Two days had passed since Bryce left for his business trip, and I was still stuck in the house with Dorothy. She had turned her insufferable attitude into an art form, her commands never-ending. But something inside me had shifted.

I wasn’t the same Carsen anymore.

The morning sun streamed through the windows as Dorothy’s shrill voice pierced the quiet. “Carsen! Where’s my breakfast? I’ve been waiting for ages!”

I didn’t move from the sink where I was washing dishes. My wolf stirred inside me, her presence stronger now that I had finally started listening to her.

Dorothy stormed down the stairs, her silk robe fluttering around her. “Are you deaf? I said I’m hungry! Make my breakfast!”

I turned to face her, my hands dripping with soapy water. “You have two hands, Dorothy. Make it yourself.”

Her jaw dropped, disbelief flashing across her face. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “I’m not your puppet anymore.”

For a moment, she looked genuinely stunned. Then her expression twisted into fury. “How dare you talk to me like that? I’ll call Bryce right now and tell him you’re disobeying orders!”

I shrugged, drying my hands on a towel. “Go ahead. Tell him whatever you want. I don’t care.”

Her face turned red with rage. “You think you can get away with this?” she sneered, stepping closer. “You’re nothing, Carsen. Nothing but a pathetic little maid he keeps around because you’re too weak to leave.”

I clenched my fists, my wolf urging me to stand my ground. “I’m done, Dorothy. Do your worst, but I’m not playing your games anymore.”

Her laugh was sharp and mocking. “Oh, you’re done? Let’s see about that.”

She lunged at me, grabbing a fistful of my hair. Pain shot through my scalp, and instinct took over. I shoved her away, my strength fueled by weeks of pent-up frustration.

We struggled, grappling and shouting, until the fight took us dangerously close to the staircase.

“Let go of me, you psycho!” Dorothy screeched, clawing at me.

“Stay away from me!” I snapped, pushing her back.

Her foot slipped.

Time seemed to slow as she tumbled backward, her scream echoing through the house. I stood frozen, my heart pounding as she hit the floor at the bottom of the stairs, lying still.

“Dorothy?” I whispered, my voice shaking.

She didn’t move.

I barely remembered calling for an ambulance or the frantic ride to the hospital. All I knew was that when Bryce arrived, his fury was a storm that hit me like a hurricane.

The moment he saw me in the waiting room, his hand came down hard across my face. Pain exploded in my cheek, and I stumbled back.

“You hurt her!” he shouted, his eyes blazing with rage. “If anything happens to Dorothy, I’ll kill you, Carsen. Do you hear me? I’ll kill you!”

I clutched my stinging cheek, tears welling in my eyes. “It was an accident,” I tried to say, but my voice cracked.

“An accident?” he roared. “You expect me to believe that? You’ve been nothing but trouble, Carsen! I should’ve gotten rid of you years ago!”

His words cut deeper than the slap.

“I want you gone,” he said, his voice cold now. “Pack your things and leave. We’re done.”

I packed in a daze, stuffing my belongings into a single suitcase. The house that had once been my home now felt like a prison I was finally escaping.

By the time the cab arrived, I was shaking, my emotions a tangled mess. As the car drove me away, I couldn’t hold back the tears. Everything I had built with Bryce, every dream I had clung to, was gone.

When I reached my sister's home, Hannah was waiting for me at the door. The moment I stepped out of the cab, she wrapped her arms around me.

“Carsen,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

The dam broke. I sobbed into her shoulder, years of pain and heartbreak spilling out. “I can’t do this anymore, Hannah,” I choked out.

“You don’t have to,” she said firmly. “You’re home now. We’ll figure this out together.”

The next day, my phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Bryce’s name flashed on the screen over and over, but I ignored every call. I didn’t owe him anything.

Then a text came through.

[Dorothy needs a blood transfusion. You’re a match. Please, Carsen, help her.]

I stared at the message, my stomach twisting. Did he think I would rush to save the woman who had made my life hell? The audacity was almost laughable.

Another call came in, and this time my thumb slipped, accidentally answering it. I didn’t say a word, holding the phone to my ear as Bryce’s voice came through.

“Carsen,” he said, desperation thick in his tone. “Please. Dorothy needs you. She won’t make it without your blood.”

I stayed silent, my heart pounding.

“Carsen, are you there?” he asked, his voice rising.

In the background, I heard another voice—his Beta.

“Alpha, I heard Miss Carsen is going to be married to Alpha Tyrell James,” the Beta said. “And… she’s pregnant with your child.”

My breath caught, my grip on the phone tightening.

“What?” Bryce’s voice was a growl now, pure fury. “What the hell are you talking about? She’s pregnant?”

“Yes, Alpha. With your child,” the Beta confirmed.

Bryce’s roar was loud enough to make me flinch. “This is not acceptable! She’s carrying my child! She’s mine!”

