CLAIMED - Fated to Two-Chapter 48: Will I Lose Him Forever?

Will I really lose Alpha Torrin forever? And if I do, can I handle it?

The question keeps echoing in my head as I stand on the balcony, staring down at Alpha Torrin while he speaks with the police officers from the United Alliance Prison in the front yard. They’re most likely discussing Damian’s death. After all, he was still Alpha Torrin’s cousin and a Frostveil werewolf.

Strangely, I barely feel guilt or sadness over Damian’s passing. The pain Alpha Torrin is inflicting on me is too overwhelming to leave space for any other emotion.

Andrea then appears and rushes to Alpha Torrin’s side, clinging tightly to his arm.

When Alpha Torrin’s gaze inadvertently lifts and finds me watching from above, his expression hardens. So I harden my gaze in return before turning away and retreating into my bedroom.

Where does he get the audacity to be irritated with me when he’s the one who committed a sin against me?

I lie down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about returning to the multi-eyed seer to ask if there’s still anything that can be done to save Alpha Torrin. Even though I’m on the verge of giving up on him, a huge part of me still wants to try, so I won’t be left with regrets, whether it works or not. At least, I can confidently face my child one day and say, "Mommy tried her best, but it didn’t work."

Suddenly,...

Knocks at the door interrupt my thoughts. In the hallway, Alpha Torrin stands with Andrea beside him. His face is tight with anger, while hers is etched with worry.

"The police came here personally to inform me about Damian’s attempted escape, which led to his death. They were investigating an unidentified female prisoner they believed was his hostage, but now they suspect she was his accomplice. You weren’t here the entire day yesterday. And when you came home, you were wearing a United Alliance Prison uniform." His eyes bore into mine with suspicion. "Are you that female prisoner they’re talking about?"

"I am," I answer without hesitation. "Why? Are you going to throw me under the bus so you can finally be free to do whatever you want with her?" I nod toward Andrea.

"Now you’re shifting the blame to me," he snaps back. "How can I trust you when you keep doing the exact opposite of everything you say? Why don’t you just admit the truth that you went to visit Damian because you missed him so much, then tried to help him escape, but failed?"

Anger surges violently in my chest, my fists clenching.

Then,...

Slap!

My hand connects fiercely with his cheek before I can stop myself. His head snaps to the side as Andrea gasps in shock. Surprisingly, I don’t regret it. If anything, a twisted sense of satisfaction fills me.

I consider explaining why I was really there, but the emotions choke me, leaving me unable to form a single word.

And then,...

He snarls, "How I wish you had died with him too!"

Everything turns dark: my vision, my aura, my thoughts. I lunge at him, swinging my fists wildly, striking his face and chest again and again as tears stream down my cheeks and curses spill from my mouth.

He doesn’t fight back or dodge. He simply stands there, taking every blow as if they mean nothing.

The Gammas and Omegas rush into the room, trying to stop me.

My strength gives out, and I collapse to my knees. Francheska catches me, pulling me into her arms as I sob uncontrollably.

"Harleigh was the one who helped Damian escape last night," Torrin says, his voice dangerously controlled. "She probably believed Damian could help her steal my title and my pack again. She must pay for the crime she committed. We will surrender her to the United Alliance Police in an hour."

The Gammas stare at me in disbelief, but none of them move to touch me, coz they know how much I sacrifice just to overthrow both Damian and Atticus from the seats of power.

"That’s not true!" Francheska growls. "I, along with several others, helped Harleigh get inside the United Alliance Prison. According to the multi-eyed seer, the only way to bring back Alpha Torrin’s memories, which includes his feelings, was to kill the one who took them away: Damian. And no one else was allowed to do it except Harleigh, because she was the main reason he did it in the first place."

Skepticism creases Torrin’s face. "I’ll go to where this multi-eyed seer lives. If she tells me something different, Harleigh will be surrendered to the United Alliance Police. And anyone who protests against that will also be put under investigation."

He throws me a sharp side glance before turning toward the door.

"And what if she tells you Francheska is telling the truth?" I challenge, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "What are you going to do then? Will you kneel in front of me and beg for my forgiveness... or maybe your unborn child’s forgiveness for wishing us death?"

Silence crashes down on the room. Torrin bites his lip, his face twisting before he lowers his head, hiding his expression completely.

Then,...

He walks away. Andrea follows him out.

Half an hour later, Alpha Torrin leaves with several Betas and Gammas, riding in a convoy of cars toward the Forbidden Woods where the multi-eyed seer lives.

I hope Alpha Torrin asks the multi-eyed seer for another way on how he can get his memories back now that I failed to kill Damian. If he doesn’t ask that, then it means he doesn’t wanna be saved, and he’s blatantly choosing Andrea over me and our baby.

Thirst eventually drives me out of my room, and I descend to the kitchen for a glass of water. But just before I enter, I stop short when I hear Andrea and Beatrice talking.

"You shouldn’t allow Torrin to see the multi-eyed seer," Beatrice says, her voice thick with anxiety. "What if the Omega is telling the truth? Or worse, what if the multi-eyed seer gives Torrin an alternative way to remember everything?"

"What should I do now? I don’t wanna lose Torrin," Andrea replies, equally distressed.

A tense silence follows, broken only by footsteps pacing back and forth.

Until,...

Beatrice speaks again, her tone sharper and more decisive. "I’ll announce your engagement to the pack with or without his consent. Then I’ll convince him to marry you. The best way to ensure he won’t refuse is for you to be pregnant too. You see, he’s only being considerate of Harleigh because she’s pregnant. If she weren’t, he would’ve already rejected her and severed whatever little remains of their bond. So if you’re pregnant too, there’s a huge chance he’ll finally completely ignore Harleigh."

I square my shoulders and lift my chin before stepping into the kitchen, calm and composed.

Both of them fall silent, their eyes darting everywhere except toward me.

I pour myself a glass of water and drink it slowly, deliberately. When I’m done, I turn to them with a smug smile. "Go on. Don’t be embarrassed to keep voicing your vile thoughts. It’s just me."

Andrea walks toward me, and says softly, "I don’t know what exactly happened between you, Torrin, and Damian. But as you can see, Torrin wants me more than you. Don’t make it too hard for all of us."

"No, he doesn’t. Stop being delusional," I counter bluntly. "He’s only pressured to repay you for saving his life. Once he remembers everything, our fated bond specifically, he’ll choose me over you and over anything else. Just like before, when he was willing to risk everything just to protect me."

Tears spill from Andrea’s eyes, while sharp breaths escaping her parted lips.

Of course, Beatrice has to step in. Coz, why not?

"Even if he remembers your bond, I’ll make sure he doesn’t choose you over Andrea. I’m his mother. He loves me deeply, so he’ll listen to me more than he will to you."

I smirk wryly, and her gaze tightens with fury.

"Once his memories return, he’ll send you back to where you belong: locked in the tower, alone and miserable," I reply.

I turn to leave when Beatrice grabs a fistful of my hair and yanks me backward. I crash to the floor as she straddles me, her sharp claws flashing as she slashes across my face and neck. They sting as I protect them with my arms.

"Nobody disrespects me like that!" she hisses.

The Omegas rush into the kitchen. They grab her and pull her off me. But the moment she regains her footing, she stomps down hard on my stomach.

Agony explodes through my midsection. I wheeze helplessly, curling inward as I clutch my belly.

And then,...

When I lift my hand, it’s smeared with my own blood, which also streams down my legs and pools onto the floor. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Terror grips me, cold and paralyzing.

"No," I cry hoarsely. "My baby!"