143 Hopeful
Lucian
I stood there silently, my thoughts racing, overwhelmed. My father wore a cautious smile, completely unaware of the severity unfolding around us.
“What about the DNA test?” I asked Dr. Green, my voice strained with tension.
“The child is yours, Alpha,” Dr. Green confirmed solemnly. “But he does not bear the Alpha Mark.”
My father’s expression shifted abruptly into shock. “What? All this trouble for a regular pack member?” he exploded, disgust evident in his voice. “Tina lived under my roof, ate my food, and tormented my son and his mate-all for this?”
I glared at him sharply, feeling anger surge through me. “Father, enough. The baby is in critical condition. He was born with a severe diaphragmatic hernia, caused by medications Tina took early in her pregnancy.”
My father staggered back slightly, clearly taken aback by the news, his anger quickly replaced by grief and horror.
“Can we see him?” I asked Dr. Green quietly.
“You can view him through the observation window,” he replied gently. “But he’s in the NICU, Alpha. It’s… a difficult sight.”
We followed Dr. Green to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. My heart shattered when I saw the tiny infant lying in the incubator, connected to countless tubes, sensors, and a ventilator, machines breathing for him. He was so fragile, tiny chest struggling visibly with each assisted breath. This innocent child-my child-was fighting desperately for life.
My father placed a trembling hand against the glass, visibly shaken and trying to hide tears of remorse and anger.
“That selfish b***h,” he muttered, voice heavy with grief. “She did this to my grandson.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.
The crushing weight of rage, guilt, and sadness silenced me.
Tiffany had been largely ignored, yet she’d never endangered her baby like this.
Tina had been pampered and supported, yet she’d done everything possible to complicate things, to draw attention and pity-even at the expense of her own child’s life. I’d kept her distant to avoid misunderstandings, but she chose to see it as neglect. Her selfishness now endangered this innocent life.
“Doctor,” I finally spoke up, fighting to keep my voice steady, “If he survives this, what kind of life will he have?”
Dr. Green sighed softly, looking somber. “Even with successful surgery, the first years will be difficult. He’ll be fragile,
prone to respiratory issues, and require careful medical monitoring and medications. He’ll need to avoid strenuous
physical activities until he’s older.”
I nodded slowly, my heart sinking further.
“But there is hope,” Dr. Green continued cautiously. “When his wolf manifests around puberty, he will gain accelerated healing abilities. At that stage, his condition will significantly improve, potentially healing entirely. But first, he has to survive these initial days-and the specialist surgery at Silver Crest is critical. The next seventy-two hours are crucial, Alpha.”
I thanked him quietly, gazing helplessly through the window again. There was hope, but it felt distant, uncertain. This innocent child was suffering for Tina’s manipulations-and I vowed silently to ensure that, if he survived, she’d never hurt him again.
“He’s a fighter, Alpha,” Dr. Green said gently, trying to offer some hope amidst the chaos. “Tina should have miscarried
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after that last stunt she pulled, but somehow he held on. We should remain cautiously optimistic. Still, I must strongly recommend that if he survives this surgery, you never entrust him to his mother’s care. She simply doesn’t possess the mental stability or emotional maturity required to handle a child with such complex medical needs.”
I clenched my jaw tightly, knowing he was right. Only a profoundly unstable, selfish woman would endanger her unborn child just to feed her own need for attention.
My father shook with barely controlled rage. “That b***h,” he growled. “If my grandson dies, I’ll personally see she faces
murder charges.”
He took a breath, but it didn’t calm him. “I want her out of my house today, Lucian.”
I nodded sharply, placing a calming hand on his shoulder. “We’ll deal with Tina shortly, Father. Right now, the baby’s health
is our top priority.”
But beneath my composed exterior, I was reeling. How could I even begin to break this devastating news to Tina-or
Mara? Mara had been willing to take this child and nurture him as her own if he were mine, but now we didn’t even know if
he’d survive to leave the hospital. Tina had truly destroyed herself this time.
We walked back into Tina’s room, and my father’s fists clenched, visibly restraining himself from attacking her. Mara
looked up anxiously, reading the distress in my eyes. I met her gaze briefly, offering a silent reassurance, though I felt far from confident myself.
Tina’s voice broke the tense silence. “Lucian, what did the doctor say?”
“It’s Alpha Nighthorn to you,” my father interrupted sharply, his voice dangerously calm. “You are not my son’s mate, not
his mistress, and certainly not family. You’re simply a pack member. Show some respect and use his proper title.”
Tina paled, shock registering briefly in her eyes.
“We have tolerated you far longer than necessary,” my father continued coldly. “You’ve had your baby. Now, you’re no
longer our responsibility. Go move in with your boyfriend. By pack law, we owe you nothing further, especially now that
you have someone else taking interest in you.”
Tina sat up abruptly, panic filling her eyes. “Lucian, what about our son? He’s yours-I swear. You’re the only one I ever
slept with without protection! He’s your heir, your only child. Would you let your father kick us out? Mara hasn’t even
conceived yet after all this time. If you abandon us, you’ll regret—”
Before I could stop him, my father’s hand shot out, landing a sharp, resounding slap across Tina’s face. Her words ended
in stunned silence, tears instantly welling in her eyes as she stared at him in shock.
My father’s hand shook, voice heavy with restrained fury. “I warned you about disrespecting us, Tina. You will never threaten my family again. Lucian is your Alpha. Mara is your Luna. We can gladly sever your connection to our pack if you
continue your insolence.”
He leaned forward, voice lowering to a harsh whisper. “If my son hasn’t told you yet, I will. Your child has no Alpha Mark. He will never be heir to Mooncrest. And your selfishness-those ridiculous medications you took to for attention-may cost that innocent boy his life. He has a severe diaphragmatic hernia, Tina. He’s fighting to survive at this very moment, and you should be begging the goddess for mercy rather than spouting your pathetic threats.”
Tina froze, eyes widening in horror as the devastating truth settled upon her. A strangled cry escaped her lips, pure agony ripping through the quiet room.
For the first time, Tina finally seemed to grasp the gravity of what she’d done-and the tragic price her child was now paying.
