Maya

The late-night enveloped me in a state of relentless yet silent wakefulness.

My decision lingered heavily in my mind—the choice to keep my child with me instead of forsaking them. It was the right choice, despite the turmoil it brought.

There was nothing left to endure that could change my mind. Their methods, the method of the Sterling Twins, were painfully familiar—using a slew of manipulative tactics: having sex with countless fucking whores to cause me pain, resorting to assault, or attempting to fracture me mentally. It was as if they believed these actions to be my Achilles' heel.

I couldn't deny their accuracy in pinpointing my vulnerabilities. They had an acute understanding of my weak points, and that knowledge seemed to fuel the entirety of their malevolent intentions.

Yet, I needed to orchestrate my own strategy to break free from this fucking suffocating hold and pack.

Escape was compulsory but not without its challenges. I had to navigate my way out of this pack swiftly enough to ensure I'd be beyond their grasp, but doing so came at a cost—I had to reject them first so that they would not be able to track me down after my escape.

However, executing such a plan at this moment would only raise suspicion, making them more vigilant and cautious in their actions. So I wouldn't do it now rather later.

Taking a cautious approach was crucial; I needed to proceed methodically. Despite only a year within this pack, its layout had become ingrained in my memory—I knew every nook and cranny, every boundary, including the crucial exits, well that was the most important part—the exits.

Among them, the least fortified, or you could say the one with the sparsest guard presence, was the south border.

My escape route had to be through the south border. I was aware of the brief five-minute gap, a window of opportunity carefully orchestrated to prevent detection and the subsequent relay of information to Leonardo and Maximus.

I couldn't let the guards see me at all costs or even have a hint of any escape from the pack through that way. That'd fuck everything up.

As straightforward as it might seem, the challenge lay in traversing the thick jungle that lay beyond. It was a formidable barrier, one of the most troublesome zones within this pack. It opened into the jungle, a region rarely ventured into by anyone within the pack, let alone trespassers. That was precisely why it was the least guarded border.

But, I was acquainted with the solution—the beast that could navigate me through the jungle: the jeep owned by Maximus and Leonardo. Utilizing it as my getaway vehicle was the optimal plan, though stealing it wouldn't be a walk in the park.

But nothing was a fucking walk in the park. Its success teetered on a fragile balance, swaying between two outcomes. On one side lay freedom, an escape from this suffocating pack and the claws of Max And Leo. On the other, the grim prospect of being stuck forever in the clutches of the twins. There also lingered the unsettling chance that it might collapse right in the middle, sabotaging everything I had strategized.

Carefulness was my sole recourse because certainty remained elusive. This was a situation where the odds stood at thirty-seventy, and I had to clutch onto that sliver of thirty and make it to fucking hundred, or else, it'd be a miss. A miss that'd cost me my life.

"I'll protect you, little angel," I murmured, tenderly brushing my belly. It was puzzling why I was already anticipating the day when my belly would swell. Wouldn't the baby bump feel unusual?

I'd need to exercise extra caution in every single thing, especially considering sleeping on my front—definitely a no-go, right?

"I'm sorry you won't have your fathers by your side. Fate hasn't granted us the most favorable circumstances," a sigh escaped my lips as I turned, my gaze inadvertently falling upon the picture frame displaying me and my dad. A faint smile tugged at my lips. "But you'll have your mom, who'll do everything to give you the entire world. On the brighter side, you'll receive abundant blessings from your grandpa watching us from above. I'm sure he'd be over the moon to watch you grow into a happy, healthy baby."

With trembling fingertips, I traced the edge of Dad's frame. "I miss you, Dad," I whispered, "I really miss you."

If he were here, everything might have been perfect. I wouldn't be stranded here, alone and shattered, crying silent tears. He would have shielded me, but that privilege eluded me due to my unfortunate fate.

God, I indeed had the worst kind of fate ever.

I was trapped with my mom and her greed that knew no bounds. She'd never not be greedy for power and I wouldn't let her make me be a pawn—neither she nor my mates, Maximus and Leonardo, who considered me only an object for revenge.

"I know you don't like it here, little one, and believe me, Momma doesn't either," I murmured softly. "But I promise—we'll escape very soon. We'll find a place far away, a safe home for us where no demons can harm you, and no sorrow will haunt us. We'll craft a good life—I promise."

With that, I gradually drifted into a deep slumber.

***

Morning arrived sooner than expected, and I got up, taking a quick shower before descending the stairs. Upon waking up, I purposefully avoided thoughts of Maximus and Leonardo; dwelling on them would only sour my mood, something I couldn't afford, especially considering my pregnancy. Providing the most comfortable environment for my baby was my priority, and thoughts of Max and Leo wouldn't make that task any easier, would it? No fucking way.

As I reached the ground floor, I was taken aback to find everyone gathered around the table unexpectedly. My steps faltered for a moment.

This was highly unusual. I typically woke up around the same time as most members finished their breakfast. The group seated there seemed oddly familiar, reminiscent of the assembly on the day my so-called mates announced their intention to take me as their Luna...

Oh shit!

Is this a meeting for—

"Well, Looks like you've finally joined us, love," Leonardo's arm wound around my waist, pulling me close. As I met his gaze, filled with feigned affection, I couldn't help but doubt its sincerity. He was skilled at putting on this charade of a loving couple for the audience, something I could never quite master.

Man, I really wished I could act as good as him but I could never do it.

"We didn't want to disturb your sleep since you stayed up late," Maximus chimed in, joining us on the other side and clasping my hand, planting a kiss on its back. "Hope you had a good sleep?"

A good sleep?—I wanted to fucking laugh at that, but at the same time it was fucking sick of him to ask me this question considering the torment I endured for most of the night, courtesy of them. They knew all too well what I went through—it was because they wanted me to go through it. Sick monsters.

While they had enjoyed their night at some hotel with a fucking whore, I suffered, bearing the aftermath alone. It was sickening to be asked such a question when they were the cause of all that torture I went through.

I didn't even want to see their faces.

Silence hung heavy as Leonardo's grip around my waist tightened and Maximus's smile faded, his eyes fixated on mine. "Answer the damn question unless you want a reminder of last night," Maximus's voice held a threatening edge.

"Yeah, you should listen to him," Leonardo mumbled, planting a light kiss on my forehead.

These fucking pieces of—

"I slept quite well," I forced a smile, well aware of the consequences if I dared to do otherwise.

"Good," Maximus nodded. "Let's head to breakfast. Everyone's been waiting for you."

Waiting for me? That was unusual to even hear.

They ushered me toward the dining area, playing the roles of ideal men that girls often fantasize about. Little did anyone here know that they were mere reflections of monsters and nothing else. They weren't dreams but living nightmares.

Actually, there might be two who understood—Alaric and my mother. Others perhaps had inklings, but that was enough, wasn't it?

As we settled at the table, my gaze caught my mother's subtle smile before she glanced at Alaric beside her.

Wait...What the fuck was really going on?

"It's good that the three of you are here. After consulting with the senior members of the pack and aligning with the perfect moon phase, we've finally set the date for the ritual," Alaric suddenly spoke, breaking the chain of my thoughts.

His words hit me like a thunderbolt, causing my eyes to widen and my body to stiffen.

So....My suspicions were tragically accurate.

All these people were gathered here for that dreadful occasion—the announcement of the mating ritual.....