Chapter 7

ANDREA'S POV I was filled with so much anger, red bled into the corners of my vision. I couldn’t believe I had ever seen a future with him. Kade. My mate. The Alpha. The playboy. The asshole. How did I get stuck with that? Emrae growled in my head, low and steady. ‘He’s an Alpha, Andrea. He's used to people groveling. Try to understand him.’ “Understand him?” I hissed under my breath. “Do Omegas not deserve respect? He slept with me and got engaged to someone else the next day. He blacklisted me indiscriminately when my asshole ex insulted me first. Why do I have to bend over just because he was an Alpha?” "If I were an Alpha, I would never be an asshole like him!" Emrae didn’t reply, but the heat building under my skin drowned out the argument. It started burning slowly, like a pulse in my chest. Then it spread—fast and hot till it covered every inch of me. I staggered, pressing a hand against my stomach where the heat was pulsing from. My legs felt weak, and my breaths came out in short, ragged pants. It was happening again. I spotted a store down the street and ran inside, straight to the back. I Ignored the cashier running after me and slipped into the bathroom, locking the door. The heat got so intense that it felt like fire was licking my skin. My reflection in the mirror looked like someone else. My skin glowed faintly, like someone was holding a light trapped under layers of clothes to my skin. My fangs grew longer and sharper. “Damn it,” I whispered. My voice came out stronger, too, in an animalistic growl. I grabbed the counter, steadying myself. Every nerve in my body hummed with energy. I could feel Emrae. She was restless and anxious. Fumbling with my phone, I dialed the only person I knew who could help. “Zayne,” I whispered as soon as he picked up. My voice cracked. “Something is happening to me.” “Where are you?” His voice seemed calm, but I knew him and could hear the tension he was trying to hide. “Some convenience store on West Seventh. Bathroom.” “Lock the door.” “Already did.” “Good. Stay there. I’m coming.” He hung up. I leaned back against the cold tile wall, my heart racing. My hands trembled as I tried to breathe through the heat, and my vision blurred. It wasn’t just the glow. I felt strong. Too strong. Like I could rip the door off its hinges without trying. And that terrified me. I blacked out as soon as Zayne’s familiar smell filtered through my nostrils. I woke up in Zayne’s apartment. The dim light creeping through the blinds told me it was already late. I felt very drowsy. I saw Zayne through my half-opened eyes and closed them. Every time I managed to open my eyes, I saw him hovering around my bed like a shadow, checking on me when he thought I was asleep, leaving water and food by the bed that I barely touched. I knew he was worried, but I didn’t have the energy to alleviate it. The heat from before hadn’t come back, but my body felt strange. Weak one moment, burning the next. I spent more time in a fog than awake. When Zayne came in the next time, he looked positively distressed. “Andrea, we’re going to the hospital.” “No,” I croaked. My throat was dry. “I’m fine.” “You’ve been ‘fine’ for over two weeks. All you’ve done is sleep!” he snapped. Then his tone softened again. “Please, Drea. You’re scaring me.” Two weeks? It felt like he found me in the bathroom the day before, but I didn’t have the strength to argue. The ride to the hospital was a struggle to stay conscious. The waiting room was too bright, too loud. Zayne stayed close, his hand holding mine as they moved me from one room to another, running tests. I almost didn’t hear the doctor when she came back. “You’re pregnant, Miss Carter.” The words hit me like a slap. “What?” My voice cracked. The doctor smiled politely. “About two weeks along. You should schedule a follow-up with an OB-GYN to ensure everything is progressing normally.” She continued, “The drowsiness is just your body trying to adjust to the fetus. We've prescribed a few stabilizers for you to take home.” Pregnant. Two weeks. That was around the time the Hunting Festival took place, and I found Kade. I felt like I was drowning. My life was going to shit right before my eyes. The ride back to Zayne’s apartment was silent. He didn’t push, didn’t ask questions. He just waited until we were inside, sitting on his couch, before speaking. “So…” he said cautiously. “What now?” I buried my face in my hands. “I don’t know, Zayne. I don’t even know how to tell my parents.” “They’re still on that research trip, right?” I nodded, the lump in my throat growing. “I can’t even contact them. And when they find out…” My voice broke. Zayne leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You don’t have to figure this out alone. But you do need to talk to the baby’s father.” I froze and scowled, momentarily forgetting my tears. Kade. He didn’t care about me; why would he care about this? “I can’t,” I whispered. “You can and you should.” Zayne could be impossibly stubborn. His tone told me he would not listen to any other line of argument. “Look, I’m here for you, Drea. Whatever you decide, I’ve got your back. He might be an asshole but he deserves to know.” I stared at the floor, my chest tightening with rage. All of this was his fault. How could I tell Kade? The man didn't even respect me. What would he do if he knew? I didn't want to co-parent a child with an asshole. I didn't even think I was capable of parenting a child. “I’ll think about it,” I mumbled, unsure if I was telling the truth. ‘It would be unfair to condemn him without giving him a chance.’ Emrae said as I sat on the couch. I sighed, my conscience making me feel guilty. “Oh, alright. I'll give it a shot.” I said through gritted teeth. I grabbed my coat, mumbled something about needing to pick up something at the mall to Zayne, and headed out. The mall was crowded, too loud, and too bright. I hated being here, but I had no choice. I needed to find him. Emrae was as restless as I felt but she stayed silent. I could smell the perfume in the air, the faint tang of sweat from passing shoppers. I could smell everything but him. I finally got a lock on his scent and my shoulders sagged in relief. But when I turned the corner, it wasn’t Kade I found. It was Kade’s grandfather, Easton Nightshade.