Chapter 48 Real Truth
Zoe's POV
I left the celebration early.
Couldn't stand it anymore. The cheering. The congratulations. The joy.
For a pregnancy that complicated everything.
Everything.
I walked back to the inn. Angry. Frustrated. Confused.
My plan was falling apart.
The plan had been simple. Make Jeremy fall for me. Get close. Use the herbs and potions. Watch him suffer slowly. Take over the pack. Make him beg for death.
Simple. Clean. Perfect revenge.
But now... Mia was pregnant.
Jeremy was trapped. Bound to her. Obligated to marry her.
I couldn't get close to him now. Couldn't make him mine. Couldn't execute the plan.
Not with a baby involved. Not with him playing the dutiful father-to-be.
"Damn it." I whispered. Pacing my small room. "Damn it all."
The baby changed everything. Made him untouchable. Made Mia untouchable.
How could I destroy a pregnant woman? How could I poison a man about to become a father?
Even for revenge... even for justice... that felt too far.
"Think." I told myself. "Think."
But I couldn't. My mind was a mess. My emotions tangled.
Because part of me... a small, stupid part... was hurt.
Hurt that he'd gotten Mia pregnant. Hurt that he'd chosen her. Hurt that the mate bond was being ignored.
"Stop it." I said out loud. "Stop feeling. Stop caring."
But I couldn't stop. The bond wouldn't let me.
I needed air. Space. Somewhere to think clearly.
I grabbed my cloak. Left the inn.
The night was dark. Cool. Quiet.
Most of the pack was still at the celebration. The streets were empty.
Good.
I walked. No destination. Just... walked.
My feet carried me to the pack gardens. The same gardens where Jeremy and I had kissed.
I stopped at the entrance. Debated going in.
But the pull was too strong. The memories too loud.
I entered. Walked down the stone path. Into the shadows.
The garden was beautiful at night. Moonlight filtering through the trees. Flowers closed for the evening. Peaceful.
I found a bench. Sat down. Took a deep breath.
"Focus on the plan." I whispered. "Find a new approach. A new angle."
But what? What could I do now?
Voices made me freeze.
Low. Urgent. Coming from deeper in the garden.
I stood up quickly. Quietly. Moved toward the sound.
Hid behind a large hedge. Peered through.
And saw them.
Mia. And Doctor Melissa.
Standing in a small clearing. Barely visible in the moonlight.
What were they doing here? At this hour?
"Thank you for meeting me." Mia's voice. Soft but firm.
"I shouldn't be here." Melissa's voice was shaking. Scared. "If anyone finds out..."
"No one will find out." Mia pulled something from her bag. "As long as you keep your mouth shut."
Money. A bag of money. Heavy. Full.
She held it out to Melissa.
"This is for confirming the pregnancy today." Mia said. "For telling the Alpha what I needed you to tell him. I settled doctor Hayes already, so you don't need to worry about him."
My blood went cold.
Confirming the pregnancy? What I needed you to tell him?
"Lady Mia, please..." Melissa's voice cracked. "I don't feel right about this. Lying to the Alpha..."
"You're not lying." Mia's voice hardened. "You're helping. Helping secure the pack's future."
"But I am lying! There is no baby!" Melissa's voice rose. Desperate. "The test was negative. You're not pregnant. I told you that."
Not pregnant.
The words hit me like thunder.
Mia wasn't pregnant. The test was negative.
It was all a lie.
"Keep your voice down." Mia grabbed Melissa's arm. Hard. "Do you want everyone to hear?"
"Let go of me..."
"Listen to me carefully." Mia's voice was ice. "You will keep saying I'm pregnant. You will confirm it every time someone asks. You will support my story."
"I can't..."
"You can. And you will." Mia shoved the money into Melissa's hands. "Unless you want your little secret revealed."
"What secret?"
"I know everything about everyone in this pack." Mia stepped closer. "And if you don't do exactly what I say... everyone else will know too."
"What secret are you talking about?..."
"Try me. And you will find out how much I know" Mia's eyes flashed. "
Melissa started Shaking.
"What do you know Lady Mia."
"Do what I say. And there won't be need for even you, to know what I know" Mia's voice softened. Fake sympathy. "It's simple. Just keep lying. Keep confirming. Keep playing along."
"For how long?"
"As long as I need you to." Mia turned to leave. "And Melissa? If you breathe a word of this to anyone... if you try to tell the Alpha the truth... your son dies. Understand?"
Melissa collapsed to her knees. Sobbing.
"I understand."
"Good." Mia walked away. Disappeared into the shadows.
Leaving Melissa there. Broken. Crying. Trapped.
I stood frozen behind the hedge.
Processing. Understanding. Realizing.
Mia wasn't pregnant. It was all fake. All planned. All lies.
She was blackmailing Melissa. Threatening her with secrets she's not sure she even has. Forcing her to lie.
And Jeremy... Jeremy had no idea.
He thought he was trapped by duty. By a baby. By obligation.
But it was all a lie.
Melissa's reaction... the fear in her voice... the tears...
She wouldn't have done this willingly. Never.
She was being forced. Threatened. Coerced.
And Mia... Mia was behind it all.
I stepped back. Quietly. Carefully.
My mind racing. My heart pounding.
This changed everything.
Everything.