Chapter 2

Katie snatched the torn letter from Alpha James's hand and quickly pulled it against her chest, her eyes burning with disbelief as she stared at the man she had loved for eight years. “Don't you dare touch my mother's letter again. She trusted you with me, but after what you just did, I don't even know why she ever believed you were worthy of me.”

Alpha James's face tightened, clearly annoyed by her reaction. “Katie, you're making this much bigger than it needs to be. Belle is my wife now, and she's carrying my pup, so you need to accept the situation instead of making everyone uncomfortable.”

Belle lowered her eyes and gently touched her stomach, pretending to look hurt. “Katie, I know you're angry, but please don't blame Alpha James for choosing our baby. I never intended to take your place, and I certainly never wanted you to suffer because of me.”

Katie turned toward her with a bitter laugh, refusing to be fooled by her innocent expression. “Don't pretend you're innocent, Belle. You walked into this house knowing exactly who Alpha James was engaged to, and now you're standing in my bedroom wearing a smile like you've already won.”

Before Belle could answer, Katie's phone suddenly rang, cutting through the tension. She glanced at the screen and immediately answered when she saw the dialysis center's number, her expression changing as soon as she heard the frightened voice on the other end.

“Doctor Johnson, please come immediately,” the nurse said urgently. “Your mother is experiencing severe chest tightness, and her blood pressure has become unstable. We're preparing her for emergency evaluation, but she keeps asking for you.”

Katie's heart dropped. “I'll be there right away. Please keep monitoring her blood pressure and don't let her walk anywhere. I'll handle everything once I arrive.”

Alpha James immediately stepped forward, his expression finally showing concern. “What happened? Do you need anything?”

Katie looked at him for a second; surprised that he was suddenly willing to help. “My mother needs me now.”

Belle suddenly gasped and pressed a hand against her forehead, swaying slightly as she whispered, “Alpha James, wait. I don't feel well either. My blood sugar is dropping, and I'm so dizzy.”

Alpha James immediately turned toward her.

Katie stared at him in disbelief. “Alpha James, my mother is having chest pain.”

Belle grabbed Alpha James's sleeve, her voice trembling as she whispered, “I'm scared, alpha. What if something happens to me or the baby?”

Alpha James's expression changed instantly, and he walked toward Belle instead. “Don't worry, Belle. I'll take care of you.”

Then he look at Katie, “Take a cab first. I'll take Belle to the ER, and I'll be right there.”

Katie felt something inside her crack. “You're choosing her again?”

“I'll come after I make sure she's safe,” Alpha James replied, already reaching for Belle.

Katie stood frozen as Alpha James bent down and lifted Belle into his arms. Belle immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his chest while Katie watched them disappear.

Her fingers tightened around her mother's letter.

Katie rushed to the dialysis center and found the medical staff already preparing her mother for emergency treatment. She immediately stepped into doctor mode, checking Celine's vital signs and reviewing the reports while trying to suppress the panic threatening to overwhelm her.

“Her pressure is still unstable,” one nurse told her. “Doctor Johnson, we need your authorization for the emergency intervention.”

Katie quickly signed the required documents without hesitation. “Do whatever is necessary to stabilize her. I accept the risk, and I will take responsibility for the decision.”

After several tense minutes, Celine's condition finally began to stabilize. Katie remained beside her mother, holding her hand while whispering comforting words, but her own heart felt anything but calm.

“Mom, please stay strong,” Katie murmured softly. “I'm here, and I won't let anything happen to you.”

Her phone vibrated. Katie glanced down, expecting perhaps a message from Alpha James asking about her mother.

Instead, she saw a social media notification. Her face immediately went pale. The first post on her feed was from Alpha James.

There was a photograph of him and Belle standing proudly together, holding their marriage certificate.

The caption read:

“The first day of forever”

Katie stared at the screen in stunned silence.

“They couldn't even wait,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “My mother is fighting for her life, and they're celebrating their marriage.”

Another notification appeared. Alpha James had posted another photograph of Belle smiling beside him.

Katie quickly locked her phone, refusing to let herself cry in front of the medical staff but inside her mind, Amari stirred angrily. Stop making excuses for him.

Katie closed her eyes. I know, she silently answered.

When she returned to her mother's bedside, she noticed several relatives of the patient in the neighboring bed speaking quietly. One of them approached Celine and hesitated before speaking.

“Mrs. Johnson, I'm sorry, but we didn't know whether you already knew,” the woman said gently. “We saw something online about Alpha James getting married.”

Celine's eyes widened weakly. “What... marriage?”

Katie immediately stepped closer. “Stop!”

But it was already too late.

Celine looked at her daughter, confusion and hurt appearing in her tired eyes. “Katie, what is she talking about? Did Alpha James get married?”

Katie's throat tightened. “Mom, please don't worry about that right now. Your health is more important.”

“Tell me the truth,” Celine whispered. “What happened?”

Katie held her mother's hand tightly. “Alpha James married someone else.”

Celine's face lost its color. Her blood pressure monitor immediately began beeping.

“Mom!” Katie cried as the nurses rushed toward the bed.

“Her pressure is dropping!” one nurse shouted.

Katie immediately moved into action. “Prepare the medication and monitor her heart rate. Everyone stay calm and follow my instructions.”

Celine's breathing became shallow as tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. “I'm sorry, Katie. This is my fault, I should allow you to get married soon.”

Katie leaned closer, fighting her own tears. “You have nothing to apologize for, Mom. None of this is your fault.”

After several minutes, Celine finally stabilized again, but Katie could see the emotional damage in her mother's eyes.

Katie stepped into the hallway and approached the nurses' station. “I need someone to help monitor my mother while I review her treatment plan.”

Before the nurse could answer, Katie heard familiar laughter coming from the emergency department.

She turned.

Her heart stopped.

Alpha James stood there holding Belle's hand.

Several hospital employees surrounded them, and in Alpha James's other hand was a stack of wedding invitations.

Belle smiled shyly as she handed one to a nurse. “Please come to our celebration. Alpha James wants everyone in the Moon Crest Pack to know that I'm officially his Luna.”

Katie stared at them, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Alpha James finally noticed her.

Instead of asking about Celine, instead of asking whether her mother had survived the emergency, his first words were cold and accusing.

“How did you upset your mom like this?”

Katie's eyes widened. For several seconds, she couldn't speak then she grabbed the medical report from the nurses' station and threw it directly against his chest.

The papers scattered across the floor.

“How dare you?” Katie demanded, her voice echoing through the ER. “Alpha James Hamilton, where do you get the nerve to blame me for my mother's condition when you were too busy celebrating your marriage to even check whether she was alive?”