now,” The doctor continued and I was forced to keep my mind still and my thoughts centered on the present moment.

“You have to be careful about what you eat, your diet matters, now more than ever. Whatever you eat, drink, whatever goes into your body now affects your child more than anything so you need to watch out. No alcohol, minimize the coffee…”

As she made a list of pregnancy dos and don’ts, I zoned out again but this time I was seeing what my future with Daniel would be like; a child of our own with us celebrating birthdays, major milestones. It was such a happy moment.

“That would be all,” The doctor summarized just as I came back to the present again. She smiled as she saw the look on my face. “Don’t worry, you’ll love every moment of this experience. Remember not everyday would be fun and heavenly but I promise you it will all be worth it when you hold your baby in your arms.”

I nodded and rose from my chair trying to catch up with her as she made her way to the door. I didn’t doubt that the pregnancy would be challenging but I also knew that I would cherish every minute of it.

“Please send the Alpha my congratulations.” She told me as she waved me goodbye at the car pack a few minutes later. I nodded and started the engine of the car, riding back to the pack house with so much joy and gladness in my heart.

When I arrived back at the packhouse, my personal maid and closest friend, Layla received me at the door. Seeing her brought back all the emotions I had been keeping at bay and I hugged her, shocking and startling her.

“Oh my, what happened? Are you okay?”

I chuckled and pulled back, brushing back tears so I wouldn’t alarm her. “I am fine Layla and I just had the most wonderful idea.”

Somehow, I had picked Daniel’s birthday as the day I got the news of my pregnancy, life couldn’t get more exciting than that so what better way to break the news to him than to throw him a birthday party?

Layla agreed with me and immediately we got to planning. It wasn’t easy since it had been a spur of the moment decision but when I put my mind to something, I always saw it through. Once I had finished decorating his office which I chose as a last-minute venue, I invited some of his friends and got to work on preparing all the food for the party.

Layla insisted on doing it but I was too excited to let her do it. I asked her to arrange for a small birthday cake instead, one that was shaped in form of a baby. My request seemed odd to her but she followed through and did as I had asked. I wanted so badly to scream my news from the top of the highest building but I wanted Daniel to be the first one to know.

Perhaps my baby cake would be a dead giveaway of the surprise but at least he’d be the best to hear the actual thing from me.

***

The party had started half an hour ago but Daniel was still nowhere to be found. I had called and sent him tons of texts but I got no answer back. I was sure they delivered though because of the double tick on each message which made me wonder why he was ignoring me.

Had he gotten so tired of waiting for me that he just moved on without telling me? As soon as the thought popped into my head, I pushed it back out not wanting to harbor negative thoughts on such a happy day. Today all my dreams of being a mother have finally come true, so what more could I ask for?

“Relax Andra, he’ll be here soon.”

I looked up as his best friend and one of my close friends, Elliot walked up to me and handed me a glass of wine. I started to shake my head to reject the glass when I realized no one except me knew about the baby and then I collected it. big mistake because I wasn’t supposed to be drinking because of the baby.

I collected it for show in the beginning but after holding it for a while as I waited for my husband to call me or show up to his own surprise party, I took sips from the glass.

“You have a new message,” Layla told me, handing me my phone back. She had seized it when she noticed I had been fussing over it as a mother would do over her child as I waited for Daniel to text me back.

“It must be him,” she assured me and I nodded, unlocking my phone, my heart filled with hope.

I wished I hadn’t opened the message though because what greeted me left me shattered and sent my heart crashing into the pit of my stomach.

“Andra, are you okay? Say something you’re scaring me.” Lyla requested.

Chapter 2

Deandra’s POV

I was so sure that I was dreaming because there was no way that these images on my phone were real. There was no way Daniel would betray me like that, or at least that was what I told myself as I scrolled through the five pictures I had received from the unknown number.

In all five pictures, Daniel was there with his childhood friend, Hope, which was nothing out of the ordinary since they were usually inseparable. Rather, it was what they were doing that was completely shocking and took my breath away. In the first picture, Daniel was caressing Hope’s protruding belly and they both had wide grins on their faces.

