The Alpha's Cinderella

Chapter 50

Serena

I woke up to a faint scent of herbs in the air. Blinking my eyes open, the light filtered through my half-closed lids, forcing me to squint. I was welcomed by the blinding light on the white ceiling. To shield my eyes from the brightness, I instinctively used my arms as a makeshift shield.

As I stirred, a low groan involuntarily escaped my lips, which appeared to startle the man seated beside me. When he leaned it, I relaized it was Ashford. His face bore a mixture of worry and relief as he met my groggy gaze.

“Serena? I am glad you’re finally awake,” he exclaimed. He was scanning me, asking if I fell okay. I smiled at him to assure him I was okay.

Then, it was my time to ask some questions. "What happened?" I croaked, my voice still recovering from its slumber. With Ashford's support, I gradually pushed myself up from the bed.

“Careful, Serena.” He extended his hand, urging me to be cautious.

I scanned my eyes around and asked, “Where am I?”

“You’re in Blood Rose Pack’s infirmary. You lost consciousness while watching Damon and Alpha Roman's fight earlier,” Ashford began to explain. Slowly but surely, the pieces of the puzzle fell back into place, revealing the dramatic events that had transpired with the fragments of my my memory slowly flooding my mind.I vividly remembered Damon, battered and bloody, as he experienced devastating and humiliating lost against his father.

“Damon! I need to see Damon!” Panic surged through me, and I attempted to leap out of bed, but dizziness immediately held me back.

“Serena! Serena! Are you okay?” Concern etched across Ashford's face as he guided me back onto the bed. Meanwhile, I fought the urge to throw up.

“What’s happening to me?” I asked myself and instantly, I saw the change in Ashford’s face as if he knew something. “I knew that look, Ashford. Tell me, am I sick or something?”

“No, Serena. But you need to take care of yourself more from now on because you’re six weeks pregnant.”

Pregnant? Did I hear him say I am pregnant?

I touched my belly in disbelief, struggling to grasp the fact that I was carrying a new life within me. A wave of joy washed over me at the thought of my first night with Damon resulted to a baby. However, fear quickly crept in as I recalled the consequences of Damon's loss to Alpha Roman. What was going to happen now? What kind of life was my child going to live from now on?

Just then, a soldier arrived, his expression resolute as he informed Ashford and me that it was time to leave Blood Rose Pack.

"Can't we have a little more time?" Ashford implored, concern etched across his face. "Serena just woke up, and still unable to walk straight.”

The soldier’s voice tinged with regret. "I understand your situation, but the Alpha's orders are not to be questioned. We have to execute the banishment as instructed. You need to leave now."

Desperation clouded Ashford's features as he looked at me helplessly. Then, the guard continued, “You know, Blood Rose Pack surely needs your wit and power around here. You have a choice to stay, you know.”

But Ashford's loyalty was unwavering. "My loyalty is with Alpha Damon. I will leave as the Alpha commands, but don't think for a moment that I'll forget this."

The guard simply remarked with a touch of sympathy, "It's your choice, Ashford. I hope you won't regret it."

Ashford turned away, his face filled with unwavering determination. "I won't. Let's go, Serena. We have a new path to follow now."

With Ashford's help, I left the infirmary, my steps unsteady as I walked towards the western border. The weight of banishment hung heavily on me, and I couldn't help but wonder about Damon's whereabouts. Ashford, sensing my worry, guided me through the wilderness until we reached a secluded cave hidden amidst the trees and rocks.

As we entered the cave, dim light filtered through the cracks in the rocky ceiling, revealing a makeshift wooden bed where Damon lay. He looked worn and battered, a shadow of his former self. It was clear that he had refused treatment in the pack's infirmary, and his condition seemed to be a result of shame and guilt. Ashford left us, giving us our needed privacy.

My heart ached at the sight of Damon, and I rushed to his side. "Damon," I said softly, my voice filled with concern and love. "Why didn't you go to the infirmary?"

Damon didn't even want to look at me. His spirit was shattered, and he seemed to be drowning in depression after his loss in the battle. I knelt beside him and gently took hold of his hand, desperate to pull him from the abyss of despair.

"There's another reason to live," I whispered, my voice quivering with emotion. With a trembling hand, I placed his hand on my belly, feeling the warmth of his touch against my skin. "If you can't live for me or for yourself, then live for your child, Damon."

Damon's eyes widened in disbelief as he processed my words. For a moment, he seemed stunned, his gaze shifting between my face and the hand on my belly. Then, a torrent of tears streamed down my face, and I confirmed what I had just revealed.

"I'm pregnant," I whispered, tears mixing with a smile that was breaking through the darkness that had enveloped us.

Damon's arms enveloped me in a tight embrace, and together, we wept. In that moment, it was as if a glimmer of hope had pierced the despair, and the love between us felt stronger than ever.

As Damon and I held each other, a rustling sound from the cave's entrance caught our attention. We turned our heads, and I saw Ashford returning, accompanied by a cloaked man who remained a mysterious figure beside him.