Chapter 3

A kind stranger brought me to the hospital. After the doctor ran some tests, he told me I was pregnant.

The doctor asked for my family's contact info, so I gave him Rowen's number. But he said they couldn't reach Rowen at all.

I spent the night alone in the hospital. Rowen didn't make it to the hospital until the next morning.

"Eva, are you okay?" Rowen asked, his voice full of concern. "The doctor already told me what happened. Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant sooner?"

I lay in the hospital bed and turned my head away.

"I only found out when I got here," I said.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone on the side of the road," Rowen said, looking guilty. "I promise I won't do it again."

Rowen sounded so sincere that I couldn't help but feel my anger melt away. After all, he was the father of my child, and we would raise this child together in the future. So I decided to forgive him.

"Rowen, our baby needs a proper identity when it's born. But we still haven't had the claiming ceremony, so I'm not your Luna yet," I said, trying to gauge his reaction. "You don't want our child to be labeled a bastard, right?"

"I told you, I need some time," Rowen said, his voice suddenly icy as soon as I mentioned the claiming ceremony. "The baby's not coming anytime soon, so stop worrying about it."

"Did the Council of Elders really reject the ceremony because of my background?" I pressed.

"Eva, can we drop this?" Rowen said, his brows furrowing. "I don't want to fight with you about it again. The doctor said you need to rest."

I bit back my irritation and stayed silent.

"The doctor said you'll need to stay in the hospital for a week," Rowen said. "I'll have someone else take over your work in the pack."

He gently touched my belly and said, "Take care of yourself, Eva. Some investors are coming to check out the pack today, so I need to get back. I'll come see you when I'm done."

I nodded, watching Rowen leave.

I thought Rowen would keep his promise, but he never visited me at the hospital in the days that followed.

He didn't show up on the day I was discharged.

I quietly packed my things and headed back home. As soon as I opened the door, a heavy cloud of perfume mixed with another woman's scent hit me.

The smell made me want to gag, but what shocked me was seeing women's underwear strewn across the living room.

I clenched my fists and walked silently inside. I heard the sound of a man and a woman laughing from the bathroom upstairs.

A sense of dread washed over me. I forced myself to breathe deeply, struggling to stay calm.

I walked up the stairs step by step and stood outside the bathroom door. Through the crack, I saw Susan and Rowen embracing in the bathtub.

They didn't notice I was there, probably because I smelled like disinfectant from staying in the hospital for too long.

"Rowen, when are you going to claim me?" Susan asked breathlessly.

"Wait a little longer, baby," Rowen said. "Eva is pregnant. The claiming will have to be postponed."

"What? She's pregnant?" Susan shoved Rowen away. "Are you going back on your promise? You said you would make me your Luna."

"Calm down, babe," Rowen said gently. "I convinced the Council to cancel the ceremony for you. But Eva is pregnant, and that's my first child."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I'll find a place for Eva to have the baby first, then let the child call you mother. What do you think?"

Susan smiled. "I don't mind at all, but I have one condition."

"What is it?" Rowen pulled her into his arms. "If it's something I can do, I'll make it happen."

"I want Eva to be my maid. A lowborn rogue wolf like her only deserves to do dirty work."

"Fine, you got it. Once Eva has the baby, you can do whatever you want with her."

Hearing this, I was trembling with anger. It was all fake. Rowen had been lying to me from the start.

I had no idea how I managed to leave the house. I only snapped out of my daze when I heard the loud honk of a car nearby.

My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

Almost immediately, a voice on the other end answered, full of respect. "What are your orders, Princess?"

I took a deep breath. "Send someone to pick me up in an hour."