Again, this picture would have been completely normal if Hope wasn’t wearing a sash that read “Mom to be” around her body. Daniel had a matching sash around him too but his read

“Dad to be”.

The second picture was even more heartbreaking and showed more evidence of what was happening in the first picture. The two of them were holding an ultrasound picture with big smiles on their faces.

My phone fell on the floor with a thud alerting everyone around me that something was amiss. It was Layla who reached me first. She held my hand and shook me a couple of times before bending to pick up my phone when I didn’t offer any reaction.

Her scream of shock jolted me from my thoughts and I crumbled to the ground, the chair I had been sitting in, crashing to the floor beside me. Layla reached for me immediately but I refused to be consoled.

I knew it would have been frustrating waiting for three years without a child but it took two people to make a baby! Did he really have to do this to me?

“Everyone, sorry but the party's over. Thanks for coming and make sure to grab a souvenir on the way out.” I heard Elliot say and I would have offered him my thanks under different circumstances.

Every part of my body hurt and I wasn’t injured. My heart was the most affected. That tiny organ that is responsible for pumping blood had stopped and I didn’t know how I was still alive because it hurt too bad.

“Come on Andra, let’s get you to bed.”

I shook my head but got up anyway. Instead of following him upstairs to the bedroom I had shared with Daniel for the past three years, I walked to the refreshments table and grabbed a glass of wine. I knew I wasn’t supposed to be drinking but I didn’t care about that at that point.

All I wanted was to numb the pain I was feeling so I drank, and drank until I couldn’t stand on my own two feet.

Elliot grabbed my hand as I tried to reach for another glass and lifted me up in his arms, bridal style. “I think that’s enough now.” He carried me out of the room as the last of the guests rolled out of the room and I saw Layla look at the door before we left the room completely.

I woke up the next morning with a nasty headache and a mountain of regrets. I know I was in a bad place but I still had my child to think about. Why did I have to drink so much? As soon as I woke up, I ignored how I was feeling and got dressed hastily, driving myself to the hospital before I could attract attention to myself.

On the drive to the hospital, I could only think about my child. Why did I let Daniel get to me so much that I lost sight of what was most important? For three years I had suffered and faced torture at the hands of his family because of my inability to conceive and then when I finally had a chance to, I was going to destroy it because Daniel was being a jerk. Never!

I didn’t even park the car properly before I stormed into the hospital and demanded to see the head doctor at the clinic. Normally, I wouldn’t use my title and the privilege that came with it like that but I was desperate.

Immediately I was sighted, I was taken inside to meet the head doctor who looked surprised to see me.

“Is everything okay Luna?’ she asked, her tone tinged with concern and I shook my head, narrating everything that happened yesterday to her in one breath.

“Is my child going to be okay?”

She shook her head and smiled, sending chills through my body. “Yes Luna, your baby is going to be okay but first I need to run some tests.”

Half an hour later, I walked out of her office with a relieved smile on my face only to run into Daniel and Hope on my way out of the hospital.

“What are you doing here?” Daniel asked, trying to hide the fact that he had been holding Hope’s hand so affectionately but I had seen it. “Is something wrong?”

I almost laughed at his sudden show of affection and if I hadn’t seen the pictures yesterday then probably, I would have fallen for it. “Where have you been? I called and texted.”

His face showed a strange reaction to my question but I didn’t call him out on it. Instead, I started walking away. I would be a fool if I stayed there and allowed my intelligence to be insulted.

Rushing towards the exit, I crashed into someone and almost tumbled to the ground but he caught me.

“Watch where you’re going, woman, wouldn’t want to get you admitted because of carelessness.”

At his words, I broke down in tears which scared him. I didn’t mean to cry, I was just feeling a bit too emotional. From confirming that my child was okay and had survived last night’s drinking ordeal to running into Daniel and his lover who I thought was just his childhood friend.

“Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

As I followed him out of the hospital, I questioned my sanity at the same time I wanted so badly to get away from Daniel who was running after us. In the end, my desire to get away from Daniel won.

***

I don’t know how long I slept for but when I woke up, I found that we were packed outside the packhouse and that he was just sitting in the driver’s seat staring at me. I jolted awake and glared at him.

