Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Running Out of Time

Jade’s POV

The door had barely finished closing behind Linda when my knees gave out.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at nothing, my palm pressed flat against my stomach like I could physically shield what was inside me from the world outside.

If you love it, you’ll protect it.

Her voice wouldn’t stop echoing.

A knock at my door made me flinch so violently my heart slammed against my ribs.

“Jade?” Renzo’s voice. Careful. Soft. “Can we come in?”

I wiped my face quickly, dragging my sleeve under my eyes. I forced my breathing to steady.

“Yeah,” I called, praying my voice didn’t shake.

The door opened, and the three of them stepped inside like they were walking into a fragile space.

Renzo first. Ryder right behind him. Ronan closing the door gently.

They all stopped when they saw me sitting there.

Ryder frowned immediately. “You look pale.”

“I just threw up,” I said flatly. “That’s kind of how that works.”

Renzo stepped closer, crouching slightly so he was eye level with me. “You were gone a while.”

I shrugged. “It didn’t stop.”

That part wasn’t a lie.

Ronan walked over to my nightstand and placed a glass of water there. “You need to hydrate.”

“I will.”

They didn’t move.

They just stood there watching me like they were waiting for something.

Renzo’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Something else happened.”

It wasn’t a question.

My chest tightened.

“No,” I said immediately. Too immediately. I softened my tone. “I just... feel overwhelmed. That’s all.”

Ryder exchanged a look with Ronan.

Renzo studied my face like he was trying to peel back layers.

“You can tell us,” he said quietly.

The words almost broke me.

Tell them what?

That Linda threatened to kill me?

That she threatened our baby?

That she’s probably the reason my mother is dead?

And what would happen after that?

They’d confront her.

She’d deny it.

And I’d be the unstable pregnant girl imagining things.

Like always.

I forced a small smile. “It’s hormones. The doctor literally said stress makes it worse.”

They were silent for a moment.

Ryder exhaled slowly. “Okay.”

He didn’t look convinced.

Renzo stood up. “We’re not leaving you alone tonight.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You shouldn’t be by yourself,” Ronan added quickly. “Not after collapsing today.”

“I didn’t collapse because I was alone,” I said. “I was just tired.”

Renzo shook his head. “We’ll move in here, into your room to be with you.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“Then you can come to our room,” Ryder offered immediately. “Just for tonight.”

My pulse jumped.

“No.”

They all stiffened.

“I just want quiet,” I said, softer this time. “Please. I need space.”

Renzo hesitated. “Jade....”

“I need to breathe,” I whispered.

That made them pause.

Ryder nodded first. “Okay.”

Reluctantly.

Ronan added, “Call us if you feel dizzy again.”

Renzo stepped closer and brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face. His touch was gentle. Careful.

“You don’t have to go through things alone,” he murmured.

My throat tightened.

I nodded because speaking felt dangerous.

They left slowly, like they were worried I’d shatter the moment the door closed.

The click of the latch sounded louder than it should have.

I stood up immediately.

Locked it.

Then I checked the window.

Twice.

The house felt different now.

Too quiet.

Every small creak of the wood made my shoulders jump.

I dragged a chair in front of the door without thinking about it. Just a small barrier. Something symbolic.

I crawled into bed, pulling the covers up higher than usual.

My hand rested over my stomach again.

Two days

She had given me two days.

I barely slept.

When I did, it was restless and shallow.

I dreamed of fire crawling up my walls.

Of smoke filling my lungs.

Of stairs crumbling beneath my feet.

I woke up gasping.

There was knocking again.

“Jade?” Renzo’s voice.

I jolted upright.

“It’s morning.”

Morning.

One day closer.

“Yeah,” I croaked. “I’m awake.”

The door opened after I moved the chair aside.

They stepped in carefully, scanning me like they expected to find damage.

“How did you sleep?” Ryder asked.

“Fine.”

“You look tired,” Ronan said.

“I am tired.”

Renzo walked closer. “Any dizziness?”

“No.”

“Nausea?”

“Not right now.”

They were hovering.

Ryder reached for my hand. “Slow when you stand up.”

I almost laughed.

I wasn’t fragile yesterday.

But now that I’m pregnant, I’m glass.

