Chapter Twenty eight

Leila's pov

The sound of Maliya’s shrill voice sliced through the air, interrupting the warm buzz of conversation I had been enjoying with the maids. Her words dripped with malice, shattering the peace that had enveloped the room just moments before.

“Come out, everyone! Come out, now!” It wasn’t just a demand; it was a command. For a split second, I felt the chill of her toxicity wash over me.

The maids flinched, and without a word, they scattered, rushing out as if trying to escape a brewing storm. I watched them disappear through the door, leaving me alone in the dimly lit space. The silence that followed was deafening, but I refused to budge. I couldn’t let her intimidate me.

Maliya meant nothing to me now. Once a friend, she had transformed into the very person who had stolen everything I held dear—my mate, my future. With one kiss, she had ensnared Sebastian, the Alpha, the man who had once been my everything, shattering the foundation of my life.

But today, Maliya was preparing for her grand announcement—one destined to rattle the entire house. I didn’t need to speculate; I knew precisely what she planned to say. I had overheard her conversation earlier.

In the distance, I could already hear the echoes of her laughter—shrill, mocking, and enough to churn my stomach. I was meant to feel broken, humiliated. She wanted to flaunt her pregnancy in my face, reminding me of everything she had taken. But the reality was—I wasn’t the one who was broken.

Taking a deep breath, I rose from where I had been seated. The maids’ quarters felt like a cage now, a place I had long outgrown. I would not run or cower.

I strode toward the door, each step deliberate. Maliya would not have this moment. She would not witness my weakness. My heart pounded as I approached the entrance to the pack house, where her voice was growing louder.

“You think you're the queen, don’t you, Leila?” Maliya’s words reached me before I stepped into the hallway. “Well, guess what? Not anymore. You’re nothing. He doesn’t love you. He never did.”

Her venomous tone sent chills through me, but I pressed on. I pushed the door open and entered the hall, my eyes scanning the area. The pack house was eerily quiet, the tension palpable. It felt as if everyone was bracing for a spectacle.

Maliya stood at the center of the room, poised, her eyes gleaming with self-satisfaction. Behind her, Alpha Sebastian stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. I intentionally avoided looking at him—not yet.

Maliya’s gaze landed on me, and a wicked smile spread across her face. “Ah, there she is,” she sneered. “The broken Leila.”

I didn’t flinch or lower my gaze. Instead, I held her stare, unyielding. The pack's eyes were on me, the tension rising. It felt like walking a tightrope—one misstep, and everything could collapse.

“Did you think you could hide from the truth, Leila?” Maliya continued, her voice dripping with mockery. “Did you think you could escape what’s coming?” She turned to face the crowd, arms wide. “I have something to say. Something important.”

I could feel the eyes of the pack on us, their whispers almost deafening. They were eager for drama, eager for anything that would shatter the stillness of the house. But what Maliya didn’t know—what she didn’t understand—is that she had already lost.

“Go ahead,” I said, my voice cold but steady. “Announce it. Make your declaration. But know this—whatever you say, it doesn’t change who I am. It doesn’t change the truth.”

Maliya’s smile faltered for just a moment, and I saw a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. But she quickly recovered, straightening her shoulders as if she could somehow make herself more imposing. “ why do you think you can speak to me like that?” she hissed, her eyes narrowing.

“Oh, I can,” I replied, my voice unwavering. “Because I’ve seen the truth. And no matter what you say, no matter how many lies you spin, it won’t change the fact that you were never going to win.”

She stepped forward, the anger in her eyes burning bright. “ Maybe you think I’m lying?” she spat, her voice a dangerous hiss. “You think I’m not carrying his child?” She lifted her chin, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “Well, here’s the truth, Leila. I am carrying his heir. I am the one who will be by his side. And you? You’re nothing.”

The pack held its breath. I could hear their murmurs, their whispers floating through the room. But I didn’t look at them. My eyes were fixed on Maliya, on the anger that twisted her features. She had gotten what she wanted. She had gotten Sebastian, and now she wanted me to feel the weight of her victory.

“ How does that matter?” I asked, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “You think that a child will make you more than a traitor?” I took a step toward her, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. “You were my friend, Maliya. And you threw that away for power. For a chance at his title. You didn’t care about me. You didn’t care about anyone but yourself.”

Maliya’s face twisted in rage, and I could see the flicker of fear in her eyes. She didn’t like this. She didn’t like being called out. She didn’t like that I was standing here, holding my ground when she expected me to crumble.

“You are nothing,” she seethed. “You’re weak. You couldn’t keep him. You couldn’t keep me from taking what was mine.” Her eyes flicked to Sebastian, and I saw the way her lips curved into a smile, as if she believed that he would prove her right.

But I wasn’t going to give her that satisfaction. Not now. Not ever.

