142 The Dreaded Moment 2
Pots
Lucian
“I can’t believe you doubt me, Lucian,” Tina snapped, stopping me from walking out, tears streaking down her exhausted face. “I know Mara put you up to this. You know he’s your child-yet you’re humiliating me anyway.”
I didn’t respond, keeping my expression neutral.
Her eyes narrowed bitterly. “You’ve been screwing her for months-through her heat, even-and nothing. When are you going to realize that we’re meant to be?”
That finally drew my reply. I fixed her with a cold stare.
“I need certainty, Tina. You weren’t exactly faithful. You slept with Joey while we were together, then told the pack we had an ‘open relationship.’ If I’m raising a child, I’m making sure he’s mine.”
She sobbed angrily. “I told you it was a one-time mistake!”
Dr. Green broke through our tension. “The placenta is out and you’re all stitched up, Miss Livingston. We’ll take you to your recovery room now. Your baby will join you shortly, once we’ve cleaned him and collected the samples.”
Tina’s eyes flashed triumphantly. “See, Lucian? I’ve given you an heir.”
I almost laughed. Her certainty would collapse the moment she realized her “heir” was just another pup without an Alpha Mark. Ordinary, like she’d always feared becoming.
They wheeled her out, and her fury erupted as soon as she saw Mara in the hallway.
“What the hell is she doing here?” Tina screamed, eyes blazing with envy and hatred. “That woman is never touching my
baby! Do you hear me, Lucian? He’s a boy-he’s your heir! You’ll come to your senses soon enough!”
Mara fought to keep her expression neutral, lips twitching slightly as she held back laughter. The nurses hurried Tina
past, still shouting threats and promises.
Mara moved toward me, warmth and strength radiating from her every step. “Hey,” she said softly, taking my hand.
“Hey.” Relief flooded me instantly at her touch.
“I’m glad that went well,” she murmured gently, sincere in her concern for Tina and the baby.
I nodded, tension slowly easing from my shoulders. “Yeah, no complications. But they still need to swab me for the DNA
test.”
I paused, lowering my voice. “The baby doesn’t have an Alpha Mark, by the way.”
A slow smile lit Mara’s face, satisfaction clear. She rolled her eyes slightly. “I’m guessing Tina doesn’t know that yet?”
“No, she doesn’t,” I said, smirking slightly. “She also has no idea you’re pregnant. She tried implying you were barren a minute ago.”
Mara chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Oh, I heard that nonsense. Austin actually laughed first. He said he can’t wait until she’s finally gone. Apparently, she’s been banging on our bedroom door at the mansion for weeks, assuming we were inside, and he just let her make a fool of herself.”
I laughed quietly, tension melting away, replaced by gratitude. We stood there together, breathing easier.
Mara’s gaze softened, meeting mine with quiet strength. “We’ll be rid of her soon enough, Lucian. Then we can finally move forward. Just us.”
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< 142 The Dreaded Moment 2
I leaned in and kissed her forehead gently. “That’s all I want.”
+8 Points)
Mara sat quietly beside me on the couch in Tina’s hospital room, serene yet watchful, while Tina seethed from the hospital bed, eyes burning with envy. Austin stood near the door, a subtle smile playing at his lips, quietly vigilant.
Nearly an hour passed without anyone bringing in the baby, and my unease steadily grew. Just as I was about to send Austin to check, Dr. Green entered abruptly, his face tense, worry clearly etched across his features.
Tina immediately panicked, voice rising sharply. “Where is my baby, Doctor Green? Why haven’t they brought him yet?”
“Miss Livingston, please stay calm,” Dr. Green said firmly, his eyes urgently locking onto mine. “Alpha Lucian, I need a word with you-privately.”
A chill went down my spine. I nodded, quickly rising and stepping outside the room with him.
Once out of earshot, Dr. Green took a heavy breath, his expression grave. “Alpha, the baby is in critical condition. He was
born with a severe diaphragmatic hernia. It’s a rare but life-threatening defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to form properly, allowing abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity. His lungs are severely underdeveloped, and his
heart function is compromised due to pressure from displaced organs.”
I stared at him in stunned silence, my heart racing.
“What caused this?” I asked, my voice hollow with shock.
He hesitated, speaking softly, almost regretfully. “This particular defect is often linked to the medications Tina took to fake pregnancy symptoms in her first trimester. Those substances carry known risks of severe developmental
abnormalities.”
My fists clenched tightly at my sides, anger and anguish rising sharply. Tina’s deceit had not only complicated our lives-it
had endangered this baby’s life.
“Can he be treated?” I finally managed, barely able to breathe.
“He needs immediate neonatal surgery by a specialist-a pediatric surgeon experienced with congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair,” Dr. Green explained urgently. “We’ve stabilized him temporarily, but we don’t have a specialist here at the hospital. He needs to be transferred to Silver Crest Children’s Hospital immediately if he’s going to have any chance.”
I nodded sharply, a decision already forming in my mind. “Arrange the transfer-whatever it costs, whatever it takes. Get
him to that specialist now.”
“Yes, Alpha. Right away,” Dr. Green responded quickly, rushing down the corridor.
At that moment, my father hurried toward me, alarm evident in his expression. “Lucian, what’s happened?”
“The baby’s in critical condition,” I told him sharply. “A severe congenital defect caused by Tina’s attempts to manipulate
the pregnancy. He needs immediate specialized surgery.”
My father’s face paled visibly, his eyes darkening with regret and horror. Suddenly the tangled consequences of Tina’s
actions felt heavier than ever-threatening innocent life, our family’s stability, and my own peace.
