Chapter 5

Chapter 5

TESSALYN’S POV

I woke up to the strong smell of antiseptic and healing herbs. I didn’t know how long I’d been out. I still wore my normal clothes, but I was lying in a narrow hospital bed, and a dull pain throbbed in my hip.

Sluggishly, I turned. Aside from my labored breathing, a heart monitor beeped steadily beside me. That was the only sound.

I was alone.

A feeling of bile burned up my throat, and I shut my eyes for a few minutes.

The conflict with Selin, her pushing me into the cabinet. The heavy smell of blood—

My eyes flew open with a gasp, and my hand went to my stomach immediately.

My pup! Was my baby alright?

My body began to tremble as I gritted my teeth through the pain and sat up.

“Goddess, please,” I whispered. Pressing my still-flat abdomen for any sign.

I had no wolf to sense the life inside me.

All I could do was hope and push aside all thoughts of the man who should be beside me.

Kaan had walked out of our home carrying Selin in his arms while I bled out on the floor.

The memory sent a sharp ache through my chest, but I clenched my teeth and forced myself upright. I couldn’t afford to think about Kaan—not now. I had to think about my baby.

My eyes landed on the bedside table, where a sticky note had been left.

Your baby is okay, but we need to talk. I’ve been called into surgery, but come into my office once you wake up.

I recognized the scrawled, messy script.

The note was from Nora. My closest friend and the pack’s general doctor.

I let out a breath of relief at her reassurance. My pup was fine.

But did she bring me here? My eyes moved to my phone, and I paused.

Kaan was my first emergency contact and Nora, my second.

My phone must have sent her an alert when I crashed.

With pain still lancing through my side, I took out my IV. Put my tangled hair in a bun, and slowly made my way out of the room.

The hospital was quiet at this hour. But I still drew the glances of a few nurses when they passed me.

First in recognition, then an awkward expression as they quickly looked away.

Something was clearly afoot, and the tension only made my heart pound faster.

By the time I reached the third corridor, I’d exhausted the last bit of my strength.

I leaned against the wall, pausing for a moment to catch my breath when a man slipped out of a VIP hospital room, and I froze.

Kaan.

The ugly feeling that had rooted in my stomach twisted to something darker when he looked up and our eyes locked.

So he’d left me bleeding at home. Never called or checked on me while pampering this woman in a VIP room?

For a moment, he looked shocked.

His brown eyes widening slightly, then his expression hardened into something cold, and he stalked towards me.

“Don’t you ever stop?!” He growled. The force of his Alpha power making his voice resonate as he grabbed my wrist forcefully.

“You followed her to the hospital to hurt her again?! What has come over you, Tessa?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he was already pulling me down the hallway. Dragging me over the tiles as blinding pain shot up my hip.

“I’m injured, you idiot!” I spat, doubling over and gasping for air. I was clearly in pain, but Kaan was too blinded or simply refused to see.

“Like I would believe any word that comes from your mouth.” He laughed bitterly. “Injured how, exactly? From pushing Selin down the stairs? Your blind jealousy clearly brought you to the hospital."

For a moment, I just stared.

Kaan’s jaw was like granite. His warm honey eyes, as hard as glaciers, as a sneer twisted his lips.

There was no sign of the husband I loved or the man I’d built a pack for. My mate was gone. And in his place was this– this cold, heartless stranger.

Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Move.”

“Why?” He asked sarcastically. “Didn’t you claim you were injured? Let’s check— “

His hands started to move to my waist, and I flinched. Drawing back before he could touch the sore spot on my hip.

He froze. Something flickered across his face, then his expression softened immediately.

“Don’t be like this, baby.” Kaan sighed, like he was trying to reason with a difficult child. “Are you still upset about the dinner? I already promised to make it up to you. Please just— just don’t make a big deal about this. Okay? Selin is really hurt.”

Was he so used to considering Selin’s feelings that he now disregarded mine?

The tears blurred my vision until Kaan swam before my eyes.

“Just move," I choked out. Barely able to hold myself together.

Guilt flashed across his face, and he released my wrist instantly.

“Do you need water?” He started. Placing a hand on my back as his eyes took me in properly for the first time.

My pale lips. The beads of sweat on my temple. And the way my body trembled. “Gods, Tessa.” He swore. “Let me— “

"Alpha?"

