Chapter 8

SCARLETT

In my hands was a picture of a young woman with fiery red curls, a soft face, and large emerald eyes. Beside her was a younger version of Christopher, his face lit up with a smile. It was a snapshot of Violet and him.

I’d seen her from a distance a few times, but holding this photo, a peculiar sensation washed over me. Could it be jealousy?

“Scarlett, I didn’t realize this picture was here…” Christopher began, reaching to take the photo from me. “I’ll ask them to remove it and—”

But I pulled the photo away from him.

“No need to get rid of anything, sweetheart. Violet was a part of your life. We don’t need to erase your past,” I reassured him.

“But you felt jealous,” he pointed out.

Maybe that was the emotion, but it was faint, almost like a leftover feeling.

“It’s hard not to feel it, but it doesn’t bother me,” I admitted, returning the photo to its place.

I kissed him slowly, letting my heart find its calm again. But then I felt ~his~ anxiety return.

“What’s up?” I asked, pulling back to look at him.

Christopher chuckled.

“It’s about finding a beta. My grandfather used to say that finding a beta is as tough as finding a second-chance mate. And in my case, it seems even tougher.”

I smiled as Christopher pulled me into his embrace.

“Ever thought about my dad?” I asked, nestled in his arms.

“I have, but I can’t afford to lose my head of administration. It’s like plugging one hole only to create another. But he would be a great choice,” Christopher admitted, pulling back slightly to meet my gaze.

“My grandfather also said that you need to trust your beta enough to put your life in his hands. That’s rare, Scarlett.”

“I know,” I murmured, stroking his cheek.

His words about ~putting your life in someone’s hands~ resonated with me.

“There were three people who risked their lives for me: you, Bob, and Thomas,” I stated, as if this revelation held some significance.

“Bob is part of my administration, and we’d need to consider his mate. It’s not simple. And Thomas, well, he’s a guard, isn’t he?” Christopher tried to reason, but I could tell neither name sparked his interest.

“What about your father’s beta? Does he have any descendants?” I asked.

I didn’t know them or their family, only that he had passed away long before I was born.

“He did, but his eldest son died in an attack when he was still very young. The family never really recovered,” Christopher explained.

His words triggered a memory of my conversation with the Goddess.

“Was he a Strauss?” I asked, my eyes widening.

“Yes, he was Joseph Strauss. Why?” Christopher asked, his eyes mirroring my surprise.

“Thomas’ last name is Strauss. He uses Coyt, his mother’s name, but his real last name is Strauss. The Goddess told me on the day of the attack that he had lost his older brother in an attack. That’s why he trained so hard to become strong—strong enough to hold up that rock that day,” I explained, feeling the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.

“Are you saying Thomas is Joseph’s son?” Christopher asked, clearly taken aback.

“After Joseph’s death, the family moved to our border, and we lost touch. I vaguely remember—I was a young boy when Joseph passed away, and my father didn’t want to replace his beta.”

“It’s crazy,” I murmured, echoing the chaos in my heart.

“But let’s look into it further and think about it. Just rest your head and leave the worrying to me, okay?” Christopher reassured me, planting a kiss on my forehead.

I nodded in agreement.

After lunch, Christopher headed to the mines to check on the diamond extraction situation in the south.

I went to the hospital to clear my schedule. I planned to pause my duties for now.

Once everything was sorted, I intended to head home. But before I could leave, my mother stopped me.

“Scarlett, I need to talk to you.” Her voice was low, and I knew this wouldn’t be easy.

“We’re facing a massive administrative issue. Bertha’s system is password protected. We’ve tried everything, but it seems encrypted. We need that information from her.”

My heart sank.

Talking to Bertha was the last thing I wanted.

“I’ll see what I can do,” I replied, forcing a smile.

I knew I had to handle this.

Without a second thought, I headed straight to the guard and asked to see Marquardt.

“Scarlett,” the burly man with a red beard and hair greeted me, looking up from his papers.

“What brings you here?” he asked, standing to hug me.

“I need to talk to Bertha. There are some files with passwords that my mother needs,” I explained.

