Chapter 3

NINE MONTHS AFTER.

LEXI.

I looked at the bank card that carries my mother's maiden name. This was hers. She told me to use it only if it was a matter of life and death.

This should be the case at the moment, right?

I was already beginning to have a contraction. But the money I was expecting didn't come yet, which was my final pay for the work where I was laid off. The economy hit the small hospital where I was working, and unfortunately, I was one of the ones they let go as I was not a regular worker yet. 

All the savings I had were depleted. And this hospital where I wanted to give birth would never admit me if I couldn't deposit any money.

I could opt for a simple midwife service, but I knew my baby was bigger than usual, and I was terrified something would go wrong. 

The last nine months have been a big challenge. I moved out of Bernice City and moved to Orleans. I had no idea what I was thinking when I did that. 

All I knew was that I was saving what was left of my broken heart and my broken ego. 

I quit my job and tried to get a new one around this area, but it wasn't easy. There were days I would walk for a whole day, searching for jobs and missing meal times. 

If I had a choice, I would still go for a nursing job, but the waitlist was long for the hospital here, so while waiting for job interviews, I applied as a waitress in one of the restaurants near the apartment where I lived. 

I didn't tell them I was pregnant, so I worked as needed and exhausted myself just so I could have more money in my savings.

I already knew having a baby would cost a lot. Especially since I didn't have a fixed job. But I didn't have a choice. I would rather suffer on my own than ask for help from Austin, who seemed to not be bothered at all.

"Aghhh…" My hand went to the wall. I leaned closer to support my body as another contraction hit me. The intervals were getting closer. I needed to decide faster. 

I  closed my eyes and clutched the card in my hand tightly as I breathed in and out slowly, trying to lessen the pain from my contraction.

And when it stopped, I walked toward the ATM I saw earlier and put in the card before I changed my mind again. I punched the PIN code, and my eyes widened at the amount in there. 

Twenty thousand dollars.

Where did Mom get this? I looked around to see that no one had seen me or been around me before I withdrew one thousand. 

I knew banks had a day limit for withdrawal, but I could go back tomorrow or after I gave birth, or I could just use the card to pay for my hospital bill. 

A smile graced my lips as I secured the money and the card inside my wallet. Even after she was gone, Mom made sure that I had something to use. I was still baffled as to how she got this money, as we never really had an excess, even when Dad was still alive. But however she got this, I was grateful. 

This was a big help and lifted a big burden off my chest.

I could pay for the hospital bill, and I would be able to afford to buy more things for my pup, as the only ones I had for him were just a few clothes, diapers, and bedding. He didn't even have a crib yet.

Most of my money went to rent and food, as I made sure I was eating healthy. And the cost of paying for  consultations also put a hole in my pocket. So this day couldn't get any better than this. 

I could finally afford to spend a little more on him. 

My eyes watered as I looked up at the heavens and smiled, thanking Mom for helping me. 

And it was time to spring into action before another contraction hit me. I took my phone from the maternity bag I was carrying and dialed Louise's number. 

Louise was my grandmother. A human. She was Dad's mom, and she had no idea I was pregnant. 

The day before I moved to Orleans, I called and told her that I was assigned to another location by the hospital where I was working, and she believed it.

Initially, she would drop by to visit me whenever her work allowed her to pass by this route, but when my stomach started to grow bigger, I dodged every opportunity to see her. 

I didn't want her to be disappointed in me. 

But I had no choice at the moment. If anything happened to me, I needed someone I could trust with my pup.

My heart hammered as her phone rang.

After I left the Black Shadow Pack, I went to her. She and my dad drifted off when Dad broke up with his long-time fiance and married Mom just a week after meeting her. Of course, she had no idea about shifters and the mate bond. 

But I had nowhere to go, so I took a chance to see her. She had been very welcoming and let me stay with her for a while. 

She actually requested that I stay with her permanently, but I wanted my independence, so I moved out after a year when I was accepted for my first job, but we never lost contact. 

But maybe after I give birth, I will ask her if I could stay with her, or perhaps she could stay with me for a while.

"What do you mean you're giving birth?" She asked in a slightly higher voice.

"I'm having contractions, Nana. So anytime now,  I will give birth."

"Why didn't you tell me you're pregnant? And who is the father?"

"I will explain everything after I give birth, but right now, I want you to come here, please, Nana. I want to make sure that if anything happens to me, my child will be taken care of."

"Don't you dare say that again, Alexandria! Nothing will happen to you! You will push that baby out without any problem! We will figure out the rest after! Now go to the hospital and tell me that name so I can go there!" She told me, almost shouting, but I knew she was upset but still doing her best not to scold me. 

"Thank you. I will call you again once I'm admitted."

"Make sure you do. I will get my things ready. It might take a while before I get there. But I will be there. Is there anything you need that I can grab for you?"

I bit my bottom lip as I stopped myself from crying. It had been too long since someone asked me for anything I needed.

"Nothing, Nana. Just be here. That's all I need."

—-----------------

I entered the hospital, and after I paid a downpayment, I was ushered to be checked, and the next time I knew, I was already in the maternity ward. It was so congested that I had no choice but to request to be transferred to an available private room. I knew this would cost a lot, but I knew I had money that I could use. 

I wanted to be comfortable, and then after I gave birth, there was no need to stay longer here. 

But the moment I began my labor, which they told me lasted for twenty hours, too many things had happened. 

With the pain of labor and with me being sedated, I couldn't distinguish reality from hallucinations.

All I knew was that Grandma Louise had come. 

So did Randall, one of my co-workers in that small hospital who had been showing interest in me despite my being pregnant.

And then Austin.

On the last one, I was sure I was hallucinating. The pain was unbearable, and maybe I was blaming him for all this labor pain that I was experiencing, so he suddenly popped out of my mind and stood in front of me so I could lash out at him.

I told him about every pain and suffering I went through for the last nine months and how he had no rights when it came to my son. 

Austin just listened and never said a word. He didn't argue. He didn't complain, and it led me to believe more that he was just a figment of my imagination because the Austin I knew would never hold back his tongue. He had an answer for everything and would never let anyone raise their voice at him. 

So I knew he didn't come to visit. 

I woke up fourteen hours after giving birth.  I remember some parts, such as when they handed David to me and assisted me in breastfeeding him. He stayed with me for a while before he was ushered away, but one of the nurses asked if they could have David's father hold him. 

I chuckled and told them Randall was not David's father. They just looked at me like I was crazy but didn't say anything. Then I fell asleep again. 

The next thing I remember, I had a dream. Austin was beside me. He gave me a paper, and I asked him what it was about. He told me to read it, and I retorted that if it were a decree cutting off all ties between him and David, I would sign it.

The asshole nodded his head, and in my annoyance, I signed it and wrote: Effective immediately. 

And then he disappeared, hopefully for good. Because even in dreams, or, should I say, nightmares, I didn't want to see him. 

----------------

Author's Note:

To those who read the previous book before this, I wrote a wrong timeline for Louise's son's death - it should have been 10 years ago and not 7. So yes, the Louise we saw on the train with River is the same Louise here. ♡♡♡