Chapter 10
I hit send, watching the “read” notification pop up almost instantly. The typing bubble appeared, but I didn’t even wait for her reply. I just blocked her. Enough was enough!
With a sigh, I put my phone away and walked over to the small room where. Ember was sleeping. Rachel sat beside her, watching over her like she always did. As soon as she saw me, she gave me a calm, reassuring smile.
“She’s safe, Cassandra. You don’t need to worry.”
I took a seat by Ember‘ s cradle, looking down at her tiny, perfect face. She moved a little, her little hands curling as a soft, sleepy smile appeared on her lips. All the frustration I’d been holding onto melted away as I watched her. This was what mattered–my reason for everything. I reached into the cradle, gently stroking her
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heek.
“She’s everything,” I murmured, “relancing at Rachel.
st inst
but la
blocke
one
TODE
chels
he alm
achel nodded. “She’s your strength, ass. And don‘ t worry–she’s got all of s looking out for her.”
woke
up suddenly in the middle of the ight, my heart racing. I heard a strange oise breaking the silence–soft, but efinitely creepy. Something felt off. I
hiffed the air and there it was: Melanie‘ s
garerent.
- You
quickly looked over at Ember‘ s crib, and chill ran down my spine. I could see a hadow near it–Melanie! Panic set in as I s craolted from my bed. She was almost. face aching for my little girl.
linga
n her
No!” I shouted, sprinting toward them. Get away from her!”
Idinalde
hyfelanie turned around, a sickening smirk restolastered on her face. “Well, well, if it
ent the big, brave Alpha,” she mocked,
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her voice dripping with malice. “I‘ ve come to take what‘ s mine.
“What’s yours?” I shot back, grabbing Ember from her crib and holding her protectively against my chest. “You think this baby is yours? You‘ ve lost it!”
“Oh, Cassandra,” she laughed, and it sent chills down my spine. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. Drake‘ s been acting so strange lately, hasn‘ t he? I wonder if he’s figured out that you‘ re just a
distraction.
“Shut up,” I snapped, ready for a fight. “You‘ re not going to touch her. You‘ re sick!”
“Am I?” she hissed, stepping closer, her eyes narrowing. “I was pregnant once, you know. But thanks to you, I lost that baby. If you hadn’t slapped me that day, I would have been fine! But instead, I fell off the ladder and lost everything. So now,
it’s only fair I take yours instead. A mother’s revenge, right?”
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The words hit me hard. I could smell it now -she wasn‘ t pregnant anymore. “You had a miscarriage?” I asked, my voice icy.
“And you think it’s my fault? You‘ re
sick, Melanie. You almost killed my baby that day, and you can’t blame me for your failures!”
Her eyes darkened, and she stepped closer. E “Oh, but I can. You took everything from
H
me, and now I’m going to take everything from you!”
In that moment, I realized how much danger Ember was in. I stood my ground, rage boiling within me. “You will never touch her. I’ll protect my daughter with my life!”
Melanie lunged forward, and I reacted instinctively, dodging her grasp. I immediately put down Ember on her crib and ready myself to fight. Melanie
bull
ned
stumbled but quickly regained her footing, her eyes glinting with rage.
thing
“You think you‘ re so strong, but you‘ re
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Chapter 10
just a pathetic mother! You’ll never be able to protect her from me!”
I had no choice but to fight. “Get out! You don’t belong here!”
As we grappled, she swung her arm, and I barely dodged. I kicked out, catching her off guard, but she recovered and retaliated. The room felt like it was closing in on us, and I could hear Ember‘ s soft whimpers growing louder, as if sensing the danger.
“You‘ re going to regret this, Cassandra!” Melanie hissed, shoving me back. I stumbled but regained my balance, adrenaline pumping through my veins.
“Not if I stop you first!” I shouted, charging at her.
We clashed again, and the air filled with the sounds of our struggle. I pushed her against the wall, feeling a surge of power, but she twisted, elbowing me in the ribs. Pain shot through me, but I didn’t back down. I couldn’t let her win.
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In a moment of desperation, I used all my strength to shove her hard against the wall. She lost her balance, her eyes wide with shock as I kicked her away from Ember. She tumbled backward, crashing through the window and falling five stories down.
“No!” I screamed, my heart racing as I rushed to the window.
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