The Alpha's Betrayal, I Married My Family's Killer - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

My body was frozen in place. The restraints dug into my wrists and ankles, cold leather straps pinning me down like some ritual sacrifice. Each breath came ragged and uneven, my skin slick with sweat despite the bone-deep chill consuming me. This wasn't fear twisting my gut - it was the horrifying truth crashing down: Helena was going to steal my baby from me.
She hovered above, eyes alight with perverse delight as she twirled a gleaming scalpel between her fingers. "You should thank me," she purred, dragging the blade down my exposed stomach. "I'm sparing you from birthing a monster."
White-hot fury surged through my veins. My child wasn't the monster here - Ivan was. She was. But no matter how violently I thrashed, the restraints held firm.
A shrill beep shattered the tension - the security system activating. Helena's head jerked up, her grip tightening on the scalpel.
Then all hell broke loose.
The door exploded inward with a metallic crunch that echoed through the sterile room. Before Helena could react, Damon came barreling in like a freight train. Our eyes locked for one electric second - his burning with something wild and desperate.
"Get your fucking hands off her!"
Helena whirled, but Damon moved faster. He wrenched her wrist back until the scalpel clattered to the floor. She shrieked, raking her nails across his face, but he flung her aside like a ragdoll. Her body hit the wall with a sickening crack before slumping to the ground, motionless.
"Cynthia." Damon was already at my side, fingers working frantically at the restraints. "Are you hurt?"
I could barely process what was happening. Damon was here. Alive. I wasn't alone anymore.
"I-I don't know," I croaked, voice raw. My hands trembled violently as the last strap came loose and I struggled upright, my body weak from exhaustion.
Then the alarms started wailing.
Damon cursed viciously, steadying me with hands on my shoulders. "We need to move. Now."
He hauled me to my feet and my legs nearly gave out. My stomach churned, my muscles screamed, but I forced myself upright. Weakness wasn't an option now.
The thunder of approaching footsteps filled the hallway. Damon's jaw clenched as he glanced between me and the door. "Can you run?"
I swallowed hard. "I'll have to."
One sharp nod and he grabbed my hand, pulling me forward. We burst into the blinding fluorescent maze of corridors, Damon navigating like he'd memorized the blueprints.
"Escaping! Stop them!" The shouts echoed behind us.
I chanced a look back - three guards rounding the corner, weapons raised. My heart stopped.
"Down!" Damon yanked me forward as gunfire shattered the hallway's glass panels. I pressed against him as he shoved through another door.
We ran until my lungs burned and my legs threatened to collapse. But stopping meant death.
Another squad materialized ahead, blocking our path. Damon didn't hesitate - he released my hand and launched himself at them. His fist connected with the first guard's jaw with a sickening crunch. The second barely had time to blink before Damon had him by the throat, slamming him into the wall.
I staggered back, breath coming in ragged gasps. Damon fought like a force of nature - brutal, efficient. But they kept coming.
"Go, Cynthia!" He threw the last guard aside. "Find a way out - I'll catch up!"
I froze. "No! I won't leave-"
Damon seized my arm, his grip firm but gentle. His eyes burned into mine. "You have to."
Another door burst open - more guards, more guns. Damon turned, his body becoming my shield.
The choice was simple: die with him or live for our child.
Tears blurred my vision as I forced my legs to move. Each step away from him shattered my heart further.
The facility became a nightmare maze, but I followed the glowing exit signs, pushing through the pain. My bare feet slapped against cold concrete, my breath coming in desperate gasps. I didn't look back. Couldn't.
Gunfire erupted behind me.
A sob tore from my throat, every instinct screaming to turn around. But I knew what Damon would want.
I crashed into a heavy steel door, throwing my weight against it. It didn't budge.
"No, no, no-" My fingers scrabbled at the lock as my vision darkened. I was fading fast.
A gunshot rang out behind me - close. Too close. I twisted the handle with desperate strength.
The door finally gave way, swinging open to reveal the freezing night.
I stumbled into the darkness, my body shaking violently. The facility was surrounded by endless forest.
Behind me, alarms screamed. Voices shouted.
I ran. Branches lashed at my arms, damp earth sucked at my feet, but I pushed forward. The icy air seared my lungs.
Damon's voice echoed in my mind: "I'll find you, Cynthia. Run."
So I did. I ran like the devil himself was chasing me. And I never looked back.