Hailee POV
Later that night
I sat on my bed, pulling my knees to my chest. Frederick's words would not leave my head. I kept seeing his face. He didn't judge me. He didn't ask questions. He didn't look at me with anger. Instead, he offered me something I didn't expect—protection. A cover. A name to hide behind.
But why?
Why would a vampire I barely knew say such a thing? What would it cost me if I agreed? What would it cost him?
My stomach turned as I put my hands over it. The little life inside me was still silent, but it was already changing everything. If I accepted Frederick's offer, it would be a lie. A lie bigger than the one I told Nathan, Callum, and Dane.
A lie I could never take back.
My heart beat fast, too fast. I pressed my face against my knees and whispered into the room, "Can I really trust him?"
THREE MONTHS LATER!
My body changed in ways I couldn't hide anymore. My belly was no longer flat, and every step reminded me of the secret I carried inside me.