4:ANYTHING TO SURVIVE.

VANESSA’S POV

I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar world.

The beeping sound of the machine and the smell of antiseptics filled my nostrils, giving my brain the not so subtle reminder that this wasn’t the room I woke up in every single day.

That revelation made me jerk up in utter shock.

I regretted trying to stand up immediately as I was welcomed by an immense pain that caused a banging in my head. My entire body burned and that was when I realized that my body was covered up with different cuts and fresh bruises.

I sank back into the bed immediately, unable to take the pain from standing on my own. Using that opportunity, I scanned my surroundings, and it looked like I had been hospitalized. No surprise there. With the number of cuts on my body, I couldn’t have survived without being connected to drips and being put on medication.

But the real question was: how?

How did I get here?

The last thing I remembered was Declan denouncing me as his Luna. I left through the back door and— that was the last thing I remembered.

I tried to recall what happened and how I got here, but my mind went blank and the more I tried to remember what happened, the more my head hurts. However, a stream of tears flowed down my cheeks as the realization hit me— I have nowhere to go, I have no one to return to because Declan finally did it. He finally denounced me as his Luna.

The door cracked open, a man walked inside with a commanding presence, his features engraved and brooding, making him look a little intimidating.

His eyes were deep-set and intense, it was as if he was hiding a story in his deep ocean-blue eye. His lips were curved into a subtle, enigmatic line. Despite his striking look, he looked cold and unapproachable which frightened me a little. I was wrong to think he looked just a little intimidating because the man in front of me looked like he could snap me into two and toss me onto his plate for dinner.

I gulped.

Was I kidnapped?

This man definitely seemed like someone who could do that. His aura was strong and reminded me of Declan. I knew why the instant I sniffed the air. He was an Alpha, just like Declan.

At that realization, different scary thoughts began to run through my mind and all I could do was think of how to get myself out of this situation because no one would be coming to save me.

"Calm down, nobody is going to hurt you here, you are safe." The man said calmly as if he could read my thoughts.

"Who are you? And what am I doing here?" I asked hesitantly.

"You are in the hospital. I hit you with my car while I was driving, so I had to bring you here for proper treatment," the man explained.

Okay, I wasn’t kidnapped and that made relieve flood me instantly.

"Thank you for saving me," I muttered softly. The door was opened once again, and this time, it was a doctor that came inside.

"How are you feeling?" The doctor asked as he checked the record list in his hands.

"I have a slight headache and when I tried to stand up earlier, my whole body ached in different places that I could not quite comprehend," I explained softly.

"That is normal considering how fatal the accident was. You were unconscious for six days— you should consider yourself lucky that you survived the accident. A lot of people have lost their lives in situations like this and those that managed to survive suffer from several injuries, which could even threaten their lives or spend an eternity in Coma and still end up dead." The doctor said

I didn’t know how to respond to him saying I could have died and so I just stared at him, speechless.

"What is her condition? Hope there is nothing more than these visible minor injuries," the man asked the doctor calmly.

What was he saying? Minor injuries? My entire body feels like it has been completely wrecked and he called this minor?

I chose to keep quiet as I waited for the doctor's reply. As much as I wanted to give him a piece of my mind, he was my saviour. I would probably be dead if he hadn't found me.

"Well, luckily for her, the baby didn't get any hit so other than the visible injuries, she is completely fine. She might be in pain for a while but as long as she uses the drugs I will be prescribing for her, it will help her get better faster, and strengthen the immune system." The doctor finished and I continued to stare at him, as I was dumbfounded for a while.

Did I hear him right or getting hit with a car has now impaired my hearing too?

"Wait, what are you talking about? What baby? Can you please clarify your words a little? Please, use a term that I can easily understand." I said nervously.

"Oh," the doctor said as if he just figured out what was happening. "Congratulations, Miss, you are five days gone," the doctor congratulated me.

"Wait, take it slow. Pregnant? What do you mean? How about you run another test again," I called out, refusing to believe my ears.

"I am sorry, miss, but I don't need to carry out another test. The last one we did showed that you are five days pregnant. I am sure that you might find it strange, but it is not totally unusual. Werewolves can detect their pregnancy as early as they get pregnant, unlike humans who have to wait for a few weeks or even months.