Selin's soft voice drifted from the room, breaking Kaan’s attention instantly.

"Alpha, please, I need you.” She cried in a small voice. “They want to give me an injection, a- and the needles— “

A bitter taste filled my mouth as Kaan paused. His expression clearly divided as he looked from me to the open door of the room.

“Please, I’m scared.”

His hand dropped from my back, and he took a step back. “Sorry, Tessa. I have to go. Selin… “

He trailed off, looking to the room, but I grabbed at his wrist desperately.

"Wait," I rasped. My voice, weak and trembling. But I squeezed my eyes for strength and met his gaze full on. “ I need to tell you something. It’s important, Kaan. I've been trying to tell you all night."

At my words, any softness in his voice vanished beneath a mask of ice.

"If this is about Selin again, I don't want to hear it."

Then before I could respond, he pulled his hand free and pressed a credit card into my palm. “Here. Buy yourself some water before you leave. You’re pale.”

With that, he turned on his heel and vanished into Selin’s room.

The door closed behind him, severing the last fragile thread of hope I had left.

I made it to Nora’s office with unseeing eyes. The pain in my side, already forgotten as I rested one palm on my stomach.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Nora asked for the third time, reaching for my arm. “Let me check your blood pressure.”

“I’m fine,” I stopped her flatly. Too exhausted and hollow to do more tonight. You said you needed to talk to me about something?"

Nora hesitated. Going quiet for the first time since I’d stepped into her office.

“I’m not sure I should… “ She trailed off. Her eyes, unreadable as she searched my face. “Let me at least examine you first. Okay? I’m worried about you.”

Nora’s hands were gentle as she examined me. Her voice, suspiciously calm as she rattled professionally.

"Your cut is deep," she explained. "But the bleeding has stopped, and it’ll heal. The pain might be there for a while.”

Her hand moved to my stomach. “Little champ is fine though. You— “

“Nora.” I stopped her firmly. Breaking my silence as I held her gaze. “Just tell me. What is it?”

She bit her bottom lip nervously.

"Tessa, have you told the Alpha about the pregnancy yet?"

“No.” I shook my head.

After everything that happened. With Kaan constantly picking Selin over me…

“He won’t know,” I replied quietly. “I’m not telling him.”

I raised my head to hold Nora’s gaze. “And you’re not either.”

Nora had been the one to scan my pregnancy. She knew firsthand about my excitement to tell Kaan. Yet she didn’t look shocked at my declaration; she just nodded quietly.

“I shouldn’t be telling you this but… Lady Selin came to the hospital for an examination earlier today. Before all of this." Nora paused, and dread began to fill me.

“What is it?”

"She's pregnant, Tessa."

The world tilted. For one moment, I was seated on the exam bed, staring at Nora. The next, bile was burning my throat as I doubled over and tried to breathe.

“Tessa? Tess?” Nora worriedly rubbed my back, but I was stuck in the moment before.

Selin. Pregnant. Selin was pregnant.

Her husband had been dead for ten months. Almost a year and yet—

Pictures just flashed through my mind like a horror show.

Kaan drinking Selin's glass at the bar, not hesitant to put his mouth where hers had been. My husband knowing her heat cycle. And the boldness she’d had to wear my lingerie in my house.

How many more details had I overlooked?

“She’s barely five weeks pregnant. Clearly the child is…," Nora cut herself off, swearing under her breath instead. “This is just unfair. The Alpha is your husban— “

My stomach heaved, and I pressed a hand to my mouth, forcing the nausea down.

“Not anymore,” I chuckled bitterly, already pushing to my feet.

"What?" Nora's eyes widened.

"I have to go.” I gave her a halfhearted hug. Ignoring her murmured protest of concern as I stumbled out of the office.

No more. No more of this.

The thought continued to burn into my mind, long after I walked out of the hospital and reached into my mind for my family bloodlink.

Jaden taught me to use the blood link, but I’d never. Choosing to give up everything just to be at Kaan’s side. Now my heart burned, but I was without hesitation as a voice flickered to life inside my mind.

“Tessalyn?”

“Come and get me, brother," I breathed slowly. “bring the divorce agreement, I'm ready to come home.”