Chapter 4

Many months later

Amanda's POV

I woke up with cloudy eyes and a sore back and feet. My whole body ached badly, especially my back. I struggled to get myself into an upright position, my perfectly rounded stomach was getting in the way.

“ What's the time now?” I mumbled to myself, I had a feeling that I had slept in. Taking a hold of the digital clock on my bedside table, I really had slept for a long time. I then tactically maneuvered my way to sit by the edge of my bed so I could get to my feet a lot faster.

“ Ma'am, are you awake?” A maid knocked quietly before letting herself in.

“ Yes, I think I must have slept in,” I said apologetically, not that I had to feel that way but I just did.

 “ It's not an issue at all,” she beamed. “ It's a good thing that you got enough rest, after all, this is the most stressful stage you're in,” she reassured me that it was fine, maybe it was.

 “ Thank you,” I muttered.

“ Let me help you with your shower,” she said, pulling me gently to my feet. Honestly, at this point, I really needed someone to help me with that.

“ Is it possible to get someone to give me a massage after?” My body was literally begging for it.

After taking a bath and getting massaged, I headed downstairs with the maid who had come to check on me. I felt a lot more relieved though my back was still aching and my ankles swollen.

“ Amanda,” Madam Louise walked up to me. “ Are you alright?”

“ If that excludes the back ache and the swellings, then yes,” I said to her. “ Are you baking?” I sniffed.

 “ Yes, just a little dessert,” 

 “ I want to help out too,” I volunteered.

“ No!” Madam Louise and the others chorused, making me frown. “ Be understanding, dear. Alpha Xander wouldn't want to see you working during this period and though it can't affect my job, it can affect the others. You get what I mean right?” She explained.

“ Alright, I'll be sitting in the living room then,” I turned around and went to sit, taking a deep breath. This sucked.

After a while of thinking hard, I picked up my phone and called Xander. My heart beat faster as his phone rang, ever since the day I confessed my feelings to him, things had never been the same. He didn't stop caring about his kids but he wasn't particularly caring to me, whatever he did for me was for the benefit of children in the long run.

“ Yes,” what I had rehearsed to say suddenly left me as his voice came from the other end of the phone.

“ Uhm...,” I bit my nails in anxiety. “ I want to go to the hospital for a check-up... Will you be able to... I wanted to ask if you could..,” I found it hard to complete my sentence.

“ I won't be able to accompany you if that's what you're asking. I'm busy,” he replied unfiltered. “ Just take a driver and go, if you feel the need to be accompanied, take Madam Louise along,” 

“ Alright,” I muttered before hanging up. It was like my heart shattered into a million pieces. I had no idea why I felt this horrible when I knew he didn't like me in any way.

“ Madam Louise,” I called out. “ Can you arrange for a driver to take me to the hospital?”

“ Yes but what happened? I can accompany you if you like,”

“ I'll be fine alone,” I forced a smile. “ I just want to get checked,” I briefed.

After a session with my doctor which was in its own way tiring, I walked out of the hospital. I couldn't help but notice other pregnant ladies flooding in with their partners but then again, I and Alpha Xander weren't exactly a thing.

     “ Amanda, get your head straight,” I clasped my cheeks trying to snap out of my delusions. It would all soon be over and eventually once I stop seeing him, I'd forget about my feelings. At least, it would have no other choice but to die out.

I used my eyes to search for the car but I couldn't spot it. This pregnancy was making my memory fuzzy, if not I would have remembered where it was parked. Unexpectedly, a black van pulled up in front of me and next thing I knew was I was in the vehicle blindfolded as it zoomed off.

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Xander’s POV

      My phone rang again, could it be Amanda? My face instantly frowned, she should be able to read the room. Turning my phone over, it was surprisingly not her.

          “ Yes,” I answered. It was one of my drivers.

          “ Sir, I think ma'am just escaped,” he said in a panic and my eyes widened. “ I took her to the hospital and waited for her in the car park but she didn't come back to the car afterwards. I went in to look for her but they said she had all gone. I think she really escaped, sir,” he narrated in fear and my blood heated up.

         “ How in the world could you let a pregnant woman out of your sight!” I yelled at him, banging my clenched fist against the table.

         “ I'm really sorry, sir,” he pleaded.

        “ I shouldn't have trusted her to go alone,” I fumed. “ Stay where you are and search the surroundings of the hospital, she couldn't have gotten far,” I instructed him before hanging up.

“ Amanda is missing?” Asher questioned.

“ Yes, she used the opportunity of getting a check-up to escape. That damn girl,” I cussed. “ Get all my men out there, search every nook and cranny for her. She can't have gotten too far with her pregnancy,” 

“ Yes, sir. I'll make the arrangements immediately,” Asher picked up his phone and called. She wouldn't dare run away with my children.

After hours of searching, no positive news had come back. Asher wasn't exactly sure how to feel in my presence as my aura was murderous at this point.

“ So you're telling me that all those men you dispatched can't catch a pregnant woman on the run? She is already in her ninth month, damnit!”

“ W-well... She might have been long gone before the driver took note,” he tried to reason.

“ I want a total lockdown of the pack and a full search all over. Not even a strand of her hair should escape my sight and findings,”

“ I'll get on that, sir,” he bowed his head.

How dare she try to run away with my kids? Amanda would regret why she ever tried to double-cross me. My hatred for her only green deeper than before.