004

 Daniella’s POV  

“Well,” she said, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. “Isn’t this cozy?”

Her lips curved into a wry smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Daniella,” she said, her voice dripping with feigned warmth. “I thought I’d find you here.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her smile widened. “I think the better question is: What are you doing here? Because whatever game you’re playing, Daniella, it ends now.”

“What do you mean, ‘it ends now?’” My voice was steady, but I could feel my hands trembling by my sides.

Matilda took a step closer, her heels clicking against the polished floor. “You know exactly what I mean, Daniella.” Her voice was sweet, almost mocking. “Liam and I are going to be mated soon. It’s been decided. The grandest wedding, the most lavish mate ceremony. Everyone is thrilled. And, well…” She trailed off, her gaze flickering to my stomach.

“What?” My chest tightened as dread spread through me.

“We can’t have any… complications,” she said, her tone dripping with false sympathy. “An illegitimate child? It would ruin everything. For Liam, for me, for the family. You understand, don’t you?”

The blood drained from my face. “You can’t be serious.”

Matilda’s smile never wavered. “Oh, but I am. And it’s what Liam wants.”

Her words hit me like a physical blow. My legs felt weak, and I stumbled back a step. “No. He wouldn’t…”

“Oh, but he would,” Matilda cut in smoothly. “He made it very clear. He doesn’t want this child. He asked me to come and speak to you because, well, he thought you’d be too emotional to listen to him directly. You’re good at being emotional, aren’t you, Daniella?”

I shook my head, my heart pounding painfully against my ribs. “No. You’re lying.”

Her laugh was soft but cruel. “Why would I lie? I’m trying to help you, Daniella. Save you from further embarrassment. Liam doesn’t want you. He never did. And this… mistake you’re carrying? It’s only going to make things worse for everyone.”

Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. “This isn’t a mistake. This is my child.”

“Not for long,” Matilda snapped, her voice cold. “Do the right thing. Get rid of it. Spare yourself the humiliation. Spare Liam the trouble.”

I wanted to scream at her, to throw something, to lash out. But my voice was caught in my throat, choked by the sheer weight of her words. “He really said that?” I whispered, my voice breaking.

Matilda’s expression softened, but it was a mockery of comfort. “He did. And honestly, Daniella, isn’t it better this way? Think of it as mercy. You wouldn’t want to bring a child into a life where it’s unwanted, would you?” she sneered and left, slamming the door behind her

I froze unable to reiterate, I felt hollow, like a shell of the person I was before. Her words echoed in my mind, causing me immense pain. He doesn’t want this child. He doesn’t want you.

I stumbled out of the hospital, my vision blurred with unshed tears. And then I saw him.

Liam.

He was standing by the entrance, his tall frame unmistakable even through my haze of pain. My heart leaped at the sight of him, a flicker of hope igniting in the darkness. I would speak to him again, maybe Matilda was lying, but before I could call out to him, Matilda appeared.

“What a coincidence,” she said brightly, her voice carrying easily across the space. “You’re here at the hospital too?”

I froze, watching as she approached him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. She leaned in closer, her expression soft and delicate.

“I haven’t been feeling well,” she murmured, loud enough for me to hear. “Would you mind taking me home? I’m feeling a little faint.”

Liam glanced at her, his brow furrowing in concern. Then his eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw something there—something that resembled guilt or hesitation. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

“You can take care of yourself, can’t you?” he said to me, his tone distant, almost indifferent.

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, Matilda clinging to his arm like she belonged there.

My hand instinctively went to my stomach, the place where a tiny heartbeat I’d grown to love so fiercely.

“You can take care of yourself,” Liam’s cold words replayed in my mind.

Was it true? Had he really said those things to Matilda?

I shook her head as if to physically rid herself of the thought. No, this wasn’t him. He wouldn’t ask me to do this. He wouldn’t ask me to kill our baby.

But Matilda’s voice had been so confident, so cruel.

"This is what he wants, Daniella. He doesn’t want this mistake ruining his life.”

**************

I stumbled into the living room as soon as I got into my apartment, and collapsed onto the couch, burying my face in my hands as I was overcome with grief and my body wrecked as I sobbed.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I’m so sorry.”

The ache in my heart was unbearable, but it was nothing compared to the sharp, sudden pain that shot through my abdomen.

I froze.

The pain came again, more intense this time, making me gasp. I clutched my stomach, my breathing ragged.

“No… no, no, no,” I murmured, panic rising all over me. My thighs felt damp, and when I put my hands and pulled them away, I saw the unmistakable streak of blood staining my palms.

My heart stopped.

With great effort, I rose from the couch and went to the bathroom. Each step was agony, the pain in my abdomen intensifying, doubling me over. Then my eyes traveled downward.

My knees buckled at the sight of the blood soaking through my clothes. It was everywhere—running down my thighs, pooling at my feet.

“No,” I choked out, my voice barely audible. “Please, no.”

The world blurred as the pain reached a crescendo, and I collapsed to the floor.

I lay there for what seemed like an eternity, curled up on the cold tiles, clutching my stomach as if I could hold onto the life slipping away from me. My breaths came in short, shallow gasps, my vision swimming.

“Please,” I begged, my voice hoarse. “Please, stay. Please don’t leave me.”

But the pain didn’t stop. It came in waves, each one worse than the last until it felt like my body was being torn apart from the inside.

Somewhere in the distance, I thought I heard the faint cry of a wolf—a low, mournful sound that echoed through the silence.

My head turned weakly toward the sound, my vision blurring as the world around me began to fade. I wasn’t sure if the sound was real or just my imagination, but it felt so close, so familiar.

And then I heard it—soft, faint, like a whisper. A whimper, small and fragile, almost like a child’s cry.

My heart broke.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “I’m so sorry.”

The pain began to fade, replaced by a cold, empty numbness. The warmth I carried within me, the tiny life I loved so fiercely, was gone.