Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Dr. Lee sent me home to the manor with strict instructions about how much work I was allowed to do. It was basically none. Leo took Eva aside and explained that there were complications with my pregnancy. He used the term “delicate state,” which was alarming.
Dr. Lee had assured me that everything was going well, actually. She just thought I was being overworked by the young Alpha couple. So she gave orders for me to rest, and limited things like how much weight I should lift. I think she was trying to help me disguise the timing of my pregnancy, too.
I chafed under all my new health restrictions. I was used to being constantly active from the moment I woke up until the moment my head hit the pillow at night. Suddenly all I could do was rest, and read, and take very short walks in the garden.
I would probably have gone stir crazy if not for Ethan. He spent a lot more time than normal in the manor. If he didn't visit, he would call at least twice a day and text several times a day. He doted on me like I really was carrying his pup.
A few nights after my visit to the hospital, I was awake late into the night. Although Dr. Lee assured me that insomnia was a common pregnancy issue, it still worried me that even when the pup settled I just couldn't get to sleep.
I walked the hallways outside my room, hoping that gentle movement and the quiet, peaceful night would calm my mind. I rubbed the swell of my belly and hummed gentle songs to the pup. I couldn't wait to hold them in my arms.
I still didn't know whether I was having a boy or a girl. Dr. Lee had tried to check during the ultrasound, but the pup had not cooperated and kept their legs folded. So it would be a surprise.
When the pup came, what would happen? I wanted to go to Dr. Lee, to have her help me deliver. Would Eva and her parents allow that? No, they would insist on a doctor of their choosing.
I needed a plan. I needed to get out. I should hide until the pup came. It was the only way I'd even be allowed to hold my own baby.
I could go to Ethan's hospital. If I explained Eva's plans, he and Dr. Lee would surely help me. They'd hide me until the pup came.
Maybe they would help me think of a way to explain the truth to Leo? I was sure once Ethan knew the whole truth he'd be disgusted. But he'd want Leo to have his heir. For that alone he'd help.
Yes, that was the plan. I would call Ethan first thing in the morning, and he would take me to Dr. Lee. I would tell them everything. Even if it made them hate me, it was the right thing to do.
Decision made, I turned back towards my room. Suddenly, hands grabbed me from the darkness and dragged me into the secret passages between the walls. I tried to scream but a rag was shoved into my mouth.
I realized as I was pulled deeper into the passages that it was Eva who'd ambushed me. I struggled to pull away but her grip was like iron. She'd always been stronger than me.
Eva knew the passages just as well as I did. Even if I could break her grip, I wouldn't be able to get away. I just couldn't move fast enough. I could barely fit through some of the narrower passages.
After what felt like hours, Eva shoved me into one of the tiny “rooms” formed where several passages crossed. She pushed me to the ground and snapped a cuff around my ankle. I tugged, and found that it was linked by a heavy chain to an anchor in the wall. That hadn't been there before. Eva had been planning this, probably for a while.
“Don't even bother to scream,” Eva warned me as she pulled the gag loose. “We're too deep in the walls, no one will hear you.”
I knew how the passages distorted sound. Even if I screamed myself hoarse, it wouldn't help. People would think it was the wind or an old pipe acting up. We'd tested that as children.
“What are you doing?” I demanded. “Why did you bring me here?”
“Leo is starting to notice something's different about my pregnancy,” Eva said. “He's comparing me to you and he's not an idiot.”
“Okay, but I'm half human,” I said. “Surely any differences can be explained away by that. The doctor I saw the other day believed it.”
I wasn't about to hint to Eva that Dr. Lee knew anything. She should be safe as part of Ethan's pack but I would not risk it. Eva was vicious and cunning. She'd hurt anyone who helped me.
“Yeah, about that hospital visit. What were you thinking? If you needed a doctor you should have come to me or my mother. We would have had one of our healers look at you.”
One of the ones they could control, she meant.
“I didn't have a choice,” I protested. “Leo called Ethan and he came and got me. I couldn't say no.”
“You could have insisted you wanted a doctor from your own pack, you idiot!” Eva slapped me hard enough to rock my head back. “They would have believed you!”
Honestly, I hadn't even thought about Eva's pet doctors. I was too worried about the pup at the time.
“I'm sorry, I panicked,” I said.
“Whatever. You clearly can't be trusted to deal with this. And we need that baby,” Eva said.
I curled up, trying instinctively to protect the pup in my belly.
“I know you're getting ideas,” Eva said. “I'm not stupid. You think your pretty boy alpha will protect you from me. Don't you?”
“No,” I whimpered. “It was just part of the cover story,” I said.
“Yeah, right,” Eva sneered. “Well, you can forget those ideas you weren't having,” she said. “You're staying right here until I have that pup.”
“What? Eva, I can't stay in here! It's freezing, and dirty, and Ethan and Leo will wonder where I've gone.”
Eva shrugged. “I'll tell them you ran away. Went to the humans or something. Don't worry, though. You won't be down here too long.”
“What do you mean? I have a month to go,” I said.
“Hm. Do you though?” Eva grabbed my arm. “I've been reading up on pregnancies. Mostly to help me fake my own. But I found out some interesting things.”
“Like what?” I whimpered.
“Like the fact that the most common complication in half-blood pregnancies is premature birth.”
“But-” I tried to jerk my arm away as Eva revealed what she held in her other hand.
It was a syringe. I didn't know what drug was inside of it, but I knew it couldn't be safe for me or my baby.
“I also learned that there are plenty of ways to induce a premature birth,” Eva said.
I desperately tried to yank my arm away. She was planning to take my baby, right then! Whatever was in that syringe would induce labor, and then she would have the pup.
But it was too soon! The pup still needed time, still had growing to do!
I fought, but Eva pinned me to the ground and jabbed the needle into my vein with bruising force.
“There,” Eva said with a smug grin. “That should get this party started.”