Eight months had passed since Elena had shared her deepest secret with Ethan—the fact that she was carrying Alex's child. The weight of her confession had lifted slightly, but the burden of the truth remained heavy on her heart. She had hoped time would heal the wounds, but the world outside their camp was full of whispers, and there was no escaping the rumors that swirled around her.
It wasn't long before the camp began to buzz with the news. The tension among the survivors grew, fueled by the speculation about Elena's pregnancy. Whispers echoed in corners, stares followed her as she walked, and every conversation seemed to trail off when she entered the room. But in the midst of it all, there was one person who stood beside her: Ethan.
Ethan had always been steady, a constant in her life since the world had fallen apart. And now, more than ever, he proved himself as a protector. One night, as the fire crackled, the rumors finally reached their breaking point. A group of survivors had gathered near the fire, murmuring about Elena's pregnancy, speculating about the identity of the father.
Ethan stood up, his eyes hardening as he stepped forward. The group fell silent, sensing the gravity of the moment.
"It's not what you think," Ethan's voice rang out, strong and unwavering. "This child is mine."
The words hit the group like a wave, and there was an audible pause before the murmurs began again. But this time, they were different. The accusations, the judgment, everything shifted. Ethan continued, his gaze steady and unwavering.
"She's carrying my child. Elena is mine, and I will take responsibility for her and our child. Don't let these rumors take root."
Elena, sitting by the fire, felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had feared this moment—the moment when she would be forced to confront the world outside her own emotions, to show them the truth. But Ethan's words, powerful and protective, settled her fears. For once, she felt seen, truly seen by him.
She stood up slowly, walking over to him. Her eyes, filled with gratitude, locked onto his. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly, the weight of her relief melting in his embrace.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Thank you for protecting me."
Ethan held her close, his heart aching for everything she had endured. "You don't have to thank me," he murmured. "I'll always stand by you, no matter what."
But what they didn't know was that their conversation had not gone unnoticed. From the shadows of the trees, a group of hunters had been watching from a distance. They had heard everything—the words, the claim, the promise. The hunters' eyes narrowed as they exchanged knowing glances.
"They've been hiding something," one of them muttered, his voice low. "The child... It's not right. We can't let this stand."
The hunters, ruthless and calculating, began to plan. They knew the survivors were weak, divided by internal struggles, and now, with Elena pregnant and vulnerable, they saw their opportunity. They would capture her, force the truth out of her, and use her for whatever purposes they deemed fit.
Nine months later, the day Elena had been dreading and anticipating had arrived. The weight of her pregnancy had grown unbearable, and though she had spent most of the past months surrounded by the support of Alex, Ethan, and the others, the reality of what was about to happen loomed over her.
Her contractions were coming faster now. She could feel it—the child was ready to come into the world, but there was still a sense of fear and unease in her heart. She had prepared herself for the delivery, but nothing could have prepared her for the chaos that would soon follow.
It was a few days before her due date when disaster struck.
The camp had been quiet for days, everyone busy with the routine of survival, but something was off. There was an unnatural stillness in the air, a tension that even the youngest members of the group could sense. Alex had gone off on a hunting trip with a few of the others, and Ethan had been by Elena's side, ensuring she was comfortable as she approached her labor.
But as night fell, the quiet was shattered.
Elena was alone in the makeshift shelter, trying to rest, when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching—too heavy to be one of the survivors. Before she could react, the door to the shelter was thrown open, and a group of hunters stormed inside.
Elena gasped, her body instantly tensing with fear. She had heard stories about them, the ruthless group that roamed the wilderness, looking for survivors to exploit. They were here now, and they weren't here to negotiate.
One of them, a tall, scarred man, grabbed her roughly by the arm, yanking her to her feet. "You're coming with us," he growled.
"No!" Elena struggled against his grip, but her strength was no match for his. "Please! I'm about to give birth—let me go!"
But the man was relentless. "You'll give birth when we say you can. We're taking you with us."
As Elena was dragged toward the door, her heart pounded in her chest. Her only thoughts were of her baby—would they hurt her child? Would they take her away from the people she loved? She had no choice but to fight back, but her exhaustion from the pregnancy, combined with the shock of being kidnapped, left her too weak to resist.
"Ethan! Alex!" she cried out, but her voice was muffled by the gag one of the hunters shoved into her mouth.
Outside, the stars seemed to blink in and out, the quiet night shattered by the commotion of the hunters. The others would soon discover that Elena was gone, but by then, it would be too late. The hunters were already making their way deeper into the wilderness, intent on claiming their prize.