Chapter 428
Four hundred and thirty
Emma POV
The second day of Isabella’s coronation festivities was far more intimate. The public ball and the celebrations in the central square were over, leaving only the inner circle for the official installation ceremony and a family dinner in the alpha house.
I headed toward the lounge where the older ones were resting. My parents were with Uncle Cameron and Luna Lisa. Even Grandma Cassidy had returned for the installation. The moment I approached, my mother’s eyes locked onto me. The anxiety she’d been carrying all week surfaced again.
“Emma, sweetheart,” Mom said, sitting up and patting the space beside her. “Come sit down. Are you feeling all right? Have you eaten enough? Let me get you a glass of juice p>
I couldn’t help smiling. “Mom, I ate twenty minutes ago p>
I glanced at Uncle Cameron and Luna Lisa.
“Did you tell them?” I murmured to Mom.
Mom shot a hesitant look at Dad before looking back at me. “No… not yet, sweetie. We didn’t want to overstep p>
It was the walking-on-eggshells tone parents used when they were trying not to alienate their adult children.
“It’s okay, Mom,” I said. “We can tell them p>
“Tell us what?” Uncle Cameron asked, setting his drink on the side table and looking between us with an easy smile. He and I had always been close, and he’d always joke about how he was the best uncle anyone could ask for. He was right, but there was no way to compare since I had no other uncle.
My heart pounded faster knowing he’d be disappointed in me, but I needed to do the right thing.
“Uncle Cameron, Luna Lisa… There’s something I need to tell you. It’s… probably not the most conventional timing, but I want you to hear it from me p>
Luna Lisa, who’d been distracted by a funny tale Grandma Cassidy was telling, turned around, giving me her
whole attention.
“What is it, Emma dear p>
“I’m pregnant p>
Luna Lisa gasped, her hand flying to her chest. Uncle Cameron’s gaze flicked from my face to my stomach, then back again. His brows furrowed as he turned toward my parents.
“Franklin? Nadia? What is she talking about p>
My father let out a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “She told us a few days ago. We’re still trying to wrap our heads around it p>
Mom’s eyes welled with tears. Her voice trembled as she struggled to explain. “It was a one-night stand. I spent my entire youth being reckless and never had an issue, and Emma went out once and…” She stopped, biting her lip as she looked at me.
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Luna Lisa crossed the space and took both my hands in hers.
“Are you keeping the baby p>
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I’m keeping it p>
She glanced toward the main dining hall, where Charlie was laughing with a group of alphas. “What about Charlie? Does he know? He’s been beside himself over you for months p>
“Charlie knows I’m pregnant. But I’m not going to rush into a marriage or compel him to take on a responsibility he might eventually regret. We’re taking things step by step p>
“Oh, Emma… But if Charlie insists, just let him. You know our family’s history. Fatherhood doesn’t have to be blood-related to be real. Look at Maverick and Wesley p>
“I know, Luna Lisa. And I respect Charlie immensely. But I’m an adult. I didn’t get forced into this, and I’m not going to hide behind a quick marriage to protect my reputation. I know the consequences, and I’ll carry them p>
“You bear our family name, Emma,” Uncle Cameron said, his voice firm. “And you have our full support. If anyone tries to make you feel ashamed, they’ll answer to me p>
“Thank you, Uncle Cameron p>
“Now tell me, Emma. Do you really not know who the father is? No phone number? No name p>
Shit.
I forced myself to meet his eyes while delivering the cover story. “I was tipsy p>
A shadow of regret crossed my uncle’s face, but he didn’t push.
I wasn’t ashamed of Alexander anymore, but I knew my family. If I told them now that the father was Alexander, a rogue locked in the Iron Wells facing treason charges, my father and uncle would lock Alexander away forever to “protect” me.
I had to handle this my way.
Later that night, after returning to my apartment, I pulled out my phone. Anita was out for the evening. She’d taken a guest DJ gig for Isabella’s after-party, giving me the privacy I needed.
I dialed Lucas’s contact. He answered on the second ring, his tone as dry as ever. “What p>
“Did the scouts find Anna’s registry trail yet?” I asked, pacing my living room.
“They’re working on it,” Lucas grunted. “She’s hiding deep in the east. It takes time to cross-reference without setting off pack alarms p>
“Fine. How’s Cherry doing p>
Lucas scoffed into the receiver. “Why don’t you come down and find out for yourself p>
I paused. “That’s actually not a bad idea p>
“Fine,” Lucas muttered. “Same pull-off at the gas station. Thirty minutes. Don’t be late p>
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Half an hour later, I pulled my Jeep onto the sunbaked road. The headlights revealed Lucas standing beside his motorcycle.