“Relax, all I did was drive around for a while so you could sleep a bit and so your husband wouldn’t follow you.” He pointed out the window at the packhouse. “And then I brought you home some minutes ago.”

I nodded, unable to do much else and got out of the car at the same time he got out. He was at my side of the car, opening the door before I had time to react. “Thank you,” I mumbled as I made my way out of the car.

He nodded and helped me out when it seemed that my cloth was stuck. I had started to walk towards the packhouse when he spoke again. “I can help you get back at him, you know.”

I spun to face him immediately, shocked by his words. So many questions were running through my mind but one was prominent.

“What do you know about me?”

“Everything there is to know.” He sent me one last smile as he walked back to the driver’s side. He got in while I stood there staring at him.

“Think about it.”

And then he was gone leaving me wondering who he was and just how much he knew about my situation with Alpha Daniel of the Dagger Pack. “Who is he?” I asked myself in deep thought

Chapter 3

Deandra’s POV

Daniel was waiting for me when I got back.

“Where were you?” he fired as soon as I walked into the room but I ignored him, my mind swirling with thoughts of that mystery man and just how much he knew about my life with Daniel.

“I’m talking to you,” Daniel yelled and I scoffed, rising to my feet to acknowledge him.

“You shouldn’t take that tone of voice with me, especially since you’re at fault.”

At my words, he frowned but I wasn’t going to give him time to construct words that would soothe my mood like he always did. I pulled the pictures out from my phone, thanking the stars I had bothered to save them.

“How could you do this to us?” I screamed, throwing the phone against his chest.

He caught it and stared at the screen; surprise evident on his face.

“How did you….? How long have you known?”

I scoffed and shook my head. How was that the most important question right now? “is that all you’re going to say about that?” I asked him, the disgust I was feeling evident in my voice.

I expected him to be sober, and sorry for what he had done but instead he was acting like he had done a good thing.

He sighed. “I didn’t mean for you to find out this way,” He tried to look concerned for me but I was buying it. “Hope is pregnant for me and I am sorry I didn’t tell you earlier but you were already stressed with not having kids of your own I didn’t want to put that on you,”

“But it was okay to sleep with her because it wouldn’t stress me?”

Daniel scoffed and rose to his feet. “Look Deandra, I’m sorry you had to find out this way about Hope but I don’t see this as a bad thing. If anything, Hope is giving us a chance to be parents since you…” he trailed off but I heard the words he didn’t say, loud and clear. Since I couldn’t have children.

It was laughable because standing there looking at him, I was carrying his child and he didn’t even know it. The joke was on him.

“I need you to start seeing Hope as a sister. Take care of her like you’d take care of Cassie. I didn’t mean for things to happen this way but now that they have, there’s nothing I can do about it.

We simply have to find a way to coexist as one big family. Besides, the mother is so excited for her grandchild.”

I rolled my eyes, of course, Yolanda was excited.

“Where does that leave us Daniel?” I asked the million-dollar question and he stood there staring at me, his mouth opening and closing without words coming out.

“I don’t…” he started to say at the same time I opened my mouth to announce the pregnancy but we were both interrupted by a hasty knock on the door.

“Come in,”

A maid walked into the room, her steps hasty and I frowned.

“What is it?”

“I am so sorry to disturb you Luna, Alpha, but Miss Hope sent me to find you. “she spoke, turning to face Daniel.

“She’s in a lot of pain and might have to go to the hospital.”

“The baby, something is wrong with the baby,” he whispered and ran out of the room, the maid following him from a distance before I got the chance to ask any further questions.

Tears pricked my eyes but I held them at bay refusing to give in to my emotions. They would never see me weak. It’s my fault anyway and perhaps if I had just told him that I was also carrying his child then maybe he’d be just as concerned for my well-being.

Despite how badly I wanted to stay strong, a few stray tears slipped past my defences and rolled down my cheeks. I sighed and slumped on the bed, giving in to them. The sobs racked my body and my heart broke even more with each tear that fell.

I was distracted by the sound of footsteps in the room indicating that someone else had joined me. Wiping my eyes clean discreetly, I rose to my feet and frowned when I saw who it was.

