Chapter 214: Keep It Away From Him
Rebecca’s POV
I looked straight into Kane’s eyes, my grip tightening over my blanket. "If Kaden ever finds out about this baby," I said, my voice shaking with raw emotion, "he will lock me up forever. He will turn my child into his next prisoner. I will never, ever be free."
Kane frowned, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. "Rebecca, I know what he put you through. But he’s still this child’s father. Are you really planning on keeping his own child away from him for the rest of his life?"
"Yes," I answered without a single second of hesitation. "This baby is mine. Kaden doesn’t even remember me anymore, Alpha Kane. He walks around with a clean mind while I carry the scars of what he did. I just want to take my baby and live a quiet, peaceful life as far away from him as possible."
Kane stared at me, shaking his head slowly as if he couldn’t process my words. "This is wrong, Rebecca. This is terribly wrong... He has a right to know, memory wipe or not. I can’t... I don’t know if I can keep a secret this big from my own brother."
Panic flared in my chest, but before I could plead with him, Kane held up a hand and let out a tired sigh.
"Let’s just focus on getting you healed first," Kane said, stepping back toward the door. "Once Logan finds the key and we unlock this choker, then we can talk about what happens next. You need to rest. Stephanie is outside waiting to see you."
My eyes widened in pure excitement. "Stephanie?"
"Yes," Kane said, a small, gentle smile finally touching his lips. "She came along with me."
Without another word, Kane opened the door and walked out. A second later, the door flew open, and Stephanie rushed into the room.
The moment our eyes met, tears welled up in her eyes. She practically threw herself across the bed, wrapping her arms tightly around my shoulders. I hugged her back just as hard, burying my face against her neck as a wave of relief washed over me.
"I was so scared," Stephanie sobbed softly, pulling back to cup my face in her hands. "When the rogues took you... I thought I was never going to see you again! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I’m okay," I reassured her, giving her a small, weak smile as I wiped a tear from her cheek. "The healer fixed me up. I’m fine for now, Stephanie."
Stephanie let out a long breath, sitting down on the edge of the mattress and holding my hand tightly. Her warm smile slowly faded, replaced by a quiet, hesitant look.
She looked toward the closed door before leaning in closer to me, her voice dropping to a soft whisper.
"Rebecca... Alpha Kane told me what happened," Stephanie said gently, her eyes filled with worry. "About Alpha Kaden... and the spell they used to wipe his memory."
She paused, searching my face carefully. "How do you really feel about it?"
"I feel relieved," I blurted out. "For the first time in a long time, I feel like I can finally breathe again."
Then I paused, the smile fading from my lips as a bitter tightness squeezed my chest. "But I also feel confused. I feel angry. I hate that he gets to walk away with a clean mind, totally free of the pain he caused me, while I’m still sitting here with his collar locked around my neck."
Stephanie looked at me softly, her thumb rubbing the back of my hand. "And the pregnancy? What are you going to do about it?"
"I never intend to tell him, Stephanie," I said firmly, my eyes hardening. "He doesn’t deserve to be a father to my child. He doesn’t deserve to be part of my child’s life."
Stephanie didn’t say a single word, but the look on her face made it instantly clear that she disagreed with me.
"Say it," I told her, my voice turning sharp.
She sighed, taking a deep breath. "Kaden could be anything, Rebecca, but a bad father? No. That man wants a child."
"A child with his late mate, Helen!" I snapped back, my voice rising in anger. "Not me! I was just his prisoner! I was just a replacement he kept locked away to satisfy his dark obsession!"
"Rebecca, listen to me," Stephanie urged gently, leaning in closer. "I know he hurt you, but hiding a child is dangerous. What happens if the memory spell breaks one day? What happens when this child grows up and starts showing Alpha blood, or worse, looks just like him? If Kaden ever finds out you hid his heir, his fury won’t just destroy you—it will destroy everyone who helped you hide it. You can’t spend the rest of your life running from an Alpha King."
"It’s easy for you to say!" I lashed out, ripping my hand away from hers. "It is so easy for you to sit there and judge me because you weren’t the one hurt by him! You weren’t the one trapped in his cage! You didn’t suffer under his hands! I just want to be free, Stephanie, and I won’t let him take that away from me!"
The room fell dead silent. Stephanie didn’t yell back. She just sat there, her head bowed slightly, nodding her head slowly in acceptance of my words.
Guilt immediately crashed over me. I swallowed hard, the anger draining out of me just as fast as it had flared up, leaving me feeling hollow.
"I’m sorry," I whispered, reaching out to touch her arm. "I’m sorry if I came off rude. I’m just... I’m so scared."
"I understand," Stephanie said softly, giving my hand a small, forgiving squeeze. "I know you’re terrified, Rebecca. I just want you and the baby to be safe."
Stephanie stayed by my side for the rest of the day. She helped me eat the warm broth Elder Maeve brought in, made sure I took my bitter medicine, and kept me company while I lay in bed, lost in my own racing thoughts. All I could do was stare at the ceiling, holding my breath and praying that we would get good news from Logan.
Night fell over the pack, casting long shadows across the small wooden room.
Suddenly, a sharp knock echoed at the door.
Stephanie immediately got up from her chair and went to open it. Alpha Kane stood in the doorway. He stepped inside, his boots heavy against the wooden floor.
He didn’t say anything at first, but the dark, frustrated look on his face told me everything I needed to know before he even opened his mouth.