Chapter 20

Cara

The instant Lilia says the word “pregnant,” I know that my escape plan is in danger. That my baby might be in danger.

I pretend I didn’t hear her words and rush out of the office. I have to see Ruby.

I need to know my baby is okay after Lilia tripped me and I fell. I need to see an obstetrician.

Also, I’m deeply, incredibly shaken up and upset. I need to see my best friend.

I arrive at the hospital quickly and explain to Ruby what happened.

“I should be charging you extra for all these frequent hospital visits!” Ruby jokes. She’s trying to make me feel better, to take my mind off the hurt of Lilia’s insulting words.

I smile, but I’m sure it doesn’t reach my eyes. I feel so exhausted.

“You look terrible, Sweetheart.” Ruby says.

This gets a good belly laugh out of me. “Thanks, Honey. I knew I could count on you to cheer me up!” I say sarcastically.

“Do you think she’s going to tell Alaric? About the pregnancy?” Ruby asks sincerely.

“I’m not sure. I only put a hand over belly, it’s not like she has any real proof…” I mull over the idea in my mind. “But she can do a lot of damage with simple suspicions, trust me.”

“Oh, I believe you. She seems like a real—”

“Bitch!” Lucy finishes for her in my mind. I don’t hear what Ruby says over Lucy’s words, but I can tell by the look on her face that the sentiment is the same.

“How much longer are you going to keep letting them hurt you like this?” Ruby’s staring at me with concern, her big eyes boring into mine.

“I- I don’t know… Alaric promised he would let me go after the wedding is over tomorrow, but I have to stay for the whole ceremony.”

Ruby snorts and rolls her eyes, “Yeah, and he probably wants you to make the bed he’s going to fuck Lilia on, too!”

I shrug. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be surprised at this point if he asked me to do just that. It’s a sign of how bad things have gotten.

“I have an idea!” Ruby says suddenly. “I’ll cover for you—I’ll say you’re sick or something—and you leave tomorrow morning before the wedding starts.”

It’s not a bad idea…

And it would save me the agony of wondering whether Lilia would say anything to anyone else about the baby…

Before I can talk myself out of it, I muster up all the determination I can manage and reply, “Okay. I’ll do it.”

Ruby smiles at me, and we plan the details for my great escape.

It’ll all be okay, now. I just need to follow the plan. I’m feeling better than I have in a very long time when I exit Ruby’s office.

That is until I look at the man standing right outside the door, arm raised and about to knock on the door I just opened.

I don’t even need to make his face. I recognize that distinct scent.

Richard.

“Cara. I was just coming to ask Ruby for your number.” He says when he sees me, but he seems a bit hesitant to meet my gaze.

“And why would you want an ‘unwelcome gold digging interloper’s’ phone number?” I ask, repeating the same words he said to me in this very hospital not long ago.

Surprisingly, Richard actually looks guilty. “I’m sorry about that. And I’m sorry for—”

“For giving me anti-fertility powder?” I finish for him. I’m not absolutely certain it was him who put the powder on my hands when I ask the question, but the solemn look on his face tells me my guess was correct.

“Yes. I am truly, very sorry, Cara. I am… mistaken… and I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.” His eyes are watery, like he’s feeling quite distraught over the whole thing.

“It’s fine,”

I say quickly. I’m not sure I actually forgive him, but I have to get out of here fast before my plan to secretly leave the pack falls apart.

“Um… Goodbye.” I call over my shoulder as I start to away.

“Wait! I have just one more thing.” Richard asks, lightly touching my arm to spin me around.

I raise an eyebrow at him.

“This is going to sound… well, it’s going to sound very strange. But please, I urge you, it’s very, very important.”

I tap my toe, my eyes darting around the hospital hallway for sign of anyone who might tell Alaric they’ve seen me here.

“Could you… would you be so kind… as to give me a few strands of your hair?”

He’s dead serious.

“What?” I ask.

It certainly is a very strange request… What could he want with my hair?

