Chapter 3: The Choice He Made

Atlas’s brow furrowed. “Elena...”

“I can leave with the pup.” Mara clutched the baby and backed toward the open hallway. “We haven’t been recognized by the pack.”

“He’ll be branded an illegitimate child with no bloodline. If there’s no place for us here, I’ll jump from the roof of this hospital right now.”

Atlas lunged and grabbed her.

“Mara, I won’t let you die. I promised Rowan I would protect you.”

He turned back to Elena, his eyes filled with rage.

“You’re forcing me to choose while the baby might be hurt? Has your wolf destroyed your reason? Stop acting like a feral beast!”

“Mara gave birth to my son. I can’t stand by and let something happen to him. If you want to apply to dissolve our mate bond, go to the Registry. "

"I won’t stop you. I’ve had enough of your suspicions these past three years, too!”

Atlas hurried away, holding Mara in his arms. His shoulder slammed into Elena, but he didn’t even pause.

Her body was already heavy with child. She stumbled back several steps before collapsing onto the cold floor.

A sharp agony bloomed in her abdomen. She tried to push herself up, but her strength was gone.

He’d had enough.

She was the one who had truly had enough.

The other guards in the room saw her fall. Not one of them moved to help.

“She shouldn’t have forced the Alpha to choose when the pup was injured.”

“He never should have brought her back three years ago. If Luna challenges the Alpha now, the whole pack will be dragged into an inheritance dispute.”

“She’s already eight months pregnant. Dissolving the bond can’t erase the fact that her pup is of the Vale bloodline.”

They followed Atlas and Mara toward the emergency room.

Elena was left alone.

The pain in her abdomen intensified. She had no choice but to flag down a passing medical assistant for help.

The doctor listened to the fetal heartbeat, his expression growing grave.

“Luna, you’ve entered a high-risk stage. Werewolf pups grow fast, and they take a tremendous toll on the mother. "

"A fall like this could induce premature labor. You must stay in bed for observation.”

Elena stared at the ceiling, silent.

It hadn’t been an accident.

Atlas had knocked her down.

“The Alpha isn’t with you?” The doctor hesitated. “He used to be here for every checkup. Should I try to contact him?”

Elena didn’t stop him.

The call went through almost immediately.

“Alpha Atlas, Luna just had a fall. The pup’s fetal heartbeat is...”

“Did Elena tell you to call me?”

His voice came through the phone, cold and hollow.

“Mara’s son is in the ER, and she’s still trying to use her pregnancy to force me back to her side? Tell her to stop causing trouble. "

"If anything happens to this boy, I’ll hold her responsible.”

The call ended.

The doctor held the receiver, his face a mask of confusion.

Elena braced herself on the edge of the bed and sat up.

“If I terminate the pregnancy now...”

The doctor stared at her. “I don’t know what’s happened between you and the Alpha. But the pup is eight months along, with a stable heartbeat. "

"Terminating the pregnancy now wouldn’t just harm you, it would end the life of a child who could already survive on its own.”

Elena closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her voice was calm.

“I understand. Thank you.”

The baby had done nothing wrong.

This was her child.

And from this day forward, her child would have nothing to do with Atlas.

She would dissolve the bond and leave the Blackwood Pack. She would raise this baby alone.