Chapter 158
Elsa
“Enough?” I laughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears as I raked
my soaked hair back from my face. “No, it’s not nearly fucking
enough. Your girlfriend thinks she can stand there and pretend
innocence after celebrating my mother’s death sentence?”
Vera’s fake tears were infuriating. I wanted to claw her eyes out. “I
never said that. I was just trying to be kind. Look how she’s twisting
my words, Drake.”
“Jesus Christ, you’re good,” I said, shaking my head in disgust as my
body shook with rage. “What a performance. Innocent little Vera, just
trying to help. It’s fucking sickening. I think I might actually vomit.”
A flash of silver caught my eye as Sophia appeared, drenched from
the rain, her eyes blazing with fury. I hadn’t even noticed her
approach.
“Back off,” she growled at Drake, positioning herself between us.
“You’ve done enough damage.”
Drake’s expression darkened. “You struck my mate in front of
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witnesses. You should be apologizing, not making threats. Unless you
want to face charges for assault and violation of pack law.”
Sophia scoffed. “Pack law? That’s rich coming from you. What about
the laws protecting omegas? The ones you’ve been trampling for
years with how you’ve treated Elsa?”
“Sophia, don’t-” I started, grabbing her arm so hard my knuckles
turned white. My stomach twisted with sudden dread.
But she was beyond stopping. “Elsa’s given you everything, and what
has she gotten in return? Nothing but disrespect and betrayal. She’s
been your secret for ten years while you parade around with your
official mate. She doesn’t even get the dignity of acknowledgment.”
Drake’s voice dropped to a dangerous growl. “This is not your
business. Apologize to Vera, or I’ll have you arrested.”
“I’m not apologizing to the woman who’s gloating over Elsa’s mother
dying,” Sophia fired back. “Elsa’s had nothing but loyalty to you for a
decade. She’s given up everything–her freedom, her dignity, her
chance at a real relationship. Hell, she’s even lost two pregnancies
because of you!”
The world seemed to stop. I felt the blood drain from my face, my legs
suddenly turning to jelly beneath me.
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“What?” The word escaped my lips in a whisper as my stomach
dropped to my feet. My hand flew to my mouth in shock.
Drake’s eyes widened fractionally, his gaze snapping from Sophia to
“Sophia, stop,” I pleaded, suddenly terrified, my voice breaking as I
clutched at her sleeve.
“No, he needs to hear this,” Sophia continued, her voice rising above
the rain. “He needs to know what you’ve sacrificed. You lost his
children, Elsa. You carried his pups twice, and both times you lost
them because of stress and the way he treated you. And this asshole
didn’t even notice!”
“That’s not possible,” Drake said, his voice unnervingly calm.
“Well, apparently your perfect system missed the first one,” Sophia
snapped. “Eight months ago. She was in such pain she could barely
stand, but she still showed up to work because God forbid she
disappoint the great Drake Stone.”
My knees nearly buckled. I had to brace myself against a nearby pillar,
my breathing turning shallow and rapid
“The second time… when was it?” I whispered to Sophia, my voice
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cracking as my world tilted on its axis.
“You didn’t even know,” Sophia’s voice softened with heartbreak. “You thought it was just another bad period, didn’t you? Elsa, the doctor confirmed it when I took you to the emergency room. You were six weeks pregnant.”
Six weeks pregnant. Another child. Drake’s child. I had lost another baby without even knowing it existed.
“I… I didn’t…” My vision blurred, and I swayed on my feet, my hand instinctively clutching at my stomach as if I could somehow protect what was already gone. The silver moon pendant at my throat caught the weak sunlight breaking through the clouds, suddenly feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds.
“Elsa?” Allen’s voice broke through my shock as his hand caught my elbow, steadying me. “Are you alright? You’re white as a sheet.”
Drake’s gaze locked onto Allen’s hand on my arm, his eyes now fully gold with rage. “Take your hands off her.”
“She’s about to collapse,” Allen shot back, his grip tightening
protectively.
“Is it true?” Drake demanded, ignoring Allen and stalking toward me.
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His voice seemed to come from miles away. “What she said–is it true? You were pregnant again and lost it?”
I stared at him, unable to form words as bile rose in my throat. The rain had soaked through my clothes, plastering my hair to my face, but I couldn’t feel the cold. All I could feel was emptiness. A vast, gaping hole where my heart should be. Two children. I had lost two children I had carried inside me.
“Answer me, goddamnit, Elsa,” Drake growled, grabbing my wrist. “Did you know about this second pregnancy?”
I yanked my arm free with sudden force, finding my voice at last as
hot tears mixed with the cold rain on my cheeks. “No. I didn’t fucking know. But you know what? It doesn’t matter anymore. Nothing matters. Think whatever you want, Mr. Stone.”
The use of his formal title wasn’t lost on him. His nostrils flared, and for a moment, I thought he might shift right there in the hospital parking lot.
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