Page 11

Olivia

WITHOUT TAKING THE time to think about it, I found myself standing outside the palace having made my way through the staff entrance. My thoughts were a muddled mess of hurt and anger towards Orin for rejecting me.

And towards myself for having allowed myself to have hope.

“It’s my business what I do with my life.” I muttered. “There’s no reason I can’t go for a walk outside. I have the freedom to make my own choices. Orin isn’t in charge.”

Women weren’t in danger here. What was the worst that could happen? No one was going to bother a pregnant woman.

“Alaran males would never do that,” I said, glancing around to make sure I was alone. I huffed as I began walking. Maybe I should confront Orin and say what I really think?

Our earlier encounter had left me confused, and I wanted to know if we really were mates.

And if it were true, why was he choosing to pretend we weren’t?

Surely his current mate would understand it if he met his fated mate?

My face burned at the thought. Liv! Don't be that woman.

My inner voice admonished. I was no home wrecker.

After taking a few deep breaths, I made a solemn commitment to myself to take one last look at his handsome face before moving on. Permanently. I would leave Alara as soon as the baby came and we would start a new life somewhere else.

I felt safe taking the main street to the downtown marketplace since it was the route Clor and I always took.

But I thought better of it when my ankles began to ache.

Two Alaran males approached, and I went to great lengths to avoid making eye contact. When they got closer, I saw them holding hands and felt stupid for thinking they’d bother me.

It was too late to call a viko , so I took my time heading toward the market, stopping often to rest my feet. Soon I reached the corner nearest the stalls and was greeted by boisterous laughter and lively voices coming from the vendors at the market stalls.

Despite feeling tired, a smile spread across my face as the alluring aromas of flowers, food, and cooked meat reached my nose.

I hadn’t eaten since before my appointment with Rekna in the early morning.

My stomach growled, and I looked down, rubbing circles over my baby bump.

“Would you like to have some delicious ciglemia bread?” I asked, and the baby’s reply was a forceful kick.

I laughed and continued toward one of the stalls that sold cooked food.

While scanning the crowd, I told myself I wasn’t searching for Orin. Then my eyes locked onto him and my stomach fluttered with excitement. He hadn’t seen me and I was frozen on the spot unable to look away.

My goodness, he’s handsome . My knees weakened at the sight of him.

His shoulder-length hair spilled over one cheek and I yearned to run my fingers through it. And even though I’d rarely witnessed it, I was aware that beneath his broody exterior he possessed a stunning smile.

My spirits instantly plummeted when I saw Orin and the same Alaran woman from before, locked in an intense conversation. The sight of her standing in front of him left me with a sinking feeling, as if a stone had been dropped into my stomach.

A warm smile spread across her face as she looked at him. Then, she handed him a small, metal container that he accepted.

First, anxiety coursed through me, tightening my chest, then jealousy overwhelmed me, coloring my vision with a red haze.

An argument broke out a few feet in front of me and I tried to ignore it to take in the woman...alien...whatever. I watched as she leaned in and planted a quick kiss on Orin's cheek before disappearing into the busy crowd. I swallowed to clear a knot of emotion, and my eyes filled with tears.

Bolting from the food stall, I glanced down at the pavement as I hurried away. Chaos erupted among the crowd and the sound of fists striking skin registered in my ears.

A sudden, sharp jab in my back sent me soaring through the air from the force of it. With a thud, I landed face down on the ground with my hands out to help break the fall. I screamed, reaching out for anything to cling to, desperate to flee the crowd.

Pushing myself up, I could feel the rough ground scratching against my palms, urging me to crawl away to safety.

Before I could make any progress, a powerful kick landed squarely on my side, jolting me with pain. The impact was so powerful that it took my breath away. As I gasped for air, my breathing became choppy and irregular. My body was flooded with waves of pain, making me flinch with each pulse.

My panic intensified as I realized that the surrounding people were oblivious to me lying on the ground at their feet. Dozens of angry males surrounded me, unaware that they had knocked me down and were now stepping on me.

With one hand clutching my stomach, I struggled to pull myself in the opposite direction. My body shook, and I felt like I was going to vomit. There was no one coming to help me. No one knew I was here. All I could do was try to get out of the way.

Amid the commotion, with people jostling and swearing at one another I felt invisible. Pushing against the sturdy legs of a nearby table, I cried out for help. I rolled underneath while crouching, hoping it would provide protection.

Holding onto my belly, tears marked my cheeks. “It’s going to be okay.” I whispered to my baby, not convinced that was true.

The baby’s stillness filled me with fear. Please God, let my baby be okay. My stomach was hit by an intense pain, causing me to curl into a ball with my arms wrapped around myself.