“Hope? But I thought….”

She didn’t give me time to finish before she lunged at me, grabbing me by my hair and forcing me to rise to my feet so she didn’t pull my hair out. “Don’t you feel embarrassed to be living here still when you can’t even have children? Aren’t you ashamed?”

I managed to set my hair free from her clutches and stood straight, glaring at her. I didn’t want to have to put my hands on her but if she forced my hand then….

“Hope, what is the meaning of this? I thought you were in pain.”

“Leave here already, go so Daniel and I can live like a family with our child. Your presence is suffocating.”

I chuckled bitterly and glared at her. “Aren’t you ashamed that you had to get pregnant to trap my husband? Don’t you feel embarrassed that he wouldn’t have come to you otherwise?”

My words got to her and I smirked, glad I had hurt her even just a tiny bit. “I am going to tolerate you for Daniel’s sake but don’t get too comfortable, pregnancies can be lost.” I reminded her as I started to walk away.

“You bitch, did you just threaten my child?”

She tried to reach for me but I swerved out of the way in time and she missed me, her hands falling to her side. She glared at me and made a move to leave but then we heard footsteps, no doubt it was Daniel coming to find Hope who was supposed to be in pain.

“He will always pick me over you, watch, “and she fell to the ground without being pushed and screamed.

I gasped, watching the scene before me in confusion. What did she think she was doing?

“Deandra, what happened?” Daniel asked, his voice full of concern for me until he saw Hope on the ground and his countenance changed. “Did you push her?” And without waiting for a response, he continued.

“How could you do that Andra, knowing that she’s pregnant?”

I watched in disbelief as he bent down to pick her up from the ground with Hope faking an injury.

I felt tears filling my eyes again but I forced them back not wanting them to see how much their actions were affecting me.

“She threatened to harm our child. All he did was ask her to accept me as her family.” Hope cried, resting her head against his chest as she faked a sob.

I shook my head not believing the events that were playing here right before my eyes. Was Daniel falling for this? She wasn’t that good an actress.

“I am so disappointed in you Andra, so disappointed.” He whispered and the tone of his voice nearly broke my resolve but I held it in, refusing to give into my emotions no matter how hurtful his words were.

They were like little knives piercing my heart and yet I refused to give in.

“If you don’t start seeing Hope as part of our family, I will have no choice but to kick you out to protect my child.” I stared at him with a shattered heart.

Chapter 4

Deandra’s POV

“I told you not to come here, we can’t be seen like this.”

I stopped in my tracks and hid behind a wall wondering who Hope was talking to.

“Hope, that’s my child in there and you know it.” I gasped a bit too loudly and caught myself just in time before I was discovered.

“Keep quiet,” Hope hissed and looked from left to right.

This shameless woman, I thought as I listened to their conversation. I should have known the baby wasn’t Daniel’s but he had been so confident that the child was his that I never suspected anything.

“If anyone hears you, our plan will be ruined.” She looked around again before she leaned in and whispered, “I want what’s best for this child and so do you so why don’t you just take the money and leave?”

I shook my head in disgust at that and left my position behind the wall ready to go and confront her when I heard footsteps coming from the opposite direction.

I could practically hear Hope’s heart racing loudly in her chest

“Andra, what are you doing here?” I heard Hope’s tiny gasp of surprise at the mention of my name and I smirked.

“I was just on my way to the kitchen when I thought I heard voices and decided to check. What are you doing here anyway?”

He looked around and frowned when he saw no one then sighed. “I was just going to our bedroom to get my phone. Did you see it before leaving?”

I shook my head but reached for his hand. “Can we talk?” I asked, changing the subject. I wanted to settle things between us and make sure we were back on good ground again.

“I wanted to know if we were okay. I didn’t…” Daniel shook his head and pulled his hand away.

“I can’t get past the fact that you threatened Hope and the baby, it’s my baby too Andra. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to the baby. I would never forgive…” he trailed off but I could hear the words he didn’t say. He would never forgive me.

Tears filled my eyes but I held them back as I nodded my head. “What can I do to make it right?”

“Treat Hope nicely, apologize for what you did yesterday and then we will see from there.” He walked away after speaking and I stood there rooted to the spot not believing how much my life had changed in the last two days.

