Chapter 19 Esmeralda's Pov

• I lie there, staring at the ceiling, my hands instinctively moving to rest on my stomach. There’s a life growing inside me, a life I feel bound to protect, even if I have to risk everything. But how? Alone, with no allies and no way to fight back, I know I’ll have to tread carefully.
• Karel will never allow you to leave. The realization strikes me, cold and hard. She would do everything to ensure I remain a ghost within these walls, a shadow carrying Sheldon’s child and nothing more.
• With a deep breath, I close my eyes, steadying my pulse. For now, I have to play by Sheldon’s rules and stay silent and compliant. If I resist too openly, I’ll lose any chance of escaping with my child.
• A sudden knock on the door jolts me from my thoughts. My heart races, expecting Sheldon to have returned. But when the door opens, a familiar face appears. Aurora, the maid who had once warned me of Karel’s intentions.
• She glances around quickly before stepping inside, her expression wary. “How are you doing?” she whispers, shutting the door behind her. “I heard… everything. Congratulations.”
• I swallow, feeling a strange mix of happiness and fear. “Aurora, you shouldn’t be here. If Karel or Sheldon finds out…”
• “The Alpha allowed me to be here to personally take care of you.” She crosses her arms, her face firm. “I know what Karel’s capable of, and I know what she’ll do to you if she gets the chance. But I won’t stand by and let her do this to you or your child.”
• My throat tightens, and tears prick my eyes. It’s the first kindness I’ve felt in days. “I don’t know what to do,” I confess, my voice barely a whisper.
• Aurora steps closer, her gaze intense. “You’re stronger than you think, Esmeralda. And you’re not alone—not as much as they’d like you to believe.”
• Her words fill me with a glimmer of courage. “But how?” I murmur, glancing toward the door, my voice barely audible. “They’ll have me watched, and Sheldon will never let me leave with his child.”
• Aurora’s eyes widen. “You plan to leave with the child?”
• “I can't leave my child here. Not with Karel or Sheldon. No, I can't.” I respond, still struggling to grasp the possibility of an ally. Am I revealing too much of my plans?
• “I don't know if that will be possible. You have to be careful not to end up losing your life. The Alpha will take care of his own,” she says simply. “You’re not like the others. You’ve faced things they could never endure, and you’re still here, fighting.” She places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Some of us… we believe the pack’s future doesn’t belong with Karel.”
• I feel my breath catch, her words planting a small, fragile seed of hope within me. If I could gather allies—those who might help me escape or even challenge Karel’s hold—then maybe, just maybe, I’d have a chance.
• Aurora’s voice grows firm. “Whatever happens, you must be careful. Karel will stop at nothing to keep you out of sight, away from the pack’s eyes. And if she suspects that you plan to take your child… well, she won’t hesitate to remove you as a threat.”
• A chill runs through me, and I nod, determined to heed her warning. “Thank you, Aurora,” I murmur, feeling a surge of strength.
• She glances at the door before stepping back. “I’ll do what I can to support you in this trying time.”
• She slips out quietly, and as the door closes behind her, a steely resolve begins to settle within me. I may be powerless now, but I am not weak. I have a child to protect, a life to fight for.
• As I lie back, my hand resting protectively over my stomach, I know the path ahead will be difficult and laced with traps. But I’ll find a way, no matter what it takes.
• For my child, I’ll fight until my last breath.
• ---
• Sheldon’s POV
• I step into my office, feeling the weight of my decision settle heavily. Karel’s reaction still haunts me. It wasn't any less than I expected anyways. I’ve promised her I’ll sever the bond with Esmeralda once the child is born, and yet… a part of me recoils at the thought.
• My wolf stirs uneasily, resisting the idea with a ferocity I can’t ignore. Deep down, I know breaking a bond isn’t like breaking a mere contract. It’s a wound that will scar both of us in ways neither of us can fully understand.
• I press my fingers to my temple, trying to ignore the gnawing doubt that lingers. Karel is my Luna, the one I’ve chosen. Yet my wolf’s loyalty to Esmeralda claws at my resolve, and for the first time, I wonder if I’ve misjudged the strength of our bond.
• The door swings open, and Karel strides in, her gaze hard and focused. She stands before me, her expression unreadable, though I sense the tension between us as palpable as ever.
• “Have you told her?” she asks bluntly, her tone laced with a cold finality.
• I nod, feeling the weight of my choice settle more heavily. “Yes, she knows.”
• “And you’ll honor your word, won’t you?” she presses, her gaze unyielding.
• “Yes,” I reply, though my voice sounds hollow. “Once the child is born, I’ll end the bond.”
• For a moment, she studies me, searching for any trace of hesitation. When she finally nods, the faintest trace of relief flickers in her eyes, though it’s quickly replaced by an unsettling intensity.
• “Good,” she says, her tone softened slightly, her hand reaching out to touch mine. “We can do this, Sheldon. Together, we’ll make the pack stronger than ever.”
• I force a nod, knowing this is the path I’ve chosen. Yet, as she leaves, my chest burns. A whisper of doubt, too faint to ignore but too dangerous to acknowledge. I had lied to her. If I tell her the truth, she will run away. By the way, I don't think I had the heart to do as Karel demanded.
• I glance toward the window, the distant horizon blurred with storm clouds gathering on the edge of the pack's forest. The bond between Esmeralda and me remains fragile. But deep down, I fear it may be stronger than anything I’ve ever known.
• The dining room is quiet, just as it is every morning. I’m used to the silence here, the lack of distractions allowing me to focus on the day ahead. Karel is almost never around for breakfast; she’s always busy attending to her responsibilities as Luna, or so she claims. The events, the gatherings…she finds her place within the pack that way. And I find mine, alone at this table.
• I’ve barely taken a sip of my coffee when the soft patter of footsteps catches my attention. I look up to see Esmeralda standing hesitantly at the doorway, her eyes briefly meeting mine before flicking away, uncertainty clear on her face.
• “May I join you for breakfast?” she asks, her voice soft and her gaze uncertain.
• For a moment, I’m thrown off balance, a flicker of surprise settling in my chest. I nod, gesturing to the seat across from me. “Of course.”
• She moves forward cautiously, almost as if she’s expecting me to change my mind. When she finally sits down, there’s a lingering silence between us. I wonder what has prompted her to come here, to sit with me like this.
• As she quietly reaches for a slice of toast, I notice the faint tremor in her hand. I clear my throat, breaking the silence.
• She glances up at me, her expression unreadable.
• She finally speaks, her voice so soft I almost miss it. “I’d like to know more about the pack,” she says, almost hesitant.
• I frown in silence and lean forward, wondering what to say. But that's not all, as I am surprised at the next question that she asks.