Chapter 21

As I prepared to leave the room, I noticed something unusual. For the first time since I found out I was pregnant, I wasn’t feeling sick. “Christopher, would you like to grab a coffee before we dive into the planning?” I asked him.

He looked at me, concern etching his features. “Are you feeling okay?” he asked.

“Surprisingly, yes,” I replied, a small smile playing on my lips.

“Then absolutely. Go ahead, I’ll join you shortly. I just have a few things to wrap up here.”

I nodded, leaving the meeting room. As I stepped out, a familiar scent washed over me. The woodsy aroma that used to send shivers down my spine now made my stomach churn.

It was Mathew, leaning against the door, waiting for me. I scanned the area for an escape route, but I was cornered.

“Scarlett,” he said, his voice making me flinch.

I closed my eyes, his voice echoing in my head.

I turned to face him, watching as he opened his mouth to speak. But instead, his nostrils flared, he sniffed twice, and his face paled. If I thought he looked scared when he first saw me, now he looked terrified.

“You’re pregnant,” he stated, his voice barely a whisper.

“Yes,” I replied, feeling a wave of discomfort wash over me. I tried to move away, but his hand shot out, gripping my arm tightly.

“Mathew, let go,” I said, my voice firm. But he didn’t release his grip.

He sniffed again, his eyes widening in realization.

“It’s not mine!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with shock.

“No, it’s mine,” a deep voice said from behind me. “And I might just let this little scene slide and not fire you on the spot if you let go of her. Now.” Christopher’s voice was thick with anger, his words coming out in a growl.

Mathew slowly let go of my arm, taking a step back.

Christopher’s hand found my waist, turning me around to leave.

As we walked away, I couldn’t help but worry about what would happen to Mathew once I was gone.

Suddenly, something down the hall caught my eye, making me stop in my tracks.

“Ms. Werner,” I called out. The woman with the child on her lap turned to face me. I slowly moved away from Christopher, feeling his gaze on me as I approached her.

“Doctor,” she said, surprise evident in her voice. “I didn’t expect to see you here. I came to inquire about my benefits. After James’ death, I’m not sure what’s happening with them,” she said, her eyes darting around nervously. I didn’t have the answer, but I knew that if a pack guard died, his family would receive benefits. The pack never left a family in need.

“I’m not sure either, but I’ll find out,” I assured her. I turned back to Christopher, who was standing a few feet away.

“She’s the wife of one of the guards who died in the last attack. She’s here to inquire about her benefits. Do you know where she should go?” I asked. Christopher frowned, his mind still on Mathew.

“That would be the legal department,” he replied.

“Mathew,” I called out, causing him to turn toward me. “This is Mrs. Werner. Her husband was one of the guards who died in the last attack. She needs information about her benefits. Could you assist her?” I asked. He nodded, swallowing hard. “Thank you,” I said, turning back to Mrs. Werner. “He’ll help you with the legalities.”

“Thank you, doctor,” she said, following Mathew to an office.

When I turned back to Christopher, he was standing with his arms crossed.

“I didn’t think it was possible for you to impress me more, but you just did,” he said, kissing the top of my head as his hand found my waist again. “You handled Mathew brilliantly. Now, let’s go get some breakfast.”

We headed to the kitchen, where Christopher placed our order. Soon, the dining table was filled with food, and I finally had something to eat. The rest of the day was spent familiarizing myself with the administrative side of the pack. By the end of the day, I was in Christopher’s office when my mother called.

“Scarlett, I’ve canceled your shifts until further notice. But I wanted to confirm that you’re still coming in for your ultrasound next week,” she said.

“Let me check with Christopher,” I replied.

Christopher looked up from the papers he was reading.

“Of course, you’re the doctor,” he said.

“You’re the one who won’t let me leave here,” I retorted. Christopher’s eyes widened, realizing he needed to pay more attention to me.

“If we schedule the trip for the day after tomorrow, we can do the ultrasound right before we leave. That way you’ll be safe. Will your mother and sister be doing the ultrasound?”

I nodded, confirming with my mother. I also asked her to send some clothes over to the pack house.

The next day, I continued to immerse myself in the administrative side of the pack. I never imagined myself outside the hospital, but I was starting to see myself as the luna. Christopher made it clear that he loved seeing me take an interest in the work.

We scheduled the trip for the next day, with the ultrasound right before we left.

When morning came, I packed my suitcase and put on a tight black dress. I tied my hair in a bun and slipped on some pumps. The trip to the council with the alpha required formal attire. Christopher also packed his suitcase and wore a dark blue suit, which made his eyes pop even more. I was breathless seeing him ready—the pregnancy hormones making me feel all sorts of things. If we didn’t have the appointment, I would have stripped him right there.

We followed my plan, with five cars in total. Four of them had blonde guards along with other guards, and one of them was for Christopher and me. Before leaving town, we stopped at the hospital. When we arrived, I felt like a stranger, even though it had only been two days since my last shift.

My mom met us at the door and led us straight to the ultrasound room. I changed into a scrub shirt for the exam, and my mom placed a sheet under my legs. Christopher was sitting next to me, and just as my mother was about to start the ultrasound, the door opened. It was Karen.

“I made it in time, didn’t I?” she asked, rushing in.

“Made it just in time,” Mom announced. Christopher’s hand was in mine, his grip firm, and I could sense his nerves mirroring my own. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might leap out of my chest, but his touch brought a soothing calm.

As Mom initiated the ultrasound, my eyes darted around the screen, seeking out a familiar form. The world seemed to stand still when I spotted the baby’s silhouette—tiny hands, feet, and a perfect little head.

I was already in love with this child, but seeing them for the first time solidified my resolve to protect them at all costs. My heart was pounding, not with fear, but with an overwhelming love. It felt like every cell in my body was radiating affection for this tiny being.

The emotion only intensified when the sound of the baby’s rapid heartbeat filled the room—a sweet melody to my ears. I felt Christopher’s grip on my hand tighten. I glanced at him just in time to see a tear escape his eye, which he quickly wiped away before Mom shared the results.

“We know it’s early, but we also know that wolves develop faster than humans. The pregnancy is progressing well, and the baby is healthy. The heart is strong. We just don’t know the sex yet. Ideally, we’ll do another ultrasound next month, and maybe then we’ll know if it’s a boy or a girl,” she explained.

I could feel the wetness on my cheeks from my own tears.

“Okay, let’s schedule that,” Christopher’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“Of course, Alpha,” Mom responded, wrapping up the exam. “Scarlett, I’m going to give you some vitamins that you should start taking now.” She pulled two bottles from a drawer.

“Okay, Mom,” I replied, accepting the bottles and beginning to get dressed again. “We’re heading straight to the council now. I’ll keep you updated as much as I can.”

“Good luck,” she said, pulling me into a tight hug. As soon as she released me, Karen was there to envelop me in another hug. The tension was palpable among us, the importance of this upcoming trip weighing heavily. If all went well, we could prevent a war.