Aria's POV
I stare at Marcus's outstretched hand.
Every instinct screams at me to run. My wolf growls warnings deep in my mind.
But what choice do I have?
Dominic rejected me. Denied our baby. Threatened to destroy me if I told the truth.
I'm alone. Pregnant. Terrified.
And Marcus is offering help.
"What kind of help?" I ask, my voice shaking.
Marcus's smile softens. He looks almost kind in the moonlight. Almost trustworthy.
"The kind that makes Dominic see what he's throwing away," he says gently. "The kind that forces him to take responsibility."
Hope flickers in my chest. Dangerous, desperate hope.
"How?"
"Come with me." He extends his hand again. "I'll explain everything. But not here. Too many ears."
I glance back at the pack house. Through the second-floor window, I can see Dominic's shadow moving in his office.
Still working. Still pretending I don't exist.
Still denying his own child.
My hand moves to my stomach protectively.
"Okay," I whisper.
I take Marcus's hand.
His grip is firm. Strong. He pulls me to my feet with ease.
"Smart girl," he murmurs.
We walk through the forest in silence. Away from the pack house. Away from everything familiar.
My wolf whimpers nervously, but I ignore her.
Marcus said he wants to help. That's all that matters.
We reach a small clearing near the training grounds. It's empty this time of night. Private.
Marcus releases my hand and turns to face me.
"First, I need you to understand something," he says seriously. "Dominic isn't thinking clearly. The alliance with the Blackwoods has him blinded to everything else."
"He doesn't want the baby," I say quietly. "He made that very clear."
"He's scared." Marcus steps closer. "An unplanned pregnancy threatens everything he's worked for. But deep down, his wolf knows the truth."
"What truth?"
"That you're his mate." Marcus's eyes gleam in the darkness. "I saw the way he looked at you that night at the gathering. The way his wolf responded to yours. The bond is real, Aria. He's just too stubborn to admit it."
My heart clenches. "Then why did he reject me?"
"Because he thinks he can." Marcus crosses his arms. "He thinks you'll just disappear. Accept his denial. Raise the baby alone while he marries Selene."
Anger flares hot in my chest.
He's right. That's exactly what Dominic expects.
"I won't disappear," I say fiercely. "This is his child. He has to take responsibility."
"Exactly." Marcus nods approvingly. "Which is why we need to force his hand."
"How?"
"By making the pregnancy public." Marcus starts pacing. "If the pack knows about the baby, Dominic can't deny it. He'll have to acknowledge you. Acknowledge the child."
Fear shoots through me. "But he said he'd call me a liar—"
"In private, yes." Marcus stops pacing. "But in front of the entire pack? With his mother present? With witnesses?" He shakes his head. "His wolf won't let him lie. The Alpha in him won't allow such cowardice."
I bite my lip, uncertain.
"What if it doesn't work? What if he denies it anyway?"
"Then the pack will see him for what he really is." Marcus's voice hardens. "A coward who abandons his own child. Luna Catherine won't stand for that. She'll demand the truth."
Luna Catherine. Dominic's mother.
She's always been kind to me. Fair. Would she really help?
"I don't know," I whisper.
"Aria." Marcus takes my hands in his. The gesture feels too intimate, but I don't pull away. "You have two choices. You can hide this pregnancy, let Dominic marry Selene, and raise your baby alone as a shamed omega. Or you can fight for what's right."
Fight.
The word echoes in my mind.
I've never fought for anything in my life. Never stood up for myself.
But this isn't about me anymore.
This is about my baby.
"What do I have to do?" I ask.
Marcus's smile widens. "There's a pack gathering tomorrow night. Everyone will be there—the council, the warriors, both our families."
"Tomorrow?" My stomach drops.
"The timing is perfect." He squeezes my hands. "Stand up in front of everyone. Tell them you're pregnant. Name Dominic as the father."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that." His voice is soothing. Confident. "His wolf won't let him deny you publicly. The mate bond will force the truth out of him."
I want to believe him. Want to believe Dominic's wolf will override his stubbornness.
Want to believe this will work.
"What if something goes wrong?" I whisper.
"I'll be right there." Marcus releases one hand but keeps hold of the other. "I'll support you. Make sure you're heard. Dominic won't be able to silence you with me standing beside you."
