CHAPTER 5: LAUREN

ELENA'S POV,

Lucy was able to sit up on her own and talk while Molly was unconscious. 

I knew Molly needed Dr. Jenna more than Lucy; anyone could see that. Anyone but Alpha Julian. I observed them through the doorlight as Lucy's little face flushed, but animatedly as she clutched her stuffed toy. Soon, I realized Dr. Jenna was playing with her. 

Lauren was sitting beside her daughter, laughing carelessly. She was brushing Lucy's hair with the love and care a mother has only when she was convinced that the worst had passed. Lucy seemed healthy enough, but Molly wasn't. She was still in danger, engulfed by darkness. 

I knocked once when I was ready and stepped inside the room. 

“Elena!” Lauren stood up, surprised to see me in her daughter's ward. She looked at Dr. Jenna before turning her gaze back at me. “What brought you here? Julian didn't tell me you'll be paying a visit.” 

“Luna,” Dr. Jenna bowed her head as per the custom, while Lauren stood awkwardly in her corner. 

“I am here to meet you, Dr. Jenna,” I said, making my way towards her while keeping my eyes on Lauren. “ I need to speak with you. It's about Molly. She is in danger, and her doctor says you're the only one who can save my daughter.” 

Jenna turned, her brow furrowed, and fear sparked in front of her eyes. It meant she actually cared about my daughter and was ready to help her. I was finally at ease, knowing that my angel was at last going to get the care she needed. 

“You can't—” Lauren started, but I didn’t wait for her to complete and continued explaining the condition to Dr. Jenna. 

“Molly’s condition is worsening. She woke up briefly, but she was unstable once again. She needs you. Please, help me. The Alpha's family needs you, Dr. Jenna.” 

Dr. Jenna gave a small nod, already moving to get her bag from the wooden shelf on the other side of the room. “Of course, I’ll help your daughter. Even if you weren't Luna, I would have helped. It's my duty to heal those who need me.” 

“Thank you, thank you, Dr. Jenna.” I was in tears once again, and I could hear my daughter's giggling. “I will always be grateful to—”

“Wait! You can't leave Lucy like this. It's not fair, Jenna.” Lauren said through her forced smile. 

“Your daughter is doing fine, Lauren. While mine is fighting death.” I tried to control my anger. “Dr. Jenna will come back to see Lucy when she heals Molly.” 

“Luna is right, I can treat them both. It's not a problem.” 

“No!” Lauren's voice sliced through the room. She was still smiling, but it didn’t reach her eyes anymore. “Elena, I know you're Luna of the pack, and I respect that. I really do. But Jenna is Lucy’s doctor. Julian assigned her to us. You can't steal her away from my daughter, it's not fair.”

I froze. I froze at her cruelty and her small mind. 

“In case you've forgotten, I'm the Luna of the pack,” I growled at her as I felt my anger finally making its way to the surface. My eyes turned golden, and I saw Lucy hiding behind her mother, scared. “You do as I say, and I'm taking Dr. Jenna with me, understand?” 

Lauren tilted her head slightly. “M-maybe we should ask Julian before we make decisions about where she goes. You are the Luna, but he's the Alpha, and he appointed Jenna for my Lucy.” 

My mouth started to get dry, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Lauren, I understand where you're coming from. But Molly is also in critical condition. Jenna is the only one who can help her now.”

“Ask Julian,” she simply said, as if she already knew what he would choose. 

This made me anxious because even though I was his wife, I feared he would choose her. Dr. Jenna also had her head hung low, so I did the only thing that came to my mind at that moment. I linked up with Julian again, hoping he would listen to me this time.

He linked. 

‘Julian, thank god you didn't block me this time.’ I cleared my throat before explaining to him. ‘Molly’s health is getting worse. I need Dr. Jenna to treat her. Please, Julain.’ 

His response came quickly, but it wasn't one with concern or understanding. It was filled with anger and disgust. 

‘Elena, how can you? As Luna, you must help others, yet you try to steal a healer from another pack member? A child? That is not what Luna should do. You're being inappropriate and selfish.’

My chest tightened. ‘She’s not well, Julian. She’s still in danger, the doctor told me. Jenna can help her, she's the only one. You know her, right?’

He snapped back through the link. ‘You’re letting your jealousy get the best of you, Elena. This is about Lauren, isn’t it? You’re making it personal because of her and my past. I never thought you'd do something like this, Elena.’

‘But—’

‘No buts!’ Julian’s anger hit me through the link like a slap on my cheeks, and that shook me. He was very agitated about something. ‘Jenna stays with Lucy, and that’s final. The doctor treating Molly right now will look after her.’

Before I could explain anything more, he was out. Lauren knew what had happened and said nothing. She didn’t need to. Her smile said everything that needed to be said. She won and I lost. Julian chose her over his family, once again. 

Dr. Jenna looked at me, her expression was full of regret. “Alpha Julian just linked me. I’m sorry, Luna. I can’t leave until Lucy fully recovers. I can't disobey his orders, Luna.”

Something inside me cracked, and the sound it made rang in my ears. I nodded my head, feeling cold and empty. Words were impossible to let out because my throat burned. My head got heavy, and my eyes cried. I lost, and my daughter was going to pay the price. 

“I promise to send Jenna to Molly's room when Lucy is running on her feet, understand, Lu-na?” She mocked me, and I couldn't do anything. 

I walked out without another glance, hiding my tears from the other pack members, but they saw. 

Each step back to Molly’s room felt heavier than the last. I was barely in a condition to register the walls, the lights, or the people staring at me. But I heard them whispering among themselves, trying to understand what happened. 

Luckily, I made my way back inside the room. I wiped my eyes and walked towards my angel. 

“Sorry, daughter, for failing you yet again,” I cried, holding her soft hand in my own. “I couldn't help you, I couldn't fight them for you.” 

Suddenly, I felt her hand move, and she jerked upright, coughing hard. 

“Mommy!” she called for me in between her coughs, holding onto my blouse. 

“I am here, baby, I am here with you…” She coughed again, but this time blood spilled out of her mouth, covering the bed and my blouse in red.

“Mo—” She couldn't even finish before she vomited more blood.

“HELP!” I screamed through the top of my lungs. “SOMEONE HELP US! PLEASE! HELP MY DAUGHTER!”