I rolled down my window as he walked up. Without a word, Lucas headed to the driver’s seat. I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not driving my Jeep. You drive like a maniac p>
Lucas sneered. “You think I’ll ride as a passenger in a shiny pack car while my men are watching? Give me the keys, town girl, or walk p>
I muttered a curse under my breath and slid into the passenger seat while Lucas climbed into the driver’s side, adjusted the seat with a grunt, and tore down the road. I glared at him the whole way. We drove deep into rogue territory. Unlike Alexander’s house, this main camp was gritty and crowded. Wooden shacks, patched tents, and campfires covered the terrain.
Dozens of eyes turned toward me as we got out. Sneers and murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Rich pack girl p>
“Did Lucas kidnap her? Why’s she walking on her own p>
An old man sitting near a fire spat onto the dirt, eyeing my boots. “Her shoes alone could feed my family for a week p>
I felt their judgment, but I didn’t shrink back or look down on them. A month ago, I might’ve felt fear or superiority. But after everything I’d learned, I saw them as displaced people, families stripped of their pack standings and surviving on the margins. I stayed silent, following Lucas toward a reinforced wooden structure near the back of the camp.
He pushed open the door, revealing a nursery. Cot beds lined the walls, filled with sleeping children, while a few women sat in a corner talking and helping with the older children. Sitting on a stool in the corner, holding a sleeping infant, was Cherry.
When the door clicked shut, Cherry looked up. The moment she saw me, her eyes widened. She carefully handed the baby to a woman beside her, stood, and rushed across the room. Without hesitation, Cherry threw her arms. around my neck and pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back.
When she pulled back, her hands moved rapidly, signing:
(What are you doing here? Is it safe for you p>
“I needed to see you,” I said. “Are you okay? Are the children eating p>
Cherry sighed, her face falling. She signed back: [We need help. The men can’t raid supply lines right now because the pack patrols are too tight. Rations are low p>
Isabella had mentioned setting up a relief initiative after I returned the stolen tokens. I pulled out a sealed envelope filled with cash from my personal accounts and pressed it into Cherry’s hands.
Cherry’s eyes widened. She shook her head and tried to push it back, but I held her wrists.
“Take it,” I said.
Lucas leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms with a smirk. “How generous. Look at the pack girl giving
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charity to the poor rogues. If you weren’t fated to Alexander, would you even breathe the same air as us p>
Cherry turned instantly, her hands flying into furious signs as she glared at Lucas: [Stop it! Shut up, Lucas p>
“He’s actually right, Cherry,” I said, looking at Lucas. “If I hadn’t met Alexander, I would’ve assumed every rogue was a monster p>
Lucas chuckled at my honesty.
An elderly woman stepped out from an inner room. I recognized her as the one my people had abducted earlier. She was introduced as Kamala, Lucas’s grandmother. She walked over and fixed her eyes on me. “You’re Emma,
she said, her voice raspy but deep. “Alexander’s girl p>
“I am,” I said politely.
Kamala reached out and took my hands in her calloused palms. “Lucas told me you checked on him.” Tears glistened in her eyes as she squeezed my fingers. “Thank you, child. Alexander is like a son to me. We’ve been sick with worry p>
“He’s fighting and holding on p>
Kamala smiled. “Can I get you something to eat? Tea p>
“No, thank you, Kamala,” I said. “I can’t stay long. But… there’s something I need to tell all of you p>
I looked at Kamala, then turned to Cherry and Lucas.
“I’m pregnant,” I said. “I’m carrying Alexander’s child p>
The room went silent. Lucas stood frozen by the doorframe, his jaw slack and eyes wide. Cherry gasped and covered her mouth. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she stepped forward and pulled me into another hug. Her hands rested against my back as she cried against my shoulder.
Kamala lowered herself into a wooden chair, her hands trembling as she wiped tears from her cheeks. Awe and grief crossed her face.
“A child…” Kamala whispered, looking toward the ceiling. “Alexander’s line lives on p>
I pulled back from Cherry and wiped a tear from her cheek.
Helping Alexander out of Iron Wells wasn’t just about clearing his name anymore. It was about bringing my child’s father home.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.