Chapter 2

SCARLETT

I blinked a few times, trying to clear my head, and sat up straighter in my chair. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, rubbing my face with my hand. I avoided looking at Christopher, instead focusing on Carl, the pack’s counselor, who was explaining something at the other end of the table. “Where were we?”

“We were discussing the best date for the packs to unite,” Carl began, and I strained to keep my focus on his words. “We thought about waiting until all the paperwork is finalized, which could take another month or so,” he finished, and I nodded in agreement.

“That’s fine with me,” I replied, assuming they were waiting for my approval.

“But it seems the South has been leaderless for three months. Since we were at war, their guards are hesitant to join ours. Our men alone can’t keep them in check, so we need to unite as soon as possible,” Christopher added. I didn’t know what he expected me to say, so I stayed silent.

“Why don’t we switch up the guards? We could assign the men from the South to guard the border, which is a simpler task, and arrange for them to train with our guards in shifts. Gradually, they’ll start to feel like they belong. We can reinforce this with our guards who were on the South Central border. At least for now.”

Christopher was studying me, as if he was worried about disappointing me.

“It might work,” Marquardt agreed, causing Christopher to relax back into his chair.

“Do it, but expedite the paperwork. Let’s aim to unite in three weeks,” he commanded.

As he moved on to other matters, I could feel sleep creeping up on me again. I fought it off, finishing the meeting with my face propped up on one hand. By the time we were done, it was past noon.

“The meeting is adjourned. We’ll reconvene tomorrow morning with an exact timeline for the paperwork and set a date for the union. We’ll also start planning the celebration,” Christopher announced, looking at me with a smile. I knew he was excited for me to start taking on the role of luna, who traditionally organized the parties. “Meeting adjourned. Dismissed.”

Christopher stayed seated as everyone else filed out. I blinked a couple of times, then slowly turned to face him as his voice reached me.

“Scarlett, you fell asleep.” His words were heavy with concern.

“But we barely slept last night, you and I,” I countered, lifting my gaze to meet his.

“I’m not the one carrying and creating a life,” he replied, his expression unchanging, his eyes locked on mine. “I don’t like this, Scarlett. You need to take care of yourself.”

I knew what he was getting at, and I sighed deeply, not wanting to revisit that conversation.

“I’m fine, honey, trust me. It’s just pregnancy fatigue. It won’t happen again.” No matter how much I tried to reassure him, Christopher couldn’t shake the idea that it was all too much for me. And I was starting to fear he might be right.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my father getting up. I quickly turned to speak to him.

“Dad, are you heading home?” It still felt odd to refer to it as ~his home~.

“Yes, I’ll grab some lunch before I head back,” he replied, packing up his papers.

“Can you give me a lift? I have to be at the hospital this afternoon,” I asked, standing up quickly.

“Of course, Scarlett,” my father responded with a smile. But before I could turn away, Christopher’s strong hand closed around my wrist.

“Scarlett, you need to rest,” he said through gritted teeth. I could tell he was trying to control his worry, but he wasn’t doing a very good job.

“Honey, I’m fine,” I reassured him, prying my wrist from his grip and cupping his face with both hands. “I’ll be okay. I’ll be in ~our room~ waiting for you tonight, I promise,” I said, smiling. He tried to return the smile, and I emphasized ~our room~ on purpose. “And I’ll be at the hospital. What safer place could there be? I’ll see you tonight.”

I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and turned to leave.

“See you tonight,” he replied, but I could feel his worried gaze on me. Christopher wasn’t convinced, but right now, that didn’t bother me.

My father drove me home, but it was earlier than I’d thought. My mother was already heading out to the hospital when we arrived. She greeted us, and I managed to grab an apple before leaving with her for my appointments. I quickly ate the apple, changed into my scrubs, and put on my lab coat to start my rounds.

But my stomach kept reminding me that I hadn’t had lunch. I planned to grab something to eat during my break around three o’clock. I saw my scheduled patients, but then the sound of a siren made me freeze. I forced myself to go to the corridor and look.

