Zara

"Your baby is fine. Don’t worry," the woman replied gently.

Relief washed over me, and my hands remained protectively on my stomach. She took a step closer to me, extending her hand, but I panicked.

"Don’t touch me. Where is my Dad?" She stopped and honored my request.

"He’s outside. Waiting to see you. But first, Dr. Thames will need to examine you," she replied with a smile and paged the doctor. My heart sank... what if they’d done something to me?

Who even brought me here? Was she telling the truth?

"No, please, no. I want to see my family." I thrashed around in the bed, trying to get up.

But I had no strength or energy, and the bandages were too thick. My hands reached up to my face, and even that was covered in bandages.

The door opened, and two more people entered. The doctor and, presumably, his assistant. They, too, had restrained smiles on their faces.

"Zara! How are you feeling?" The one in the white coat came closer, and I screamed. The terror of the strange man touching me filled me with anxiety and dread.

"Step aside, don’t touch me."

The doctor and nurse exchanged a look that said, "She’s crazy."

"It’s okay, Zara. I promise I won’t hurt you. I’ll just give you a routine checkup, and then you can meet your family. So, please, can I?" he asked quietly, his voice not at all hostile. But that damn smile haunted me.

Marcus was smiling too.

"No, I want to see my Dad. Please, call him." I shook my head furiously, and he had to take a step back.

"It’s okay, it’s okay, Zara. No one will hurt you. So, how about we call your father? He’ll hold your hand, and you’ll let me examine you? Is that okay?" he asked gently, and I nodded quickly, wanting to see Dad so badly.

He turned his head and whispered something to his assistant. He nodded and hurried away. I looked away and tried not to panic. I breathed deeply, filling my lungs with as much oxygen as I could.

The doctor checked the machines connected to my body and took my medical records to review them after speaking with the nurse. Soon, the door opened, and I eagerly turned my head in that direction.

Only Dad entered. His desperate, worried eyes found me, and he tried to smile...

A strained, hurt smile.

"Dad..." I called out to him hoarsely.

With quick steps, he was instantly at my side. I wanted to throw myself into his arms, but I couldn’t move. He simply took my hand and tenderly kissed the back of it.

"Zara, how are you, my precious girl?" I felt like he was barely holding back his tears.

His other hand rested on my head, caressing it, and his deep gaze remained fixed on my face. A storm of emotions overwhelmed me, and I burst into tears. Dad immediately hugged me, trying to comfort me. His lips pressed to my head as he let me cry, recalling the bitter memories.

"Everything will be okay. I’m here, and I won’t let you go." Dad’s calm voice was like balm to my troubled heart.

"We’ll be back soon," the doctor murmured before everyone left, leaving us alone. I didn’t know how long I cried; Dad hugged me, but finally the tears stopped.

Dad sat down on the chair next to me and took my hands in his, watching as I tried to pull myself together.

"How long was I unconscious?" I asked, holding back tears. My heart was overwhelmed.

"Two days," he answered calmly, but his face hardened. He was trying to suppress these emotions.

Two days??? I was unconscious for two whole damn days.

"Who found me?" I asked again; my face itched from the bandages, and now from the tears. I wanted to scratch it, but my hands were still full.

Abduction never it would never be part of my plans. The consequences were too dire. But Dad’s body... He froze; a murderous glint appeared in his eyes after my question.

I knew the answer just by looking at his expression. He was completely displeased, and I realized they must have taken my flash drive.

"Alpha," he finally said, clenching his jaw.

He found me...

I needed to clarify the situation, and the police would start chasing him.

"Dad, I was wrong... I need to talk to the police. This flash drive... it was all Marcus’s doing... he ruined everything. I need to tell you so much..." I started to panic again.

***

(Zyair)

Alpha nearly gave me a heart attack when he announced that Zara was pregnant with his child...

The anger that welled up within me nearly blinded me, and if Ryan hadn’t intervened, I would have seriously harmed him.

We instilled values ​​in our children and taught them to trust us, but Zara hid everything. He’d changed her, and I blamed him completely. I didn’t understand how he’d made her do things she’d never even dreamed of, but I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Daddy, please. Calm down." Ryan sat me down while Sophia brought me some water.

"Zara’s fighting for her life. We need to stay calm for her sake, not fight." Ryan sighed heavily. "Let her at least come to her senses, and then we’ll sort out the rest. We need to hear her side of the story."

My son stood before me, pouring out wisdom. In my youth, I felt so much of myself in him.

Calm, balanced, rational.

But somehow, having children changes you. The worst side of you, the one you hide deep down, comes out.

I think that’s exactly what was happening to me.

"As far as I know, he raped her. How am I supposed to stay calm through all this?" I breathed, handing the glass back to Sophia after taking a sip.

She paused, then said, "No. It was all consensual."

Sophia was her best friend, so of course she knew.