Chapter 60: Give It Back
[TW: Potential Pregnancy Loss]
I met his eyes, the last bit of affection I had for him dying off. I could feel my heart shattering. The bond between us amplified the pain I felt, but I tried not to let it show.
Thus, I said nothing. I merely looked him in the eyes, my lips pursed. There was nothing much I could say anyway. I have already said my piece.
Soren scowled and stepped back, returning to his seat. He poured himself another shot and downed it, slamming the glass back onto the table.
Cassian finally stood up from where he sat. He stopped at the armchair where Soren was, grabbing the bottle before assessing its weight. His brother looked up at him but didn’t say anything.
Slowly, Cassian walked over, holding the bottle out for me to take.
"Drink it."
"What?"
"Finish this bottle," Cassian said, pushing the bottle of alcohol into my hands. "That will be your punishment."
Rowan and Soren both straightened, furrowing their eyebrows in confusion. Likewise, I stared at the bottle of alcohol in my hands.
"And why would I do that?" I asked with a scowl. I shoved the bottle back into Cassian’s hands. "What makes you think I want your forgiveness? I didn’t do anything wrong."
"Thought you might say that," he muttered, giving me a mocking sneer. He dug one hand into his pockets and pulled out a small chain. My eyes widened in recognition.
The small chain swung slightly between his fingers, catching the light. The dog tag glittered tauntingly.
"How did you get that?" I asked, trying to make a grab for it. Cassian stepped back, easily avoiding my grasp.
I had kept it safely in my bedroom before I left, worried that Violet might strip me and find this if I kept it in my pockets. I hadn’t even kept this in the grand guest bedroom that they let me sleep in for the night. In fact, I made a trip back down to my old servants’ quarters and tucked it under a loose floorboard.
No one should’ve been able to find it.
"You don’t need to know that," Cassian said. There was a devilish smile across his face, but it looked more haunting than playful, glittering with malicious intent.
"I do if you’re stealing my stuff," I said through gritted teeth. I lunged forward, trying to grab it from his hands. "This isn’t yours."
"Doesn’t seem like yours either," Cassian said. He stepped back a safe distance away and read the dog tag. "Lucien."
He let out a small hum. Behind him, Soren and Rowan stiffened, as though they recognized that name. They glanced at each other before turning back to look at Cassian and me.
"Well, it’s not yours either," I insisted. "Give it back."
"Finish this bottle," Cassian said, tossing me the bottle of alcohol. "And I’ll consider giving this back to you."
Instinctively, I caught the bottle. Soren had already done a number on it― more than half of its contents were finished. There was maybe just about a third of it left.
However, there were a few problems.
Werewolves had enhanced healing compared to human beings. Their healing allowed their bodies to negate the effects of most human alcoholic drinks. As such, if they wanted to get drunk, the alcohol that they produced for their consumption needed to be different from what humans drank. Werewolf booze was stronger, so strong that it would kill any human drinking it.
For a wolfless woman like me, drinking this could mean I would die. Even if I didn’t, I was pregnant. I would not be able to keep this child.
My hands subconsciously touched my stomach, an action that Cassian caught. His smile flickered briefly, but he quickly schooled his expression.
"Well?" he asked. "Are you drinking it or not?"
I slowly raised my gaze to look at him. Cassian knew that I was pregnant. He was the only one of the three brothers who knew. That meant that he also understood what could — would — happen to me if I drank the alcohol as he demanded me to.
This wasn’t even about the dog tag chain anymore. He simply wanted to avenge Violet, and this was the only way he could think of that would get a reaction out of me.
All of a sudden, I felt my heart freeze over.
I needed to get the chain back. This was my only clue as to who my fourth fated mate could be. If he was willing to save me twice and risk getting caught just to sneak into my room, surely he would be a better option than any of the triplet Alphas.
My gaze found Rowan, who was still standing rigidly by the window. Then, it flitted over to Soren. This child I was carrying could be either of theirs. However, they didn’t know I was pregnant. If they did, would they stop Cassian? Or would they share the same sentiments as their brother?
Seeing my hesitance, Cassian clicked his tongue. He strolled over to the fireplace and held his hand out, dangling the chain right above the fire.
"Maybe you need some motivation―" he said.
My eyes widened.
"No!" The yell slipped from my lips instantly.
Damn it. Damn it all.
Did I really want to keep the child, knowing that they would grow up unloved and unwanted by their own father? Was there even a point in keeping it when I might have a second chance at a better life with another fated mate?
Could I give up an innocent life?
But I could never get another chance like this again. Finding Lucien might be my only shot at escaping this nightmare. This child also deserved better than to be born into this nightmare― and that was if Violet decided to be merciful and let them even be born.
"I..." I said, my words choked up. Only when I tasted salt on my lips did I realize I was crying. "I’ll drink it."
