Chapter 34: Thirty four

Rhea

The days had blurred into weeks since that fateful event, and I found myself back at work, trying to focus on the endless stream of documents on my desk.

Lydia sat across from me, her eyes scanning through papers as we went over some pack matters. I shifted in my seat, trying to ignore the sharp, sudden pangs in my lower abdomen.

At first, it was nothing—just a mild discomfort I could easily brush off. I convinced myself that it was probably just exhaustion, the stress of everything catching up with me.

But as the minutes ticked by, the discomfort grew sharper, each pang more insistent than the last. I shifted again, trying not to wince, hoping Lydia hadn't noticed. But of course, she did. Lydia noticed everything.

"My Luna, are you sure you're okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice as her eyes narrowed on me. "You don't look well."

I forced a smile, waving her concern away as casually as I could. "I'm fine," I lied, keeping my voice steady. "Just a little tired. Let's finish this up."

Lydia looked unconvinced, her gaze lingering on me a moment longer. She had been with me long enough to know when something wasn't right, but I couldn't afford for her to worry. Not now. I needed to focus on the work in front of me, not on the growing ache gnawing at my insides.

We continued working, but it became harder and harder to concentrate. The pain was building—deep, sharp, and relentless. I tried to keep my expression neutral, not wanting to alarm Lydia. But with every passing second, the pain became more difficult to ignore. My fingers fumbled with the papers in front of me, my vision starting to blur.

After a while, Lydia stood, gathering her things. "I'll be back in a bit," she said, giving me one last concerned glance. I nodded, watching her leave, feeling a small sense of relief. Maybe now I could collect myself.

But once the door clicked shut behind her, I couldn't hold back the grimace anymore. My hand instinctively went to my abdomen, rubbing the spot where the pain throbbed like a dull blade twisting inside me. I took a deep breath, leaning back in my chair, willing the ache to subside.

It didn't.

With shaky hands, I stood up, hoping that moving around might help ease the pain. But as soon as I got to my feet, the world tilted. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I had to clutch the edge of my desk for support. The sharp pain intensified, stabbing at my insides like fire. My breathing became shallow, and I felt cold sweat on my forehead. This wasn't right. This wasn't just exhaustion. Something was seriously wrong.

At that moment, the door opened, and Remus walked in, his usual calm expression shifting instantly when his eyes landed on me. "Rhea?" His voice was filled with alarm, and he quickly crossed the room to where I stood, his face etched with concern. "What's wrong?"

I tried to answer, but before I could get a word out, a sharp, unbearable pain ripped through me, knocking the breath from my lungs. My legs buckled, and I collapsed.

"Rhea!" Remus caught me before I hit the ground, his strong arms wrapping around me, supporting my weight. His grip tightened as he looked down, his eyes widening in horror when he saw the blood staining my clothes. I saw the panic flash across his face, the fear in his eyes as he scooped me up and rushed out of the office.

~~~

The next time I opened my eyes, I was lying in a hospital bed. The room was cold and sterile, the soft beeping of machines the only sound breaking the silence.

For a moment, I couldn't remember how I'd gotten here. My head felt heavy, my body numb. But then, in a flood of memories, it all came back—the pain, the blood, the way Remus had cradled me as everything went dark.

Remus was sitting beside me, his hand gripping mine tightly. His eyes, usually so calm, were clouded with worry. He squeezed my hand when he noticed I was awake, his gaze searching my face.

"Rhea," he whispered softly, his voice hoarse. "How are you feeling?"

I blinked, trying to clear the fog in my mind. My mouth was dry, and my voice felt stuck in my throat. "What… happened?"

Before Remus could answer, the door to the room opened, and the doctor walked in. The expression on her face said it all. She approached the bed, her tone professional but gentle as she explained what had happened.

"The stress you've been under recently, combined with physical strain, contributed to a miscarriage," the doctor said, her words careful. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

Miscarriage.

The word hung in the air, suffocating me. I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. My heart twisted painfully in my chest, and the tears started to fall before I could even register them. The pain, the loss—it was all-consuming. I had lost our baby that I didn't know I was carrying and nothing in that moment could bring me comfort.

Remus's arms were around me in an instant, pulling me into his chest. His voice was soft, steady, trying to break through the grief that was drowning me. "Rhea, this isn't your fault. We'll get through this," he murmured into my hair, his lips brushing against my forehead. "We'll have more babies. I promise you that. This isn't the end."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to find comfort in his words, but the loss was so deep, the ache in my heart unbearable. I buried my face in his chest, letting the tears flow freely as he held me close.

Later, after what felt like hours of silence, the door creaked open again, and Elara stepped into the room. I felt her presence before I even saw her, and instantly, a wave of anxiety rolled through me. She walked in, her expression neutral, but there was something cold in her eyes as she looked at me.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she said, though her tone was far from sincere. "But you need to refocus your priorities. The pack needs heirs, not distractions with work."

Her words sliced through the fog of grief like a knife. I stared at her, speechless. Even in this moment, when I was broken, devastated, she couldn't stop herself from reminding me of my "duty." Anger flared in my chest, hot and fierce, but I was too drained, too emotionally shattered to respond.

Remus stood abruptly, his eyes flashing with fury. "Mother, this isn't the time for this," he said, his voice hard and unyielding. "Stay out of our affairs."

Elara barely glanced at him, her cold gaze never leaving me. "If you had married Tessa after Emmie's death like I suggested, none of this would be happening," she said, her voice dripping with disapproval.

Her words hit me like a blow to the stomach. I felt the sting of them deep inside, and though I wanted to scream, to yell at her for being so heartless, all I could do was stare at the floor, my body trembling with the effort of holding back more tears.

Remus's anger boiled over. "That's enough!" he snapped, stepping toward her. His protectiveness was fierce, but the damage had already been done. Elara gave a slight shrug, unbothered by his outburst, and left the room without another word.

As the door closed behind her, the room fell into a heavy silence. I lay there, feeling drained, empty, and utterly defeated. The loss of our baby, combined with Elara's cruel words, had left me feeling like a shell of myself.

Remus returned to my side, his face softening as he looked at me. "I'm so sorry," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry you have to keep going through this, and I'm sorry for the way my mother treats you."

I stared at him, my heart heavy, and for a fleeting moment, a dangerous thought crossed my mind. Maybe I should leave. Maybe the only way to find peace was to run, to escape all of this—Elara, the pack, the expectations, the constant pressure. But as I looked at Remus, his eyes filled with concern and love, I couldn't bring myself to say it.

Not yet.

I stayed silent, letting him hold me as I tried to piece myself back together, knowing deep down that something had changed—something that might never be the same again.

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