Aria’s POV
The first rays of morning light filtered into the room, waking me from a restless sleep. I turned my head to find Alpha Logan sprawled beside me, snoring loudly. His mouth hung open, and drool pooled on the pillow. The smell of stale alcohol and sweat clung to him, making my stomach churn. His clothes, still partially on from the night before, were wrinkled and stained.
“Ugh!” I wrinkled my nose, carefully slipping out of bed to avoid waking him. My mind was still troubled by the events of the previous day, and I knew I had to read the letter. I retrieved it from under my pillow and retreated to a corner of the room.
With trembling hands, I opened the letter and began to read softly:
“Aria,
I had to cover for you during the meeting because I could sense you were a sheep amid wolves. I knew that if I exposed you, it would put you in even greater danger. You must stay put for now, no matter how difficult it is. I promise I will come for you very soon.
Stay strong.
Alpha Denderick”
I folded the letter back, lost in thought. Why was Alpha Denderick suddenly so nice to me? Had he forgotten how badly he’d treated me at first?
“What are you doing?” Alpha Logan’s rough voice made me jump.
I turned to see him, still groggy but glaring at me. I quickly hid the letter behind my back. “Nothing,” I hastily replied.
His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Give me that letter,” he demanded, stepping closer.
I shook my head, taking a step back. “It’s nothing important.”
Alpha Logan’s face twisted with anger. He lunged forward, grabbing my arm with a painful grip. “Give me the letter!” he growled, shaking me violently.
“No!” I cried out, trying to pull away. “It’s mine!”
His grip tightened, and he shook me harder, making my teeth rattle. “You don’t keep secrets from me!” he spat. “Now hand it over!”
I clenched my teeth, refusing to let go. “I won’t,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “This is my business, not yours!”
Alpha Logan’s face contorted with fury. He yanked my arm harder, making me cry out in pain. “You will give me that letter, or I swear I will make you regret it,” he threatened, his voice a low growl.
The pain was unbearable, and I couldn’t hold on any longer. With a sob, I let the letter slip from my grasp. Alpha Logan snatched it up, glaring at me with contempt.
“Never defy me again,” he hissed, shoving me away. I stumbled back, my body aching from the rough handling. I waited with held breath as he began to read it.
Alpha Logan’s eyes scanned the letter rapidly, his expression darkening with each word. I watched in horror as the realization dawned on him. He finally looked up, and when he did, my heart plummeted to the bottom of my feet.
“So,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet, “You have been exchanging letters with that man, haven’t you?”
“N…. not letters….” I stammered. “Just…. Just this one….”
“You were Alpha Denderick’s runaway breeder.” He growled. “YES. OR. NO?”
I opened my mouth to answer him, but no words came out; only a pitiful whimper that seemed to increase his anger.
“Is Edward my son?” Alpha Logan demanded, stepping closer.
I shook my head, my tears flowing freely. “Yes, he is,” I managed to say, my voice trembling. “I swear it.”
Alpha Logan’s eyes flashed with fury. “Liar!” he roared, his hand stroking my face with brutal force. I stumbled back, the pain exploding in my cheek. “You think you can deceive me? You think you can hide this from me?”
“Please, Alpha Logan,” I begged, my voice cracking. “Edward is your son. I didn’t-”
He didn’t let me finish. His fists pounded into me relentlessly, each blow more painful than the last. I cried out, trying to protect myself, but it was useless. Alpha Logan was a powerful Alpha, and his strength was greater than mine.
“You dare bring another Alpha’s child into my home?” he spat, kicking me in the ribs. The pain was excruciating, and I could hardly breathe. “You think you can make a fool of me?”
“Alpha Logan, please,” I sobbed, “Have mercy!”
“Mercy? You deserve no mercy!” He grabbed me by the hair, yanking me up to face him. “You will pay for this,” he growled, his eyes cold and merciless. “I will make you suffer for every lie, for every deceit.”
With a final, vicious shove, he threw me to the ground. I lay there, battered and broken, as he paced the room furiously.
The physical pain was unbearable, but the ache in my heart was even worse. I had tried so hard to protect my son and my secret, but now everything was crumbling around me. My body ached, and every breath I took was a struggle.
Alpha Logan’s growl echoed around the room. “I will lock you up in this room with no food or water for seven days,” he declared, his eyes blazing with fury.
He wagged his finger in my face. “And you won’t be allowed to see your son either.”
I gasped, my heart sinking at his words. Desperation overtook me as I crawled on my hands and knees toward him, begging for mercy. “Please, Logan, don’t do this. Have mercy, please. Think of Edward. He needs me. He cannot survive without me for seven days-”
“That is just as well!” He snarled. “I need your bastard son to die!”
“Alpha Logan, please!”
But my pleas fell on deaf ears. He kicked me aside with brutal force, and I collapsed to the floor, pain shooting through my body.
“You’re not leaving this room,” he hissed. “No matter how much you beg me!”
He stormed to the window, locking it securely to prevent any chance of escape. Then, he turned to the door and marched out, locking it behind him with a final, resounding click.
I was left alone in the darkness, the room silent except for the sound of my ragged breathing.
This was it for me. This was the very end. I knew Alpha Logan well enough to know that he would never take this lying down. The news would get out soon enough, and I would be punished beyond measure.
And my son…. my poor son….. would be labeled a bastard. Or worse, killed.
Couldn’t life get any better?