I quickly ended the call, my hands trembling.

He knew. And I wasn’t sure what he would do next.

The world spun as I stumbled into the kitchen, my breath hitching. Alpha Bryce knew about the baby. My chest tightened with fear. The Bryce I’d loved years ago was gone, replaced by someone ruthless, unpredictable. I couldn’t let him control my life—my child’s life.

I fumbled for my phone, my fingers shaking as I called my sister.

“Hannah,” I whispered, barely able to steady my voice. “He knows.”

Her sharp intake of breath echoed through the line. “What? Carsen, how?”

“His Beta told him about the baby and the arrangement with Alpha Tyrell.” My voice cracked. “He’s coming for me. I can feel it.”

“Stay calm.” Hannah’s voice was firm, but I could hear the tension beneath it. “We’ll figure this out. For now, you need to stay hidden. Come to my house.”

“What if he checks there?”

“I’ll deal with him if he does,” she said, her voice hardening. “You’re not alone in this, Carsen. You have me. Now get over here before he finds you.”

The next few hours passed in a blur. Hannah ushered me into her small house, locking the door behind us.

“He won’t stop until he finds me,” I murmured, pacing the living room.

Hannah caught my wrist, forcing me to face her. “Listen to me. Bryce can huff and puff all he wants, but he doesn’t own you. And he sure as hell doesn’t own this baby.”

I nodded, trying to draw strength from her conviction.

“I’ll talk to Alpha Tyrell,” she continued. “You need him on your side now more than ever. But for now, stay here. Hide if anyone comes. Understood?”

The fear gnawed at me, but I swallowed it down. “Understood.”

That evening, Hannah and I were in the kitchen, preparing dinner. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables helped steady my nerves. For a moment, it felt almost normal—like the calm before a storm.

Then came the knock.

Hannah’s knife froze mid-air, her eyes snapping to mine. “Go,” she mouthed, pointing toward the hidden compartment behind the pantry.

I hurried, slipping into the concealed room. From there, I could see the entryway through a sliver of see-through glass. My breath hitched as Bryce’s unmistakable figure loomed in the doorway. His Beta stood beside him, a smug expression plastered across his face.

“Good evening, Hannah,” Bryce said, his voice like velvet over steel.

“Alpha Bryce,” Hannah replied coolly, blocking his entrance.

“You know why I’m here.”

“I don’t, actually,” she said, folding her arms.

Bryce stepped closer, his presence suffocating. “Don’t play games. Where’s Carsen?”

“She left days ago. I haven’t seen her.”

“Liar.” His growl reverberated through the space, but Hannah didn’t flinch.

“If you cared so much about her, you wouldn’t have driven her away,” she shot back. “You reap what you sow, Alpha.”

His Beta shifted, clearly uncomfortable. “Alpha Bryce, perhaps we should—”

“Search the house,” Bryce barked.

Panic clutched my throat as the Beta began to move. My heart thundered in my chest, but I stayed rooted in place, barely daring to breathe.

The Beta prowled through each room, his steps growing closer to the pantry. My fingers clenched into fists as I pressed myself against the wall.

“Hurry up,” Bryce snapped, his gaze boring into Hannah. “She’s here. I can feel it.”

The Beta returned moments later, shaking his head. “No trace of her, Alpha.”

Bryce’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t move. His eyes flicked to the dining table, where plates and food lay neatly arranged. He stepped forward, his expression darkening.

“This food…” His voice trailed off, his gaze narrowing. “It’s her recipe.”

My heart plummeted. He knew.

“It’s a family recipe,” Hannah said smoothly. “We both cook it.”

His fury was palpable, his fists tightening at his sides. But after a tense moment, he turned on his heel, storming out with his Beta in tow.

The door slammed shut, and silence enveloped the house.

Minutes later, I emerged from the hidden room, my body trembling. “He’s not going to stop,” I whispered, clutching the counter for support.

Hannah placed a hand on my shoulder. “Which is why you need to leave soon. But Carsen, running won’t solve everything. You need protection. Alpha Tyrell can give you that.”

The weight of her words settled over me. “What if he doesn’t want me? What if this just makes things worse?”

“Then we’ll find another way,” she said firmly. “But we can’t do this alone.”

Tears welled in my eyes. “I don’t want to drag you into this, Hannah. Bryce won’t hesitate to hurt you.”

“Let him try,” she said, her voice like steel. “I’ll protect you, Carsen. Always.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm inside me. If I wanted a future—if I wanted to protect my child—I had to make a choice.

“Okay,” I said finally. “Let’s talk to Alpha Tyrell.”

Hannah smiled, her grip on my shoulder tightening. “That’s my girl.”

As the night stretched on, my resolve hardened. I wouldn’t let Bryce win. For the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of hope. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—I would fight for my freedom. For my baby. No matter the cost.