Chapter 5

My mate had seen the blood surrounding me, yet it was Alfred who took me to the hospital.

I'd blacked out before the nurses got me out of the car.

When I woke up, I was still in pain but it wasn't as bad as before.

My entire body felt painfully empty.

I looked around the room, and realized I was all alone, just like I’d been before Antonio came into my life.

The door suddenly opened and the doctor entered with a file in his hand.

His eyes held a certain sadness in them that confirmed my fears.

"I'm sorry, Cara,” he said, and I could tell he was really sad about this because he’d witnessed all my pains while searching for this baby.

Only to lose it now.

He exhaled loudly, "We couldn't save the baby, but we'll need to flush it out before it ruins your womb completely. We'll need the Alpha's signature for the surgery.”

My hand slowly slipped down from my stomach to my lap, my brain and body struggling to process everything.

My baby...

Something broke in me, not my heart, I think that one had shattered completely since last night.

But my hope, my joy, what made them call me silly and whimsical...

"We need to do it urgently, will you call him?" he spoke up again, drawing my attention.

I swallowed and tried our mindlink but it was firmly shut against me so I took the doctor's phone and called his number that was seared into my memory.

It rang for a while before he finally picked up.

"Who's this?"

There was noise behind him, Aliya was screaming.

Healers giving instructions.

The chaos of childbirth that she’d denied me.

"It's Cara. I just lost the baby and I need your signature for the surgery."

He went silent for a moment.

"What baby are you talking about?”

"The baby I told you about. I had the report."

“This isn't the time for your little games, Cara! Aliya is in labour!”

Except he's helping her push the baby out, I don't know what part of that means he gets to keep yelling at me.

"She pushed me down the stairs,” I told him, my lips quivering.

Is he really choosing her after what she’d done? 

"She is in labor and bleeding. Stop blaming her for your fall."

"Our child is dead!” I screamed, as if that would make any difference.

It didn’t.

He released an angry breath, "Enough of this nonsense, Cara. I'm not letting you invent a dead child because Aliya is having living ones."

A baby's cry came through the phone.

Someone shouted that it was a boy.

Antonio laughed, joy filling his voice.

"She just gave birth to twins! Can you believe that? Aliya is really strong and –"

I ended the call.

The doctor’s pitiful looks made me want to disappear into thin air.

"Why can't I sign it myself?" I asked him, trying to sound strong even though I felt like shit inside.

"But he's the Alpha..."

"Well, he's busy at the moment helping his new... his sister-in-law give birth. I'll sign it myself."

"But –"

"Doctor, I'm a full-grown adult! Give me the damn thing, let me sign so you can save my womb for goddess's sake!”

"Sorry, I'm going to bring it now," he rushed off, the door slamming shut behind him.

When he comes back, he's with the paperwork and with shaking hands, I sign my name.

With my old surname and not his own.

After the surgery, I found my way home, feeling like I'd been run over by a train.

Antonio came into our room while I was slowly putting my clothes into a case.

He looked tired but pleased.

"Aliya gave birth to twins," he announced with pride. "A boy and a girl."

I said nothing.

"They're strong. Damian would have been proud."

"I'm sure."

He frowned, "Are you still angry?"

I stopped what I was doing and looked at him.

"I had surgery this morning."

"For what?"

"To remove what was left of our baby."

His expression hardened.

"Do you have any proof of this or are you letting your jealousy make you invent fake scenarios?"

I almost laughed.

"Proof?"

"Yes, Cara. A report. A scan. Anything."

"Aliya tore the report before she pushed me,” I answered, wincing at the memory.

"Of course she did."

The sarcasm in his voice destroyed the last weak part of me that still wanted him to understand.

"You saw the blood."

"That could have all been a part of your schemes. I saw you at the bottom of the stairs. I did not see Aliya push you."

"So you don’t believe me?”

"I believe a woman in labor would not risk her children just to hurt you."

He walked toward the wardrobe and pulled out a clean shirt.

"The twins' naming dinner is tomorrow."

I stared at him.

"What’s that got to do with me?"

He exhaled in irritation, "You organized some important Pack events for years. Handle the dinner."

"You want me to organize a celebration for her children."

"For Damian's children."

"You want me to organize the naming ceremony for the woman who made me lose my child? The day after I lost my pregnancy?”

Antonio's patience finally broke.

"I told you to stop saying that!" he snarled, his Alpha voice shaking the room.

"I am not asking you to love the twins. I am asking you to behave like the Luna you keep insisting you should be."

"Aliya is Luna. You announced it yourself."

"Then behave like my mate and support my decision."

His eyes suddenly shut and I knew Aliya was calling him through the mind-link.

Antonio paused.

Then he headed for the door.

"You know what? Get some sleep," he said. "You'll feel foolish about all this tomorrow."

He left after that, slamming the door harder than necessary.

I stood alone in the room for a long time.

Then I finished packing.

One week ago, a man named Lucian Donovan had sent me a message claiming to be my brother.

He said I had been taken from the Royal Pack as a child.

I had ignored him because it sounded impossible.

Now I opened the message again.

“If you ever need a safe way out, contact me. I will come myself.”

So I finally typed back, “I need to leave tonight.”

His response came immediately.

“I'm already on my way, my Princess.”