Chapter 69: Promise to Protect

Chapter 69: Promise to Protect
I became more careful with my actions after that. Every movement felt deliberate, as if my body no longer belonged solely to me. I forced myself to eat even when my appetite barely existed, chewing slowly, swallowing with effort, telling myself it wasn’t about me anymore. I slept longer too, though rest never truly came. Even in sleep, my mind was awake, counting hours, planning escape routes, replaying every choice that had led me here.

I wanted to leave this place more than anything. The walls felt tighter each day, the halls longer, the silence heavier. Yet I stayed.

The servant helped me in small ways, bringing warm meals, opening the curtains to let the sunlight in, reminding me to drink water but as days passed, my worry only grew. Every kind gesture felt like borrowed time. Every quiet moment reminded me of the truth I was hiding. What would happen when I finally told Grandpa everything?

“So you need to get stronger,” the old woman advised one afternoon, her voice calm but firm. “Your current situation isn’t good for you and the baby.”

The word baby still felt unreal. Heavy. Fragile.

I nodded slowly, pressing my fingers together on my lap. The only thing that truly gave me strength was the thought of Aslan, his reaction when he found out everything. I imagined his eyes darkening, his jaw tightening, his instinct to protect overpowering everything else. The image scared me as much as it comforted me.

“The father of the child…” the old woman continued carefully. “He’s the alpha of the town, right?”

I nodded again. I was sitting in front of the window that afternoon, staring at the endless stretch of trees outside. They swayed gently in the wind, indifferent to the chaos inside my chest.

“Doesn’t he know you’re here?”

I swallowed. “Aslan’s in Arendell,” I said quietly. “He’s dealing with the issues in his territory. The same way I’m dealing with mine.”

I didn’t look at her when I spoke next. “I didn’t want him to know I came here.”

Because if Aslan knew, he would come. And if he came, blood would follow.

I needed to fix this mess before he showed himself here. I needed time. He couldn’t be here. Not yet.

“Your Grandpa will be back tomorrow,” she said after a pause. “Are you ready to tell him?”

I kept my gaze fixed outside. Fear coiled tightly in my chest. The situation was already fragile, one wrong word, one wrong move, and everything would shatter. Grandpa might not listen. He might not understand. He might never let me leave.

“I’m hoping we’d survive this,” I whispered.

Morning came too slowly and too quickly all at once. Grandpa was scheduled to return to the mansion early, and I waited for him. I prepared myself for it, rehearsing words, steadying my breathing, reminding myself that honesty was the only way forward.

I waited anxiously, yet with patience. Because I knew who it was for.

But almost the entire day passed, and he still wasn’t there.

The silence began to gnaw at me. Every passing hour felt wrong. When I finally asked, the lady servant told me he was out of town. She didn’t say where, and something in her expression made my chest tighten.

I must have fallen asleep without realizing it. Exhaustion claimed me while I sat waiting. When I woke, the sky outside was painted in deep orange and purple. Dusk. My heart immediately began to race.

Then I heard it.

Voices. Footsteps. A hurried commotion outside my room.

I pushed myself upright just as the door opened slightly.

“Miss Cosette.”

The servant stood near my bed, her face pale.

“What’s happening?” I asked, my voice already shaking.

“Your Grandpa is back.”

Relief rushed through me for only a second until I noticed the worry in her tone.

“Miss,” she continued quietly, stepping closer, “your Grandpa came from Elwood.”

My chest tightened.

“There was an attack,” she said. “Even your Grandpa’s group was badly hurt. And now… now the alpha knows you’re missing from his territory.”

No.

The word echoed inside my head, loud and hollow.

“He’s coming here, miss,” she whispered. “And your Grandpa is preparing for their arrival.”

My breathing completely stopped. Fear flooded my body so suddenly it felt like drowning. Before I could respond, heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. The servant froze.

“Your Grandpa’s coming here,” she said quickly. “He wants to make sure you don’t leave this room. Miss Cosette, tomorrow morning is the scheduled arrival—”

The door swung open.

She stopped talking instantly.

My Grandpa entered the room, his presence filling every corner. The servant bowed and excused herself quickly, leaving us alone.

“Grandpa…” My voice broke.

So many emotions crashed into me at once, anger, fear, weakness, guilt. I stood, forcing my legs to move.

“Please,” I said, tears burning my eyes. “Stop this. Don’t hurt Aslan.”

A sharp pain tore through my body, stealing my breath. I groaned, clutching my stomach as my knees nearly gave out.

“I’m begging you…”

“Is that how much you value a monster like him?” Grandpa asked coldly.

I shook my head frantically. “You—you don’t understand…”

The pain intensified, pulsing through me in waves. I could barely speak.

“Let the alpha dig his own grave,” he said.

“You need to know something—” I tried to say.

The door opened again. One of Grandpa’s men rushed in.

“The ones you called for are here.”

Grandpa turned immediately. Panic surged through me. I grabbed his arm, but a guard restrained me.

“Grandpa…” I whimpered.

He didn’t look back. He didn’t hesitate. He left the room, the guards following behind him. The door closed with a final, crushing sound.

I tried to follow, but a searing pain ripped through my stomach. My breath hitched, and I nearly collapsed to the floor.

That was when it hit me.

A fear I had never known before. Not fear for myself but for the lives tied to mine.

Because within the next few hours, I might lose two of the most important people in my life.

And I didn’t know which loss would destroy me more.