But I realize I’m wasting precious time by considering my response, so I reach up and tug three or four hairs from the top of my head and give them to him.

Whatever he’s up to, I don’t have time to deal with it right now.

I turn and nearly run down the hall before he can stop me again.

“...Thank you!” I hear him yell behind me.

Just as Ruby and I had discussed, I return to the apartment. I’m thankful I took the time to pack everything up earlier. It’s all neatly arranged, waiting for me.

I take one last look around the apartment.

“It better be the last…” Lucy says in my mind. Her voice is joking, but I know that she’s been through a lot with all this emotional turmoil.

We both have been through a lot.

But that’s all going to change.

We’re going to find a new pack. I’ll get a new job—it doesn’t matter to me what it is. I don’t care if I’m a Beta or a Gamma, a Delta, or no title at all.

As long as I don’t have to resort to being a rogue, we’ll be okay. As long as I have a pack, we’ll be okay.

Me, Lucy, and the baby. We’re going to be okay.

The more I let myself imagine our future, the more excited I feel.

There’s a whole world of possibilities out there beyond Pack DarkWood.

Maybe it was Fate for everything to turn out this way…

Lilia

The way Cara held that belly was unmistakable.

I couldn’t believe my eyes at first, but I saw it. And I saw that look in her eyes when I raised my suspicions out loud.

There’s only one reason a she-wolf would cradle herself like that.

...Cara’s pregnant!

I just know it!

“You have to believe me! It’s true, I saw it!” I phoned Eamon, trying once again to get him to help me, but he once again refused.

“Lilia, you can't possibly know that without any evidence. Just focus on your wedding. You’re getting married tomorrow!” I could tell Eamon was trying his best to distract me, but I couldn’t shake my outrage.

Something had to be done.

When Eamon was no use, I phoned Richard. At least he had helped me before. The anti-fertility treatment clearly didn’t work, but maybe we could forge a new plan.

“I’m sorry, Lilia, but there’s nothing more I can do. Anything more and I risk getting myself in the business with the hospital board. This is a new job for me, please just let this go.” Richard said when I asked for his help.

So, Richard wouldn’t help me either. My normally dependable and moldable Richard was against me now, too, just like Eamon.

She is taking every single man from my life and twisting them around her grubby little fingers!

Cara is NOT getting away with this!

During our phone call, Richard had mentioned that he was going to be away from the hospital for the rest of the day. I decided to sneak into his office. In addition to drugging her, I had asked him to dig up any dirt he could find on Cara.

I need to see if his search had found anything useful. I probably can’t count on him to deliver any more information to me.

I see something with “CARA WILSON” written on it on his desk. Exactly what I’d been looking for! I KNEW it was a good idea to break into his office!

But, looking closer, I see that it wasn’t anything useful at all. It’s just… a bag… of hair?

And there’s another bag, right next to it, also with hair in it. The bag is flipped over, the label hidden. I turn the bag and gasp.

“LILIA AUBURN” the label reads.

How did he get my hair?

What is Richard up to?

I dig under the bags and find… the old Auburn family portrait.

Someone had drawn a bright red circle around my father and Nanny, standing closely next to each other.

Underneath the photo were documents detailing information about Nanny. Former addresses, dates of employment, interviews with people close to her…

Underneath that was a single piece of paper, frayed edges showing it was ripped from a notebook. There were notes scribbled on the page in Richard’s handwriting.

I read:

“NANNY AND FATHER-- LONG SEXUAL AFFAIR

CARA VERY LIKELY REAL SISTER

LILIA VERY LIKELY FAKE

SENDING HAIR SAMPLES FOR GENETIC TESTING. AWAITING RESULTS.”

I stare at the page for several long, long minutes. The longer I look, the more my hands begin to shake with pure rage.

I want to scream! I want to rip this paper and everything on this desk to shreds!!

I want to kill her!

Yes! That’s it! That’s the only way to stop this from going any further!

I need to kill Cara Wilson.

It’s the only way.

I know exactly who to call.

“...George,” I say when the exiled Gamma answers. “I need your help.”