Chapter 57
1 replied, “Well, when I’m gone, you’ll have everything you want with Nathan. So don’t worry. It’ll happen soon enough. My mice trembled despite my efforts to control it.
“That’s not right,” Madison said, surprising me again. “Even though don’t like you, I don’t want that for you.”
I laughed bitterly. “Well, there’s nothing to be done. I’m trapped here From what I’ve overheard the guards saying, no one’s leaving until the war situation becomes clear. If you came to remind me of my impending death, mission accomplished. I’m tired, and I’d like to be alone.”
Madison leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper “What if I told you I could get you and your baby out of here alive?”
I stared at her, unable to process what she was suggesting.
“You could start over in some distant pack where no one knows who you are,” she continued.
Hope flickered within me like a dangerous flame before reason extinguished it. “That’s impossible. Nathan wouldn’t let me go, Madison. He owns me. His wolf would track me to the ends of the earth.” Fear flashed in my eyes at the very thought.
Madison smiled confidently. “Nothing’s impossible, especially with my father’s resources.”
“Explain,” I demanded, suddenly alert.
“Don’t worry about the ‘how‘ right now because I don’t have all the details yet. Just consider it. My father controls the shipping routes to the East. I have a place you could go, and people who would help you start over. You just need to decide if this is something you truly want to do.”
My wolf paced anxiously within me. This seemed too good to be true “Why would you suddenly care about helping me? What do you get out of it?”
Madison’s facade of sympathy cracked as she smoothed her dress. “Well, you’re not as stupid as you look, breeder.”
There it was–the Madison I knew.
“You’re standing in the way of the future I want, Rachel. Even if I give Nathan a child, it will never take leadership of the Ironjaw Pack. Your child will be the eldest, which means if Nathan dies, it will take over the pack. I can’t accept that.”
Her honesty was refreshing, in a twisted way. “Don’t misunderstand. This is about my interests, not charity.”
I nodded slowly, twirling a strand of hair between my fingers. “I wouldn’t expect less. I’m just surprised, honestly. You’re the last person I’d expect to help me.”
“Don’t get all warm and fuzzy. I’m doing this for myself and my future children,” she snapped.
“I’ll think about it. Thank you anyway,” I replied with a simple nod.
Madison checked her watch. “My time’s up. If you want to see me again, send a message through a servant. Meanwhile, I suggest you really consider my offer. We only have a little time, and if you want to save yourself and the child… you’ll take it.”
After Madison left, I found myself gasping for breath, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. I struggled to process what had just happened.
For weeks, I had simply accepted death as my fate. It had never occurred to me there might be another path. Now, presented with a choice, I found myself torn.
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Chapter 57
If I stayed, my child would grow up safe under Nathan’s protection. He would have power, status, and the love of his father,
But I would never see him grow up.
If I fled with Madison’s help, I might give my child a mother’s love, but at what cost? Could I trust Madison not to lead us into greater danger? And even if we escaped, would we ever truly be free of Nathan’s reach?
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