Page 21

Chapter Twenty

L ILA WINTER

Everything’s been going so smoothly that I didn't want to listen to my gut, but Lina started coughing last night when I was making dinner while Alaric was raining kisses down on my neck.

Alaric was the first to respond to Lina by giving her water. Her coughing stopped, and Lina said she was fine. I didn't buy it for a second.

This morning, I went to wake her up, and looking at her, I felt like something wasn’t right.

Lina said she was fine. My gut said otherwise.

That’s the reason why we are back at Saint Jude’s Hospital.

Alaric couldn’t come with us. He’s dealing with urgent pack matters. He’d growled when the call came in, like the mere idea of leaving our side was unthinkable. But he left Ethan in his place.

And well, Ethan is being his usual silent, brooding, and judgy self. He hasn’t left me and Lila even for a minute. I have a feeling Alaric told him to follow us to the bathroom if need be.

Being back in this hospital today makes me feel sick. It might be clean, but I hate the sterile smell, I hate the pang of unease building inside me like a volcano about to erupt.

I tighten my hold on Lina’s hand as we sit in the waiting room. Her head rests on my shoulder, drowsy but awake. Her curls are messy. Her little sweater is slightly askew. And her skin’s still too pale for my liking.

I don’t like this at all.

As if she can feel my anxiety, Lina lifts her head, peering at me. “Mommy, is the doctor going to poke me again, today?”

I smooth her hair and hold her chin. “No more pokes today, baby. Just a little check-up, okay?”

Lina nods like she trusts me completely, and I feel like a knife is jabbed in my heart, because deep down, I know something’s wrong.

My baby doesn’t look okay.

Yesterday was filled with hours of me having to hold Lina’s hand while they ran their tests. I almost breathe a sigh of relief when we find ourselves in the consultation room instead.

The healer seated opposite us is a different one today. She’s an older woman with kind eyes and the signature practiced smile that all healers have.

She checks Lina’s vitals, studies her test results, and then turns to me with a calm expression I instantly mistrust.

“Miss Winter,” she says gently, “we’ve reviewed the last few rounds of bloodwork. Lina’s condition has...worsened.”

I blink like I’ve just gotten a punch to the teeth. “Worsened? The last healer here told me my daughter had a fever and there was nothing to worry about.”

“I understand that and believe me, I am sorry because the former healer wasn’t equipped with the knowledge of the illness your daughter carries…”

I almost choke.

I wrap a tight hand on my girl, who’s curled up in my lap.

“Illness?” My throat wobbles with unshed tears. “What illness?”

I know the answer, but I refuse to believe it.

I refuse to acknowledge my wolf’s distress.

“The allergic reaction you said she had before, the fever that brought her in here a few days ago, they were all the first signs of the Moonborne Syndrome starting to manifest inside her body.”

I’m glad Ethan’s standing outside this room, because if he’d heard this and looked at me with the same pitying look the doctor is giving me right now, I would have collapsed.

“No. No, that’s not true.” I’m practically shaking as I point an accusatory finger at the woman. “No. Two healers told me her protein marker was dormant. That’s what they both said, so it’s impossible that she has Moonborne Syndrome.”

“And we are deeply sorry for that. We missed it…”

“Don’t tell me you are sorry.” I wipe the hot tears streaming down my cheeks quickly, but unfortunately, Lina lifts her head and catches me crying.

“Mommy?” Lina's face is scared. Like she's terrified of the bomb the healer just dropped and needs me to reassure her that the bogeyman isn’t real and he isn't coming for her.

I look at her and I see two things.

She is pale because of me.

She is worsening because of a disease I gave her.

“Everything is going to be okay. I promise. Mommy is just going to let you play with Uncle Ethan while I talk to the doctor, okay?”

My little girl nods.

I stand up, open the door, and Ethan is already standing there waiting for me like a sentinel.

“I need to talk to the doctor. Take Lina to the car and stay with her, please?”

Ethan takes Lina into his arms, but he raises a brow at my tears.

“The boss’ order was that I stay with you throughout, Lila.”

“I know, but I need to talk to the doctor privately, so please…” I say desperately, and Ethan, despite his hesitation, nods.

Turning to my little girl, I rest my hand on her tiny chin. “I'm right behind you. Mommy will be there in less than five minutes, okay?”

“Okay, Mommy.”

Ethan peers at me curiously, skeptical about whether to leave me or not. “Everything okay?”

No. I feel like my entire world has collapsed.

I lie. “Yeah. Everything’s fine.”

I watch as Ethan takes Lina to the parking lot before retreating back to the healer’s office.

Reading her name off the name tag on her desk, bile rises in my throat as I ask, “What can I do to save my daughter, Dr. Santiago?”

“Her illness is progressing at a faster rate. She needs a genetic stabilizer, and in our world, that can only come from a complete parental bond."

I blink. "You mean…both parents."

"Yes. We can try synthetic treatments, but they’re temporary. The bond of both biological parents could stabilize her long term. We need both blood samples from you and your husband so we can make a cure for Lina.”

My heart drops to the floor, and I feel all the pieces splinter in all directions.

Biological parents?

I have no problem providing my blood, but what about the father? Hell, Alaric would give his blood in a heartbeat, but Julian wouldn’t…

Wait. Alaric.

“I-I had sexual relations with two men prior to me being pregnant. I have no clue which one between the two is Lina’s father but a paternity test could prove which one’s the father right?”

Dr. Santiago doesn’t judge me as she says simply, “Yes.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat.

