a black cloak, her violet eyes showed no emotion, it was just calm. Her offer still ringing in Lia's mind: join her coven and the curse will be broken and her unbo

e roared, his voice was a mixture of angry fury and something else, something raw, almost desperate. His gaze shifted to Seraphine, and his claws immediately extended, it still had the same darkness that had cursed her. "How dare you join forces with a witch "Seraphine laughed, the sound chilling. "That's hypocritical of you, don't you think, Alpha, you are wielding blood magic you don't understand." A violet mist appeared and she vanished with it, leaving Lia alone to face Kael.Lia's legs shaking with fear, the blood pact's magic still tingling in her veins. Mara's vial had worn off, and her wolf was silent, but Seraphine's spell gave her a flicker of strength. She raised her dagger, backing toward the trees. "Don't come any closer, Kael," she warned, her voice fierce. "You have done so much already."He stepped closer. "You should know trusting her is foolish ," he said, his voice low. "That witch will destroy you." His eyes dropped to her stomach again, narrowing. "What are you hiding, Lia? I can smell... something."Panic surged. She couldn't afford for him to know about the child, at least not yet. Lia's mind raced, thinking of a way out. The rogues were gone, scattered into the forest, and Seraphine had abandoned her. She was alone, her only advantage the faint magic lingering from the pact. "You rejected me," she spat, circling him. "You cursed me. You don't get to act all caring and concerned, not anymore."Kael expression changed, softened. "I had no choice," he growled, but his voice cracked, betraying a him. "There's a lot at stake that you don't understand .""Then make me!" Lia shouted, her anger boiling over. "Why curse me? Why hunt me down?" The mark flared, and another cramp hit, forcing her to clutch her stomach. Kael's eyes widened, his nostrils flaring as he caught the scent of her pain."You're pregnant," he said, his voice barely audible, laced with shock. He took a step forward, his claws retracting. "Is it... mine?"Lia's heart stopped. Her secret she had been protecting was out, she got unraveled from the sincere vulnerability she saw in his eyes. For a moment,