Protection. Support. Everything Dominic should be offering.
Everything he refused.
"Okay," I say, my voice stronger now. "I'll do it."
"Good girl." Marcus pulls me into a brief hug. It feels wrong—my wolf snarls—but I'm too grateful for the support to pull away. "Tomorrow night, everything changes."
He walks me back toward the edge of pack territory. Toward the Winters' house.
"Get some rest," he says at the property line. "Tomorrow is a big day. The day you take back your power."
I nod, exhaustion suddenly crashing over me.
"Marcus?" I call as he turns to leave. "Why are you helping me?"
He pauses. Looks back with an expression I can't quite read.
"Because someone should," he says simply. "And because I think you're stronger than anyone gives you credit for."
Then he disappears into the shadows.
I barely sleep that night.
Every time I close my eyes, I imagine tomorrow. Standing in front of the entire pack. Announcing my pregnancy.
Watching Dominic's face when I name him as the father.
Will his wolf really force him to admit the truth?
Or will he deny me again, even more publicly than before?
My hand rests on my stomach as I stare at the ceiling.
"Tomorrow," I whisper to the baby. "Tomorrow we fight for our future."
Morning comes too fast.
Victoria is in a terrible mood at breakfast. Apparently, Dominic didn't pay enough attention to her at dinner last night.
If only she knew why.
"The gathering tonight should be interesting," my adoptive mother says, sipping her tea. "I heard the council has important announcements."
My heart pounds. Does she know? Did someone tell her?
"What announcements?" Victoria asks.
"I'm not sure. But everyone's required to attend." She looks at me pointedly. "That includes you, Aria."
"I'll be there," I say quietly.
I'll definitely be there.
The day drags by in agonizing slowness. Every hour feels like ten.
I practice what I'll say. How I'll stand. Where I'll look.
Not at Dominic. I can't look at him or I'll lose my nerve.
At Luna Catherine. She's fair. Kind. She'll make sure I'm heard.
By evening, my nerves are screaming.
I dress simply. No point trying to look beautiful. That's not what tonight is about.
Tonight is about truth.
About justice.
About my baby's future.
The gathering is held in the main hall. It's packed. Every pack member must be here.
I see Dominic near the front. Selene stands beside him, beautiful and perfect.
His future.
Not me. Never me.
My chest aches, but I push the pain down.
This isn't about winning Dominic back. It's about making sure he takes responsibility.
Marcus catches my eye from across the room. He nods once. Encouraging.
I can do this.
I have to do this.
The council calls the meeting to order. They discuss boring pack business—territory patrols, trade agreements, upcoming ceremonies.
I wait. Heart pounding. Palms sweating.
Then Marcus stands.
"I have something to bring before the pack," he announces.
Everyone turns to look at him.
My breath catches. This is it.
"There's been a serious accusation made," Marcus continues. "One that affects our Alpha heir directly."
Dominic's head snaps toward Marcus. His eyes narrow dangerously.
"What accusation?" Luna Catherine asks.
Marcus's eyes find mine across the crowd.
And suddenly, I know.
The way he's looking at me. The cruel satisfaction in his smile.
This isn't help.
This is a trap.
"There's an omega among us," Marcus says loudly, "who claims to be carrying Alpha Dominic's child."
Gasps explode around the room.
All eyes turn, searching for the omega.
Searching for me.
"Marcus, what are you doing?" I whisper, but my voice is drowned out by the noise.
He walks through the crowd. Comes straight toward me.
"Aria Winters," he says, grabbing my arm. "Would you like to share your story with the pack?"
His grip is iron. Painful.
This isn't what we planned. This isn't how it was supposed to happen.
"Let go of me," I hiss.
But he's already dragging me forward. Into the center of the circle.
Into the spotlight.
Every face stares at me with shock, disgust, or curiosity.
And at the front of the room, Dominic's face has gone white as death.
His golden eyes meet mine.
And I see it.
He's not going to save me.
He's going to destroy me.
"Well, Aria?" Marcus's voice is poisonously sweet. "Tell everyone. Tell them about the baby. About who you claim is the father."
I open my mouth.
But no words come out.
Because I finally understand.
Marcus never wanted to help me.
He wanted to humiliate me.
And I walked straight into his trap.