“Do you know it’s rude to eavesdrop on people’s private conversations?” I jerked and turned my head to look at Hope who was standing there with a triumphant smile plastered on her face.

No doubt she had heard what Daniel said and she was happy that she was once again winning and I was losing. But not for long…

“I already told you that Daniel will always pick me over you. Why don’t you want to accept that and move on?”

I nodded and smiled. “You’re right, Daniel will never see me the same way again and I can’t blame him since I can’t give him children.”

The next thing I did shocked us both ] went down on my knees and sighed. “I am sorry for yesterday, pushing you to the floor and threatening your child’s life.” I paused before continuing again, unaware that Daniel and Yolanda were watching from a distance.

“Daniel was right, you are part of the family now and that child is as much mine as it is Daniel’s.”

I rose to my feet afterwards, sent Hope one last smile and then walked away.

I couldn't believe how low I had gone because of Daniel and the love I had for him. But the main reason behind my actions was I wanted my child to grow up with his father, I didn’t want my child to have a broken home with parents that were divided.

***

I don’t know how long I stayed in the kitchen crying when Daniel joined me and wrapped his arms around me. I almost burst into tears when I felt his arms around me but I held them at bay.

“Thank you for apologizing to her. I owe you for everything."

I simply nodded my head and stepped away, not wanting to get swayed by his words.

"I'm making dinner, would you like something?" I asked, and coughed to cover up the sniffles.

"We'll all eat." He replied just as hsk mother walked in and frowned at our closeness.

"Since we're celebrating, why don't we get the chef to make something big and beautiful?" Daniel agreed immediately and I was whisked away to our bedroom by Daniel who was acting all nice and friendly with me now.

Later that day, we sat down to eat dinner and I was back in my usual seat beside Daniel. I was ready to tell him about the baby and I couldn't wait for us to be alone.

Hope had barely touched her food and I could tell she wished she were sited so close to Daniel alas….

“Do you both have names yet? I mean for the baby whether it's a boy or a girl." Yolanda asked and my fork dropped my hand and landed on the plate noisily.

Daniel shifted in his seat and refused to meet my eyes when I tried to catch his attention.

Hope who loved attention took the floor and told Yolanda, “We decided not to rush things and surprise ourselves aft

"Let's make a toast." Yolanda proposed and we all raised our glasses.

"Oh no Deandra, I think you should drink this instead. I had it made specially for you." Hope said, suddenly rising to her feet just as a maid walked into the room.

Chapter 5

Deandra's POV

Every fiber of my being was at alert as I stared at Hope.

Something felt off.

I was confused by the new turn of events but I didn't want to read too much into it either.

"What's in it?" I asked, feigning interest and she smiled.

“It's something I took before I got pregnant. I hear it's very good for pregnancy."

"Oh you should have that instead. Lord knows you need it." Yolanda added eagerly, an insult buried somewhere in her words and I sighed looking to Daniel for help.

"Just take it. You never know what might be useful." He said his tone innocent and I almost cried. He wasn't aware of what these people around him were capable of.

"Go on," Hope urged and my suspicion grew.

Why was she so eager for me to drink it?

"Look, I didn't put anything in it." She defended as she reached for another glass I hadn't noticed before. "I made a cup for myself just in case you had doubts."

Daniel frowned and I sighed. She was trying to create a rift between Daniel and I again and this time it'd work.

"Fine," I took a sip first to sample the taste and then downed the entire thing regretting my actions immediately when I saw how big a grin Hope was wearing.

"That wasn't so bad was it?" Daniel asked as we started eating and I shook my head. Aside the taste, Hope's mixture wasn't so bad.

But as I ate, I couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling at the back of my head.

****

Later that night as I crawled into bed, I was hit with a sharp pain in my abdomen.

Dress filled me as the pain increased and I screamed, holding my stomach while praying for my child's safety.

I knew I should never have drank Hope's mixture.

The door to my room was flung open and Daniel burst into the room looking frantic. No doubt he had heard my scream.

Behind him, Hope was rubbing her eyes sleepily, looking thoroughly annoyed that I had woken her up but she was the least of my worries.

