Chapter 167: 167 - the alphas
167
~ Lisa’s POV
I stood in front of the mirror, fastening the thin belt around my waist. My hands trembled a little as I smoothed the fabric of the gown down over my stomach. My reflection stared back at me, pale, tired, but... different.
My fingers slowly traced over the slight curve beneath the cloth.
"I can’t believe this," I whispered to myself. My throat tightened, and tears stung the back of my eyes. "I’m really going to be a mother."
I rubbed my stomach gently, almost as if I was afraid it might vanish if I pressed too hard. A soft laugh slipped from me, shaky but real. "You’re here," I murmured, speaking to the little life inside me. "You’re real. Even if the world hates me, I’ll love you. I promise."
My chest filled with warmth, and for the first time in so long, I allowed myself a small smile.
But the moment was shattered when the door creaked open without warning. I jerked, pulling my hand away quickly.
A maid stepped in, her face twisted into a look of contempt. She didn’t bow. She didn’t even try to hide the bitterness in her voice.
"The Luna wants to see you," she said flatly, almost spitting the words. "Your attention is needed in her room. Don’t waste time."
Before I could respond, she turned on her heel and walked out, slamming the door behind her.
I stood frozen, staring at the door. My stomach tightened, not from the baby, but from unease.
"Why would Belinda want me?" I muttered under my breath. I pressed my palm to my chest, trying to calm the sudden rush of nerves. Belinda never wanted me near her. She hated me. She made that clear from the beginning. So why now?
I looked back at the mirror, at the faint glow in my eyes from the tears I had been holding back. For a moment, I thought about not going. About pretending I hadn’t heard. But something told me that would only make things worse.
With a shaky breath, I straightened my gown and opened the door.
The walk to Belinda’s room felt longer than it should have. My heart pounded with every step. Servants glanced at me as I passed, their whispers barely contained, their eyes sharp. I forced myself to keep walking, even when shame burned across my cheeks.
Finally, I reached her door. My hand lifted to knock, but I froze.
Someone was standing there.
My blood ran cold.
"L... Luca?" I breathed, my voice trembling so badly it barely came out.
He was there, right in front of me, leaning against the wall as though he owned the place. His body looked relaxed, casual even, but his eyes... oh, his eyes. They weren’t calm. They weren’t kind. They burned with something cruel, sharp, and twisted.
That smile... it wasn’t the smile I remembered from before. This one wasn’t warm. It wasn’t human. It was hungry. Hungry for me.
My throat went dry, and I stumbled a step back, shaking my head violently. "No. No, this can’t be... you...you’re not supposed to be here." My voice cracked on every word.
Fear thundered in my veins, making my legs weak. I turned quickly, desperate to run, desperate to scream for help, but I didn’t make it far.
A strong arm shot out of nowhere and wrapped around me like a steel band.
"Going somewhere, little one?" Luca’s voice slid into my ear, low and mocking, every word drenched in danger.
I screamed, kicking, thrashing with all my strength. "Let me go!" My nails clawed at his arm, desperate to tear him away, but he didn’t even flinch. My scratches only left faint red marks on his skin, and his grip never loosened.
"No, no, please," I begged, fighting harder, panic exploding inside my chest. My breath came fast, shallow, desperate. "Don’t do this..."
But he didn’t listen. He slammed me back against the wall, the force rattling through my bones. The impact knocked the air out of me, and I gasped, tears springing to my eyes. His body caged me in, his hand gripping both my wrists above my head as if I were nothing more than a child.
"Shh," Luca whispered, leaning closer until his breath brushed hot against my ear. My stomach churned. "Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment? How long I have dreamed of seeing your face again? You thought you could hide from me?"
I shook my head furiously, sobbing. "You’re wrong! You’re sick, Luca, please...please stop..."
He chuckled, the sound dark and cruel, vibrating against me. "Stop? Oh, no. I’m just getting started."
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to turn my face away, but he followed me, pressing closer, his lips brushing my skin.
"You think Damon can keep you safe? You think his brothers can protect you from me?" His voice dropped lower, more venomous, and I felt the tremor of his rage. "No one can. Not Damon, not Kael, not Rowan. No one. You’re mine, Lisa. You’ve always been mine."
My body shook violently, my heart racing so fast it felt like it would burst. I pulled, twisted, and kicked, but his strength was monstrous. I couldn’t break free.
Tears blurred my vision as terror consumed me. "I don’t even know you!" I choked out, my voice breaking.
"Stop! Please!" I screamed, my voice breaking apart, ragged with fear. My tears blurred everything, but I could still feel the crushing weight of him, his body pinning mine like a predator cornering prey. "Don’t touch me!" I begged, but my words were swallowed in the silence of the hallway.
He didn’t stop. His mouth crashed against mine, hard, brutal, ripping the breath straight from my lungs. I twisted my face away, but he grabbed my chin and forced me back, kissing me again, stealing more than just my air. His hand pressed me flat against the wall, leaving no space to breathe, no space to fight. My arms flailed, weak against the strength of his grip. My nails scraped against his skin, but he only hissed and pressed harder.
Inside me, panic roared louder than my heartbeat. My stomach turned, bile rising as his lips moved against mine, claiming me most violently. Every second felt endless, every touch a nightmare I couldn’t wake from. My body shook with rage and helplessness, but nothing I did mattered; he was too strong.
And then... I heard it.
Footsteps. Sharp. Certain. Closer.
For a moment, Luca didn’t notice. He was too lost in his cruelty, too obsessed with crushing me. But I heard it clearly, boots striking the marble floor. And then... the sound of breath being sucked in.
The Alphas.
I froze, eyes wide as I turned my head just enough to see them. Damon. Rowan. Kael.
They stood there, their eyes wide with shock and fury, frozen in the doorway as Luca held me pinned, his lips pressed against mine.