Signed Away

Chapter 3

  Astrid's POV 

  As the footsteps got closer, my hope grew. Maybe the Moon Goddess had answered me after all. So I finally turned to look...

 "You dropped something," James said, jogging over. He handed my mom her ID card that must have fallen while she was dragging me.

  The hope inside me died instantly, leaving a hollow ache in its place. I forced a small smile, trying to hide the disappointment crushing my chest.

 "Thank you," my mom said, looking at him strangely before slapping her hand over my mouth again.

 James hesitated, his eyes locked on mine, worry evident on his face. He looked like he wanted to say something, but before he could decide, Darius stepped forward.

"Everything's fine, James. Get back to work," he ordered, his Alpha command heavy in the air.

 James stiffened, lowered his head, and left. And my last hope walked away with him.

 Once he was gone, my mom shoved me into the car. Darius got in the driver's seat and drove like a madman, running red lights like they didn't exist. My stomach hurt from being squished between my parents in the back seat. I kept my arms wrapped around my belly, trying to protect my babies.

"Please," I whispered. "The babies need more time. Just one more month. The cord blood might not be enough if we rush"I tried to persuade them not to take my babies now. 

David hesitated, frowning. The car slowed, with Darius’ eyes flicking between me and my mother. For a moment, I thought they might listen.

"Iris doesn't have a month," My mom said coldly, unmoved.

My heart sank again. 

 We got to the hospital in no time and instead of going through the main entrance, they dragged me through a side door where pack members barely made use of, so that no one would see. They led me down a narrow hallway and straight into a surgical room.

  The air was freezing, sharp like metal. Bright lights burned my eyes. Surgical tools gleamed on a tray beside the bed. My stomach turned.

 "I want to leave," I said, trying to get off the table. "You can't do this!"

  My scream meant nothing. My mom grabbed my arm and stuck a needle in it. "This will help you relax," she said.

  Cold liquid rushed through my veins. Almost instantly, my body went dead but I could still feel everything. I couldn't move a single muscle. Panic exploded inside me.

It wasn't anesthesia.

There was no anesthesiologist.

 This was already a private, illegal procedure. They hadn't even bothered with pain relief.

  Terror crawled up my throat. I tried to scream, but my lips wouldn't move. I couldn't even blink. My mind was awake, like I was trapped inside my own body.

  "She's ready," My mom said calmly, like I was just another patient. She didn't care that I was dying…all that mattered to her was Iris.

  My dad stood beside her, his arms crossed. "Then get to it quickly, Iris can't wait anymore."

 Then he turned to face me, "We raised you, fed you, gave you everything," he said. "All we're asking is for you to help your sister. Stop being selfish."

  Inside, I was screaming. I'm not selfish! I'm trying to protect my children!

  But no sound came out, except the tears rolling down my face.

  I tried to mind-link Darius. "Darius, help me. I haven't been—"

  He didn't let me finish before ending the mindlink and shutting me out completely like nothing happened. Instead, he came closer to me, brushing my hair softly. "It's going to be okay," he whispered, not meeting my eyes. 

That's when I knew it was over. I was on my own.

My dad moved toward me with a rope.

  "Don't," Darius said. "The medicine will keep her still. You don't need to tie her." He added…at least he did that one small thing.

  My mom held a clipboard, coming toward him. "Sign here. I need your consent as her husband."

   Darius took the pen. His hand hovered above the paper. He looked at me, then at the paper, then back at me.

    And then he did it. He signed his name.

  Nothing was going to change my fate now, except if the moon goddess came down herself and since that wasn't happening, I might as well go and meet her. “I'm so sorry, my babies. Mommy tried to protect you. Please be strong. Please survive this.”

 "Maybe you should wait outside," I heard my mom say to Darius. "This might be hard to watch."

"No," he said firmly. "I'm staying."

 Of course he was. He wanted to make sure they got what Iris needed.

  My mom…if I could still call her that, got to work. She picked up a scalpel and pressed it against my stomach. I felt the cold metal touch my skin.

Then the world exploded in agony.

 The pain was beyond human. I felt every slice, every tear of flesh. I wanted to scream, to beg, to die, but I couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even pass out. I was trapped in my body while she cut me open like meat.

  It went on forever. Cut after cut. I prayed again, this time not for myself, but for my children. Even if I didn't make it, they should. They didn't deserve this.

  My blood ran hot down my sides. My body trembled inside though it couldn't move outside.

"The first one's out," My mom, Teresa said.

  And soon enough, a weak, fragile cry filled the room. My baby was alive.

"And the second one," she murmured.

But this time– silence. No cry. Nothing.

My heart stopped.

  Then I heard her again, her voice sharp with satisfaction. "Well, your weight finally paid off. There's enough cord blood for Iris."

 Through my tears, I saw Darius lift my babies and walk away.

 "I'll take them to the neo-natal unit and come back soon," he said softly. "They'll be safe there. Teresa will take care of you."

Take care of me?

  Through my fading vision, I watched Teresa and David carefully collect the cord blood, placing it in a sealed container. That was all they wanted. When they were done, they left.

All of them.

The door closed.

Silence. I lay there.

Cut open.

Bleeding.

 I was going to die here. In this cold room. My babies were gone. Everyone was gone, they got what they wanted, and now they were letting me die.

 Hot tears slid down my temples. At least my babies are alive, I thought. Please, Moon Goddess, let them live.

My mind was drifting into darkness when a voice shattered the silence.

"ASTRID!"

Someone was calling my name, close and desperate.

 Hands touched my face, tapping gently. "Astrid, stay with me! Don't you dare close your eyes!"

My vision focused just enough to see him.

James? “What was he doing here?”

 He looked horrified, tears in his eyes. "What did they do to you?" he whispered, pressing down on my wound to stop the bleeding. "Those monsters..."

He pressed something against my stomach. "Stay with me, Astrid. I'm taking you away. Let's return to Silverpine."

 My lips trembled. I wanted to tell him everything, to thank him, to beg him to save me, but my body still wouldn't move. Only tears escaped.

"Please..." I tried to mouth the words, but no sound came.

He lifted me carefully into his arms, whispering, "I've got you. You're safe now. I'll get you help."

My vision blurred. I thought of my babies, my little pups. They needed me. I couldn’t leave them. Not yet.

 But the darkness was gentle, like a lullaby pulling me away. I tried to fight it, tried to hold on to the sound of his heartbeat against my ear, but it was no use.

Everything went black.