Chapter 3

Claire's POV

The report claimed there was no evidence of a pregnancy.

That wasn't what Dr. Hale had told me.

Someone had altered the report.

A cold realization settled over me. Ryan hadn't simply refused to believe me. He had seen this report and taken it as proof that I was lying.

Someone had deceived him.

I didn't know who was behind it, but I couldn't afford to waste another second. If Ryan believed the falsified report, he would never understand how desperately our baby needed him.

I took screenshots of both reports and sent them to Dr. Hale, asking him to confirm the forgery in writing. Then I grabbed the original medical records and headed for the door.

I had to find Ryan. If Ryan wouldn't listen to me, I'd put the truth in front of him myself.  I asked the guards and anyone who might know where the Alpha had gone. Finally, I found Marcus near the training yard.

"He's at Sabrina's house," he told me reluctantly. "They're celebrating her son's birthday."

My baby was running out of time, and Ryan was celebrating another child's birthday.

I knew I should rest. The dull ache in my lower abdomen had been growing worse, and dark clouds hung over the pack lands. But what choice did I have? I couldn't stay behind while my child's life slipped away.

I grabbed my keys and drove through the rain.

When I reached Sabrina's house, the windows glowed with warm, golden light. Laughter drifted from inside, and my heart sank with every step toward the front door.

Before I could knock, it opened.

Sabrina stood in the doorway. The gentle expression she wore around Ryan was gone, replaced by a look of open contempt as she took in my soaked clothes and trembling figure.

"Don't come any closer, Claire. Ryan is celebrating our son's birthday. Can't you take a hint? He doesn't want you here."

I gripped the doorframe to steady myself, "I am still Blackridge's Luna. You don't get to bar me from a house inside my own territory."

She gave a quiet, mocking laugh.

"Luna?" Her gaze dropped to my stomach. "Ryan doesn't even believe you're pregnant. And even if that child is real, what makes you think he'll ever love it? Our son was born from love. You forced your way into Ryan's life because the Elders demanded a marriage, and you've spent four years pretending that makes you his wife in every way that matters."

"I didn't come here to discuss my marriage with you. Move aside."

Sabrina leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"Then let me make something clear. Ryan will never love you the way he loves me. And he'll never love your child the way he loves our son. Why bring a baby into a life where it will always come second? It would be better off never being born."

"Don't you dare talk about my child that way!" I snapped, stepping toward her despite the pain twisting in my abdomen. "My baby hasn't even been born, and you've already decided its life is worthless. You have no right to judge my child—or decide whether it deserves to live."

Sabrina's smile widened. "And what can you do about it? Ryan will always choose us."

"Maybe," I said, holding her gaze. "But at least my child won't have to grow up learning cruelty from its own mother."

Another wave of pain nearly doubled me over, but I forced myself to stay upright and tried to push past Sabrina.

She stepped aside, only to slam the door in my face.

The lock clicked.

Rain soaked through my clothes as I stared at the closed door. Sabrina had just made it harder for me to reach Ryan, but I was running out of time. I'd risk anything to get to him—even climbing down a chimney if I had to.

I hurried around the side of the house, searching for another way in.

I stumbled around the side of the house until I found a wide window overlooking the living room. Through the glass, I saw him sitting on the floor with his son in his lap.

Ryan held the wooden wolf out for the boy, making it dance until the child dissolved into giggles. He laughed, gathered the boy into his arms, and kissed his hair.

"Ryan!" I pounded on the window. "The report is fake! Look at me!"

He didn't hear me. Or perhaps he simply couldn't hear me through the glass."Ryan, please!"

I hit the glass again, my voice breaking as I called his name. I needed him to hear me. I needed him to turn around, see me standing there, and understand that our baby was dying.

But Sabrina appeared beside the window.

Her eyes met mine.

Then, without a word, she pulled the curtains shut.

Ryan vanished from view. The laughter continued inside, muffled now, while I stood alone in the rain.

A searing pain shot through my abdomen, so intense that my vision blurred. Then I felt something warm trickle down my legs. When I looked down, blood was mixing with the rainwater at my feet.

"No. No, please…"

I pressed both hands against my belly, as if I could hold my baby inside by sheer will.

"Hold on, sweetheart. Please, just hold on."

My wolf surged with panic, her distress echoing through me. The pain grew unbearable, and my legs gave way beneath me.

As I collapsed onto the wet ground, I felt something inside me slip away.

Then everything went black.

In the darkness, a little boy stood before me. He had soft eyes and a small smile, and somehow, I knew he was mine.

"Mama," he whispered. "I love you."

Tears streamed down my face as I reached for him.

"Please don't go. I haven't even held you yet."

He looked at me sadly.

"I'm sorry, Mama. We didn't get enough time together. But please don't keep hurting yourself for me. You deserve to be loved, too."

But he was already fading.

"No!!"

I lunged for him, reaching desperately for his tiny hand, but my fingers slipped through him like he was made of smoke.

"Baby, please! I'll protect you. I'll do anything! Just don't go!"

I tried to pull him into my arms, but he was already disappearing. I could only watch, screaming his name as the last trace of him vanished into the darkness.I tried to run after him, but my legs wouldn't move. I could only watch as the little boy I had never held disappeared into the darkness.

When I opened my eyes, white walls surrounded me. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled my nose, and a monitor beeped beside my bed.

A hospital.

I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my abdomen. The memories came rushing back: the rain, the blood, the curtains closing in front of me.

My baby.

I grabbed the arm of the nurse passing by.

"Where's my baby?" My voice shook. "Please, tell me my baby is all right."

The nurse's expression changed. She gently freed her arm and hurried to call the doctor.

When he arrived, he stood beside my bed in silence. The pity in his eyes told me everything before he spoke.

"I'm sorry, Luna Claire."

I shook my head, refusing to accept what I already knew.

"No. Please…"

"The baby didn't make it."