Chapter 4

Iris Bennett's POV

I lay in bed, weak and trembling. Everything around me was dark and cold. I curled into a tight ball, pain radiating through every inch of my body.

Out of nowhere, a small child appeared at my bedside.

He had soft chestnut hair and wore a white nightshirt. I reached out toward him.

I didn't know why, but something about him felt familiar. Looking at his face stirred something deep inside me—an overwhelming urge to pull him close and weep.

The moment my fingers brushed his shoulder, his blue eyes filled with tears. He stared at me as if he'd suffered some terrible injustice. My heart twisted like someone had plunged a knife into it.

"Why doesn't anyone love me?" he shouted in a small, broken voice.

"I don't understand! Why did you bring me into this world?"

My chest seized. I couldn't breathe. I tried to comfort him, but when I opened my mouth, no coherent sound came out.

Then it hit me—this was my child. He could already feel the world's cruelty toward him.

"No!" I croaked.

"You have me! I won't abandon you! Our life will get better—I swear it on the Moon Goddess!"

He blinked, his crying stopped. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but everything in my vision dissolved into complete darkness.

I jolted awake.

"How are you feeling?"

Zoe's face loomed inches from mine. I screamed and scrambled backward, unable to tell if this was real or another nightmare. All I knew was that I needed to get away.

My head slammed into something hard. The sharp burst of pain made me cry out again.

"Careful!" Zoe shrieked, her face twisted with concern.

That's when I realized—I was in a speeding car. Adrian sat in the driver's seat. Zoe had twisted around from the passenger side to check on me. I was lying flat across the back seat.

In this picture-perfect scene straight out of a movie, I was clearly the one who didn't belong.

I should have been grateful they cared enough to help. But to me, this felt like a nightmare. I had to admit—I couldn't handle watching the two of them sit together like this. All I wanted was to be left alone. Why couldn't I even have that?

"Thank you both, but you don't need to worry about me anymore," I said flatly. "I can take care of myself. I don't want my problems to get in your way."

I struggled to sit up again. My body refused to cooperate. I must have looked like a fish flopping helplessly on dry land.

"Stop moving, Iris! Your wound reopened!" Zoe reached out and pressed her hand against the bandages covering my abdomen. It didn't help. I was shaking from the cold—a clear sign of blood loss.

"Don't worry, we're taking you to the hospital! Just hang on a little longer!"

Her voice grew distant. My consciousness was slipping. I clenched my fists as hard as I could. The pain sharpened my focus just enough to scream.

"No! Don't!" I clawed at the car door. Anywhere but the hospital. I'd rather fall out of the moving car.

Of course I knew my wound wouldn't heal on its own. But this was the best option I had right now.

If I went to the hospital, they'd find out about the baby. And then what would happen to Adrian and Zoe? They were both good people. I didn't want them caught in an awkward situation because of me.

"You need to see a doctor." Adrian finally spoke. His voice was even colder than before.

"What are you so afraid of? You think a doctor's going to hurt you? Don't forget—you're still my Luna."

I didn't doubt his ability to protect me. But I had my reasons.

"I don't need a hospital. I can handle this myself," I said, raising my voice. Adrian's tone made it nearly impossible to breathe, but I couldn't think about that now. What I was doing was best for all of us.

"I know my own body. Otherwise I wouldn't have made it this far."

"Don't be like this, Iris. If you're scared of doctors, don't worry..." Zoe reached over and took my hand. She smiled at me—so gentle it didn't seem real. "I'll stay by your side the whole time."

What could I possibly say to that? One more word and I'd look like some irrational, unhinged wolf.

"Thank you," I managed. A metallic taste flooded my throat. I couldn't get angry at her. "But that's not why. I'm not going."

"Adrian, maybe we shouldn't force her... A patient's emotional state matters too, you know." Zoe turned toward Adrian, who'd been about to speak. He opened his mouth, then closed it without saying a word.

See? Look how close they were.

Zoe's tone made my skin crawl. It was as if she were the Luna of this pack. Then again, maybe that wasn't far from the truth. After all, I'd only gotten this position because she wasn't here.

I glanced at Adrian. His expression had darkened even further. I couldn't provoke him any more than I already had.

"Fine. I understand," I said quietly, lowering my head.

Adrian didn't respond. He just kept driving toward the hospital. Panic clawed at my chest.

I absolutely could not let them find out about the baby.

"Why won't you tell him the truth, Iris? You're having his child. He deserves to know!" my wolf shouted in my mind.

I gripped the fabric of my shirt until my knuckles went white.

What difference would it make? I loved Adrian, but I knew he didn't love me. If that was the case, I needed to leave as soon as possible.

Under these circumstances, knowing the truth wouldn't make things better for anyone.

I looked up at the girl in the passenger seat. She was still watching me with that concerned expression. When our eyes met, she smiled.

"Don't worry, Iris." Her voice softened even more as she reached out her hand.

"Everything's going to be okay."

I hesitated for a few seconds, then took her hand. I nodded slightly.

"I'll go to the hospital. But I want to go to Silvermoon Pack's hospital. At least there, I'll feel... more comfortable."