Page 54 of Hunted to the Altar
But she couldn’t fight this. She couldn’t fight what was already happening inside her.
And still, I said nothing.
I wasn’t ready to confront her with the truth—to see the fury or the fear in her eyes when she realized what this meant. So I held onto it like a secret between us.
Watching her.
Waiting.
She would stay.
Not because she wanted to, but because she had no choice.
Because she was mine. And now so was the life she carried. I would protect them both—no matter what it took.
And yet, I said nothing. I wasn’t ready to confront her with the truth, to see the fear and anger in her eyes when she realized what this meant. So I kept it to myself, watching her closely, waiting for the right moment. If there was ever such a thing as the right moment in a world as dark and twisted as ours.
But as I looked out over the city, I felt the weight of the decisions I would soon have to make. The lines I’d have to cross to keep her safe. The sacrifices she’d never understand. And I knew, deep down, that nothing about this would be easy.
She might despise me now, but she would thank me one day. When she held our child, safe and alive. When she saw the lengths I’d gone to for her, for them. Until then, I would bear her hatred. I would let it fuel me. Because in the end, it didn’t matter how she felt about me.
As I turned back toward the city, a flicker of movement caught my eye—one of my guards repositioning himself on the perimeter. Always vigilant. Always ready. It was a stark reminder that our world was on the brink of chaos, and I couldn’t afford to lose focus. Not now. Not ever.
I returned to the penthouse and found myself outside Nina’s door once again. This time, I didn’t knock. Instead, I turned the handle and stepped inside. She looked up, startled, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“What do you want?” she asked, her voice sharp.
“To talk,” I replied, closing the door behind me. “Properly this time.”
She crossed her arms, clearly bracing herself. “I’ve heard enough of your speeches.”
I ignored her words and moved closer. “I’m trying to meet you halfway, Nina. But you have to let me.”
Her laugh was bitter. “Meet me halfway? You mean control me entirely?”
I sighed, my patience wearing thin. “You think this is easy for me? That I want to keep you here like this?”
“Yes,” she snapped. “Because it gives you power.”
For a moment, I let my guard slip, my voice softening. “No. Because it keeps you safe.”
The vulnerability in my tone seemed to catch her off guard, and for a fleeting second, I thought I saw something shift in her expression. But just as quickly, her walls went back up.
“I don’t need your protection,” she said, but her voice wavered, betraying her uncertainty.
“You might not want it,” I said, stepping closer until I was looming over her. “But you need it. And whether you like it or not, I’m not letting you go.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her disobedience flickering like a dying flame. I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She flinched, but I didn’t pull back.
“You’re mine, Nina,” I murmured. “And I protect what’s mine.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Nina
The summons came unexpectedly.I had barely settled into my restless pacing when the knock on the door echoed through the room. My heart stuttered. I knew who it was before the voice followed.
"Get dressed. We’re going to dinner." Samuel’s tone left no room for dissent.
