Chapter 2
“Malik Hawthorne! That’s your own son!”
son!”
“How could you be so fucking cruel!”
Malik had his betas hold me down, ignoring my struggles and pleas as he carried our pup to the car.
It was the middle of summer. Adults could suffocate in a sealed car in this heat, let alone a helpless baby.[]
I broke free from their grip and ran into the courtyard.]
The car was locked tight, and Malik stood there dangling the keys, taunting me.
0
“Lavinia, I’m asking you one last time–are you going to give Abigail that blood transfusion or not?“]]
I pounded desperately on the silver–lined glass cage as our pup wailed inside what had become a blazing oven.]]
The heat turned his little cheeks bright red, while dehydration made his lips pale and cracked.]
“Abigail can’t handle my blood!“[]
“Malik! Let the baby out right now!”
Malik snorted coldly. “Still refusing, huh?”
“Lavinia Grimaldi, do you really think you’re some kind of goddess? What, does your blood have magical powers now?”
He hurled the car keys into the swimming pool.
“Fine then. Figure out how to get your precious baby out yourself!“]
I beat the windows with my fists, kicked with my feet, until my hands and legs were bloody and raw. The silver–reinforced glass wouldn’t even crack.[]
“Save your energy. That’s silver–lined bulletproof glass–you’ll never
break through.”
བཞིན དང་ དང པ མ
Our pup had stopped struggling inside the cage, his breathing growing weaker by the second.
I collapsed at Malik’s feet.
“I’ll do it! I’ll give Abigail the transfusions!”
“Just save our baby!“]]
Malik gently stroked my hair, then pulled another set of keys from his pocket.]
“There’s a good girl!”
“Relax, those keys I threw were fake. You think I’d really hurt my own son?”
Malik unlocked the cage and had someone carry our pup out.]
He personally took the needle and jabbed it into the vein in my arm.]
“Lavinia, it’s only a hundred milliliters a day. It won’t hurt you!“]
“Once Abigail’s pup is born safely, I’ll have him call you mama too.“]
I stared numbly as my crimson blood was drawn from my body.[]
“I don’t need that.“]
Malik pulled out the needle, wiping away the drop of blood that beaded at the puncture site and smearing it across my lips.[]
Lavinia, don’t be ungrateful!“[]
“I can forgive you for all those lies you told, but there has to be consequences.“[]
“Don’t worry–once I cool off, I’ll send Abigail away so she won’t bother you anymore.“[]
The servants took my fresh blood away to transfuse into Abigail.
“But Lavinla, you’re too scheming for your own good. To keep you in line, you’ll only get to see our pup if you show up for your daily
I stared at Malik in silence, saying nothing.
dravi
The weather was sweltering, but inside I felt nothing but bone–deep despair.
Women blessed as Moon Priestesses were born from the Moon Goddess’s mercy–her final act of compassion before the curse took hold.]
But if the Hawthorne men proved unworthy, betraying and hurting their Priestess wives, divine retribution would follow.[]
Our sacred blood was the witness to their crimes.]
When we suffered enough at the hands of the Hawthorne bloodline, the Moon Goddess’s curse would echo in our minds.
Then everything the Hawthornes had gained through their Priestess wives would be taken back–with interest.]]
For generations, the Hawthorne pack had honored their ancestral warnings. No Hawthorne man had ever dared betray his mate.]]
But Malik didn’t believe in destiny. For Abigail’s sake, he’d tortured me, even endangering his own son’s life.
I wondered if he’d be able to handle what was coming for him.
A servant came running out, covered in blood from head to toe, panic written across her face.
“Alpha Hawthorne! You need to come quickly! Something’s wrong with Miss Abigail!“]
