CHAPTER 4

Amelia 

I dream of being torn apart by the wild rogue wolf. Its eyes glow right red, it foams around the mouth and ignores every plea for mercy that I manage to force past my lips. 

Aside, stands Logan and Katherine, holding each other like long lost lovers and mocking me as this is the exact end someone like me deserves. 

When I wake up in a hospital room, surrounded by white walls and the stinging stench of antiseptic, for a moment there, I wonder if it would be better if the dream was true. 

My whole body aches, my head is pounding and my heart beats faster than ever before, yet the only thought I can focus on is my baby. 

My trembling hands frantically run over my belly as I check for blood, yet find none. I can’t let go of the fear, refuse to, until my wolf stirs and gently mutters, “I protected the baby. Don’t worry, Amelia, our pup is safe and sound, I made sure of it.” 

I instantly let out a small breath of relief and answer, “thank you. I don’t know what I’d do if we lost the baby, don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you.” 

“I’ll always be there for you and the pup. Always, Amelia. No matter what, you’re not losing me, not if I have any say in it.” My wolf says softly and I almost break down in tears as soon as those words leave her. 

Nobody, and I mean it, nobody has ever stood by me through thick and thin. I’ve never had anyone in my corner the way I have her.

Others might never understand the feeling, but to spend your entire life as an outsider in the pack and learn how to live with the thought of being hated just because you were born is not easy. 

She spends a couple of minutes whispering reassurances to me and goes completely silent when the doctor enters the room. 

Dr. Morris, the same woman who gave me the happy news just a day ago, clears her throat and looks at the patient chart, then grumbles, “Amelia, Beta Marcel brought you here and insisted you’re given an antidote for rogue’s venom. I don’t know why, don’t ask me, but he was very clear about his demands. Anyway, you’re fine now.” 

I look at her and wonder how a person can do such a drastic change in their behavior in a matter of little to no time at all. Just yesterday she treated me with kindness, acted so supportive and spoke to me with such a soft tone, only to sound like I’m nothing but inconvenience in her way today. 

“For now, all you have to do is rest for a few days and you’ll be as good as new,” she adds and I can almost taste the disdain that laces her words. 

The doctor looks up from the clipboard, gives me a quick onceover, frowns and turns to leave the room. 

“Wait,” I call out before she can leave. “Is Luna Katherine okay? Did she get hurt? How about the pack members? Are there any injuries?” 

Dr. Morris looks over her shoulder and speaks. “Luna is unharmed, the Alpha made sure his mate didn’t get a single scratch during the attack. The pack members who were attending the funeral didn’t get hurt either. It’s only you who’s being dramatic again.” She scoffs dismissively.    

Now, her attitude is completely different from what it was when she thought I was Luna of this pack. I can’t help but feel bitterness about her change—she’s literally sorting patients based on who they are. 

Luna Kathrine gets respect, Amelia gets treated like shit.   

She grips the door handle and stops again, “Ah, almost forgot to mention. Since our Alpha is a respectable man and an admirable leader, he went out of his way to order a full-body checkup for you. You should be grateful.” 

“No!” I blurt out as panic surges through every nerve ending in my body. If I agree for this checkup, Logan and the pack will find out about the pregnancy and now that Katherine’s back, I’m sure she would force me to do something that I won’t like. 

As Dr. Morris turns to look at me, the frown on her face deepening, she spoke again. “And why on Earth would you refuse a checkup? First of all, that’s our Alpha’s command, you can’t just disobey him because you can’t take being poked with a few needles. Second, you won’t get hurt, stop overreacting and just get done with it. The sooner we start, the sooner it ends.” 

I try to come up with believable lies until finally, I settle on one that sounds reasonable. “Okay, sorry. I apologize for any disrespect I might have shown. The Alpha knows better. But before we start, is it okay if I use the bathroom?” 

She lets out an annoyed sound and nods at the door leading to the bathroom. “Okay, fine, just don’t take too much time.” 

As soon as she exits the room, I get off the bed, ignore the dizziness and stumble to the bathroom. I lock the door behind me, open the window and climb out of it, sneaking away from the hospital grounds unnoticed. 

Dragging my wounded body home, I struggle to stay awake and unnoticed, but this is something I absolutely must do. I just need to get back, pack as quickly as I can and leave the territory. 

I’m not a fool, I know rejection is inevitable with Katherine being back and claiming her rightful place as Luna of this pack. But even with understanding how things are about to change for me, when I finally reach the house and push the door open, my heart still shatters all over again.