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Meghan POV

I stared out the window overlooking the hospital grounds. The soft rustle of leaves and the tweeting of sparrows taking a dip in the bird baths erected around the garden was like music to my ears and served to take my mind off the nervous fluttering in my stomach. 

I have been both dreading and looking forward to the meeting with doctor Vera for the past few weeks, and for good reason too.

I and my mate Zack have been trying for a baby for ages now and the news the doctor would deliver would relieve me or shatter my heart into a million pieces again. 

This is not the first time I came to collect the results of a pregnancy test, and all the others have been a disappointing negative. I have no idea what I’m going to do if this one turns out the same way as well. 

Zack and I want children, of course, but more importantly, he needs an heir. Being the sweet darling that he is, does not care much for it, but that doesn’t mean the whole pack was not rooting for one. 

Zack is an Alpha, and not having a child is one of those things that just does not happen.

I bite my lip nervously. Due to the fact that Zack is one of those people that believe in the natural way more than seeking help from science, I’d had to beg profusely for him to accept attempting an artificial insemination procedure this one time.

This has to work, it just has to. If it doesn’t then I guess we just have to go back to trying again because I have no idea left. It’s basically the last resort. 

The door swings open and doctor Vera walks in, a slight smile is not on her face as usual and her dirty blond hair was up in a bun. I turned to her and watch as she slides into her seat on the other side of the mahogany desk across me.

“How are you Mrs. Evans?” She began, sliding her hand over the table for a handshake.

“I'm fine doctor,” I reply. “I came for the results of my pregnancy test? Is there a reason I was called to see you?” 

Normally I would have collected the results from the doctor who was on duty at the time, and Vera did not have a shift today as far as I know. 

Doctor Vera winced slightly. Nothing major – just a slight crinkling of the edges of her eyes but I still caught it and my heart rate sped up in worry. 

“Is there something wrong?” I asked.

“Well,” the doctor began hesitantly, drawing out the word. “You are pregnant. Six weeks old by the best estimation, so the insemination procedure worked.” 

Almost immediately, my body relaxed, my nerves eased, and all was right with the world.

 "I’m really pregnant?" I muttered as my hands went around to brush across my rather flat stomach, smiling.

This was too good to be true. I was finally going to be a mother after four years. Four whole years of waiting through the humiliation and side talks. Four years of being tormented by people around me who constantly saw my inability to bear children as me being barren.

Many went as far as asking when I was going to have their Alpha’s heir. A conversation that always ended with me crying myself to sleep.

Being the Luna of one of the most powerful pack in the region came with a lot of responsibility and one of them was bringing forth a child that would one day be the next Alpha and so far, it has been nothing but a dream.

Many years of a dream that never came through until now, I was finally going to be a mother as well as Zack, a father. 

Tears stink my eyes as I thought about it all. My chest swelling with so much pride and joy. This moment was all I had ever thought and looked forward to. Our prayers have finally been answered by the moon goddess.

Now everyone can finally shut up with the murmuring and side talks.

I pressed my hands against my nose and sniffled as more tears of pure, unadulterated joy begin to force their way out of my eyes. After all this while... After... Oh my god, Zack would be ecstatic when he hears this! 

“But there’s a problem,” Doctor Vera said, her tone somber and serious.

“What is it?” I asked, still trying to hold back the water works.

 “Seriously doctor, I do not think anything you tell me now would even register as a problem. It would not even put a dent in my mood.”

“The child is not Zack’s.” 

“Wh-what do you mean?” I asked, still smiling and my eyes prickling with unshed tears. I felt like I was in heaven and nothing would bring me down.

“The reason I was called in to give you the result is because, well, we get along very well and, um, there was a mistake and we mixed up the sperm specimens being used for the insemination.” 

And I was plunged straight into hell. My smile froze over, the tears were gone just as suddenly as they came, leaving my eyes bone dry, and I could muster only a single reply to the information I had just received. 

“What the fuck?” I whispered at the doctor. “I... I do not think I heard you right. Would you, can you, please repeat?” 

The doctor pursed her lips and took a deep breath. 

“Another artificial insemination procedure was slated to take place that same day, Mrs. Evans. There was a bit of a confusion and your husband’s semen was switched and another one used in its place.” 

“No no no no no, you can’t be serious,” I began. “Things like that do not just happen. They do not-“

“It was a mistake, Mrs. Evans The hospital will take full responsibi-“ 

“Don’t tell me that!” I screamed, “A mix up?! How is that even possible?!” I asked, the anger and frustration rising up inside me.

Doctor Vera tried to calm me down, somehow believing that she could get through the sheer tangle of emotions blocking both my brain and my throat both.

The rest of the conversation was a blur to me. I was too angry to listen, too upset to comprehend. I just remember feeling like I had been cheated out of something that was rightfully mine.

I had wanted this so badly, and now that it was happening, it was tainted with the knowledge that it wasn’t really mine at all. Not ours.