Chapter 2

Marlowe's POV

The Maybach eases to a stop at the VIP entrance of Silverleaf Medical Center, the top private hospital in the city, owned outright by the Roberts family and built for wolves who are either rich or powerful, usually both.

Last time, they cut me open right here without anyone knowing, and stole my baby.

The door opens. A medical team is already waiting with a wheelchair.

Leading the group is Dr. Green, the head of obstetrics, an older man with a kind face.

"Mrs. Marlowe, right this way. We've got the top-tier sterile delivery room ready for you," he says politely.

Beckett steps forward, reaching to lift me into the chair.

"Don't touch me." I shove him off, groaning loudly under the cover of another contraction. "It hurts, but I can still walk. I'm walking in myself."

"Marlowe, stop this. Your water could break any second!" Rosalind stamps her foot, her voice breaking with worry. "Please, honey, just sit down. For me."

I ignore them both, sucking in a breath against the pain clawing through my lower belly, and stumble forward toward the hospital's main entrance.

The VIP entrance connects straight to the main lobby. It's the middle of the night, but the place is still packed with wolves there for the ER and their families. Good. I want a crowd. I want every one of them as a witness.

"Oh my god, my stomach!" I let out a loud, exaggerated cry, and every head in the lobby turns my way.

I stagger toward the nurses' station in the center of the room and grab the nurse on duty by the arm. Her badge reads Mary.

"Nurse Mary! Feel my stomach, quick!" I grab her hand and press it against my belly before she can pull back.

Mary jumps at first, but the second she feels the kicking under her palm, her face lights up. "Wow, ma'am, this pup's got some serious energy. Definitely a strong one."

"Right? That's what I thought!" I laugh loudly, even as my eyes well up from the pain.

I pull out my phone and hit record. "Nurse Mary, say something for the camera. Tell everyone how healthy my baby is."

Mary looks a little caught off guard, but she keeps her professional smile for the lens. "Mrs. Marlowe's baby is very healthy and should be here any time now..."

"Marlowe! What's going on?!" Warren shows up out of nowhere, his usually stern face tight with worry, and hurries over, trying to grab the phone. "You can't be doing this in your condition. Get to the delivery room, now."

"Dad, I'm just happy!" I dodge his hand easily and turn to the rest of the lobby, scanning the crowd of onlookers.

I make a beeline for a young wolf sitting on a bench with his leg in a cast, grabbing his arm. "Hey, look at my belly, so pointy. Boy, right? I'm about to be a mom!"

He looks completely thrown, but nods quickly, again and again. "Yeah, yeah. Congrats. Definitely a healthy one."

"Did you hear that? Everybody hear that?" I stand in the middle of the lobby, both hands cradling my belly, my voice ringing with excitement. "I, Marlowe Roberts, am having my baby right here, today. I want this whole hospital as my witness!"

My voice echoes through the whole lobby.

"Poor thing, the pain's got her out of her mind." Rosalind turns to the crowd, giving them an apologetic, heartbroken smile. "She's been under a lot of stress this pregnancy. I'm so sorry, everyone."

"Yeah, babe, let's get you inside before this turns into more of a show." Beckett comes over and wraps an arm around my shoulders.

I've done everything I can.

The lobby cameras, dozens of witnesses, and the video on my phone. It's solid proof. None of it can just vanish.

I let myself go limp against Beckett, letting them lift me into the wheelchair and push me toward the OR.

The doors slam shut behind us, and Dr. Green walks over, syringe in hand.

"Get some rest, Mrs. Marlowe. When you wake up, it'll all be over."

The cold liquid hits my vein, and my mind starts to blur. But deep down, I make myself a promise. If they manage to twist the truth again this time, I swear I won't crumble and lose my mind like some helpless mess the way I did last time.