Chapter 4

The cruise ship docked safely at the Black Rose Pack's pier. As soon as Philip finished loading the luggage into the car, Laila ran over panickingly, holding Ray in her arms. "Ray's stomach hurts. What if something's wrong?"

Philip checked him over quickly, but found nothing obvious. "We should go to the nearby healer's hut. Better safe than sorry."

He lifted Ray into the car, then turned to me with guilt in his eyes. "Grace, can you take the luggage back to the villa for now? I'll take Ray to the healer."

Without waiting for my answer, he pulled all the luggage from the trunk and placed it on the ground. He then helped me out of the car and planted a kiss on my forehead.

"Go ahead and rest at the villa. We'll be back soon. Thank you."

With that, he sped away, leaving me standing alone on the pier beside three large suitcases and one small one.

In the five years, he had never once let me carry a bag.

Now? He would dump all the bags on me without hesitation—all because someone else mattered more to him.

My body was tense the whole time during the ride in the crowded economy cabin. My stomach had started cramping, and I had barely made it off the boat in one piece. Now there was not even a ride home for me.

My phone buzzed nonstop. Philip's parents kept messaging, asking when we would arrive.

I picked it up, but suddenly, everything blurred. My vision went black, and I collapsed.

When I woke up, I was lying on a bed in the healer's hut.

"A kind stranger brought you in," said the healer.

Then he looked serious, saying, "You're pregnant. But it's not going well."

I stared at him, stunned. "I'm pregnant?" I touched my belly, completely overwhelmed.

The healer sighed and explained gently, "Yes. It's been about a month. But your body is too weak. You're not in good shape to carry a pup."

He paused, then added softly, "He may not make it."

I could not hear anything else. My mind repeated just one sentence—

"I'm pregnant."

I had never imagined that right as I was planning to break the mate bond with Philip, I would be carrying his child.

I had long accepted that I might never have a child. All that, and this little life came to me without warning.

I felt both joy and fear. I did not know how to face it.

Should I tell Philip?

My body was too exhausted to think at this point. I left the healer's hut and dragged myself back to the villa. The moment I lay down, I fell into a deep sleep.

I did not know how long I had slept before a strong pair of arms pulled me into a warm embrace.

Philip's voice came softly from above me. "Grace, thank you for everything yesterday. Wake up, I want to take you somewhere special."

He helped me into a beautiful dress and carefully did my hair and makeup. He then brought me to the finest restaurant in the Black Rose Pack—a quiet, elegant place deep in the woods.

Philip had always wanted to bring me here, but I had refused every time. It was too expensive.

I did not refuse this time.

He sat close beside me, handed me a glass of red wine, and leaned in to whisper in my ear. "I promise—it's just the two of us today. No one else will get in the way."