Chapter 4

When my Dad asked about my visit to the clinic, I was nervous. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I was aware that revealing the truth was not an option at the moment. I needed more time, and the perfect timing to tell him about my pregnancy. My heart pounded in my chest and I stammered with my response.

“Uh, well, Dad,” I began and my voice was wavering slightly,” I, um, the doctor has an emergency that day and she had to leave the pack at the moment. She got a call and told me to just come back next time.”

I tried to maintain eye contact with him, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he could see through my feeble attempt to deceive him, and I felt trapped! Fortunately, his phone rang, and he mouthed I should go to my room and take a rest. A sigh of relief escaped from my lips when he walked away.

As I made my way to my room, my mind was preoccupied with the wedding arrangement. I was so lost in my thoughts that I certainly didn’t anticipate encountering a shadowy figure lurking in the dimly lit hallway. The unexpected sight sent a shiver down my spine, and my steps faltered for a moment.

My instinct told me to proceed with caution, but I couldn’t help but wonder who this clandestine figure might be. I squinted in the direction of the mysterious silhouette, and my heart raced with panic and fear. Since I was inside our home, I became brave and tried to call his attention but the figure was concealed by the darkness.

Upon realizing how reckless I was, I bolted toward the direction of my room, and my heart beat like a relentless drum inside my chest. My adrenaline surged and my instincts screamed at me to seek safety.

I could scream anytime but it was my last option. As I burst into my room, breathless and wide-eyed, I startled Claire, who had been in the midst of changing my bed linens. Her eyes also widened in alarm as she took in my distressed appearance, and the bed sheet slipped from her grasp, pooling around her feet.

“Chloe, what happened?” she asked as she rushed to my side.

I struggled to catch my breath, and my words came out in a hurried jumble. “I saw someone in the hallway. He was clad in black, and he was lurking in the shadows…I don’t know who it was, but it frightened me!”

Her brows furrowed with worry, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around me in a comforting embrace. Then, she said, “It’s okay, Chloe. You’re safe now.”

Then, she swiftly finished adjusting the bed. Afterward, she began the meticulous process of removing my makeup. The soft touch of the makeup remover-soaked cotton pads against my skin was comforting, and for a moment, I temporarily forgot about what happened earlier.

“Dad decided to marry me off to an Alpha’s son,” I decided to confide in her but I suspected that she already had an idea.

“Is that true?”

I nodded, and said, “The wedding is in two months and he deemed it necessary to start with the preparations.”

“So, you agreed to marry the man he chose for you?” she inquired.

“Do you think I had a choice last night? The elders seemed to discuss it beforehand and tonight’s dinner was just a formality.”

“Oh my, what are you going to do now?”

I sighed before responding, “Fortunately, the Alpha’s son has a girlfriend and he doesn’t like this marriage either. We talked about working together to stop this marriage,” I informed her.

“And you believed him?”

“He looked sincere! Aren’t you glad that he doesn’t like to marry me?”

“It’s suspicious, Chloe. Who wouldn’t want you as a wife? You are the only daughter of Alpha Roger!”

“Well, Tyronne McBride doesn’t want me as wife even if I am my Dad’s daughter,” I mumbled. “Anyway, you should sleep here tonight, Claire. I am scared to be alone.”

“You are no longer a baby to be scared of being alone. Besides, who would dare to hurt you in your home, knowing that your Dad is here?”

“I don’t know, Claire, but I felt weird since I saw that shadowy figure lurking in the dark earlier. I felt like he was waiting for a perfect chance to approach me.”

“You are just being paranoid, Chloe. Remember your dream? I think it’s all because of the guilt we both feel because of what happened.”

“Still, you must spend the night with me. Don’t leave me alone, please?”

“Okay,” she answered, and I smiled with glee.

As soon as she agreed to sleep with me, I jumped from the bed and strolled toward the walk-in closet to get our coordinated pajamas. Claire chuckled when I handed her the pajama in a tacky color.

“Why? Don’t you find it cute?”

“Cute? Chloe, who would be able to sleep wearing a pajama with snakes printed on it? I don’t want to wear this, and if you insist, I would rather sleep in my room,” she threatened me.

“Come on, Claire. I was just kidding!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! Hold on, let me get them,” I told her and she nodded.

“No way!” she gasped in disbelief when I showed her a see-through pajamas. W

When I ordered them online, I intended to use them with Henry, but things happened, and he was nowhere to be found. Claire felt scandalized just by looking at the pajamas that would barely cover anything!

“They’re sexy,” I told her.

“Oh yeah? And you expect me to wear that? Chloe, one more of these pranks, and I am going to tell your Dad that you are no longer a virgin!” she threatened me again.

In our pack, The Lunar Furs, it's a tradition for women to undergo a physical examination when they turn eighteen. Recently, I reached that age and had to go through the exam. While other girls my age were excited, I was extremely nervous. My father, Roger, would be furious if he found out the truth!

“Let's go, Chloe!” he called out, startling me. He was the alpha of our pack, and I was supposed to inherit his position. However, something terrible happened that night, and I couldn't tell him yet.