Free Web NovelChapter 29: Chapter 29
Aria’s POV
The light in my room burned long into the night, flickering softly over the exhausted faces of the women who had stayed by my side. Only when Lana’s feverish cheeks cooled and the thermometer finally dropped to 99°F did the tension in the air dissolve like mist.
A collective sigh of relief rippled through the room. The others slumped onto my bed, utterly drained.
I stood at the edge of the bed, cradling Lana close. Her tiny heartbeat pulsed against my chest, fast but strong.
"Thank the Goddess..." I whispered, rocking her gently. A wave of gratitude surged through me, so strong it nearly broke me.
Without these women, I wouldn’t have known what to do. They weren’t pack, not by blood or bond, yet they’d rallied around me when I was falling apart, while the actions of my child’s father had nearly cost her life.
The irony stung like silver.
My throat tightened as I brushed a damp curl from Lana’s forehead. Her skin was warm but no longer burning. When her eyelids fluttered open, I caught the glimmer of her bright blue eyes.
"Hey, little one," I murmured, smiling through the ache in my chest.
She cooed softly, waving her chubby hands as if to tell me she was fine now. Relief swept over me so fast it made my knees weak. My wolf pressed forward, nudging at my ribs, in a protective and proud manner. We’d nearly lost her, but she’d fought her way back.
My little pup was strong. Stronger than I’d ever been.
She finished her bottle of food, making tiny satisfied sounds that filled the silence. I exhaled deeply, tension bleeding from my body, though my heart still felt heavy with worry. I’d seen too much to trust a brief calm.
Tomorrow, I’d take her to a larger public hospital farther out and get her properly checked, just to make sure she’s totally fine.
kara’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Look at this little one! Bouncing back from a fever like that? She’s bound to be a tough cookie with good luck to boot!"
Her tone was warm and teasing, and I couldn’t help but smile faintly. kara had been the fiercest through it all—commanding everyone, steady as stone, never once faltering.
"Thank you for everything," I said softly, my voice catching.
I glanced at Lana again, my chest tightening. I didn’t care if she was lucky. I didn’t need her to have power, rank, or fortune. I just wanted her safe, happy and free from the shadows of my past.
That would be enough.
I looked at the women scattered across my bed, some half-asleep, others murmuring quietly and whispered, "Lana’s fever came down because of all of you. I’ll never forget what you’ve done."
I bowed deeply, clutching Lana against my chest, the motion awkward but heartfelt. Before I could straighten, kara’s hands caught my shoulders.
"Hey, enough of that!" she scolded lightly. "You’re barely over your own fever. Take your kid and get some rest."
Her voice was firm but warm, like an older sister trying to sound tough. "Honestly, it’s hard seeing you two struggle. We’re all women here. It breaks our hearts, so helping you out is the least we can do."
kara thumped her chest with mock bravado before turning to shoo the other women from my bed, ushering them toward their rooms. They went reluctantly, whispering goodnights.
kara lingered behind, "You’re still young, Aria. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Raising a kid alone isn’t easy. And when Lana grows up... she’ll start asking about her dad."
I froze.
The words hit harder than I expected. My wolf stiffened, hackles prickling beneath my skin.
kara didn’t mean harm, I knew that. But her words carried a truth that burned. She was suggesting I remarry someday, start over. As if my heart hadn’t already been ripped open and left to bleed dry.
She must’ve seen the way I tensed because she quickly added, "No rush, though! We all adore Lana. If things ever get hard, we’ll help however we can."
Her hand patted my shoulder gently before she slipped out, closing the door behind her.
Silence wrapped around me.
I looked down at lana, my little baby, nibbling on her pacifier with that dreamy, content expression. Her big eyes blinked up at me, full of trust, full of light I didn’t deserve.
My chest tightened.
I brushed a finger down her cheek, tracing the soft curve of her jaw. Her warmth seeped into me, calming the ache that never truly left. I knew kara meant well, but love? That was something I no longer believed in.
Not after Nathan.
All I wanted now was peace for Lana and for myself. ƒrēewebnovel.com
When dawn came, I was already awake. Lana’s fever was gone, but I still couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at my chest. I called in sick, taking a day off work.
My wolf hated the crowded city hospitals, but the mother in me didn’t care. I needed to be sure my pup was safe.
I stepped out with the leave slip in hand, only to run into kara at the dorm gate. She had her gloves tucked under one arm, her hair tied up, ready for work.
Her sharp eyes caught the folded paper in my hand. "Work can wait," she said approvingly. "Your kid comes first. A little one like that? You don’t want any lingering sickness." freēwebnovel.com
Her concern warmed me. I nodded, smiling faintly. "Thanks, kara."
We waited together for the rest of the sanitation crew to arrive. She tried to make small talk.
"Aria, didn’t you take Lana out yesterday? Why another hospital trip?" One of the women asked.
My breath hitched. The memory of yesterday’s humiliation flashed across my mind like lightning. How I stood helplessly in that sterile hallway, begging for help while every doctor rushed past toward Nathan and her.
Sophia.
My stomach twisted. My wolf snarled low, a guttural sound only I could hear.
"Yeah," I managed, forcing my tone even. "We didn’t get seen yesterday. I’m trying a different hospital today."
The taxi pulled up just then, tires hissing on damp pavement. I quickly thanked kara and the other woman, climbed in, and shut the door before any of them could say more.
As the car pulled away, I saw kara scratching her head in the rearview mirror, watching me go.
This time, I told the driver to avoid Hemsworth Group Private Hospital altogether. I wasn’t risking running into Sophia or Nathan again.
I stared out the window, clutching Lana close. The city blurred by, gray and indifferent.
All I wanted was distance.
If only they could vanish from my world for good.
******
I had just finished registering at the hospital when the nurses at the front desk started their usual gossiping, their voices sharp and eager like crows picking at scraps.
"Did you hear what happened at Hemsworth Group Private Hospital yesterday?" one of them whispered loudly enough for half the waiting area to hear.
"Alpha Nathan Hemsworth pulled every doctor in the place to check a scratch on Ms. Sophia Darwin’s ankle. Can you imagine? The entire hospital came to a halt for a tiny scratch!"
Another nurse snorted. "Yeah, and it caused chaos. Appointments delayed, complaints flying everywhere. The man practically shut the place down over his precious Sophia."
I clenched my jaw and grabbed the registration slip from the counter. The paper crumpled slightly under my fingers as I turned away. No matter how far I ran, Nathan and Sophia’s names seemed to follow me like a bad scent on the wind.
They’re also saying Hemsworth Group’s looking for a woman who came to the hospital with a sick kid...
My heart dropped.