They walked on either side of me as we headed downstairs.

Like bodyguards.

Like I might disappear.

When we reached the dining hall, Alpha Ashford and Linda were already seated.

Alpha stood immediately when he saw me.

“Jade,” he greeted warmly. “Come. Sit.”

He pulled out the chair himself.

That had never happened before.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied quietly.

“Make sure she gets fruit,” he instructed the maid. “And something light. No heavy spices.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I sat down slowly.

Linda smiled at me from across the table.

Sweet.

Composed.

Her eyes flicked to my stomach briefly.

Then back to mine.

A reminder.

The boys took their seats close to me. Too close.

Ryder poured water for me before I could reach for it.

Ronan pushed the fruit bowl toward me.

Renzo watched my face like he was waiting for me to faint again.

Alpha Ashford nodded approvingly. “You must take care of yourself now. You carry the future of this pack.”

There it was.

Not you matter.

The future matters.

I forced a polite smile.

“I understand.”

Linda sipped her tea, her pinky lifted delicately.

“You must avoid stress,” she added lightly. “It’s not good for the baby.”

Her gaze met mine again.

Cold beneath the sweetness.

My appetite vanished.

After breakfast, Alpha folded his napkin.

“You won’t be going to school today,” he stated firmly.

I looked up. “I want to.”

He frowned. “Rest is more important.”

“I’ll be fine,” I insisted. “I don’t want to fall behind.”

The boys glanced between us.

Alpha considered it.

Then his tone hardened.

“If you go, my sons will drive you. They will stay with you. They will not leave your side.”

“Yes, father” they answered immediately.

Linda said nothing.

But her jaw tightened slightly.

When we finally got ready and walked outside, the car was waiting.

And then we all paused.

It wouldn’t fit all of us.

Again.

Before I could even think....

Renzo turned to Linda.

“You should ask one of the drivers to take you,” he said calmly. “We’re riding with Jade.”

Ryder nodded. “We need to stay with her.”

Ronan added, “It makes more sense.”

Linda’s smile froze for half a second.

Then she recovered beautifully.

“Of course,” she said. “Jade needs you more.”

Her tone was gentle.

But her eyes were not.

As the car pulled away, I saw her standing there.

Watching.

School was worse.

They walked on either side of me through the gates.

Students stared.

Whispered.

“Is she okay?”

“Why are they suddenly glued to her?”

"I heard she is now pregnant"

"Can traitors actually give birth to royal blood or is she just pretending to be pregnant for the attention?"

Ryder carried my bag.

“I can carry it,” I said.

“No,” he replied instantly.

Ronan held the classroom door open.

Renzo sat beside me even though that wasn’t his usual seat.

Between classes, they didn’t leave.

They skipped their own classes to stay near me.

“You need to eat,” Ryder said at break, placing a snack in my hand.

“I’m not hungry.”

“You have to.”

Renzo frowned when I stood too fast. “Slow.”

“I’m pregnant, not dying,” I muttered.

He didn’t laugh.

When I stood up during lunch, Ronan immediately stood too.

“Bathroom,” I said.

“We’ll come,” Ryder answered.

I stopped walking.

“It’s the girls’ bathroom.”

They hesitated.

Renzo rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll wait outside.”

I sighed.

We walked to the bathroom together amd they actually stayed outside while I walked in.

Immediately I emtered, I froze.

Linda was leaning against the sink.

Waiting.

The door swung closed behind me.

“You’re running out of time,” she said casually.

My throat went dry.

“You have until tomorrow night.”

I said nothing.

“If you don’t confess,” she continued, stepping closer, “I won’t hesitate.”

Her voice was colder now. No sugar coating.

“I will kill you,” she said plainly. “And that child.”

The words hit harder this time.

Because she meant them.

She stepped back, adjusting her hair.

“Choose wisely.”

She walked out past me.

When I exited a minute later, the boys immediately straightened.

“What happened?” Renzo asked.

“You look pale,” Ryder added.

“Are you sick again?” Ronan pressed.

I swallowed.

“Just pregnancy stuff,” I said.

They exchanged worried looks.

The rest of the day blurred.

By the time we drove back to the mansion, my head was pounding.

Tomorrow night.

I only have until tomorrow night.