CHAPTER 4

AURORA

I stared at the doctor stunned by the news. I shook my head, “No, you must be wrong, no.” The kind doctor smiled wider. “We ran the test twice, you are definitely pregnant, Luna. The pack is going to have an heir, bless the Goddess!” No, I couldn’t be pregnant. I had been preparing myself for divorce, how could I possibly be pregnant now?

My mind took me back to the passionate night I had with Rowan. A night I didn’t want to think about anymore because of what his mother told me. That was the only time Rowan didn’t use protection, and I didn’t think much of it.

“Luna,” Dr. Marlene called to me, her expression tinged with pity. I furrowed my eyebrows, a minute ago she had a wide smile saying bless the Goddess, what the hell happen now? I just stared at her not knowing what to say.  “There is something unusual about the foetus.”

My heart clenched, I knew it, I knew nothing good ever happened to me without a negative following and tainting it.

 “What? What’s wrong with my baby?” my voice was low with a hint of defeat. It would have been good to share the news at the family dinner to stop the insults, but now… I shook my head not wanting to think about it.

“It isn’t fatal,” Dr. Marlene explained gently. I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Hope returning to me.  “But the child shows signs of congenital weakness. Unless you receive the wolf mother’s bone within the next month, the baby may not survive.”

Wolf Mother’s Bone, it was very rare relic, even the witch who saved me didn’t have it.

The wolf mother made sacrifices for her pack, it was said that she was the one who gave up her twin pups to end the war between the werewolves and the vampires. Her bones, like those of her ancestors, carried the stories of resilience and primal strength.

Many believed she had magical powers and was the direct descendant of the Moon Goddess herself! She died many years ago though and no one knew where she was buried. People had been searching for her grave for many years but had not found it.

My breath caught, my face paling. The words pierced me like a blade. I knew the Mood Goddess had something against me. Just when I thought she had finally remembered me, I find out that my baby may not survive. How could she put such obstacles in my way all the time?

Seeing my despair, Dr. Marlene tried to comfort me.

 “Do not worry Luna. It isn’t impossible. In fact, I heard from some of the pack members that Alpha Rowan acquired that treasure today. Surely, he will use it for the child, his heir.”

For the first time in a long while, my heart stirred with a fragile hope.

If Rowan gave the bone to me, if he could choose to protect our child… then perhaps I could stay married to him, build a home together, a real home, with our pup.

I no longer cared whether he loved me or not. I just wanted to be with our child and stay by his side, that would be enough for me.

When I got released, I returned home with a spark of joy and hope. I was eager to tell Rowan about the pregnancy. 

There was a song on my lips as I cooked. I wanted to tell him the news during over dinner. Just as I finished setting the table, Rowan walked in. “Dinner’s ready.” I told him with a smile, standing by the kitchen door.

He didn’t respond but came to the table and sat down. I served the food, and we started eating in silence. I was nervous and anxious. But I also held joy in my heart, my hand would go to my tummy every minute, touching and caressing, not believing I was pregnant.

I was also wondering what Rowan’s reaction would be like when he heard the news. I lifted my head and looked at him. he was focused on his meal. “Rowan.” I called to him.

He lifted his head to look at me. “I am pregnant.”

Rowan’s reaction was a cold sneer, making my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. I didn’t expect him to jump for joy, but I didn’t expect him to be that cold either.

 “Pregnant? You expect me to believe that?” he scoffed going back to his meal. “Is this another one of your lies?” he asks as he cut into the stake.

I hurried to explain, “It’s true—"

"Enough! " He cutted me off. "The elders of the pack once told me that it would be very difficult for your body to conceive. How can I believe you?"

But to me, it felt like he was cutting into my heart. My eyes dimmed with my heart sinking into despair. I had long stopped expecting tenderness from him, but now there was a child, and the baby’s survival depended on that rare treasure. I couldn’t give up.

I was willing to do anything he wanted; all I needed was that bone to save my baby. Summoning my last bit of courage, I whispered,

 “I will agree to divorce you… but only on one condition.”

Rowan let out a bitter laugh dropping the cutlery on the table.

 “You? Agreeing for divorce? That’s new.” he chuckled taking a napkin wiping his mouth. “Fine. Name your condition. I will agree to anything.”

I steadied my breath, that was what I wanted.

 “I need the treasure you found. The wolf mother’s bone. Just a small piece of it will be enough and I will divorce you.”

The words had barely left my lips, Rowan stood abruptly making the chair fall behind him. He slammed his hands on the table making me jump in fright. Rowan’s face twisted with fury, nostrils flaring and eyes cold as ice as he glared at me.

“How dare you…” he let his words hang in the air, low and threatening. “How dare you use this as your condition to leave?” his eyes kept changing colour between his and those of his wolf. Which told me, he was not just angry, he was mad as hell. “You never intended to fucking leave!”

He raised his voice banging his fist on the table. “Do you know how hard I looked for that treasure, what I had to do to get it?” I sat there no able to say anything.

He spat his next words like venom:

 “Do you think I will miss the chance of brining Vivian back to give you that treasure, who the hell do you think you are to even ask me for it?” my insides twisted painfully into knots. My stomach twisted as well.

“Try all the tricks in the book but you will never stop me from bring her back. You venomous woman!”

I sat there frozen in the chair, my hands trembling and tears spilling silently down my cheeks. I only wanted a piece of it, not all.

Why was he trying to bring back a person who left out of her free will, someone who was not dead at all?