chapter 12

Rowan's pov

My heart hammers in my chest as Thessaly disappears into the crowd to find the Alpha.

How fast does the poison work?

Did I drink enough to hurt myself?

Did I drink enough to hurt... my baby?

The thought slams into me, sharp and breath-stealing.

My baby.

Whatever the reason for this child’s existence,whatever fate or accident brought it into me,it doesn’t matter. I already love it with my whole heart.

It’s mine.

And I’d die to protect it.

A fierce, aching love bursts through my chest. I press a trembling hand to my stomach.

Please, Moon Goddess, I beg silently, don’t take this away from me. Don’t let anything happen to my baby.

Tears sting my eyes. My wolf paces restlessly inside me, snarling for answers.

Then I see them;Thessaly, weaving urgently through the crowd, and behind her… Alpha Kael, face carved from stone.

“Are you alright?” Thessaly reaches me first, her hand cool against my forehead. “No fever.”

The Alpha steps forward, expression unreadable.

“We need to get you to the doctor,” he says. His voice is flat, but there's something taut beneath it.

I nod. Words won’t come.

“I’ll get my car,” Thessaly offers quickly.

“No.” Kael’s reply is firm. “We don’t want to draw attention. You stay here,I’ll take her.”

Thessaly hesitates, frowning, but she doesn’t argue. She knows better than to challenge the Alpha.

Kael takes my hand, steadying me as I stand.

“Walk like nothing’s wrong,” he murmurs. “Smile.”

He picks up the half-empty glass and tucks it away. Then he offers his arm.

People are watching. I can feel their eyes. But I don’t care.

All I care about is making sure my baby is safe.

Later – Infirmary

“The good news is, it wasn’t meant to kill you,” Dr. Bradley says. “It’s Howler’s Bane. Not lethal to adult wolves,but strong enough to terminate a pregnancy.”

My wolf snarls protectively, and I breathe through the fury.

Kael’s jaw clenches, his shoulders rigid.

“Someone tried to kill the Alpha’s child,” the doctor states bluntly. “But since you only took a sip, there’s no lasting harm.”

Relief crashes into me, leaving me weak.

My baby is safe.

“For now,” she adds, “I’d like to keep you overnight. You might feel nauseous, get a headache, maybe dizziness.”

The fear creeps back in. I nod.

She turns to Kael. “You can return to the festival, Alpha. I’ll watch over her.”

“That won’t be necessary,” he says coldly. “I’ll stay.”

Dr. Bradley blinks in surprise, but covers it with a tight smile. She bows, then exits.

The silence left in her wake is thick and uncomfortable.

I lie still on the infirmary bed, while the Alpha stands, stoic and unreadable, eyes roaming the room but never landing on me.

“You can sit, you know,” I finally say.

His eyes widen slightly,surprised I spoke at all,but he says nothing, simply takes the chair beside me. The silence returns.

We’ve barely spoken, even now that I carry his child.

“Are you hungry?” he asks suddenly.

I blink. A strange question from someone who barely acknowledges my presence.

“No. I don’t think I could stomach anything.”

“You should try to sleep.”

I shake my head. “I can’t.”

He looks like he wants to say something more—but doesn’t. I’ve grown used to his silence. It’s become its own language between us.

“What do you do for fun?” he asks, startling me again.

“I like to read.”

He stands abruptly. “I’ll see if Dr. Bradley has anything.”

Before I can respond, he’s gone.

I glance down at my belly, rubbing it gently.

“Look what you’ve done, little one. You’ve made him talk.”

My wolf lets out a quiet, nurturing growl.

The Alpha returns quickly, arms full of books.

“She didn’t have any novels,” he says, placing them on the table. “But she gave me what she had.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, accepting them.

I read the top title: Basic Physiology of Living Things.

Not exactly a thrilling story, but I appreciate the gesture.

He settles back into the chair. I pick a random book and open it.

This is going to be a long night.

Later

I’ve been reading about the internal organs of rabbits for what feels like hours.

“You hate the book,” Kael says suddenly.

“No,” I lie. “It’s very... informative.”

“It’s upside down.”

I blink, mortified. Sure enough, the pages are the wrong way up.

“I guess that’s why none of it made sense,” I try to joke.

He doesn’t even smirk.

“You’ve been reading it upside down for thirteen minutes.”

Only thirteen? It felt like an eternity.

I shut the book and place it beside me. “I’m not really built for... rabbit biology.”

The silence that follows is louder than before.

“Do you have any idea who might’ve done this to you?” Kael asks.

Zelma comes to mind,but she’s more bark than bite.

I shake my head. “No one stands out.”

He notices the pause, I know he does, but he doesn’t press.

“I’ll find who did this,” he promises. “They’ll pay.”

My wolf perks up, eager. Bloodshed always excites her.

I don’t reply. I won’t beg for the life of someone who tried to kill my child. But I wouldn’t wish Kael’s wrath on anyone either.

“You’ll be assigned a guard. Is there someone you trust?”

I blink. Surprised he’s asking for my input.

“No. It doesn’t matter.”

“Then it’s settled.” He leans back in the chair, closes his eyes,but I know he’s not sleeping.

Alpha Kael may be cold, but he’s still a protector.

I just hope morning comes quickly.

The Next Morning

“You’re free to go,” Dr. Bradley announces with a bright smile. “Everything looks good. Just rest up, alright?”

Her cheer grates on me. My head is pounding from a sleepless night.

“Don’t forget,eight-week checkup next week.”

I nod, eager to escape.

“Off you go!”

I don’t wait for Kael. I leave the infirmary immediately.

The sky is a perfect blue, the air crisp. All I want is a long nap in my bed.

“Rowan.”

His voice pulls me from my thoughts.

“I’ll walk you back to the pack house,” he says. Not a question,never a question with him. Just fact.

I nod.

Because that’s what I always do.