“But…”, I hesitate, “This might sound strange. Could I use…hair samples?”

Dr. Santiago tilts her head, “In human medicine, hair samples are not viable for DNA testing. But werewolf DNA is uniquely bonded to every fiber– fur, hair, skin. We can extract what the DNA we need from the hair follicles so no need to worry Miss Winter. Hair samples are viable for testing in our realm.”

Relief whooshes through my chest, “Thank you so much.”

As soon as I step out of the healer’s office, my mind works fast. I take my cell phone from my bag, dialing Ethan’s number.

“Lila? What…”

“I need Alaric’s hair sample or anything that has his DNA, can you find it for me in his car? I need Lina too so please come with her.”

“Lila, I’m in the parking lot, Lina fell asleep and you are starting to scare me. What is this about?”

“I need to save Lina.”

“Lila…”

“I need to submit Alaric’s hair sample and Lina’s hair sample so I can get a paternity test that proves Alaric is my daughter’s father. Can you get me Alaric’s hair brush or something? He has to have it in his car right?”

“Yes. I’m on my way up.”

“Thank you,” I almost sob into the cellphone.

We rush to the lab.

I hand over the samples in a small polythene bag, my hands trying their best not to shake.

As the nurse takes them, I step closer, my voice trembling, “Is there any way to expedite this? I’ll pay twenty times the fee…whatever…whatever it takes. Please, my daughter doesn’t have much time left.”

“We understand ma’am”, the nurse’s eyes soften, “And yes, we can put a priority on your case.”

“Will expediting the process mess up the results?”

The nurse smiles reassuringly, “We have advanced methods for running the tests. Whether the results take weeks or even hours, we’ll always make sure they are accurate so no need to worry, ma’am.”

I nod gratefully and step away. Ethan’s still quiet beside me as we walk to the exit.

The only thing making me breathe easy is the fact that I can hear Lina’s snoring from his arms. She’s asleep, she’s breathing and she’ll be okay.

We round the corner that leads to the exit but the universe isn’t done with me yet because I collide into someone. Hard.

The woman stumbles back.

Ethan holds me from falling onto my ass and Lina stirs in his arms.

"Oh—I’m so sorry, I didn’t see—"

She freezes. I freeze.

I’d know that voice from anywhere.

And I'd recognize that face from a street away.

“Aisha”, Ethan mumbles dryly.

The woman’s name might be Aisha but I recognize her as the same woman I found in bed with Julian. The woman who was getting fucked while screaming Julian’s name to the top of her lungs.

If I was bitter, I would tell her to her face that the last six years haven’t been fair to her. She’s thinner. Has wrinkles and eye bags on her face. And her smile doesn’t reach her hollow eyes.

But since I don’t care about her, I make an attempt to walk past her only for her to stop me in my tracks.

“Lila, please wait.”

She knows my name. Of course she does.

“We don’t have to do this. I don’t know you nor do I care about you.”

“I deserve that kind of dismissal from you, Lila and from the bottom of my heart, I apologize for what went down between me and Julian. I thought I was in love, turns out Julian Hells never loves anyone but himself.”

I don’t speak. I have no need to speak to her.

"Look, you don’t have to forgive me. I just…I wanted you to know that I’m not proud of it. And I also think you should be careful."

Ethan twitches beside me and that catches my attention so I turn to him knowing that Aisha won’t say whatever she needs to with Ethan’s presence here.

“Can you take Lina to the car? I’ll be right there.”

Ethan doesn’t look like he’s going to budge but the glare i give him tells him I don’t need him to be stubborn after the kind of day I’ve had.

“Five minutes, Lila. If you are not in the car in five minutes, I’ll be back here with Lina to take you home.”

I give him a nod. Ethan walks away with Lina and only then does Aisha notice my little girl.

“That little girl…she is your daughter?” Aisha asks.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your concern. You said I have to be careful. Careful of what?”

"Julian and Alaric. They’re both looking for Irene.

That’s what this entire power struggle has been about for years.

Irene’s bloodline is supposed to anchor the Moonlight Pack’s legacy.

There are people loyal to her. People who believe she’ll restore the pack’s broken future.

If either of them finds her, they gain full control over the old bloodline. "

People like Elder Matthew?

"So, you think they’re using me to get to Irene?"

"I don’t know. Maybe. Julian asked me for a divorce, and he has been complaining about Alaric stealing you from him. When they find Irene, it won’t matter what you are to them, they—Alaric—will discard you. For them, Irene and having power is all that will ever matter to them.”

Aisha gives me a smile, and she leaves before I can respond.

I make my way to the parking lot, I don't want to believe Aisha’s words because Alaric has proven to me these past few days that Lina and I matter to him.

And when the tests are back and he is proven to be Lina’s father, I know he’ll help me rescue Lina. I just know it.

The rain starts falling as soon as I get into the car. I hold Lina in the backseat, trying not to let my mind wander to the evil thoughts that threaten to cripple me.

Ethan changes lanes on the highway, and that’s when—

A flash of light appears out of nowhere.

A truck swerves into our lane.

Tires screech against the tarmac. A horn blares.

Ethan jerks the wheel. The car spins, and Lina wakes up screaming.

Time slows.

Everything blurs.

And then…memories slam into me one by one, like they are being spoon-fed to my brain.

My breath hitches as a voice comes to my mind, clear as day.

You have to be strong, Irene, because one day you’ll lead our pack to greatness. And you’ll make me and your dad so proud.