The warriors hesitated, their eyes flicking between me and Tyler as uncertainty crept into their stances. I used that moment of hesitation to assert myself.

"Don’t touch me!" I growled, my voice hard, commanding, desperate to project strength, though inside I was shaking. My heart pounded in my chest, worry gnawing at my every thought. I had to protect my baby.

The room fell into an eerie silence. Tension crackled like electricity in the air as all eyes locked on me. Tyler stood across from me, his jaw clenched, disbelief and fury twisted across his face. It was clear he still thought I was Liana.

He scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer. “I never knew you could be such a bitch, Liana.” The venom in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. “And the King’s Beta is just as cheap as you, stealing someone else’s mate. You disgust me.” He spat the word like it was dirt in his mouth.

My blood boiled. How dare he insult Edwin!

“Take that back,” I growled, stepping forward, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. I felt the fury rising like a wave inside me, and it took everything in me not to lash out then and there.

Tyler’s eyes narrowed, filled with nothing but contempt. “Or what?” he challenged. His laugh was cold, mocking, as if I was nothing more than an annoyance in his life. “You think I’m scared of you? You’re nothing but a lying, two-timing whore. I don’t care what excuses you make. You abandoned this pack. You abandoned me, Liana.”

I felt my heart sink deeper into confusion. He was so convinced that I was Liana, that I had somehow betrayed him. How could he be so blind?

“Seize her,” he ordered, his voice sharp and cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. “Take her to the dungeon where she belongs.”

The warriors moved forward again, slowly this time, as if unsure whether they should follow through. Panic surged inside me, and I instinctively backed up, my mind racing. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t fight them and put my baby at risk. But I couldn’t let them take me either.

My breath came in short, rapid bursts as I glanced around the room, my eyes searching for someone who could stop this madness. That was when I saw them—the old Alpha and Luna of Night Creek, standing near the back.

A flicker of hope sparked in my chest. Edwin had mentioned before that they were honorable people, and if I could just get them to listen to reason, maybe, just maybe, I could put an end to this nightmare.

I called out, my voice louder this time. “Alpha William, Luna Rowena, please! There’s been a mistake. I’m not who you think I am!”

The old Alpha’s eyes locked onto mine, but instead of the understanding I’d hoped for, I saw only cold disdain. “Don’t bother trying to deceive us any longer,” he said, his voice thick with disappointment. “We warned Tyler not to trust a rogue like you. We told him to be careful. But he wouldn’t listen. And now, look at what you’ve done.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. “No,” I said, shaking my head, the frustration and anger bubbling over. “I’m not a rogue. I’m not Liana. I’m Alicia, the King’s Beta’s mate!” I yelled, desperation coloring my words. “You’ve got the wrong person!”

But they weren’t listening. The Luna, standing beside her mate, shook her head, her lips curled into a sneer. “An ambitious liar is all you are. A whore who thought she could play two sides and come out clean.”

The insult struck hard, a stinging slap to my pride. But I had no time to defend myself because, at that moment, Tyler’s mother, the Luna of the pack, stepped forward. Her hand came down hard across my face, the sharp sting of the slap making my head whip to the side. The room gasped at the impact.

I froze, my cheek burning from the assault. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt. I came here with good intentions but what I received were insults and abuse. I couldn’t let them treat me like this anymore.

Slowly, I turned back to her, anger flashing through me like wildfire. I wasn’t a meek, timid girl they thought they could bully. Night Creek was far from the royal territory so they might not have known that before I became the Beta's wife, I was a top-ranking warrior in the King’s court.

Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped her back, hard. The force sent her tumbling to the floor.

The room fell into stunned silence. I stood there, breathing heavily, my hand still raised. My heart hammered in my chest, but I refused to show weakness.

Tyler’s mother scrambled to her feet, her eyes wide with disbelief and fury. “You—” she started, but she didn’t finish. The shock of what I’d done was written across the faces of everyone in the room.

“I don’t care what you think of me,” I said, my voice low and steady. “But you will not lay a hand on me again. I am the wife of the King’s Beta, and if any of you touch me, you’ll have to answer to him.”

The tension in the room was suffocating, but I held my ground. I wasn’t Liana. And I wasn’t going to let them confuse me for her any longer.

Tyler’s eyes blazed with fury after I slapped his mother, and before I could even blink, he lunged at me. The suddenness of his attack sent my instincts into overdrive. I barely dodged, throwing myself to the side, narrowly escaping his clawed hand.