The pain had increased and I could feel myself skipping out of consciousness fast.

"My stomach hurts, I am…ah!!" I collapsed on the floor, tears trickling down my cheeks.

“She's bleeding," Daniel pointed out in a horrified voice and I gasped, the sound weak and thin.

“Save my baby," I muttered, desperately as I fought to stay conscious.

Daniel just stood there in shock at my announcement while Hope looked guilty.

"What's going on here?" Yolanda asked, walking in and then gasping when she saw my condition. "Oh dear, that doesn't look good. We need to get her to the clinic,"

Her words snapped Daniel out from his thoughts and I felt myself being lifted off the ground.

"My baby," I whispered before darkness took over. The next time I opened my eyes I was in a hospital gown lying on a hospital bed with tubes connected to my body and machines beeping around me.

I tried to sit up but I couldn't, my whole body hurt.

"Please don't try to move Luna, you need to remain flat on your back." I heard the head doctor's voice and I felt a tear slip down.

"My baby?" I asked, my voice hoarse and a sense of deep loss washed over me.

She shook her head sadly and sighed. "I'm sorry but you lost the baby. If you hadn't been brought in when you were then we'd have lost you too."

She checked my vitals and then made her way out of the room just as. Daniel and Hope e walked in.

Immediately my eyes fell on her, I lost control.

"You! You did this!" Daniel caught me before I could lift myself off the bed and lug for her. He held me, begging me to be calm but I was past that.

"Let me go. You did this too, both of you killed my child!" I pushed him away, past the point of reason.

"I didn't…" Hope started to say in her defense but Daniel stopped her.

“If there's anyone to blame for the loss of this child then it's you!” Daniel yelled suddenly and the room went silent save for the beeping from the machines.

“What?" I asked, unable to keep the shock out of my voice. He was blaming me?

Daniel continued talking, not giving me time to process his words. “If you had just told me, or even mother then we'd have made sure you were well taken care of.”

He shook his head as I opened my mouth to speak. “I know I was wrong for cheating on you with Hope but you were wrong to keep this child from me. It was my child!”

"Don't you dare yell at me? You have no right to yell at me. What was in that drink you gave me, you witch?” I asked Hope and she shivered taking a step back at the ice in my tone.

He left afterwards with Hope and I threw the pillow at them before breaking down in tears. I cried and cried and cried until I was reduced to hiccups.

****

“Are you sure you want to leave now?" The head doctor asked, frowning and I nodded.

“I can't stay here anymore. There's nothing left for me here.” Daniel had been completely brainwashed by Hope and he couldn't even see that she had deliberately tried to kill me to keep her secret hidden.

I had lost my child so what reason did I have to stay?

“I understand you're grieving and want to run away but can't you stay a while here at the clinic, just until you're healed a bit.” She added the last part quickly when I opened my mouth to protest and I sighed thinking long and hard about it

In the end, my mind was made up. I just couldn't stay. I shook my head as he sighed, resigned.

I was left alone after that and I cried some more. When the door opened much later, I didn't move feeling too drained to do anything.

“If you want to leave, we have to go now."

Looking up, I stared into his eyes and felt emotional again.

"They killed my child,” I whispered and he sighed.

“I know. Come on," He led me out of my room and out of the hospital through the back door where a car was running and waiting for us.

"I'll make them pay for this. They'll pay for killing my child.” I whispered as he drove us out of the pack border.

“Don't worry, they'll pay for everything," he promised me and I leaned my head back his words giving me some comfort.

He'd saved me once before and now he was doing it again.

“My name is Ryder," he told me and I looked up in confusion.

“If you're going to work with me, you should at least know my name." His name was the least of my concerns but I stored that information away for later, focusing on my game plan.

“I'll be back.”

Chapter 6

Deandra pov

The human world was very different from what I thought it would be like, they were very accommodating and I almost forgot about my species.

“Andra, why are you seated here?” Ryder asked me when he got back from a business meeting.

“I had a lot on my mind so I came here to cool it off.” I replied to him as we both went into the house. It's been a very emotional period for me, thinking about the things that happened in the pack and how my once-happy family turned sour.

