3. Fertiva-X

Elise

He was the first person I thought of when I woke up that morning.

His voice. His signet ring. His face.

I replayed our conversation over and over in my head.

Why had the Lycan King offered to help me, a complete stranger?

He certainly didn't go around handing people his symbol of authority, so why me?

I just couldn't understand.

King Alaric ruled over every pack in the North Moon. His word alone could decide the fate of entire territories. He was powerful, mysterious, and rarely seen in public unless it involved matters of the kingdom.

Rumor had it he was impossible to deceive, and terrifying enough to silence an entire room with a single look. Rumor also had it... that he was devastatingly handsome.

I couldn't deny the last part.

Even now, I could still remember those piercing blue eyes.

But the thought disappeared as quickly as it came.

Elliott wasn't next to me when I woke up. He was probably with Lucia.

The events of the previous day came rushing back, leaving a sharp, piercing ache in my chest. If he had returned after the party, I certainly would've broken our bond.

I immediately picked up my phone and called him.

He answered on the first ring.

"Morning, my daisy." His voice was thick with sleep.

"I woke up and didn't see you. Where did you go?" I asked.

"I spent the night at a hotel next to the company," he said. "I got caught up with work last night..."

I bit back a scoff.

He was lying. I could tell.

He was probably at Lucia's place. Maybe she'd worn him out all night.

"Come back early," I said. "I want to tell you something important."

After today, I'd be gone.

"Of course, my daisy," he said.

I hung up.

I exhaled deeply. My heart hurt so much, but I had to move on.

Just then, my phone rang again.

It was Claire, my research assistant.

"Dr. Elise!" Claire squealed. "It worked!"

I frowned in confusion.

"Slow down. What happened?"

"Our test subject, F-017, just got her blood test results back. They're positive!"

My breath caught.

"Positive?" I asked, dazed.

"She's pregnant! Fertiva-X worked exactly as we predicted!"

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Fertiva-X... our groundbreaking fertility serum designed specifically for Lycan physiology. After months of trials, it had finally succeeded.

"The ethics board has already been notified, and the preliminary results are incredible," Claire continued excitedly. "This changes everything. Dr. Elise... you've been taking Fertiva-X too. You should get tested."

My heart pounded wildly against my ribs as a thousand impossible thoughts raced through my mind.

*********

"Congratulations, Elise. You're two months pregnant," the pack doctor said as he handed me an envelope containing my test results.

I gaped in shock, then tears pooled in my eyes as I couldn't contain my joy.

I was pregnant with Elliott's pup.

After seven failed trials, Fertiva-X had finally worked.

I was Elliott's mate in public, but in secret, I owned a private laboratory that no one knew about.

I created medicines to cure abnormalities in werewolves. It was part of my cover, my plan to hide my powers from the people who had killed my parents.

Hemocure was the first herbal drug I created, trying to cure the Moonbane Curse that followed Elliott's family.

I had collected Simon, Elliott's dad's blood, saliva and urine samples when he was on his deathbed and I and my team ran various tests on the samples and after three different trials and error, I was able to make a cure to the curse.

But I was too late. Simon had died before the drug was cleared for consumption but before he died, he made me promise to keep Elliott alive with the drug.

Which I did.

After I moved in with Elliott, I began secretly pioneering the research that led to the creation of Fertiva-X because it broke my heart to watch she-wolves become hollow shells of themselves simply because they couldn't bear a pup.

I never expected it to work.

Minutes later, I was home. Several thoughts raced through my mind, throughout the ride.

I was torn.

I really wanted to leave Elliott but now I was pregnant for his pup.

I don't want my child to grow up without a father because I could somehow relate to the pain of growing up without parents.

And Simon trusted me to be the mother of his grandchildren.

Maybe I could try to make things work with Elliott.

The arrival of his pup meant there was still hope for our relationship.

Maybe I could make him see only me.

Remembering everything he'd said yesterday made me want to reject our bond, but now...

I wanted to give him another chance.

For the baby.

In fact, I'd give him five more chances to do right by me.

If he failed...

I'd break the bond and leave him for good.

Just then, the front door swung open and Elliott walked in.

I stood up to break the news to him.

But I stopped the moment another woman walked in behind him.

The two of them were laughing together, sharing jokes.

My heart sank. It was Lucia.

Damn it.

Couldn't I have one day without seeing or hearing about her?

"Elise," he said, finally noticing me. "Lucia's going to be staying here for a while. Some rogues broke into her house yesterday and attacked her. She's terrified."

I suddenly felt dizzy.

"Elliott, you own buildings all across the pack. She can stay in one of them. Why does it have to be here?" I said, my heart hammering violently against my ribs.

This was the most ridiculous thing I'd heard all day.

"Don't be callous, Elise," he spat. "I promised my late brother I'd take care of his wife, and this is part of that promise."

"I don't care!" I shrieked, desperate for him to see reason. "You can't let her stay here!"

I watched Lucia slip her arm around Elliott's, and my voice softened into a plea.

"Please, Elliott. This is our home... you can't just let some..."

"No!" he growled. "This is my house, my pack, and I can let whoever I want stay here."

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

My heart constricted painfully.

I was supposed to tell him about his pup, a new addition to our family.

But he'd ruined the moment by bringing his mistress into our home.

Could I still make him choose me?

"It's okay, Liot," Lucia said coyly. "If she doesn't want it, then..."

Liot?

This bitch had given my mate a pet name?

And he did nothing about it?

He turned toward Lucia.

"No, dear. You'll stay here until you're ready to go back."

A sob threatened to escape, but I swallowed it.

I was always going to come second to his mistress.

Suddenly, he picked up his phone.

"Bring in the gifts," he ordered.

Three seconds later, several men walked through the front door carrying boxes, shopping bags, shoes, jewelry, and expensive clothes.

He turned to Lucia with a smile I'd never seen him wear around me.

"I got these for you to make you feel better," he said.

"Really?" Lucia gasped.

"Oh my gosh, Liot!" she squealed, throwing her arms around him. "All these for me?"

"You're spoiling me!"

Watching him shower another woman with affection twisted the dagger he'd already buried in my heart.

I couldn't watch anymore.

I stormed upstairs.

The moment I entered our bedroom, I broke down in tears.

I was sick and tired of playing second fiddle.

I wanted out.

Just then, I remembered the card the Lycan King had given me the previous day.

Someone I should have forgotten existed the moment he walked away.

Yet somehow...

I couldn't stop thinking about him.

I thought about what I'd do after leaving Elliott as I slowly dialed the number on the card.

Just as my thumb hovered over the call button, the bedroom door opened.

"My sweet, sweet daisy," Elliott drawled as he walked toward me. "I'm sorry about my outburst earlier. I wasn't thinking."

"Here." He said, handing me a small black box.

"I got something for you."

I opened it to find a beautiful pearl necklace.

It was lovely.

But it couldn't even compare to the mountain of gifts he'd lavished on Lucia downstairs.

One strike, Elliott.

Four more...

And I'm gone.