A Lab Rat for His Love

Natalia’s POV

The dream felt so real. I could feel his hands on me. His lips traced the tender spots on my neck. His touch sent shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes. I hoped it would never end. But then, his voice cut through the air.

"Never."

I gasped. My eyes flew open. The room was empty.

It had been two years since I married Adrian Miller. He was the future alpha of the Crystal Blood Pack. Two years of trying to win his affection. Two years of failing. I tried to prove I was worth his love. I tried to show I was worth being his true mate. But he never marked me. In the world of werewolves, that was everything. The mark meant connection. It meant devotion. It meant belonging. But I never received it, even though I was his wife. He wasn’t home most of the time. I longed for his touch.

I sighed heavily. I sat up and yawned. My eyes landed on the clock. My stomach dropped.

"Shit! I’m going to be late."

I rushed through the morning routine. I was desperate to make it to my checkup with Dr. Harold Reid at the pack hospital. As I hurried down the stairs and out the door, my mind wandered. Maybe, just maybe, this time I’d be pregnant. A child could change things. It could bring Adrian home more often. It could make him see me. It could make him really see me.

I arrived at the hospital. My nerves tightened with every passing second. Dr. Harold's face was kind. The process was clinical. He drew blood and took his time. He promised to return soon. As I waited, my mind returned to Adrian. To our marriage. If I wasn’t pregnant, I would finally end it. I needed peace. I needed my sanity.

When Dr. Harold returned, his smile made my heart race.

"Congratulations!" he said, his eyes shining.

My heart leapt. "Really?" I couldn’t help but smile. I placed a hand on my stomach. "There’s a baby?"

“Babies,” he corrected gently.

I blinked, stunned. "Twins?"

His smile widened. “Triplets.”

I froze. I blinked again to make sure I had heard him correctly. “Triplets?”

"Yes, you’re having triplets," he confirmed. His tone was warm but serious.

A rush of joy filled me. Then, I became aware of the delicate nature of my pregnancy. The doctor’s next words sobered me.

“Your uterine walls are very thin,” he warned. “Be careful.”

I nodded quickly. I tried to push down the growing fear for the three little lives growing inside me. "I’ll take care of myself. Thank you, Dr. Harold," I said. I left the hospital, my joy clouded by concern.

When I came home, my joy turned to ash.

Adrian was sitting on the couch. His arm was draped around Lynda, my husband's childhood friend, was sitting there looking all innocent and wronged.

He was comforting her gently. The sight of him, so tender, so attentive to her, while I had been nothing but an afterthought, was like a knife to my heart.

He looked at me. His eyes were cold, full of venom. "How dare you come back? How dare you bullied Lynda?" he spat.

I froze. Confusion and hurt flooded me. "What... what are you talking about?"

His face twisted with disgust. "Oh, please. You make me sick. You put something in Lynda's medicine? She suddenly had a stomachache today!"

What? I am the healer of the pack. I often write prescriptions to help pack members maintain their health. I replied, "She isn't sick at all. The prescription I gave her was just for calming her nerves. It has no side effects whatsoever!"

"Then why is she like this? You really disappoint me. You must apologize to Lynda today!"

Honestly, I was so tired of this. Ever since Lynda  came back from the neighboring pack a few months ago, she’s been making it her mission to cause trouble for me.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned and hurried to our bedroom. I locked the door behind me.

I had hoped, foolishly, that our marriage could be salvaged. I thought that if I could just get pregnant, things would change. But I had been wrong.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. Just then, I heard the door to the bedroom fly open. Adrian stood there. His expression was fierce.

"Adrian, I won't apologize to Lynda—"

Before I could finish my sentence, he slammed the door shut behind him. His eyes were dark with fury.

"I know what you’re up to," he spat. His gaze was colder than I had ever seen it. "You’ve been plotting all along. Trying to trap me. Trying to make me feel obligated. But I won’t be your fool anymore. I’m done."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. "Adrian..."

He stepped closer. His face was just inches from mine. "You’ve humiliated me enough. I should’ve done this a long time ago. This marriage is over."

His words cut through me like a blade. He wasn’t just rejecting me. He was rejecting everything. All the hopes. All the dreams. All the promises I had held onto so desperately.

"Adrian," I whispered. My voice was breaking. "Please don’t do this."

He looked at me with cold, emotionless eyes. "It’s already done. You and I... we’re finished. I want a divorce!"

The weight of his words hit me.

Adrian was walking away. I managed to choke out, "But... I’m pregnant..."

He froze. He turned back toward me slowly. His expression flickered for just a moment—surprise, maybe even confusion—but then his gaze hardened once more.

"I don’t want the child you're carrying. Get rid of it!" he said. His voice was flat. "You are not good enough to be my children's mother!"

I collapsed onto the bed. I clutched my stomach. My body trembled. My heart was broken in ways I never thought possible.

I’m carrying three little lives, Adrian. And you’ll never know them.

“Okay. Then let’s divorce,” I said calmly.