Chapter 5

Marcus decided to hold a grand celebration for Sophia's baby at the Redwood Pack's Great Hall, inviting the entire pack.

When the news spread through the pack's private communication channels, I was confined to the healer's clinic, fighting to save my baby.

I tried calling Marcus to ask if this was really happening.

He didn't pick up.

I called again. Still no answer.

On the third try, it went straight to voicemail.

The betrayal of the mate bond struck me like a physical blow.

Even though Marcus had been keeping his distance, his public acknowledgment of Sophia shattered the final protective barrier of our bond. I felt as though sharp claws were tearing my chest open, followed by a wave of excruciating pain in my belly.

The Healer rushed in. After a quick examination, he declared I was showing severe signs of a threatened miscarriage.

When Marcus finally arrived, he didn't offer a single word of comfort. Instead, he coldly ordered the healer to secure the pup at all costs.

He turned to me, his voice commanding: "This pup must survive. Until it is born, you are not allowed to go anywhere."

He stationed guards outside my door and confiscated my phone, effectively placing me under house arrest in the clinic.

While administering my medicine, the Healer asked quietly, "Why isn't the Alpha here to comfort you? His scent would help soothe you and the pup..."

I had no energy to answer.

A nurse sighed and muttered under her breath, "Alpha Marcus is over at that human's villa. He isn't even picking up his phone..."

Under the same night sky, at the exact same hour.

My pup was fighting for its life, while he was playing happy family with another woman.

I lost track of time before the door creaked open.

It wasn't Marcus.

Sophia stood at the threshold, cradling her baby, with Caitlyn hovering behind her.

Sophia wore a pristine dress. Her postpartum weakness was gone, replaced by the triumphant glow of a victor.

"Elena, I heard you almost miscarried. I came to check on you."

She gestured for Caitlyn to shut the door, then strolled to my bedside, tilting her baby toward me.

"Look, doesn't he look just like Marcus?"

"I’m sure the baby in your belly will be just as cute."

She paused, her smile widening into something wicked.

"That is... if you can actually carry it to term."

I grit my teeth, turning my face away from her.

Caitlyn pulled a gold-embossed invitation from her bag and tossed it onto my nightstand.

"Elena, the Redwood Pack has officially announced the celebration for Sophia's baby."

"The invitation lists Marcus and Sophia as the hosts."

"Everyone already views this baby as Marcus's true firstborn."

She looked down at me with cold pity.

"The timing of your pregnancy really couldn't be worse."

I glared at the woman who used to be my best friend.

"Get out."

Sophia whimpered in mock terror, taking a step back.

"Elena, please don't be mad. I only wanted you to see the baby."

Suddenly, she stumbled, her elbow slamming violently into my IV stand.

*Crash!*

The glass bottle of my fetal-stabilizing medicine shattered on the floor, the liquid pooling everywhere.

The IV needle was violently ripped from the back of my hand, and blood began to gush out.

An excruciating cramp seized my abdomen. My body convulsed, and I scrambled to reach for the emergency call button on the wall.

But Caitlyn snatched the cord, ripping it from the socket and throwing it onto the floor.

"Stop acting, Elena. You're not that fragile."

Sophia held her baby tight, looking down at me as I writhed in agony.

"Elena, Marcus loves me. Even if your baby is born, it will be nothing but an unloved heir."

"Do you really think he would ever favor your child over my son?"

A warm, terrifying rush of wetness seeped beneath me.

The white bedsheets stained a deep, horrifying crimson.

The pain was so intense I couldn't even trigger a mind link. I dragged myself off the bed, my knees crashing onto the hard floor as I tried to crawl toward the door.

My arms gave out, and my face slammed against the tiles.

Summoning the last ounce of my strength, I grabbed the fetal monitor probe that had fallen beside me and hurled it at the door.

The door flew open.

Marcus rushed in.

But the scene he beheld was Sophia trembling in the corner, clutching her baby, and Caitlyn holding her arm, screaming, "Elena, you've gone mad!"

While I lay in a pool of my own blood, clutching the broken probe.

Marcus's expression morphed into pure rage.

Without hesitation, his first move was to leap in front of Sophia and the baby, shielding them.

"Elena! Have you lost your mind? The baby is right here!"

Lying in my own blood, I looked up at him and laughed.

The next second, the fetal monitor blared a continuous, deafening alarm.