Chapter 182

Chapter 182
Sophia‘s POV:
Lucas's face contorted with desperate fury as he stared at Michael and me. "That's impossible!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the silent ballroom. "You can't just decide who your fated mate is, Sophia!"
Michael stepped closer to me, his presence radiating calm strength. "Your anger and disbelief won't make the mate bond disappear, Lucas. "
"No!" Lucas lunged forward, his eyes flashing with that dangerous golden light. "Sophia belongs to me!"
Michael moved protectively in front of me. "She doesn’t belong to anyone."
The two Alphas circled each other like predators, their combined auras making the air thick with tension. Guests pressed back against the walls, sensing the imminent violence.
"Lucas, stop this," I said firmly, though my heart was racing. "It's over between us."
"Like hell it is!" Lucas snarled, completely losing control. He charged at Michael with inhuman speed.
Michael caught Lucas's fist mere inches from his face, their combined strength making the floor beneath them crack. They grappled with brutal force, sending me stumbling backward to avoid being caught in their fight.
"Stop it, both of you!" I shouted, but they were beyond hearing.
Lucas broke free and threw another punch. Michael dodged, but the momentum sent Lucas crashing into me. The impact knocked me off my feet, and I hit the marble floor hard.
Pain exploded through my abdomen like lightning. I gasped, clutching my stomach as a warm wetness spread between my legs.
"Sophia!" Amy's voice in my mind was pure panic. "Something's wrong! I can feel our connection to the pup weakening!"
I looked down and saw dark red staining the beautiful gown Lucas had given me. The metallic scent of blood filled my nostrils.
"No, no, no," I whispered, my hands trembling as I pressed them against my stomach.
The ballroom erupted in horrified gasps and frantic whispers.
"Is that blood?"
"Oh my goddess, she's bleeding!"
"Did Lucas hurt her?"
My vision blurred as waves of agony crashed over me. I could feel my heartbeat growing weaker, more erratic.
The life inside me—Lucas's child—was slipping away.
"Help me," I whimpered helplessly, lying in a growing pool of my own blood.
Lucas reached for me, his face white with shock. "Sophia, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—"
"Don't touch me!" I screamed, recoiling from his approaching hands. "I will never forgive you, Lucas! Never!"
Michael shoved Lucas aside and growled. "Stay away from her,"
Gently, he knelt beside me and gathered me into his arms in panic.
"Please," I whispered against his shirt, my voice barely audible. "Please save my baby."
"Sophia," Amy's voice was gentle but heartbroken. "This is Lucas's child. Michael won't—"
The realization hit me like a slap. How selfish could I be? Here I was, asking my fated mate to save another man's child.
"I'm sorry," I breathed, tears streaming down my face. "Michael, I know this request is—"
Michael's arms tightened around me protectively. "Don't you dare apologize," he said fiercely. "Your child is my child, Sophia. No matter who the father is."
His words stopped my breath. Even Amy fell silent in shock.
"What?" I managed to whisper.
Michael's blue eyes blazed with determination as he looked down at me. "You heard me. This pup is mine now, and I will do everything in my power to save it."
He lifted me effortlessly in his arms. I pressed my face against his chest, drawing strength from his unwavering heartbeat as he carried me from the ballroom.
"Ryder is calling for the royal medical team," Michael murmured as we rushed down the corridor. "Hold on, Sophia. Just hold on."
I could hear Ryder's footsteps behind us, his voice tight with worry as he barked orders into his phone.
At the medical center entrance, Ryder moved to take me from Michael's arms. "Let me—"
"No." Michael's voice was steel. "I've got her."
"Michael," Ryder said carefully, "you don't understand the situation—"
"I understand perfectly." Michael's eyes never left mine. "Sophia is my fated mate. Her pup is my pup. That's all I need to know."
"Did you hear that?" Amy whispered in awe. "He truly means it."
Tears blurred my vision as I stared up at Michael's determined face.
For four years with Lucas, I had been the one making all the sacrifices. I had given and given until there was nothing left of myself. I never imagined that someday, someone would be willing to sacrifice for me instead.
The guilt crashed over me like a tidal wave.
How could he still want to save me, to save this child, after all the cruel words I had spoken to him? I had rejected him, chosen Lucas over him, and told him I would never give him a chance.
The medical team rushed toward us, but their faces were grim.
"We need to get her to surgery immediately," he said gravely. "But I have to be honest—the bleeding is severe. Unless a miracle occurs, I don't think we can save the pup."
"I can feel it," Amy said, her voice breaking. "The pup's life force... it's fading fast."
"No!" The word tore from my throat as despair crashed over me. "Please, there has to be something you can do!"
The doctor shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Princess. We'll do everything we can, but..."
My hand flew to my chest, remembering suddenly. The pendant Kevin had given me—the one that could save my most beloved person. When I'd tried to use it for Lucas, nothing had happened. But now...
With trembling fingers, I reached inside my gown and pulled out the hidden pendant. It was small and unassuming, shaped like a tiny box.
With shaking hands, I opened the pendant's lid. This time, instead of the empty space I'd found before, a small blue pill sat inside, glowing with silver light.
My breath caught. The pendant had activated.