Aria's POV
The fear started the moment I realized that truly, I was pregnant.
At first, I tried to tell myself I was wrong, that maybe my body was just reacting to the stress. But the signs became clearer every day. The sickness in the morning, the strange ache in my lower belly, the way I could feel something shifting inside me.
I was carrying an Alpha's heir.
It didn't matter how it happened. It didn't matter that he rejected me. But what mattered now was that if the wrong people found out, they would come for the baby. A child like this would always be valuable, no matter the circumstances. I had seen it happen before, to girls who got dragged back to the packs to be used, or worse, to have their pups taken.
My own case would be different because I am an omega. As an Omega, it would be a great fortune for anyone to find an omega that is pregnant with an Alpha's heir.
I eouldn't let that happen to my baby.
So I hid in the deepest parts of the forest, where no one would easily think to look for me. It wasn't easy, because I continued to survive off berries and the cold, and water from the river. My stomach rejected most of it most times, but I forced myself to eat, to drink, and survive.
Some nights, I couldn't even hold down the berries anymore, because my whole system has grown too accustom of taking in berries everyday. My body was slowly giving up on me, but I couldn't stop. I had to keep going, for the life growing inside me.
Days blurred together. I told myself I could do this, that I had no other choice.
So one evening, I went to gather berries by a small stream. I walked slowly with easy steps, and it felt like I was carrying the weight of the whole world on me.
Being pregnant and still walking about to find food wasn't easy for me.
I bent down to pick some berries when the ground seemed to tilt under me. My vision blurred. I dropped the berries and grabbed a nearby tree for balance, but it was no use. My body had reached its limit.
I felt my knees hit the ground and my breathing became shallow. I could hear the soft trickle of the stream nearby, and the gentle rustle of leaves above me, and before I know it, everything went black.
When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't lying by the stream anymore. I was in a warm bed, covered with thick blankets that smelled like pine and fresh wood. A soft fire crackled nearby, giving the small room a faint golden glow.
I blinked, looking confused, my body too weak to panic at the moment.
The door creaked open, and a tall man stepped in. He had sharp eyes, with a strong build body, and scars along his arms and neck. His face looked serious, but not unkind.
"You're awake," he said, his voice deep and calm.
I struggled to sit up, but he quickly crossed the room and gently pushed me back down.
"Easy," he said. "You fainted near the stream. You've been out for two days straight."
I stared at him, my lips dry, my throat burning. "Who… who are you?"
"Alpha Kael," he said. "Of the Northern Pack."
I felt my heart stop a bit. An Alpha. Again?
Fear shot through me. Did he know? Did he know what I was carrying a child?
I forced myself to speak. "Why did you… help me?"
His gaze softened just a little. "Because you would've died out there. I couldn't leave you when I found you dying out there."
His answer surprised me. He didn't press me for details, or ask who I was or where I came from. He just… helped.
Still, I couldn't trust him. I had to protect my secret from anyone.
He offered me food. It was a simple soup with soft bread. I hesitated, but my hands trembling as I took the bowl.
"You need to eat," he said. "You're nothing but skin and bones."
I lowered my head and forced myself to eat. It was the first real food I'd had eight weeks. My stomach twisted, but I kept going, slowly taking one spoonful at a time.
As I ate, I stole glances at him occasionally. His silver hair was a little messy, and his scarred hands looked like they had seen too many battles. But he was patient. He didn't rush me. He didn't demand anything from me.
When I finished the soup, he took the bowl and said, "There's a spare room you can use. Stay as long as you need."
I couldn't believe his kindness. I didn't even know him.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
He sat across from me, leaning back in his chair. "You looked like someone who's been through enough."
I didn't know what to say to that, I just stared.
For the first time in weeks, I felt warmth, not just from the fire, but from being around someone who wasn't trying to hurt me.
Still, I stayed quiet about the pregnancy. I couldn't risk it. I didn't know how he would react if he found out.
The next few days passed slowly. I regained some strength, though my body still felt weak. Kael checked on me, brought me food, and gave me space when I needed it.
One evening, I sat near the fire, wrapping my arms around my belly protectively. I was sure now. The life inside me was real and growing. I could feel the tiny flutters. I should've felt joy, but all I felt was fear.
What would happen if he found out?
What if someone came looking for me?
Kael walked in, carrying a small bag of herbs. He placed them on the table and sat down across from me.
"You don't talk much," he said, his voice gentle. "That's alright. I figure you'll tell me your story when you're ready."
I looked at him, wondering if I could really trust him. He seemed so different from the other Alphas I had known. He didn't try to dominate the space. He didn't bark orders or push me for answers.
"Thank you," I said softly. "For not asking too many questions."
He gave a small shrug. "I've seen enough to know that sometimes people run for good reasons."
My throat tightened. I pressed my hands against my belly, feeling the faint rhythm of life inside me.
Kael noticed the movement but said nothing.
"You remind me of someone," he said suddenly.
"Who?"
"My sister," he answered, his eyes looked distant now. "She was quiet too. Always hiding, always scared of the world."
"What happened to her?" I asked.
"She's gone," he said. "Didn't make it out."
I lowered my gaze. "I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "Life's cruel sometimes."
I wanted to tell him then, to share my story. But the words caught in my throat. I couldn't. Not yet.
Instead, I whispered, "I'm scared."
Kael's eyes softened. "Of what?"
"Of being found."
He didn't ask who I was hiding from. He just said, "You're safe here."
I looked into his eyes, searching for a lie, but I didn't see one.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I stared at the wooden ceiling, listening to the wind outside, my hand resting over my belly. I thought about Jaxon. About how he promised to protect me. But he rejected me without a second thought after using me. Now, I was alone.
The next morning, Kael took me outside. The forest here was beautiful, and peaceful. He showed me where he gathered good berries, where the clean streams were, and where the wild herbs grew.
I tried to keep up, but after a while, I had to sit down, breathing hard.
Kael sat beside me, watching me carefully.
"You're not just weak," he said quietly. "You're… you're pregnant."
My whole body froze, but I didn't speak.
Though, he didn't push.
"I figured it out the first night," he said, with a calm voice. "I could smell the faintest trace of another Alpha on you. And I can hear the second heartbeat now."
I turned to him, panic rising in my chest.
"Please don't tell anyone," I begged. "Please, I can't… they'll come for him. They'll take my baby."
Kael held up his hands, his expression steady.
"I won't tell a soul," he promised. "No one's coming here. No one knows about this place. And even if they did, they'd have to get through me first."
Tears filled my eyes. "Why would you help me? You don't even know me."
His gaze softened, and for the first time, I saw the hurt he carried in his own heart.
"Because I couldn't save my sister," he said quietly. "But maybe I can save you in replacement for her."