C03
Dean’s voice was sharp and unrelenting as he towered over me. “You need to stop treating Cecelia like an outcast, Hannah. She’s your sister.”
I blinked, stunned by the sheer audacity. My sister. Right. The same sister who had wormed her way into every corner of my life, tearing apart everything I held dear. And now he wanted me to be kinder to her?
A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “I’m treating her like an outcast?” My voice shook, my emotions barely held in check. “Do you even hear yourself, Dean? I’m the one being treated like I don’t belong. Every time something happens, you’re always rushing to her rescue, not mine.”
He stiffened, his jaw tightening, but I wasn’t done.
“You leave me behind every single time,” I continued, my voice rising. “You coddle her, protect her, as if she’s your mate. So why don’t you just admit it, Dean? What is Cecelia to you?”
Dean’s gaze flicked to Cecelia, standing demurely by the door in the ripped remains of my mother’s dress. His hesitation was like a slap to my face. For a fleeting moment, I thought he might actually tell me the truth.
But instead, he turned back to me, his face a cold mask. “She’s like a sister to me, Hannah. That’s it. I don’t know what crazy idea you’ve gotten into your head, but you’re being ridiculous. Lunatic, even.”
My chest tightened. He was lying. I could feel it in my bones. But before I could respond, Cecelia stepped forward, her face the picture of innocence. “Hannah, you’re overthinking everything. Dean and I are just close. That’s all.”
Their lies came so easily, so smoothly, it made my stomach churn. How could they stand there and say these things, knowing what they’d done? Knowing how they’d betrayed me?
I swallowed hard, refusing to let the tears fall. Turning to Cecelia, I forced a bitter smile. “Well, since you’ve got the dress now, happy birthday in advance.”
Cecelia blinked, momentarily caught off guard, but I didn’t wait for her to respond. I brushed past both of them, my steps purposeful as I headed outside.
The crisp night air hit my face, and I inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm inside me. The garden was quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the breeze. For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to disappear. To leave all of this behind.
“Hannah?”
I turned to see Nathan walking toward me, his expression softer than I’d seen in years. His anger from earlier had dissipated, replaced by concern.
“You okay?” he asked, stopping a few steps away.
I shook my head, unable to lie to him. “No. I’m not.”
He hesitated, then stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “What happened now?”
I looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time in days, I felt a glimmer of hope. Nathan had always been my protector in his own way, even when he was brash and impulsive. Maybe… maybe he was the answer
“Nathan,” I said quietly, my voice trembling. “I need your help.”
His brow furrowed. “With what?”
I took a deep breath, the words spilling out before I could second–guess myself. “I need you to pretend to be the father of my baby.”
Nathan stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “What?”
“You heard me,” I said, my tone firmer this time. “I can’t let Dean know. If he finds out, he’ll use the baby to control me. I can’t… I can’t let that happen.”
Nathan ran a hand through his hair, pacing a few steps away. “Hannah, do you realize what you’re asking? People
will think”
9:37 AM D
1 Kept the Alpha’s Secret Heir
will think-”
“Let them think it,” I cut in, my voice rising. “Let them think whatever they want. We both know the truth. And we both know who the real cheaters are here.”
He stopped pacing, turning back to me. His expression was conflicted, but there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice breaking. “Nathan, I need to protect this baby. Please.”
For a long moment, he just looked at me, his jaw working as he processed everything. Finally, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll help you. But we need a plan.”
Relief flooded through me, and I managed a small, shaky smile. “Thank you.”
Later that night, I returned to my room, my mind spinning with the details of the plan Nathan and I had crafted. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.
I pushed open the door, only to freeze in my tracks. Dean was sitting on the edge of the bed, his broad shoulders hunched as he stared at something in his hand.
The breath left my lungs when I realized what it was. The pregnancy test.
He looked up as I entered, his eyes sharp and unreadable. “Are you pregnant?” he asked, his voice low. “Is it mine?”
My heart pounded, the air around me growing thick and suffocating. This was it. The moment of no return.
I straightened my spine, meeting his gaze head–on. “Yes,” I said, my voice steady. “I’m pregnant.”
His eyes narrowed, but before he could speak, I added, “But it’s not yours.”
The silence that followed was deafening.
“It’s Nathan’s,” I lied, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.
Dean’s expression shifted, a flicker of shock breaking through his stoic mask. For the first time, he looked truly shaken.
And for the first time, I felt like I had the upper hand.
