Five

BRENT

The annual mating ceremony of my Pack was drawing close, and it came with endless paperwork, projects, and a pile of things that needed to be purchased.

I just went through an endless list of everything needed to decorate the main hall. The total amount of the expenses was a whopping million.

I signed underneath it, permitting that the stuff be bought. But God, my back hurts! I've been at this all morning.

“And here's another,” Jaden slipped another file in front of me.

With clenched teeth, I scribbled my signature on the spot and shoved the file into his arms.

“I want to think that's all for now,” I said with a hint of warning, as I tried to stand up.

“Almost,” he grinned, making my blood boil.  He placed another file in front of me. “Here’s permission to release the monthly allowance for the Ex Luna's family.”

Hearing him talk about Evangeline's family shifted my mood instantly. I slowly took the file from him, eager to sign.

It's the only thing I think I ever did for her. But even that couldn't be counted as a favor, knowing I forced her family to migrate to another Pack.

Crazy how it took her disappearance for me to finally reflect on my actions and realize that I was nothing but a douchebag with her, when all she did was worship me.

She wasn't even interested in my wealth, or she would have stayed until my lawyer settled her.

I'd love to argue that I was a man in love and it was impossible to love another. But even at that, I could have treated her a little less like a piece of trash.

I hate having these late regrets. I hate wishing that I'd handled things differently with her. I hate having those thoughts, so I try to forget that she ever happened.

But in these few moments where I'm forcefully reminded of her, I find myself wallowing in regrets again.

I wonder how she's doing…

“Are you gonna sign that or what?” Jaden tapped my shoulder, making me flinch a bit.

“Of course,” I muttered. The amount was 2 million dollars. I tripled it and signed.

“Seriously?” Jaden gasped. I stood, slamming the file into his chest and slightly pushing him out of my way.

I knew more than anyone that tripling the amounts wouldn't erase the guilt I felt. But it was the least I could do.

I'd ask around to know how she's doing but I'm not brave enough to do that. Also, I don't wanna betray my commitment to Carolina.

The hallway was rowdy. I stopped by Carolina's quarters to check on her before heading out. She was asleep and heavily pregnant. Her maids were in the room. I didn't try waking her and just kissed her cheek.

I left and got into my car, driving down to the Pack's general building where the mating ceremony would take place.

The organizers immediately began filling me in about how far they've gone with the arrangements. I was a hundred percent attentive, not until a familiar figure swept past me.

“Dr. Bailey!”

She turned and gave her cheeky smile, heading towards me.

“Alright. I'll talk to you all later.” I said, dismissing them. They bowed and left.

Dr. Bailey and I shared a small hug. She's the family's doctor and also a friend.

“Look at you, all fine and shit.” She teased, assessing me.

To others, I was grumpy, cold, and rigid. Bailey remains the very few exceptions that get to see my normal side.

“Yeah, right. I think you mean stressed and exhausted. These preparations could make a man go insane and we're still a few days away from the main event.”

“Oh, don't be too hard on yourself. You're doing great.” She smiled. “Now how's our pregnant Luna doing?”

“Good. She's glowing, it's insane.”

“That's good.” She was smiling but it faded a bit. “I don't mean to offend you but I've just been curious.”

“About what?”

“Ex-Luna Evangeline. Do you know if…if she…did you…” She was struggling to say something, but quickly shook her head. “Never mind.”

She turned to walk away but I immediately jumped in front of her, before she could take another step.

“Don't leave me hanging, Bailey. If you have something you want to say, then say it. What about Evangeline, were you gonna ask me?”

She seemed nervous which was very unusual. “I don't mean to offend you…”

“I might get offended if you continue this suspense. Go ahead and say it.” I urged impatiently.

“Okay,” she nodded and took a deep breath. “She never came back for check-ups. So I was just wondering if she kept the baby or got rid of it.”

I was momentarily speechless. Her words weren't making sense.

“What baby?” I asked.

Her mouth opened and then snapped shut. Then she gasped. “Oh My God…”

“What?”

“She didn't tell you…”

“Tell me what?!”

“She…she was pregnant. That day when she came to my hospital, she was already a few weeks pregnant. And I told her that it was a risk for her to keep thr baby. She has a weak uterus…”

“Wait, back off a sec.” She was saying so many words at a time. Pregnancy, weak uterus, the baby…it was all misleading.

“Who are we talking about right now?”

“Luna…Ex-Luna Evangeline.”

Chaos erupted in the pit of my stomach. The ground seemed to be spinning.

Evangeline was…pregnant? How…I mean, why didn't she tell me?

Again, how could she, when I never gave her a chance to speak? What kind of mess was this?

With no words to Bailey, I sprinted off to my car. I turned on the ignition and drove straight to the Pack where her parents were staying.

I've always known the address. I had to know. Even though I kicked them out of my Pack because I was embarrassed by their poor background and I didn't want them tainting my reputation.

But I always sent them monthly allowances, easing my guilt for chasing them away.

My phone rang endlessly but I ignored it. I kept my agitated gaze on the road. It took hours until I was winding up the rocky path of the deadbeat town.

I arrived at the address and alighted from the car. Half the house had already collapsed, which made it impossible for anyone to live there.

Still, I went to the door to check. It was locked with a key.

So they don't live here anymore. How long has it been since they moved?

I strolled past the house, hoping I'd see someone I could ask. Just then, an old couple strode in my direction. I ran up to them. Their eyes beamed, and they were trying to bow, but I stopped them.

I was as much an Alpha in my Pack as I was here. They pay taxes to me, so yeah…

“Greetings, Alpha.”

“Yeah. Can I ask what happened to the family living over there?”

“Oh, your ex-wife?” the old woman asked with a smile.

It wasn't rocket science that she knew that. My divorce from her had become the most popular tale told around the region.

“Y…yes, her.”

“Well, she was pregnant and went to give birth…”

My fingers trembled at her words. Evangeline kept the child. She kept my child.

“...but I heard she faced a bad complication and lost a lot of blood. Some think she died while others think she survived. But she never returned, nor did her family.”

That part had my heart racing. “How…how long ago was this?”

“Three weeks.” They replied and resumed their stroll.

I stood there like a damn statue, letting her words replay in my head.

Evangeline went to give birth but never returned…people think she died. But it could be just a rumor.

My panicking heart could only hope it was a rumor. I could only pray she didn't die while trying to push out my babies. That would be the last straw.

I'd never heal nor forgive myself for it. She better be alive somewhere…