Soraya's POV
A gasp left my throat, the sound sharp and cutting, undeniably raw without my knowledge.
I stumbled back, clutching the door for support.
Somehow, the sound alerted Cassidy and Jamal, and they both turned to me, a frown marring their brows.
"What are you doing here?" Cassidy hissed angrily, but I didn't even register her words properly.
My eyes were trained on Jamal.
Somehow, deep down I had expected him to react differently.
I thought he would be scared, shocked or even try to deny this and beg me, but this…?
Jamal had nothing written on his face.
His face was blank. Impassive like I was making a big deal out of nothing.
"J–Jamal." I called, tears blurring my sight, my heart bleeding at the betrayal.
My voice was desperate, pleading, begging even that he would acknowledge it, but he looked past me, his eyes with no emotion.
Cassidy sneered. "What? Haven't seen enough? Did you really think anybody would want something to do with you? Grow up. We are all adults here and besides don't act like you didn't know Jamal was only after you for sex."
That cut deep.
My body shook, as I balled my fists in anger.
For the first time, I wanted nothing more than to slap Cassidy, but I chose against it. Instead I turned and ran.
I ran like my life depended on it, rushing into my room.
I ignored the looks and curses from pack members, my brain melting down from pain.
My wolf howled painfully, and I cried.
Sure the thought had come to me, but Jamal was sweet to me.
He was my childhood sweetheart and my fated mate once. How would I have known he'd change this much?
What about the promises he made to me?
What about the sweet nothings he whispered into my ears?
Were all those a joke as well?
All along, I must have been a joke to him. But what about my baby?
Suddenly I felt a grip in my arm, the familiar tingles shooting up my arm.
My head whipped to the impostor, and I struggled, tears blurring my sight as I glared at Jamal. "Let go!"
I screamed, wiggling my wrists, but his grip was unyielding.
"You are making a scene." He said, his voice void of its usual warmth.
I froze and for a second, I couldn't recognize the person standing before me.
A scene? That's all he cared about?!
Furious, I snarled at his face. "I am pregnant with your child! How could you do this to me?!"
I had no idea what I was expecting.
Maybe deep down I was hoping he'd finally. Finally, be remorseful, but I was wrong.
Jamal didn't even blink. "That's no reason to disrespect me Soraya. Watch your tone. That child in your belly was never meant to exist in the first place and I won't give you the chance."
I felt another cut. This time on the bond I thought existed.
The world around me slowly titled, the weight of Jamal's betrayal and words cutting through me as my body went soft, the world around me going dark.
Even as I felt my body grow weak, Jamal made no move to catch me, adding a final blow as I collapsed into the ground, welcoming the darkness.
….
A groan escaped my lips, as my lips struggled to work.
Everything felt like they were filled with lead. Even getting my eyes open was a huge task.
I let out another groan, finally peeling my eyes open.
I blinked, clutching my head as I felt a tearing pain in my head.
I looked around, a chill settling in along with panic.
"No, no, no, no." I muttered, anxiously looking around, my eyes catching the huge chains on cold brick walls.
I had heard stories of these chains. They were used to torture rogues and traitors alike. They had used it once in front of us to demonstrate its uses.
But it was only kept in the pack's underground prison.
How was I close to it?
I looked away, only for my eyes to see the huge metal bars that housed me in.
A creeping realization finally settled in. I was in the pack's prison.
A laugh ripped through me. Raw. Broken and almost pitiful.
Had I truly fallen this low?
The floors were freezing, with no to little lighting coming in through the tiny window.
I shivered, a gust of cold hitting me as I breathed in. Now that I knew where I was, the strong stench of urine, dirt and rotten corpse attacked my sensitive nose all at once.
I moved, trying to drag my legs in to reduce the cold, only for my heart to skip a beat.
I blinked, clearing the fog in my eyes away.
Was that blood?
My heart sank, my breathing coming out in fast pants as I felt the sickening warmth around the lower region of my fabric.
"Please let this be a dream." I muttered desperately, tears blurring my eyes.
The unmistakable scent of blood filled my nose, confirming this wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare.
A scream tore through my throat as grief consumed me.
My child.
My baby.
They took them from me. They stole them from me.
Grief. Unimaginable grief consumed me and I let myself wallow in pain not caring who might have heard.
My wolf howled loudly in my head at our loss.
Why was the moon goddess so cruel to me?
Why did she let this happen to my baby? I sobbed, clutching my chest and my empty stomach tightly.
The warmth between my legs pulsed as if to tell me goodbye or perhaps remind me how I couldn't even protect the one thing I loved.
My baby was fine. My baby was healthy, but now it is gone.
I tore my shirt, desperately searching my stomach only to see bruises around the fragile flesh.
Another gut wrenching wail left me.
They forced my baby to death. They beat them out of me. They stole their life because it was me who bore them.