Doctors and nurses were rushing in with stretchers carrying injured men, two of whom had severely damaged legs. My blood ran cold.

Were we under attack?

But how?

Fear gripped me, and I was about to run off to find Christopher when I saw Karen pushing one of the gurneys inside.

“What happened?” I yelled in her direction.

“Accident at the lumber yard,” she yelled back, and I felt a wave of relief. At least it wasn’t an attack.

I went to the emergency room and helped stitch up some of the lumberjacks. Then I felt two hands on my belly.

“How’s my niece or nephew doing?” Karen asked, pulling me into a hug while I was still stitching up a leg.

“They’re fine. Mom’s going to do another ultrasound this week,” I replied, finishing the last stitch and turning to her as I discarded my gloves. “But you don’t ask about your sister?”

“I know you’re fine.” Karen shrugged.

We chatted for a few more minutes, then it was time for my next appointment. I rushed to my office, and by the time the last patient left, it was already past seven o’clock.

“Damn, I haven’t eaten anything yet,” I muttered to myself, imagining Christopher’s reaction if he found out.

I stood up quickly, then realized I’d moved too fast. The room started to spin, and panic set in, but it was too late. Everything went black, and I passed out.

“Scarlett…Scarlett.” The voice was distant, barely audible, but it was my mother’s. “Scarlett, wake up,” she said louder, and I slowly opened my eyes.

“By the Goddess!” she exclaimed, and I tried to focus my vision.

I was in a hospital room, with my mother and sister by my side.

“What happened?” I asked, trying to lift my hand to my head. That’s when I noticed the IV in my arm.

“Karen told me you fainted. We heard a thud and found you unconscious on the floor, a cut on your forehead,” she explained. “I hooked you up to an IV, pumped you full of glucose, and I bandaged your wound. It should be healed by now, but you sure gave us a fright.”

I attempted to sit up on the hospital bed, my mind racing with what could have happened.

“We need to run some tests, sweetheart. Fainting isn’t normal, even when you’re pregnant. Have you been feeling off lately?”

“I’ve been a bit tired, occasionally dizzy, but nothing serious.” Then it hit me—I hadn’t been eating right. “I guess it could be my blood sugar. I only had breakfast and an apple for lunch.”

“You did what?” A deep, growling voice filled the room. It was Christopher, and my heart seized up. Mom must have called him.

I let out a heavy sigh. I knew he was going to lose it. Everyone in the room knew. My mom and sister made a hasty exit, leaving us alone.

“Alpha,” they murmured, closing the door behind them.

“You promised me you’d take care of yourself, Scarlett.” His voice was different now, tinged with something I couldn’t quite place. Disappointment, maybe?

“I am taking care of myself. I just didn’t have time for lunch and…,” I began, trying to defend myself.

“First you fall asleep during the meeting this morning, and now this? Can’t you see it’s not working anymore? It’s over. You’re done working at this hospital starting tomorrow.” He stated it like it was an undeniable fact. Like he’d made up his mind and that was that.

“You can’t make that decision for me. This is my life, my job,” I shot back.

“You’re running yourself into the ground trying to keep this job. It’s not worth it.”

“But this is who I am. Why should I quit being a doctor? Why don’t I quit being Luna instead?”

The words were out before I could stop them. I instantly regretted it, but it was too late. I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. Christopher closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.

“Is that what you want?” His voice was low, calm, but his blue eyes held a shadow I’d never seen before. I would have preferred if he’d yelled. His calmness hurt more.

“That’s not what I meant.” I tried to backtrack, knowing how much it meant to him that I embraced this role.

“That’s exactly what you said.” He turned his back to me. “You know what? You don’t need to attend meetings anymore. Stay here, continue your precious work. I managed everything alone before, and I’ll do it again.”

His voice echoed through the room as he stormed toward the door. “Let Hensen know when you’re ready, and he’ll pick you up.” With that, he slammed the door behind him.

I collapsed back onto the bed, a single tear trickling down my cheek. I stared blankly at the IV drip for a few minutes.

~Why did I say that?~