Chapter 19 Eloise : +5 banus Menu The moment my feet touched the cool floor outside the infirmary , I hesitated . It felt surreal . It was almost impossible for me to process the fact that I was out of there , that I was free to roam around without anyone monitoring me the way that they did . For days , that sterile room had been my prison , the walls closing in with every passing second , suffocating me . But now , here I was , free to walk , though I knew that freedom was an illusion . Within this pack , within these grounds . I knew that freedom was going to be something that I was going to be looking for . It was going to be something that I was deprived from . And no matter how hard I wanted to deny it , I was not going to be able to do so . Each one of them wanted something from me and that's something was very obvious and clear . Dominic wanted me to leave , to give him my daughter . His father , however , believed that I was wrong with what I was doing . And then there was his mother , who I knew would do anything to stop me from doing anything that would be stupid , or at least something that you would deem or believe to be stupid . And finally , there was Lucy . I knew that she would do anything to see me dead , and I knew that she would do anything in her power to stop me from being here . Even my presence here right now was one of the key did not like and she's not doing anything to try and hide it . Wwards Dominic , she was going to do her best to get what she wanted and it was Her leaving told me that she was going to put an ad only a matter of time before he gave in to her . Nevertheless , had it been up to me , I would have left . However , with my daughter on the line with her being here , I was not going to give them that advantage . The nurses hadn't even questioned my request to leave . They simply nodded and moved aside , as if I was no more than a ghost passing through the halls . I wasn't sure if they pitied me or if they just didn't care . Perhaps both . Either way , I knew better than to ask . I just walked . Leaving that room that I was locked in , Leaving the place that I believed I should not be in , empty . They could use it for another patient . Right now I did not need to be one of them . 112 Each step felt heavier than the last as I followed the familiar path , my body moving before my mind had even registered where I was going . And before I knew it , I stood before the large window of the incubation room , my hands trembling at my sides as Llooked through the glass . I wrapped my arm around myself . It was the only comfort that I could have as I looked at her . My daughter . The little Angel that I fought to make sure she survived . The baby girl that I carried for months trying to protect , trying to find a way to sustain myself for her own sake , only to find myself failing miserably at that . Being back here was one of the proofs that I had to show how much I had failed myself and her . Isla's tiny body was curled up beneath the warmth of the incubator , her chest rising and falling in small , shallow breaths . The sight of her should have brought relief , but all I felt was a crushing weight on my chest . It felt like I was being locked up in some kind of game that I did not know how I was going to end up dealing with . I had barely fought for her . VIP Ad - Free > Chapter 19 I had barely managed to say anything to them . I didn't even have it in me to try and fight back . I had let them take her from my arms without resistance . Not because I didn't love her . Not because I didn't want her . But because I knew that if I had tried , I would have lost anyway . They would have taken her from me either way . Giving her to them to put inside this incubator was going to be the better option . I had nothing . No leverage . No power . Not against Dominic . Mmu I swallowed hard , my fingers pressing against the cold glass as I whispered , " I'm sorry , baby . I should have been stronger for you . I did not mean to fail you this way , but I know that I had no other option . " A lump formed in my throat , and I bit my lip to keep it from trembling . I refused to break . Not here . Not now . But then I felt it . The weight of a presence behind me . The presence of the one person that I did not want to see , that I did not want to look at , and that did not want that he understood that very well . I understood that he was the last person that I wanted to speak to or look at . me . And I knew The room was silent , save for the faint hum of the machines , but I could still feel him . Dominic . I didn't have to turn to know he was there . His scent , a mix of cedarwood and something darker , filled the space around me . was suffocating , pressing against my back like a heavy storm ready to unleash its wrath . I stayed stil !, keeping my eyes fixed on Isla , willing myself not to react . A moment passed before he spoke . His energy " You left the infirmary . " His tone was unreadable , but I could hear the restraint in his voice . If anyone knew when he wanted to control himself , when he wanted to try and avoid conflicts , then it would be me . I didn't answer . His footsteps were slow , measured , as he closed the distance between us . When he finally stopped beside me , he exhaled sharply , like he was trying to keep himself from saying something he'd regret . " You shouldn't be here , " he muttered . I turned my head slightly , just enough to meet his gaze . His green eyes were guarded , but beneath the surface , there was something else . Something I couldn't quite place . " She's my daughter , " I said simply . " I can stand here if I want to . I doubt that there would be a rule to stop me from doing so . " His jaw tightened . " You should be resting . There needed to be a rule for you to actually know that you need to rest . " I let out a Kapter 9 humorless laugh . +5 bonus Menu " Resting ?" I turned back to the glass , shaking my head . " How can I rest when my child is in there , alone ? " " She's not alone , " he shot back . " She's being monitored . She's safe . The number of nurses that are around her are countless . You don't need to worry . " " Neither one of the nurses are her mother . " I said as I let his words settle between us , feeling the weight of what he was really saying . She's safe here . Without you . I clenched my fists , willing myself to stay calm . " Safe or not , she's still my daughter . " " And what exactly do you plan to do , Eloise ?" His voice was lower now , sharper . " Are you planning to run ? Take her and disappear? Because if that's what you're thinking , you'd better get it out of your head now. " I turned fully to face him then , my eyes meeting his without hesitation . " You've already made it clear that I have no choice in the matter . " A His gaze darkened , but he said nothing . For the first time , we stood there , staring at each other , the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us . Finally , he spoke again , his voice quieter this time . " She's strong . She's going to be able to make it . " " She's just a baby . You claiming that she is strong does not make her strong , Dominic . " I said , and he hummed in response as if it was the most normal thing to do . I blinked at his words , caught off guard . " She's small , but she's strong , " he continued , looking at Isla through the glass . His expression softened for just a fraction of a second before he forced it back into its usual unreadable mask . " Baby or not , you can tell who is strong and who is not . " A part of me wanted to cling to that moment , to the way he had looked at our daughter as if , for the briefest moment , he actually felt something . But I knew better . Dominic wasn't capable of softness . Not for me . Not for anyone . The man that I believed to be kind was nothing more than a lie . He had played me like a fool to simply get what he wanted , and that was not something that I could just easily let go of . So , I turned back to Isla , ignoring the way my heart ached . " I should go , " I murmured . I didn't wait for him to respond . I took one last look at my daughter , at the fragile life I had brought into this world , before stepping away from the glass . VIP Ad Fren < Juapter 19 . And without another word , I walked past Dominic , leaving him standing there alone . +5 bonus Mbu rolled behind me , its wheels clicking in rhythm with my stride . I could still hear my father's voice in my head , harsh and unyielding , reminding me of the shame I had brought to our family by chasing after Dominic . The man that I knew that my father wamed me against seeing or speaking to again . He didn't even want me to mention his name , let alone see him , and yet , here I was , within his pack because I chose to fucking listen to my heart . I was done . My father was going to have my head the second I walked inside the house because of this . Or at least , I thought I was until I caught sight of her . Eloise . The Omega who had shattered everything . The girl who had somehow managed to turn Dominic's world upside down and take away what was supposed to be mine . The girl who managed to stab in , her pack Luna , in the back by spreading her legs to the man that did not want her around . My lover . A She had dared consider him a mate to her . The pathetic story of any Omega who would believe that she can climb through the ranks to become something that she clearly will never be . She stood by the glass window of the incubation room , her eyes fixed on the tiny figure inside . And though I knew better than to bother a mother , especially a new one , something in the way that she stood , her back straight as if she owned the place that made my blood boil . I couldn't help myself . A twisted smirk curled my lips as I approached her , the weight of my luggage forgotten as I let it roll to a stop behind me . " Well , well , " I drawled , folding my arms over my chest . " If it isn't the pack's charity case . I figured that you would know to at least have the curtesy to not be around with those that you betrayed . It seems to me that I really did think you to be more educated than you are . " Eloise didn't move . She remained rooted in place , her gaze still on her daughter . I took another step closer , my reflection overlapping hers in the glass . It was as if , in her mind , I currently did not exist . " You know , you should be grateful , " I continued . " Most girls like you don't get this kind of attention . An Omega ? Bearing the Alpha's child ? It's almost poetic , in a tragic , pitiful kind of way . Do you really think that you are going to be getting anywhere the way that you are ? " Her silence only fueled my anger . I wanted a reaction . I needed to see her break , to see her crumble the way I had when I found out about her and Dominic . I needed to make her understand what she made me go through . It wasn't going to be an opportunity that I wanted to let go of . VIP Ad Free < Chapter 19 +5 bonus Mithu " What's wrong ? " I taunted . " Cat got your tongue ? Or maybe you finally realized you're nothing but a placeholder . A temporary fix until Dominic comes to his senses ? Do you finally see your own stupid worth ? " Her fingers tightened against the windowsill, the knuckles turning white . A small victory . A small reaction was coming from her . One that was going to remind her of her place . " You're not going to stay , you know , " I said , leaning in so my breath brushed against her ear . " Dominic doesn't want you here . He's keeping you around for the baby , but you ? You're just an inconvenience . For now , until he finds someone else to nurse and take care of the child . " Eloise's chest rose and fell in slow , measured breaths . She didn't look at me , but I could see the strain in her expression , the war behind her eyes . " What's the matter , Eloise ? " I whispered . " Too weak to fight back ? Or are you realizing that every word that I am telling you is nothing more than the truth that everyone is afraid to show you . " Her head tumed , just a fraction , but enough for In My W MMMmne to see the steel in her gaze . And then , without warning , she moved . I put my finger on her shoulder , wanting to turn her to face me , and that was when she reacted for the first time . Her hand shot out , and before I could react , I was shoved back against the wall . The impact stole the breath from my lungs , and I stared at her , wide - eyed and stunned . ས་ དེ་ སྐད་ ་ ས་ ན་ ད་ ན་ ད་ ར་ ཀ་ ར་ རན་ ༤ ད་ " Touch me again , and I'll make you regret it , " she said , her voice low and calm , but threaded with danger . I let out a laugh , but it wavered . " You think you can threaten me ? You , a ranking Omega , think that you can stand against me ? " " I don't need to threaten you , " she replied . " You're already afraid . That's why you're lashing out . You're scared because you know that no matter what you do , you'll never have what I have . " A sharp sting flared in my chest , and I gritted my teeth . " And what exactly do you think you have , Omega ? What do you think that you can do to scare me ? " She stepped closer , closing the distance between us . I could see the exhaustion in her eyes , the shadows beneath them , but there was also a fire that hadn't been there before . " I have her , " she said , nodding toward the incubator . " And as much as you want to , you can't change that . You can't take away the fact that she is my daughter . And I believe that you know , more than anything that just as she is mine , she is Dominic's , " I opened my mouth to retort , but a new voice cut through the tension . " What is going on here ? " Dominic's figure loomed in the doorway , his expression a mixture of confusion and anger . His green eyes darted between us , taking in my position against the wall and Eloise's defiant stance . " Lucy , " he said , his voice edged with warning . " What are you doing ? " I straightened , brushing invisible dust from my sleeve as I forced a smile . " I was initially coming to say goodbye . But there has been a VIP Ad Free < Chapter 13 minor change in my plans . " Dominic's brows drew together . " Change in your plans ? " " Yes , " I said , my voice sweet . " I was leaving . But now I think I'll stay . " +5 bonus Eloise's expression tightened , and I felt a surge of satisfaction at the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes . Dominic took a step forward , his focus shifting entirely to me . " Lucy , this is not a game for you to be playing right now . You are the one who wanted to leave , and though I told you not to , you didn't want to listen . " I tilted my head , letting my smile falter just enough to play the victim . " Oh , I understand . You want me gone so you can play house with her . So you can pretend this is all normal . " " Lucy … " " No , " I said firmly , dropping the pretense . " I'm staying . If you want to keep your Omega leaving . " and your little bastard child , fine . But I'm not The Silence wrapped around us , thick and suffocating . Dominic's jaw clenched , his fingers fists at his sides . she Eloise didn't move . She remained standing by the window , but the strength in her posture hadn't wavered . wasn't the weak , broken girl I had expected . 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