Chapter 94
Elsa
"Enough?" I laughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears as I raked my soaked hair back from my face. "No, it's not nearly fucking enough. Your girlfriend thinks she can stand there and pretend innocence after celebrating my mother's death sentence?"
Vera's fake tears were infuriating. I wanted to claw her eyes out. "I never said that. I was just trying to be kind. Look how she's twisting my words, Drake."
"Jesus Christ, you're good," I said, shaking my head in disgust as my body shook with rage. "What a performance. Innocent little Vera, just trying to help. It's fucking sickening. I think I might actually vomit."
A flash of silver caught my eye as Sophia appeared, drenched from the rain, her eyes blazing with fury. I hadn't even noticed her approach.
"Back off," she growled at Drake, positioning herself between us. "You've done enough damage."
Drake's expression darkened. "You struck my mate in front of witnesses. You should be apologizing, not making threats. Unless you want to face charges for assault and violation of pack law."
Sophia scoffed. "Pack law? That's rich coming from you. What about the laws protecting omegas? The ones you've been trampling for years with how you've treated Elsa?"
"Sophia, don't—" I started, grabbing her arm so hard my knuckles turned white. My stomach twisted with sudden dread.
But she was beyond stopping. "Elsa's given you everything, and what has she gotten in return? Nothing but disrespect and betrayal. She's been your secret for ten years while you parade around with your official mate. She doesn't even get the dignity of acknowledgment."
Drake's voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "This is not your business. Apologize to Vera, or I'll have you arrested."
"I'm not apologizing to the woman who's gloating over Elsa's mother dying," Sophia fired back. "Elsa's had nothing but loyalty to you for a decade. She's given up everything—her freedom, her dignity, her chance at a real relationship. Hell, she's even lost two pregnancies because of you!"
The world seemed to stop. I felt the blood drain from my face, my legs suddenly turning to jelly beneath me.
"What?" The word escaped my lips in a whisper as my stomach dropped to my feet. My hand flew to my mouth in shock.
Drake's eyes widened fractionally, his gaze snapping from Sophia to me.
"Sophia, stop," I pleaded, suddenly terrified, my voice breaking as I clutched at her sleeve.
"No, he needs to hear this," Sophia continued, her voice rising above the rain. "He needs to know what you've sacrificed. You lost his children, Elsa. You carried his pups twice, and both times you lost them because of stress and the way he treated you. And this asshole didn't even notice!"
"That's not possible," Drake said, his voice unnervingly calm.
"Well, apparently your perfect system missed the first one," Sophia snapped. "Eight months ago. She was in such pain she could barely stand, but she still showed up to work because God forbid she disappoint the great Drake Stone."
My knees nearly buckled. I had to brace myself against a nearby pillar, my breathing turning shallow and rapid
"The second time... when was it?" I whispered to Sophia, my voice cracking as my world tilted on its axis.
"You didn't even know," Sophia's voice softened with heartbreak. "You thought it was just another bad period, didn't you? Elsa, the doctor confirmed it when I took you to the emergency room. You were six weeks pregnant."
Six weeks pregnant. Another child. Drake's child. I had lost another baby without even knowing it existed.
"I... I didn't..." My vision blurred, and I swayed on my feet, my hand instinctively clutching at my stomach as if I could somehow protect what was already gone. The silver moon pendant at my throat caught the weak sunlight breaking through the clouds, suddenly feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds.
"Elsa?" Allen's voice broke through my shock as his hand caught my elbow, steadying me. "Are you alright? You're white as a sheet."
Drake's gaze locked onto Allen's hand on my arm, his eyes now fully gold with rage. "Take your hands off her."
"She's about to collapse," Allen shot back, his grip tightening protectively.
"Is it true?" Drake demanded, ignoring Allen and stalking toward me. His voice seemed to come from miles away. "What she said—is it true? You were pregnant again and lost it?"
I stared at him, unable to form words as bile rose in my throat. The rain had soaked through my clothes, plastering my hair to my face, but I couldn't feel the cold. All I could feel was emptiness. A vast, gaping hole where my heart should be. Two children. I had lost two children I had carried inside me.
"Answer me, goddamnit, Elsa," Drake growled, grabbing my wrist. "Did you know about this second pregnancy?"
I yanked my arm free with sudden force, finding my voice at last as hot tears mixed with the cold rain on my cheeks. "No. I didn't fucking know. But you know what? It doesn't matter anymore. Nothing matters. Think whatever you want, Mr. Stone."
The use of his formal title wasn't lost on him. His nostrils flared, and for a moment, I thought he might shift right there in the hospital parking lot.
Vera's eyes darted between us, clearly noting Drake's intense reaction to the news. Her perfectly manicured hand tightened on his arm possessively.
"Drake," she murmured, "let's go. This is getting out of hand."
"You're not going anywhere," Drake snapped, his gaze never leaving my face. "Not until this is cleared up."
"There's nothing to clear up," I said, my voice oddly calm despite the storm raging inside me. I wiped roughly at my tears with the back of my hand.
"I need proof," Drake demanded, turning to Sophia. "Show me evidence ."
Sophia lifted her chin defiantly. "I have the hospital reports. I kept them when Elsa threw them away. She was devastated, even though she didn't understand what had happened."
"Then get them," Drake ordered. "Now."
"You don't command me, Alpha," Sophia hissed. "I'm not one of your submissive pack members."
"If you're lying about this," Drake's voice was lethal, "I will make sure you regret it. We're going to get those reports now."
I watched the confrontation unfold as if from a great distance, my mind still reeling from the revelation that I had lost not one, but two children. Drake's children. Children I never even had the chance to mourn.
The rain continued to fall, washing away my tears, but nothing could cleanse the grief that had taken root in my heart.