“Are you insane?” I shouted, backing away quickly, my body tense and ready for the next blow. My heart raced in my chest as I measured him up. His expression was twisted with rage, his features barely resembling the man Liana described in her letter. This was no loving mate. This was a mad Alpha who had lost control.

“Get back here!” Tyler roared, charging at me again. I ducked low and rolled to the side, creating distance between us. Sweat beaded on my forehead. I didn’t want to fight, especially not in my condition. But I had no choice.

“You dare hit my mother?” His voice was rough with disbelief, but I could see his embarrassment too. He wasn’t just furious that I had struck her. He was humiliated that I had done it in front of his pack.

I straightened, trying to keep my breath steady as I held his gaze. “She hit me first,” I spat, my voice defiant. “And you? You’re an idiot if you think I’m your mate, or that I had anything to do with whatever mess Liana made!”

Tyler’s face darkened further, his fists clenched so tightly I could see his knuckles whitening. “You’re just arrogant because you think being the Beta’s mistress gives you power,” he sneered, his words laced with venom. “But you’re nothing but a seductress. You think you can just steal someone’s mate and get away with it?”

A wave of disgust and anger surged through me. “You’re delusional,” I snapped, squaring my shoulders as I glared at him. “I’m not Liana, and I sure as hell don’t want to be your mate. And Edwin? He’s my husband, not someone I tricked or seduced. Get that through your thick skull, dumb Alpha.”

I didn’t want to provoke him, but I needed a way out. There was no window for escape, no ally in sight. Every single person in that room saw me as an enemy, and I had to create an opening.

Tyler’s face twisted in rage, and I knew I had him.

“You talk like you’re something special,” he snarled, his chest heaving. “But you’re nothing, bitch.”

“Is that what a real Alpha does?” I shot back, my voice cold and sharp. “Blame others for his incompetence? Attack a woman he barely knows? Pathetic.”

The insult hit its mark. With a furious roar, Tyler charged again, faster this time, his eyes glowing with dangerous intent.

He swiped at me, and I dodged to the right. This time, his momentum carried him forward, leaving him slightly off balance. It was just enough for me to bolt out.

I didn’t look back as I sprinted into the open air. My heart was pounding, every muscle in my body burning with adrenaline. There was no way I could drive away fast enough. I’d be caught before I even got the keys in the ignition. So I ditched the car and ran on foot, sprinting as fast as my legs would carry me, away from the Night Creek pack.

The trees blurred past me as I tore through the forest, the branches whipping at my arms and face. My lungs burned, and every step felt heavier than the last, but I couldn’t stop. I had to put as much distance between us as possible.

But I underestimated Tyler.

I could hear him gaining on me, his heavy footfalls crashing through the underbrush, far faster than I’d anticipated. Damn it! Of course, he was quicker. He was the Alpha of his pack. A seasoned fighter. And I… I wasn’t at my best right now.

My breath came in ragged gasps, my body protesting as I pushed it harder. Desperation clouded my thoughts, but I forced myself to focus. I needed to hide and think of a way out.

I spotted a huge tree up ahead, its trunk wide enough to shield me for a moment. I darted behind it, pressing my back against the rough bark, trying to slow my breathing. My pulse pounded in my ears. I needed to plan my next move, but my mind was scattered, panic edging in.

Then I heard it—the faint rustle of leaves nearby. Tyler was close. Too close.

I barely had time to react before he rounded the tree, his eyes locking onto me with predatory precision. With a furious growl, he grabbed me by the arm and hurled me to the ground like I weighed nothing.

The impact knocked the wind out of me, my body hitting the earth hard. Pain radiated through my side, but I forced myself up, refusing to stay down. I staggered to my feet, my vision spinning, but I couldn’t afford to be weak now.

Tyler came at me again, and I fought back with everything I had. I landed a kick to his side, followed by a sharp jab to his jaw, but it barely slowed him down. He was relentless, and his anger drove him forward with terrifying force.

His fist collided with my gut, and the world tilted. White-hot pain exploded in my abdomen, and I doubled over, gasping for air. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. My body screamed in agony as I crumpled to the ground, clutching my stomach.

I couldn’t lose here. My baby!

But as my vision darkened and the world around me started to spin, I felt myself slipping, powerless to stop it.