He ran his hands through his hair nervously.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” he said, looking at me.

But I just raised an eyebrow.

As much as I despised the situation, I needed that information.

“I have to meet the alpha at the border in a few minutes.”

“No problem, I can handle her on my own,” I assured him.

He nodded curtly.

I put on a brave face, but inside, I was fighting the urge to turn around and run.

He led me through the prison corridors, a path that was becoming all too familiar.

Marquardt called over some guards, gave them instructions, and left me in a room similar to the one where I first saw Bertha.

And just like that time, she was brought in front of me, flanked by two guards.

Marquardt leaned in to whisper in my ear. “I have to go. The guards are on alert. If you need anything, just call one of them.”

His eyes held concern, but I took a deep breath, nodded, and he left.

And then it was just Bertha and me.

Bertha looked thinner, with dark circles under her eyes and a ghostly pallor.

It pained me to see her like this.

“What do you want now, Scarlett? Tired of being the alpha’s plaything?” She sneered, her laughter sending a chill down my spine.

“I’m here at my mother’s request. We need your passwords,” I said, ignoring her taunting question.

“Hmm,” she said, her eyes rolling in a show of indifference.

“Why should I make things easier for you? What’s in it for me?” Bertha shifted in her chair, the handcuffs still binding her wrists.

“These are patient files, Bertha. You spent years saving lives. Do it for them,” I pleaded, but her hardened expression told me she wasn’t going to budge.

She just laughed in response.

Feeling defeated, I stood up.

There was no point in continuing this conversation—it was draining and fruitless.

“Wait,” she called out. “I’ll answer your questions if you answer mine,” Bertha proposed.

“What do you want to know?” I asked, searching her eyes for a hint of the kindness I once knew. But it seemed like that was all an act.

“Aren’t you tired of being used yet?” Her question stung, but I kept my composure, raising an eyebrow in response.

She shrugged, adding, “Because it seems like you’re the only one who hasn’t realized that the alpha is using you to have an heir.”

Her words pierced me like arrows. A shiver of fear ran down my spine, and the pain was almost physical. But I kept reminding myself that she was just trying to get under my skin.

“The password, Bertha,” I managed to say, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Fine, the password is BJ3756. But seriously, Scarlett, you’re telling me you never noticed how quickly the alpha was to get with you, sleep with you, and even quicker to accept a child that might not even be his?” She laughed, a cruel sound.

“He manipulated you beautifully, making the abandoned girl feel special. You’re nothing more than a used mate who was betrayed, an easy target for him to use as a surrogate mother. Don’t get too comfortable with the stewardship of the House of Pack. As soon as this baby is born, he’ll leave you.”

Her words left me speechless. I tried to think rationally, but it was impossible. My eyes stung with the threat of tears as I questioned whether any part of what she said could be true.

“Are you just now realizing that it was very unlikely for an alpha to want someone like you? He only sees your uterus, Scarlett.”

The room started to spin. I felt dizzy.

I had always wondered why everything happened so quickly, so instantly.

“He always wanted a child.” Her voice echoed in my head. I remembered him telling me that when I announced my pregnancy, almost as if it were planned.

“I was there when Violet was born. He only wanted the baby. After the girl died, he didn’t even call Violet.”

I stood up, blinking hard. Everything was going dark, and I thought I was going to faint.

“And now he’s going to do the same to you.”

I stumbled toward the door and managed to open it. I saw a guard rushing toward me.

I leaned against the wall, trying to escape. My throat tightened, and fear surged through my veins. My breathing quickened.

It wasn’t just fear anymore. It was despair.

Despair that she might be right.

Could Bertha be right? Did Christopher only want a child, and was he protecting me because he was actually just protecting the baby?

~He just wants your uterus, Scarlett.~

Her words echoed in my mind as I stumbled down the hallway. My knees gave out, and I fell to the floor.

“Scarlett.” I heard my name, a faint whisper in my head. I lifted my face and saw a familiar figure.

His hands helped me up, and my tear-streaked face looked up to find him there.

Mathew.