Chapter 2

Chiara's POV

While I hesitated to apologize, Silvia curled herself tighter against Luciano’s chest and whimpered.

“I don’t understand why she hates me so much,” she said softly. “Is it because I’m your ex–fated mate, Luciano? Doesn’t she realize I’m just a pitiful, lonely woman after my divorce…?”

Luciano rubbed his hand slowly up and down Silvia’s back in a soothing motion, though his icy gaze remained locked on me.

I wanted to deny that I hated her—but I couldn’t lie. After everything she had done tonight, my dislike had grown into full-blown hatred, and it was only getting worse.

Silvia turned to look at me. A glimmer of vengeance flashed through her eyes as she said, “Chiara wanted the necklace, Luciano. The moment she saw me wearing it, she lunged at me!”

“That’s not true!” I protested immediately, stunned by how easily Silvia lied. “You tripped on your own just now, and—”

“That’s enough,” Luciano said sharply, cutting me off.

At last, emotion appeared in his eyes—but it brought me no comfort. No love. No understanding. No kindness.

Only disappointment.

“Do not attempt to lie to me, Chiara.”

“Oh, Luciano, it was awful,” Silvia sobbed, burying her face into his shoulder. As he pulled her closer, embracing her fully, she tilted her head just enough to cast a sly, taunting smirk at me.

My stomach twisted violently.

That was my husband—the man she clung to as though he belonged to her.

“Everyone here knows why you are behaving this way,” Luciano said coldly. “Jealousy. You are my second mate, Chiara. I expect dignity from you—not the behavior of a petty child.”

He reprimanded me openly as cameras flashed and reporters scribbled furiously in their notebooks, desperate to record every word. One even leaned closer with a recorder.

The growing distrust in Luciano’s eyes shattered my heart into countless fragments—too many, too small to ever piece back together.

Silvia suddenly winced, drawing all of Luciano’s attention.

“My ankle,” she said weakly. “I think it twisted when I fell.”

“Be careful. You shouldn’t walk on it.”

Without warning, Luciano bent down, scooped Silvia into his arms, and held her against his chest in a bridal carry.

“My hero,” Silvia murmured with a smile.

Luciano turned and carried her away—away from the crowd.

Away from me.

“Luciano—wait, I—”

But he was already gone, disappearing beyond the rows of seats and bodies. Reporters quickly filled the space he left behind.

Between the shouted questions and flashing lights, everything began to blur.

Then a sharp, tearing pain ripped through my abdomen. I doubled over, clutching my waist, but the pain only intensified.

“Luciano!” I cried out, my voice breaking with fear.

Then everything went dark.

For a while, I felt suspended in darkness. I couldn’t see or feel anything, yet I knew I wasn’t dead—trapped somewhere between consciousness and sleep.

Voices echoed around me.

“Luciano… you know I’ve never stopped loving you,” Silvia’s voice said tearfully. “Everything changed for me because of you. If we had never mated, I wouldn’t be suffering like this. You can’t imagine how devastating it is to be a barren she-wolf.”

There was silence for a long moment.

Then, filled with guilt, Luciano replied softly, “I’ll make it up to you, Silvia. Somehow… we’ll find a way to cure you.”

“The pack healers are useless!” she snapped, her strength suddenly returning. “If you truly mean it—if you truly want to help—then I need Doctor B. That legendary healer.”

“No one knows how to find Doctor B,” Luciano said. “They disappeared years ago—”

“You promised,” Silvia whispered shakily. “Unless you didn’t mean it…”

“I never say what I don’t mean,” Luciano replied. “If Doctor B is the only one who can cure you, then I will find them.”

“That’s the man I love…” Silvia said softly. “Maybe… when I can have children again, I could finally give you a child of your own.”

Luciano said something in response—I was sure of it—but the words faded into the fog as I slipped back into unconsciousness.

When I finally opened my eyes, I was in my bedroom, lying in my bed.

Confused, I pushed myself onto my elbows. Hadn’t I collapsed at the charity gala?

A maid busied herself around the room, dusting aimlessly. Her movements felt forced, as though she were there to watch me rather than clean—but that couldn’t be right. Luciano wouldn’t care enough to order that.

When she noticed I was awake, she hurried over.

“Oh, Lady Chiara! How are you feeling? Re Alfa Luciano will want to know you’re awake.”

I doubted that deeply.

“How did I get here?”

“Re Alfa Luciano brought you back,” the maid replied. “Lady Silvia came with him.”

“Are they still here?”

“No. They left again about an hour ago.” She glanced toward the door. “I should inform him immediately.”

She rushed out before I could stop her.

Luciano wouldn’t care.

At least… I didn’t think he would.

Beside my bed, a chair had been pulled close. It was empty now—but I wondered… hoped… that perhaps Luciano had once sat there.

Perhaps the conversation I had overheard hadn’t been a figment of my imagination.

Could it have been real?

Could it have happened right beside me while I slept?

If it was real, it explained so much—why Luciano had always been distant, why his touch had grown colder over the years. How long had he been in love with Silvia?

And their talk of having a child.

I had always wanted children. That was why it hurt so deeply that after three years of marriage, I still hadn’t conceived.

But now that I thought about it—

Right before I fainted, there had been a sharp, unbearable pain in my stomach.

Could it be?

It would explain why someone as healthy as I was would suddenly collapse.

“You need to test it,” my wolf Luna whispered inside my mind.

She was right.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I decided I would rather know the truth now than live in uncertainty.

I threw back the covers, stepped out of bed, and crossed the room to my chest of drawers. In the very bottom drawer, hidden in the far corner, was my old medical kit. I pulled it out and carried it into my private bathroom.

During the testing process, my hands trembled.

I had wanted to be a mother for so long. Yet at the same time, fear and sadness weighed heavily on me. My husband loved another woman—he might not even want a child with me.

He had promised Silvia he would find the long-lost Dottor A to cure her infertility. Then, they would have a child together.

My child… and I… would be cast aside.

“That will not happen,” Luna whispered firmly. “A child this important would not be abandoned by our Alfa.”

“You’ve seen how he treats me,” I replied silently. “You can’t say for certain what he would do.”

Fifteen minutes later, after examining myself carefully, the truth struck me with overwhelming force.

I was pregnant.

Conflicting emotions surged through me—hope and dread colliding violently. I held my breath.

I was pregnant… carrying a child my husband hadn’t been expecting.

He only wanted Silvia to give him a child. He was searching for Dottor A to heal her, so they could have a future together.

At that realization, Luna fell silent.

Overwhelmed, I traced my fingers over the cool leather of my medical kit. Years ago, when I had still been a practicing healer, this doctor’s bag had been given to me as a gift. The grateful patron had even embossed my old insignia into its side.

What should I do?

The leather was worn now, the markings faded with time—but they were still there.

Leaning closer, I could make them out.

The initials of my name.

C.B.

Chiara Bellini.

Doctor B