Chapter Four

She stared at her naked figure in the mirror. She was just plain, unlike her sister. Her breasts were smaller and her butt looked flat even when naked.

Her phone rang and she jumped. No one had ever called her before. She stared at the screen in shock. It was her father. She didn't know her father had her number, he had never called her before.

She wondered what he wanted to tell her. He probably wanted to lash at her. She shook the thought from her head. She was overthinking everything. They had realized her importance and had called to check up on her. Maybe, they wanted to apologize for guilt-trapping her into marriage.

She laughed bitterly. Her father had never apologized to Elara, why would he apologize to his infamous daughter? A girl could only wish. She picked up the call when it rang again and placed the phone on her ears.

" Hello." She said slowly as though she was not sure of herself.

" Why didn't you pick the first time it rang." Her mother's voice filled her ears and she cringed.

" I-I was in the bathroom." The lie felt bland on her tongue. She was never good at lying. Her mother probably knew she was lying but didn't say anything.

" Is he there?" Her mother asked with urgency in her voice.

" Who?"

" Are you stupid, Cassidy! Who else will I be talking about if not the Lycan King? Don't tell me that you are spending the night with another man." How little did her mother think of her?

" Oh my goodness! You whore of a daughter. Do you want us to die because you can't close your stupid legs? Elara would never."

" I am in the hotel room. He left a few minutes ago." She said as she blinked multiple times to stop the tears from running down her cheeks.

" He left you alone?"

" Yes, mother. He is probably with another woman."

" I told you never to remind me that I gave birth to someone like you. Why would he spend a night with another woman?"

" I don't know. I can't stay." She added the last part slowly.

" Which man would even want to spend the night with you? You are a pathetic soul. Elara would have been perfect. You stole my daughter away from me so face the consequences." She bit her lips to stop herself from reminding her mother that she was also her daughter.

" Why did you call?" She was tired of listening to her mother. She wanted to curl herself and cry.

" I don't know how you will do it but you should be carrying his child within a year." Her mouth hung open.

" But that wasn't part of the agreement. Father didn't tell me that I have to carry his child." She struggled to stay in a place as the world seemed to spin around her.

" Of course, he didn't, it wouldn't have made any difference. Would you have rejected the alliance if he did? Remember you owe us much for clearing your name. This is the only way you could pay us back." She couldn't stop the tears again, they kept pouring. Weren't parents supposed to take care of their children? Why was she to pay her parents back for caring for her?

" I can't"

" What do you mean you can't? Do you want the whole pack to be wiped out of the face of the earth? Do you want to be the reason a whole generation is destroyed?"

" No."

" Then do as I say."

" Yes, mother."

" Do not call me that again. It has to be a boy. Produce an heir within a year Cassidy and seal this deal forever or I will never forgive you. The life of the pack members depends wholly on you." Of course, she was doing it for her pack. She was the sacrificial lamb.

She let the dam open as her mother hung up on her. First, she was forced to marry the devil and now, she had to birth the devil's heir. How worse could her life be? Of course, she couldn't complain because the lives of the pack members were at stake. She desperately wanted to return to being her sister's shadow. Her problem began when she craved more than she was usually given. She would have been contended with her life but it was too late.

She lay on the bed and drew the pillow closer to her as she cried her heart out.

She tried to sleep but the moans from the other room kept her awake.

Her stomach was on fire. The pain increased as time went on. She wasn't at the time of the month yet. The pain was worse than period pains. She fell to the ground and rolled on the floor holding her stomach but it didn't stop the pain. She struggled to stand to her feet but her legs were weak. She cried slowly as she held her stomach tightly.

The pain subsided and she struggled to the bed. It started again. This time, it was too intense. She could not move it to make any noise at all. She could only cry silently and wish that the moon goddess would have mercy on her and take her life the next second.

She didn't know when she slept off but as the door clicked open, her eyes opened in alert. The bed deepened, she knew that he was back and she shut her eyes tight.

She could perceive the cologne he was wearing. It wasn't his, it belonged to a woman. Of course, he had spent their wedding night with another woman because she turned him down.

That would explain the pain she had been in all through the night. He was enjoying himself while she suffered in pain due to his actions. He had no respect for her at all. He slept with another woman with just a wall separating them. How much more humiliation could she receive?

Her cheeks felt wet. She knew she was crying but she dared not lift her hand to her face.

He turned as far away from her as he could. She stared at his back. Was this what she would be facing daily?

How did her life move from bad to worse? She could see the inscription on the wall.

'Welcome to hell'