“Are you still thinking about him?” Ryder asked as we both sat on the couch.

“It's hard not to.” I replied almost immediately. The only thing that I could think of is how to get back at him for what he put me through. I want him to go through pains just like I did and as for Hope, I'll make sure she goes through hell.

“It's fine, I know it's hard for you to move on after all that has happened, I just need you to be calm.” Ryder advised me. Ryder had been the one calming me down so that I don't end up doing something I will regret.

“I want him to pay dearly.” I clenched my teeth with my hands on my belly, each day I remember how I lost my child makes me hate them even more. After so many years of trying I finally got pregnant only to lose it like that.

“Listen to me Andra, look at me. You need to be calm, if you go about it the wrong way, you might end up regretting your actions.” Ryder advised me again. I was wondering why he took the whole thing seriously and why he really cares about how things play out between me and Alpha Daniel.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked. Ryder's facial expression changed the moment he heard the question I asked him.

“Why are you asking me such a question?” I could tell he was not comfortable with the question I asked him.

“Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?” He asked. Ryder was suddenly acting suspicious, with the way he refused to answer my question I couldn't help but suspect his kind gestures towards me.

“You helped me twice now which makes me curious about you, and you always arrive at the right time.” I explained to him.

“I think you're a good person and you don't deserve to be treated the way they were treating you that's why I'm on your side, I have no other reason.” There was so much sincerity in the way he spoke to me, that made me believe him.

It felt good to have someone on my side who genuinely cared about me. Hearing him say those good words made me feel better.

“I'm sorry the question made you feel a kind of way, I was only curious because of how you've been nice to me,” I explained to him so that he won't feel bad about the question I asked him.

“I can't keep calm anymore, I want all of them to go through worse pain than I went through.” I added.

*******

It was getting dark already and I was yet to have dinner because I didn't have the appetite to eat anything.

While I was in my room struggling to sleep I heard a knock on the door. I know it's Sarah, she's here to call me for dinner.

“Go away.” I said to her tiredly. I know that going downstairs would mean I have to eat dinner but I was really not Interested in eating anything.

I reluctantly stood up from the bed and walked out of the room. While walking downstairs I sighted Ryder sitting in the dining area.

I got to the dining area and sat down quietly. I was not in the mood to eat anything but no matter what I said, Ryder would not understand me.

“What took you so long?” Ryder asked the moment I sat down.

“Nothing, I was trying to process if I should be here or not.” Ryder stared at me when he heard what I said to him. He could already tell there was something bothering me.

“Hey, I know it's not easy for you, but remember you have something you're pursuing. This is the time you need to be strong.” Ryder encouraged me. I felt better after hearing him talk to me.

Remembering what I will achieve very soon boosted my energy.

“Maybe that's what I really needed to hear,” I said to him and let out a soft smile before digging into my food. While I was eating the only thing that clouded my mind was how I would become victorious in the fight I'm about to start.

The only thing that bothered me is the way I have to remain calm like Ryder had been saying.

Ryder couldn't hide the smile as he watched me eat my food.

“I have decided that I'm going to leave your house.” Ryder was shocked to hear what I said.

“Why? I mean you're comfortable here so why do you want to leave?” He asks me curiously.

“Ryder this is my fight and I want to achieve everything on my own.” I explained to him. Ryder was not okay with my decision to leave but my mind is already made up and I cannot change my mind.

When we were done eating I stood up and headed back to my room, the moment I got to the room reality hit me again with the fact that my life turned upside down in one day, I lost everything that I had, my love, my baby and almost my life all because of Alpha Daniel.

I stood up and walked towards the window while thinking about the whole thing. I heard my phone ring so I walked back to the bed and picked up the phone. I was wondering who the caller was because I couldn't recognize the number that was calling.

“Andra.” The caller mentioned my name, my heart skipped a beat as I recognized the caller's voice. I cannot believe he has the guts to call me.

I had to pretend like I didn't recognize the voice just in case it's not who I think it is, I dropped the phone back on the bed and rushed out of the room angrily.

“Andra, why are you running like that? Are you okay?” Ryder asked and grabbed my hands.