“You can have him,” I said softly, my voice unwavering. “You can have everything you think you’ve won. But it won’t bring you happiness. It won’t bring you love. You took everything from me, but you’ll never take my dignity.”

A slow, knowing smile crept across my face. “Because at the end of the day, it’s not about who has his child. It’s about who he chooses.”

There was a long, pregnant pause. A moment of silence where the world seemed to stand still. Maliya’s eyes widened, and I saw the uncertainty flash across her face.

Then, slowly, I turned my gaze toward Sebastian.

He was standing there, his arms crossed, his face unreadable. For a moment, I saw nothing in his eyes. No warmth. No regret. Nothing. Just cold indifference. The man who had once been my everything now felt like a stranger.

But then, just as quickly as the ice had settled, his gaze flickered. A flicker of something. Guilt? Regret? I wasn’t sure, but it was there, buried beneath his stoic exterior.

I took a step back, not allowing myself to feel anything for him. Not anymore. I had been a fool, but I wasn’t going to be one now.

“You made your choice,” I said, my voice steady. “And I’m done. I’m done fighting for someone who doesn’t even see me anymore. Go ahead, Maliya. Enjoy this victory. But don’t think for a second that it’s enough to fill the emptiness in your heart.”

The silence thickened in the air, laden with unspoken words and palpable tension. I had made my statement, and I could feel the weight of my declaration settling over the room. Just as Maliya opened her mouth to respond, the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps reverberated through the hall, slicing through the moment.

Alpha Sebastian strode in with an undeniable presence, like a storm front ready to unleash its fury. His gaze immediately zeroed in on Maliya, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt a surge of something—maybe jealousy? No, it was more profound than that. It was revolting. He belonged to her now, or at least she believed she had him wrapped around her finger. She thought she had triumphed.

Maliya's eyes sparked with delight upon seeing him, a smug smile quickly forming on her lips. “Sebastian,” she declared with an air of triumph, her voice oozing satisfaction. “I have something important to share with you.”

He didn’t respond immediately, his gaze assessing her with a mix of curiosity and something that resembled surprise. Then, as if finally acknowledging her presence, his expression softened. He stepped closer, and she leaned in, whispering something in his ear. I strained to catch the words, but the effect was immediate.

Sebastian’s face lit up, genuine excitement breaking through the tension that had lingered for far too long—since before everything unraveled.

“What?” he asked, barely able to contain his thrill. “Are you—?” His voice cracked, and disbelief surged in his eyes, swiftly giving way to a broad grin. “Are you serious?”

Maliya nodded, her smile radiating confidence. With deliberate movements, she placed her hands on her belly, making her pregnancy undeniably clear. "I’m pregnant, Sebastian. I’m carrying your heir."

Gasps echoed around the room, and I felt an icy coil tighten in my chest. The atmosphere thinned, becoming almost suffocating as Sebastian’s joy radiated outward.

“That’s... incredible, Maliya.” His voice was filled with a wonder I had once longed to hear from him when I had been the one by his side, when I had imagined a future together.

In that moment, I realized I was holding my breath. It was hard to focus as he swept Maliya off her feet, spinning her in circles while laughter filled the space around us. His hands roamed over her, offering affection that had once been mine. He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, and the sensation pierced through me.

“Everyone, bow to Maliya,” he commanded, his voice firm and clear. “She is carrying the heir to this pack. Show her the respect she deserves!”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Sebastian’s unwavering gaze silenced any dissent. The pack complied, kneeling as one, their heads lowered in deference to Maliya, treating her as if she were already their queen.

My chest tightened with frustration, but I stood my ground. I wouldn’t bow. I couldn’t. The mere thought of submitting to her made me feel sick. Maliya's triumph was palpable, her eyes scanning the room, seeking my acknowledgment.

When her gaze landed on me, a smirk spread across her face, relishing my defiance.

“You heard him, Leila,” Maliya taunted, venom saturating her voice. “Bow. Show some respect. Or do you need him to order you?”

Sebastian’s eyes found mine, and that familiar look was back—the one that once set my heart racing, the one that made me feel wanted and cherished. Now, it felt like a command, cold and dismissive. 

“Leila,” he said, his tone hard and authoritative. “You will bow before Maliya. Do it now.”

The command cut through the room like a knife. I could feel the heaviness of their gazes, and the pressure mounted, threatening to suffocate me.

My legs trembled, but I refused to give in easily. I took a step forward, then another, the pack’s eyes burning into my back as I approached the center of the room. I was close enough to feel the heat radiating from Sebastian, the man who had once claimed to love me.

But now, he was merely a shadow of my past, standing triumphantly beside the woman who had shattered my world.

I clenched my fists, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. 

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I drew on every ounce of dignity I possessed and bowed—slowly but deliberately. I bowed before the woman who had betrayed me, before the man who had walked away.

As my head lowered, the tears I fought against slipped free, but I refused to make a sound. I wouldn’t let them see my pain.