1: I DON'T WANT A PUP

EVE

I urged the cab driver to speed up as the hospital building loomed ahead of me.

Despite my sickness, I couldn't abandon Mike in surgery, though I’d vowed to make this my last healing.

Two hours ago, I was preparing an elaborate dinner to announce my pregnancy, when his secretary had called urgently. “Dr Mike is stuck in the OR with a patient. He needs your help Mrs Ferdinez”

I smiled, trying not to get angry as I chose my words carefully, “Nurse Sheila I’m really sick today. I haven’t recovered fully from the last healing session”

“But….” She wanted to say but I ended the call. Before the pregnancy, to use my energy in healing werewolves was like a second nature. My husband being a doctor, and I being a healer, which is very rare in the pack is a blessing.

All I do was lay my hands on the patient and concentrate on donating my energy to them but in the aftermath, I would faint or become bedridden for days. But I don’t care. As long as Mike’s career was thriving and he remained the best doctor in the pack, l continued to do it.

I couldn't heal myself like other healers or other werewolves. My mum told me it was some kind of curse, but my husband said it’s because I was special and I believed him.

Guilt over Mike’s struggle made me revise my decision. Despite the energy I will be losing later, I still couldn't refuse him.

Sooner, the cab stopped and I rushed to the OR, slipping past the nurse’s protest with the pass Mike had given me in case of times like this.

Aside from his secretary who knew our secret, others never knew I was his wife because a healer is banned from entering the hospital grounds! And we have to keep our marriage a secret because the pack council must not know that a doctor married a born healer!

Just some steps to the OR, the door slid open, doctors and nurses spilling out, the patient on the stretcher. Mike and his secretary followed, drained, his eyes cold.

I rushed to him urgently, “Hubby. What happened? How’s the surgery?”

Mike eyed me for a split second, but he was silent, he just rolled his eyes and walked toward his office while I followed, my questions unanswered.

In his office, Mike slumped into his chair, heavy with exhaustion. The secretary dropped the file and stared at me jealously for a split second before leaving us alone.

Then I asked again, “Why are you silent, what happened to the patient?”

“Fine thanks”

“Come on darling. Why are you being cold?” I moved closer to kiss him, but he shunned me.

“Eve please! I was able to save the patient. So are we cool now?” he snapped, his piercing honey eyes staring at me.

“S-sure, I’m happy that you pulled it off” I stammered, “When are you getting off work? So we can go home together”

“I’m working overtime today” he replied simply but the tone hurts as hell.

“Mike dear?” I called gently and moved closer but this time he didn’t stop me.

I hugged him from behind and rested my head on his shoulder trying to inhale his scent. “Today is a day of joy for us, can’t you smile for me just a little?”

Mike, still clueless, released me, “A special day? After you shunned Sheila and showed up late?”

“No” I smiled, trying to keep my nervousness in check, because I don’t know if this is the right time to talk about the pregnancy. But then again, I think he will understand the reason for my reluctance earlier.

I grabbed my bag and hesitated for a while, before pulling out the thin strip. With shaky hands, I presented it to him like a gift, my heart racing madly “Mike we’re having a baby!”

He took it, and looked at the object with keen eyes as I watched him, anxious, waiting for his joy to match mine. But his eyes suddenly came alive as he shot me a shocking glance, “What is this?”

“I’m 8 weeks pregnant! Now our dream to have an heir that will carry the family legacy is coming true!!” I couldn't hold back and blurted it out directly.

Tears in my eyes, I moved toward him, wanting to embrace him. But as happy as I was, his expression still isolated me.

“Are you sure about this, or is it just a trick to make me forgive you for what happened earlier?” He suddenly asked, pushing me away when I tried to hug him.

“Mike… Of course, I’m sure” I took his hand and placed it on mine, “Check for yourself”

“Damn it!” Mike cussed in frustration. “How can you get pregnant now of all times? Have you forgotten how important your healing powers are to me?”

I became confused, “What are you saying? We’re having a pup after all two years of marriage……”

“Who says I need a damn pup!!!” He screamed. Then stood up and held my hands, and in a persuasive but urgent tone, “Baby, we can still hold on. We can abort this until I get the best doctor award and….”

“Mike!!” I yelled as I yanked my hands from his angrily. “Are you crazy? Is the best doctor award the only goal you have in life? What about our marriage?”

“Eve I just want to…..”

I really don’t want to hear it. “Fine. You don’t want this pup, then I’ll keep it alone!”

I turned to leave but he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

“Mike are you mad?” I yelled.

“Eve DeLacruz, did you think you could spoil my life with one stupid pup?” Malice laced his tone. "Let's go back to how we used to live. Just you, me, and the hospital….”

“Mike… This isn’t you! You said you love pupren!” I cried not minding his pleas. He tossed me around making me face him. The expression on his face is totally different from the Mike I used to know. Fear tugged my heart, “Mike…..”

“I’m sorry Eve, but this is the real me” His voice sounded very husky and before I could think, he grabbed a syringe loaded with sedatives that I know to bring mad werewolves down in a second and injected me with it, pain ripping through me. “I built this life from the day I watched my mum die without any doctor helping her. Just a few steps to get that award and become the head doctor in the whole pack…. You want to stop me with a pup?”

My eyes widened in shock as the pain spread to my body and instinctively, I whined in pain… But not loud enough to be heard outside and the door was locked.

Mike yanked the syringe free, his voice cold, “Your healing ability can only be useful without this thing. As an Alpha doctor, a wolfless healer like you is useless for other things than to heal. You’ll be fine soon my love”

The pain was spreading to my brain, my body shaking incredibly and my eyes start to dim.

Through the chaos, I heard the door open, but I couldn't see who it was, so I automatically thought I'd be saved, but the next thing I heard was, “Dr Mike, are you coming to my place tonight? I think you should see the new panties I brought yesterday”

That voice sounds familiar, and through my pains, I instantly identified it — Sheila! His secretary.

Which means… No!

No, Mike… I want to say aloud but the pain melted into raw sobs that only came out as gasp, before I sank into darkness.