If you weren't unconscious, you would have seen the symptoms yourself." The doctor explained, and I couldn't control the tears that threatened to leave my eyes, as I buried my face in my palm.

All through the years I spent at the Wild-heart Pack as Declan’s Luna, I have dreamt of this—bearing a child for Declan, even if it was going to be one in this lifetime.

I always imagined having a litter of them. Little girls that will have my hair but their father’s beautiful blue eyes and sons that I wouldn’t mind if they looked nothing like me and everything like their father.

I thirsted so much for his love and the only reason I tricked him into sleeping with me that night was because I thought having his child will make him love me. Now here I was, I finally got to carry his child but I was no longer his Luna.

"Can she be discharged today? You said she is fine,"

The man who was my savior said once again. If he was judging me right now for being disappointed over the news of my pregnancy, he didn't show it. He had the same expression since the moment he entered the room.

"That is not a problem, just ensure that she takes her medication. With the proper medication and rest, it shouldn't take more than a few days for her wound to be completely healed," the doctor explained.

"Thank you, doctor," the man said before leaving the room.

As soon as he left the room, the doctor excused himself too and I was left alone with my worries. The world sure knows how to fuck with me. When I was in dire need of a baby, everyone saw me as barren and now, now that I have no use for the child, I am suddenly pregnant.

I couldn't even let out my frustration because no one would understand. I used my foolishness to bring an innocent soul into this cruel world. Now, the baby would have to grow up as a child with no father. I deserve an accolade.

The door cracked open once again, and the man came inside. "I have settled the bills, we can be on our way now." He muttered.

Without any hesitation, I stood up from the bed and headed out, even though I didn't know my way out. I ignored all the pain I was feeling, as I brushed off the tears on my face. Pain stung my whole body like a bee but no matter how painful my cuts and bruises were, the pain cannot be compared to the one I was feeling from within.

"You are going the wrong way," the man called out, as he led me to his car. Embarrassed, I turned back in the right direction, following his lead.

Throughout the entire ride, he asked me questions about my name, where I am from and who can come to pick me up but I kept quiet the entire time because there was no need to answer those questions. I have no one.

After several attempts to get an answer from me, the young man kept to himself, as he drove us to his place, wherever that may be. Since he was an Alpha, I knew wherever we were headed could only be his pack.

Soon after, we arrived at a place I assumed was his pack. He broke the silence once again, as he parked his car in front of a huge mansion.

"I am only allowing you to spend the night here because I caused the accident. If by tomorrow you can't provide the name of someone that can come fetch you or even the tiniest little information, I am afraid I will have to drop you off where I met you," He warned, but that was the least of my problem, spending the night on the street is not what was bothers me right now.

I remained quiet as the young man led us inside his house. He was immediately greeted by the maids who referred to him as the Alpha and he was just as cold as Declan but I could care less.

"You will be staying in this room for tonight, if you need anything, you can call on the maids and if you are ready to talk, they can help you find me.”

He turned to leave but I stopped him.

“Wait!” He turned with a raised brow. I cleared my throat and fiddled with my fingers, nervously. I needed to at least know who he was and where I was.

“My name is Vanessaa…what’s yours?”

“I don’t think it’s important for you to know that since you will be leaving tomorrow.” He said sternly.

“Right…that makes sense.” Except that I didn’t have anywhere to go but I kept that bit to myself. I turned back to look around the room expecting to hear the door close but when it didn’t, I realized he was yet to leave.

“My name is Tristan and you’re in the Iron-Hide pack.” He responded and without another word, he turned around to leave.

It was strange that one minute he was cold and the next he answered the same questions he didn’t think were necessary earlier.

However, that was the least of my worries.

I spent the rest of the night crying at how my life had drastically changed from bad to worse. I don't have a home to go back to nor do I have anyone left in this cruel world. If Tristan hadn't hit me with his car and brought me to his house, where would I have gone? I didn’t think straight when I left the pack and I regretted it now. And now, I was with child. How am I supposed to take care of an infant when I don’t even have the resources to take care of myself?

I can't go back to Declan, he would send me to an early grave. There was only one shot at survival and it’s right here in the Iron-hide pack.

The only way to stay alive is to get Tristan to allow me to stay under his roof, even if it means I would have to beg on my knees to give me a job as low as that of a maid.

Anything to survive.