Chapter 305
Chapter 305
Avery’s POV
I don’t want Avery. I just want the child. Not her. Never her.
The words repeated in my head like a broken record. Over and over and over until I couldn’t hear anything else.
He had come back for the baby. Not for me.
How long had he known that I was pregnant? Did he know before Asher took me? Did he scent it on me? Was that why he had come back? To get his heir?
All of it… it was all for an heir. A way to continue his bloodline. I was just the vessel carrying his child. Nothing more. I should have known from the beginning. I supposed I did. I’d always suspected that he only kept me around because he wanted a mate and heirs. Not out of love.
Now, I was almost certain.
Maybe that was why he’d slept with that woman without a second thought. Temptation had taken hold of him so easily because he never truly loved me.
The baby twisted uncomfortably in my stomach, I pressed my hand to my mouth, fighting the urge to retch. My guard finally looked over at me.
“You alright?” he asked.
I nodded quickly and turned on my heel. “I’m going back to my tent,” I said abruptly. I brushed past him without another word, still hiding the syringe up my sleeve, and rushed away. I didn’t think about the fact that my plan was going to shit or that I was willingly returning to my prison cell right now. I just needed to be alone.
By the time I got back to my tent, my mind was already made up. The human lands. That was where I needed to go. Just like in my dream. I would take my baby and disappear. Start a new life where no one could find me. Where I wouldn’t have to be anyone’s pawn ever again,
No Asher. No Gideon. Just me and my child and my mother, finally living in peace.
I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice the tent flap opening until it was too late.
Asher stepped into my tent. His good eye landed on me immediately.
“Avery,” he said, stepping forward, “I heard you came to my tent earlier, You wanted to see me p>
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I froze. My hand instinctively tucked the syringe further up into my sleeve, heart pounding.
“I… I came to talk to you,” I stammered out.
Asher’s gaze swept over me, taking in my appearance. My pale face. The way my hands were shaking. He frowned.
“Are you unwell p>
“No, I’m fine.” I forced a smile. “I just needed to speak with you about… about the wedding p>
Asher studied me for a moment longer, then nodded. “Very well. What do you want to talk about p>
I hesitated, not sure how to respond. Asher seemed to notice my pause, because his shoulders slumped.
“I see.” He sighed softly. “You overheard, didn’t you? What Gideon said.” When I still didn’t respond, he went on, “I’m sorry you had to hear that, Avery. Truly. You deserve better p>
I stared at the ground. My chest felt hollow.
“I know this is difficult for you, poppet.” Asher took another step closer. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my face, tucking it gently behind my ear. “You thought he cared about you. You thought he came here to rescue you because he loved you. But the truth is, he only came for the baby. For his heir p>
I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood.
Asher reached into his pocket then and pulled something out: a small vial with a milky liquid inside. He uncorked it and held it out to me.
“Here p>
I stared at the vial. I knew what was inside without him even having to say it. The abortion drug.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Asher said. You think I’m trying to coerce you, or perhaps even force you, to abort the baby you want so dearly p>
I didn’t take the cup. I didn’t even look at him.
“The truth is, I don’t want you to be bound to Gideon any longer. This child… It’s a chain that ties you to him. A reminder of what he did to you. Of how he used you p>
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He moved closer still until his chest brushed my shoulder. I could smell the liquid in the vial now. It was sweet, like strawberries and cream. His voice was soft when he spoke. Almost kind.
“You can be free, Avery. All you have to do is drink this. The baby will be gone by morning, and you will never have to think about Gideon again. You and I can start fresh. Build a new life together. Have children of our own. Pure Lycan children who will carry on our legacy p>
I stared at the vial for another long moment. Then, slowly, my fingers began to reach for me.
For a moment, I almost wondered if it would be easier to take it. To drink it down and let everything just… end. No more fighting. No more pain. No more impossible choices.
I could be free.
But then I thought of my baby. The tiny life growing inside of me. The dream I’d had of the little boy with dark hair, laughing in a field of corn.
This was my child. Not Gideon’s. Not Asher’s. Mine.
And I would never betray them.
I grabbed the vial from Asher’s hand. For a moment, he smiled, thinking I was going to drink it.
Instead, I threw the contents in his face.
The liquid splashed across his skin, dripping down his cheek and onto his shirt. He recoiled, wiping at his eye.
“What the p>
“I’ll never betray my baby,” I said. My voice was shaking, but the words were firm, ” Never p>
Asher’s expression darkened. He backpedaled slowly, his fists clenched at his sides.
“You ungrateful little-” He stopped himself, taking a deep breath, and shook his head. “You’ll regret this, Avery. When Gideon strips you of every ounce of dignity you have left, when he tramples all over the Lycan legacy, you’ll wish you took my advice p>
Without another word, Asher turned and left.
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Chapter 305
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I didn’t move for a long time after he was gone. Not until the camp went quiet and many minutes had passed without him returning.
Only then did I slip the morphine out of my sleeve and stare at the syringe.
Dammit. I had every opportunity to finish this, but I had failed. I’d gotten so caught up in my pain that I’d forgotten to do what I’d tasked myself to do.
But I would not fail next time. My mind was already swirling with possibilities. Tomorrow would be different.
Tomorrow, I would carry out my plan. I would escape this godforsaken place and leave Asher behind.
And then, once I was free, I would do what I’d been holding myself back from doing for too long.
I would leave. Go to the human lands with my mother. Buy some land, start a farm. Work until my hands went raw. But it would be good, fulfilling work.
And most of all, I would raise my child on my own, without anyone’s help.
Without Gideon.
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