Chapter 3 A Life-changing Choice

• Maddie's pov
• The gentle morning light peeking through the curtains greeted me as I opened my eyes.
• My body hurt where I hadn't realized it hurt and my head felt heavy as I made to sit up. I felt something sharp in between my legs.
• After the warmth of the moment had subsided I could feel the coldness of the apartment through the tangled sheets surrounding me. I turned to my left and shut my eyes again, my eyes hazy and my thoughts blurry.
• I opened them again as I found someone sleeping next to me and I snapped awake and memories came pouring like rivulets.
• I sat up immediately, and grabbed the sheets to cover my naked form, guilt washing over me.
• I didn't bother to look at the man who had taken my virginity last night.
• I didn't care and I hope we would never cross paths ever again.
• I didn't want him to wake up and see me and I couldn't afford to stay there and deal with what had happened the night before.
• As I struggled to regain my composure a wave of panic struck.
• I had to get out of there before he woke up and I had to face the truth about what I had done. I turned to look at his serene body, his arm slung at the other side, his hair covering a part of his eyes.
• The headache persisted and my body felt so heavy. I knew I had done something nasty but couldn't remember it all.
• I only knew that I had gone too far and couldn't go back.
• I hastily gathered my clothes and dressed quickly. I tried not to make any noise as my skin pricked from the coldness of the room.
• It seemed as if I was in a dream with everything hazy and disjointed. I didnt turn around, scared that he might wake up and see my face.
• I was already feeling so lost that I couldn't bring myself to look at him again.
• After I was done dressing, I slipped out of the room quietly and raced down the hall.
• The walk home seemed to go by quickly. Every step I took on the pavement felt more weighty than the one before it.
• As I approached the pack house the weight in my chest only increased. I heaved a sigh as I pushed the door open slowly but I was struck by my aunt's voice as soon as I got in halfway.
• I had thought of a plan before coming back home, to walk stealthily through the house without anyone noticing but I got the opposite instead.
• "Where in the world have you been, Maddie." The sharp voice of my aunt pierced the air like a knife.
• She had a disgusted expression on her face as she stood in the kitchen with her arms folded.
• With a racing heart I froze at the door. I avoided looking into her eyes and muttered.
• "Nothing. Late night shift."
• "Late night shift, huh?" She asked as her eyes narrowed and I could sense her judgment weighing heavily on me.
• "I wanted to." I began to say with panic rising in my chest then I blurted out stupidly.
• "I just needed some air."
• "Maddie, you are a disgrace." Aunt Helen said immediately with a low venomous voice.
• "Running around carelessly doing whatever you want. Have you lost your mind?"
• I started to speak but she interrupted me.
• "Where have you been huh? No messages, no calls, nothing at all. I was so scared."
• I blinked rapidly trying to make sure I heard the right words.
• Scared.
• Aunt Helen.
• Ever since my parents death and I had come to love her when I was six, Aunt Helen never cared about me.
• "But you obviously don't give a damn about that do you? " She continued." You don't know that you have disgraced me enough ever since I found out you are just as stupid as your dead mother."
• I flinched but I merely stood there as one after another of her words struck me like punches.
• I couldn't think of a response.
• I better keep quiet else I had to serve more punishment.
• What would she say if she knew about what I had done?
• How could I even tell her what had happened?
• For the first time ever I was left without having a punishment passed on me.
• Life continued, I tried to forget the stranger and buried my head in work.
• Weeks passed but the shame persisted. It suffocated me with each second that went by clinging to me like a second skin.
• I was unable to face myself without realizing the repercussions of my mistakes.
• Then came the nauseas. It was only a temporary issue at first but as the days passed it got worse.
• Every morning I felt weaker as if I had been drained and my stomach twisted. I made an effort to ignore it. I was unable to confront the reality and I thought it was just a mere fever.
• But I eventually came to terms with the terrible reality one day after throwing up for the third time in that week.
• I was pregnant.
• For the first time in my life I felt so stupid and clueless.
• How could this be happening? How could I allow this to happen?
• If Aunt Helen found out about this, I was better off dead.
• I didn't want to be the one to disgrace the family but here I was stuck in this predicament with no way out.
• "Maddie!" She called out from downstairs and I froze. I could no longer hide it.
• I took a deep breath and my legs felt like lead as I went downstairs.
• She was waiting for me in the kitchen standing by the counter with her arms folded and staring at me.
• I opened my mouth but nothing came out. My heart was pounding so hard that I thought I might pass out at any second.
• "What's wrong with you?" she asked, her tone was sharp." You have been so lazy and throwing up like you ate a lizard."
• I inhaled deeply while trying to regain my composure.
• “Um.. Aunt Helen. I think I'm pregnant."
• Her eyes went wide with shock as she froze. Her lips then turned into a snarl as her face hardened.
• "What? What were you thinking?" She looked around her wildly." I told your dead mother before she died that you are a disgrace but no one believed me."
• The harshness of her tone made me cringe more than I could have imagined.
• "I didn't mean for this to happen —" I started to say.
• "Save it." She abruptly interrupted." I'm not interested in your explanations. You have only brought disgrace to this family."
• "I'm so sorry." I said in a whisper as tears pricked the corners of my eyes.
• "This is not what I wanted."
• With a bitter laugh she said.
• "You never wanted this? Stupid Omega trying to play smart. Now it makes no difference what you want. Being an Omega is not enough now you are a slut."
• I tried to talk to explain but my throat choked on the words. Aunt Helen's tone was colder than I had ever heard her say.
• "You're going to fix this. And I know how to. You will be married off to an Alpha."
• My heart sank instantly.
• "What? Please Aunt Helen don't. You can't do this to me."
• She interrupted firmly.
• "I've already made plans. He will arrive tomorrow and you will be married off to him.”
• “Thank the moon goddess you decided to get pregnant and make my dreams come true." She said laughing.
• “This will take care of all the mess, he paid me handsomely so don't tell him yet that you are pregnant."
• I opened my mouth to say something but tears only poured out from my eyes.
• This was so unbelievable.
• "Aunt Helen, please. I can't marry someone I do not love." I croaked.
• "I don't care. You don't need a love girl, you'll follow my instructions. I won't allow you to further embarrass this family." She said her tone was dripping with venom.
• “Tomorrow you'll tie the knot. Don't argue with me."
• My thoughts were racing as I stood there. I knew deep down that I had no other option but to do as she said.
• Life had made a cruel joke on me and the moon goddess had made me a pawn in her chess board.