Javier

The results stared back at me plain and glaring. “Probability of paternity: 99.9%.”

The paper slipped from my fingers to the floor. I was doomed. I was royally doomed. It had been my child. She had never cheated on me. What the hell had I been thinking? Accusing her? Leaving her in a vulnerable state?!

My wolf clawed at my insides, desperate to go back to her side. I had to clench my jaw to keep from shifting and running all the way back to the hospital. To comfort her and hold her in my arms like my wolf wanted me to. Like she wanted me to.

“Let me drive,” Richard stated, getting into the driver’s seat. I was too disoriented to even respond. He drove at full speed to the hospital. I scarcely waited for him to park properly before I dashed out towards her ward. 

“Alice! Alice!” I bellowed across the hallway as I searched for her ward. Dashing in without hesitation, but I was shocked as I came face to face with the well made bed. Empty. 

Where is she? 

“Alpha Javier,” someone greeted behind me. I turned around to see the doctor and a few nurses behind him.

“Where is my wife?” I demanded immediately. “She was in that room. Why is it empty?”

The doctor paused, looking scared to continue. I was losing my mind at the silence and was almost jumping at him.

“Her body has been taken by a family member.” He said in an ominous tone that warned me of what he meant.

“Her body?” I asked incredulously. “What do you mean by her body? What family member? Where is my wife?!” The last question came out as a growl. 

“Sh..she passed as a result of birth complications, Alpha.”

My mind was racing. A thousand thoughts per second, none of them settling long enough to form a coherent pronouncement. 

Alice was dead? My mate was dead? The mother of my child…was dead? My hands were already sprouting claws. My vision was tinged red at the edges. I was losing control of my wolf, unable to quiet the restless energy thrumming through my veins. 

In silence, I walked to the entrance of the hospital and stepped outside into the cool night air. The moment my feet hit the grass, I tore off the pants I had on and shifted.

The transformation was instantaneous. One second, man. The next, wolf. I took off running into the distance. The forest welcomed me. Dark and quiet and familiar in a way my head was not. I ran until my muscles burned, my lungs screamed, until the tears I held back began to fall.

I hardly recorded whatever was happening after that. I was in a daze as I got prepared for the burial of my son. Our son. 

Someone walked in, hugging me from behind. My skin crawled at the contact and I moved, separating myself from them. It was Vivian.

She stood there like she belonged to my world. Like my world hadn’t just ended.

“Javier…” she said softly, her arms tightening around me again. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

My body went rigid. Her touch felt wrong. Foreign.

“Don’t,” I said coldly.

She froze for a second, clearly not expecting that. Then her face softened again, like she understood the pain tearing at my heart.

“I know this is hard,” she murmured, stepping closer again. “Losing a child… losing her… I can’t imagine the pain you’re in.”

Her voice was gentle and carefully crafted. This had all been because of her. 

“I’m here for you,” she continued, placing a hand over her stomach. “You’re not alone. You still have me… and our baby.”

My gaze dropped to her stomach. There it was. The one thing that ruined my family. Something dark twisted inside me at the words. “Our baby.”

I nearly gave in to my wolf’s instinct to press her against the wall and hang her by her neck against the wall until she snapped. My jaw tightened and I said nothing in response but she seemed to have taken my silence as permission.

“I’ll take care of you,” she whispered. “You don’t need anyone else.”

I didn’t respond. My words would be as empty as I felt because all I could see was Alice. Her smile. Her tears. The way she looked at me that last time. The betrayal in her eyes. I closed my eyes, in an attempt to block out the memory.

“Get ready,” I said flatly. “The burial is soon.”

Her lips parted slightly, surprised by my tone, but she nodded.

“Of course.”

The rain started just as we arrived. It was heavy and relentless. It soaked through everything within seconds.

We all stood there in silence as the small coffin was carried forward.

My son.

My chest tightened and my hands clenched as I watched. This was all that was left of him. A box. And all that was left of the years we had prayed for a child. 

People stepped forward one after the other, offering condolences. Rain dripped down my face, mixing with tears I didn’t bother to hide. I watched as the little box slowly was covered up with soil and something inside me cracked. 

My eyes snapped open.

Every instinct in my body went alert. The guards reacted instantly, stepping forward, forming a protective line.

“What was that?” someone whispered.

There was a wild howl and it sounded very close. Before we knew it, figures burst from the tree line. The putrid smell filled the air before I saw them. It was a Rogue attack.

“Attack!” one of my warriors shouted.

Chaos exploded instantly.

At the burial of my son, we were being attacked. And from their coordination, it was very obvious that this was no coincidence. The rogues could not lead themselves. Something was terribly wrong.

I didn’t have to wait too long to find out. Leading the onslaught was none other than Rier, my brother.