Chapter 6

A voice calling my name pulled me from unconsciousness.

"Katherine! Katherine!" It was Derek's voice, filled with panic.

I slowly opened my eyes and found myself lying in a hospital bed. The room smelled of disinfectant. The white ceiling gradually came into focus above me.

Derek sat beside the bed, looking haggard. His eyes were bloodshot. His clothes were wrinkled, his hair messy. He looked like he hadn't slept all night.

"You're finally awake!" He gripped my hand tightly, his voice shaking. "The doctor said you passed out from a high fever. Thank God David found you in time, otherwise..."

His voice broke, and tears filled his eyes.

"I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have let you go home alone. I shouldn't have let you walk in the rain..."

A nurse pushed the door open and came in to check on me. "Her temperature is back to normal, Mr. Blackwood. Your wife is recovering well."

She turned to me. "Mr. Blackwood has been watching over you the entire time. He hasn't even had water to drink. He only stepped out just now to take a very important call."

I nodded, my voice hoarse. "Thank you."

The nurse took my temperature, gave me some instructions, and left. A few minutes later, I heard Derek's voice outside the door.

He was on the phone. His tone suddenly turned cheerful, a sharp contrast to the worry he'd shown in the hospital room.

"Really? That's wonderful! This is the best news!" His voice brimmed with uncontainable excitement. "I'll be right there!"

I dragged my weak body to the window and saw Derek hurrying toward another building at the hospital. It was the werewolf fertility center.

His steps were light. His face wore an unmistakable smile. I changed into my clothes and followed him.

In the waiting area on the first floor, I saw Derek carefully helping Sheila out of an examination room. She wore a white dress that made her look pure and innocent. Her face glowed with happiness.

That was when Derek spotted me standing not far away. His smile froze instantly, and his face went pale. He released Sheila's arm in a panic and quickly stepped back.

"Katherine? How did you..." Panic filled his voice. "You're supposed to be resting in your room."

"I came to pick up medication," I said calmly. "The doctor told me to get some supplements."

Cold sweat broke out on Derek's forehead as he explained nervously, "Oh, I see. I just happened to be passing by here, and I ran into... ran into Sheila. She said she wasn't feeling well, so I came with her for a checkup."

His voice stuttered. He was obviously lying.

Meanwhile, Sheila saw me. A smug, challenging smile appeared on her face.

She deliberately stroked her still flat stomach, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Oh, Luna Katherine! What a coincidence! I just came out of the examination room. The doctor said I might be carrying a pup."

Derek's face turned even paler. He tried to stop her. "Sheila, don't..."

"Derek was nearby, so I asked him for help." Sheila completely ignored Derek's attempts to stop her. "After all, I'm expecting. Derek is my boss, so he came to help me."

She looked directly at me, smiling provocatively. "Luna Katherine, please don't misunderstand!"

Derek broke out in a cold sweat. "Katherine, let me explain."

"Good luck with that," I said calmly, my voice completely flat. "I'm going home now."

I turned to leave, and Derek tried to follow. "Katherine, wait."

"I'm tired. I want to go home and rest." I didn't look back. "You do what you need to do."

I cut off whatever explanation he was about to give. When we got home, Derek used urgent company business as an excuse and quickly shut himself in his study.

I heard him on the phone inside, keeping his voice low. But occasional fragments drifted out, full of tension and anxiety.

"How could you say that in front of her?

"What are we supposed to do now?

"This has to stay secret. Katherine absolutely can't find out..."

I sat in the living room. My phone suddenly buzzed. It was a text from Sheila with an attached photo of a pregnancy test report.

Then more messages flooded in like a tide. All from Sheila. The content was explicit and taunting.

She described in detail how she and Derek had sex in our marriage bed, in his office, and even on his Alpha throne.

Every message came with suggestive photos. His shirt was on our bedroom floor. Her heels were under his desk.

The last message read, "Dear Luna Katherine, thank you for sharing Derek with me. He says I know how to please an Alpha better than you do. Soon, I'll be taking your place."

I stared at every message with no expression, my finger scrolling slowly across the screen. Every photo and every line of text cut like a knife.

But I felt no anger. No tears came. Only a terrifying cold. Finally, I turned off my phone screen.

Just then, Derek crept up behind me.

He wrapped his arms around me from behind, nuzzling his cheek gently against my neck. His voice was as soft as a spring breeze. "My darling, what has you so lost in thought?"