ASTRID'S POV.
Slowly, I pushed myself up from the warm, fluffy fabric that had cradled me in a place of comfort.
My eyes fluttered open, and I took a moment to adjust to the bright overhead lights. As I glanced around the room, a wave of confusion washed over me.
I was in the hospital once again, in the same sterile room I had occupied just two weeks ago. But how did I end up back here? Why was I here? And when did it all happen?
The familiar sounds of beeping machines and distant voices floated around me, grounding me in reality.
I shifted slightly, the softness of the blanket brushing against my skin, reminding me of the vulnerability I felt in this place. My mind raced as I tried to piece together the fragments of my memory.
The last thing I remembered was the tension that had hung thick in the air as Ethan and Dane argued.
Their voices had risen, sharp and angry, each of them refusing to let go of my arm, their grip a mix of desperation and determination.
I could still feel the sting of their holds on me.
Then, without warning, an overwhelming wave of nausea hit me like a tidal wave, crashing through my senses.
I remembered slipping, my body losing balance as I crashed to the floor. Everything went black after that, like someone had flipped a switch.
That was the last thing etched in my memory, a brief moment of panic before darkness swallowed me whole.
No matter how hard I tried to recall more, it only made my head spin. My thoughts were tangled, a mess of confusion that I couldn’t afford to dwell on any longer.
I glanced around the room again, the sterile walls and beeping machines doing little to ease my unease.
Just as the tension began to build in my chest, the door creaked open, and Doctor Miles stepped in, his footsteps soft against the tile floor.
“Please, tell me… what’s going on?” I blurted out as soon as he was close enough, my voice trembling slightly. I needed answers, and I needed them now.
Doctor Miles moved to the side of my bed, barely making a sound as he adjusted the drip connected to my arm.
His expression was calm, almost too calm, and the quietness of his tone as he finally spoke only heightened my anxiety.
“You were out for a long time,” he whispered, barely audible, as he checked the equipment and scribbled some notes on his clipboard.
The way he said it sent a chill down my spine, but I stayed quiet, waiting for him to explain further.
After a brief pause, he glanced up from his notes, giving me a once-over. “You look fine now. Just rest,” he continued, his tone a bit more upbeat. “That’s all you’ll need.”
A smile crept onto his face, a smile that seemed strangely out of place, given the circumstances.
His eyes twinkled as he stared at me, almost as if he knew something I didn’t, and it unsettled me.
“Why are you smiling like that? You’re creeping me out,” I said, my voice laced with frustration as I narrowed my eyes at him.
“What’s wrong? I’m a bit worked up at the moment, you know?” My words came out slow and deliberate, my gaze fixed on his, trying to figure out why he seemed so... happy.
Doctor Miles chuckled softly, his smile widening. “Congratulations to you, Luna Astrid,” he said, his voice filled with an odd sense of pride.
I blinked, tilting my head to the side in confusion. “What?” I asked, arching my eyebrows.
His words made no sense. Was he not understanding my question? Why was everything suddenly so confusing?
Nothing seemed to be adding up, and the more I tried to wrap my head around it, the more confused I became.
“I just passed out. And now you’re telling me I’m pregnant?” I asked hastily, the frown on my face deepening with every word.
My thoughts raced, trying to make sense of everything. “Is there something else I’m missing here?”
Doctor Miles gave me a soft, knowing smile. “No, that’s not it,” he said gently.
“As a matter of fact, you’ll be fine. I just have a bit of news for you, Luna Astrid.” He paused, his eyes locked on mine as if preparing me for the bombshell he was about to drop.
“You’re two weeks pregnant… and it’s with the same person.”
His words hit me like a freight train. I felt my heart race in my chest, each beat growing louder in my ears. “Two weeks?” I repeated, my voice barely more than a whisper.
“How is that even possible? I lost a child not too long ago,” I added, the memory of that devastating loss still fresh in my mind. It didn’t make sense, none of it did.
Doctor Miles’ expression softened further, his voice laced with sympathy as he spoke again.
“The Moon Goddess has decided to bless you, Astrid. She’s giving you a chance to heal from your loss. You should be happy, especially now that you’re carrying another child by the same father.” His words were meant to comfort me, but all they did was fuel the cloud of confusion hovering over my mind.
“Pregnant by the same person?” I muttered, more to myself than to him. My head spun as I tried to wrap my mind around what he was saying.
“That doesn’t make any sense. I’ve only had one one-night stand… and that was with someone I didn’t even know. So, how could I be pregnant with the same person’s child?” I felt a wave of panic rising within me.
Despite my confusion, one thing was clear: I had been loyal to Alpha Dane all along, except for that one night.
Doctor Miles’ gaze remained steady, his tone calm as he pressed on. “Astrid, are you in denial? Or do you truly not remember?” His words were gentle but firm, as if he were trying to help me unlock a truth buried deep in my memories.
“Dane was the father of your first child. The one-night stand you had… it was with him.”
His words hung in the air between us, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. My mind raced as I tried to process what he was saying.
My eyes widened in disbelief as Doctor Miles' words echoed in my mind, sending cold chills racing down my spine.
I felt frozen in place, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to make sense of what I had just heard.
That night at the club, the intense, fleeting moment of passion—it had been with Alpha Dane? How could that be? My thoughts spiraled as I tried to fit the pieces together.
“You don’t seem to understand me, Doctor Miles,” I retorted, my voice laced with frustration.
“What you’re saying makes no sense. I demand an explanation. How could it have been him?” My mind was spinning, and I needed answers—clear, undeniable answers.
Doctor Miles opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, the door to the room creaked open, and Dane walked in, his towering presence filling the room and instantly cutting off our conversation.
His entrance was perfectly timed, as though he had been waiting just outside for the right moment to step in.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Doctor Miles said quickly, sensing the need for privacy.
Without another word, he gathered his things and slipped out of the room, leaving Dane and me alone to face this unexpected statement.
Dane didn’t waste any time. He moved closer, sitting down on the edge of the bed with a heavy sigh.
His arms reached out, wrapping around me as he pulled me into a long, tight embrace. His warmth was comforting, but my mind was too overwhelmed to relax in his hold.
“I’m sorry, Astrid,” he murmured softly, his voice filled with genuine regret.
“I should’ve paid more attention to you. I’ve been so caught up in everything else, acting like an overprotective jerk. I didn’t mean to stress you out.” He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine, a deep sadness reflecting in his gaze.
“Please forgive me. I promise I’ll do better from now on.”
I heard his words, felt the sincerity in his voice, but my mind was elsewhere. My thoughts drifted back to Doctor Miles’ earlier statement; *pregnant by the same person*. The pieces were starting to come together, but I needed to be sure. I needed to hear it from Dane.
“Do you... by any chance, happen to have had a one-night stand with someone?” I asked, my voice quieter now, though laced with scepticism.
My eyes narrowed slightly as I searched his face for any sign of recognition or guilt. Something wasn’t adding up, and I had to know the truth.
Dane’s expression shifted slightly, his brows furrowing at my question. He didn’t answer right away, and I could feel the tension in the room thickening.
“Why do you ask?” he finally responded, his voice soft and measured, as though carefully considering his words.
“Astrid, it’s all in the past. I’m not holding anything against you anymore, and I certainly don’t blame you for anything.” He paused, his hands gently taking mine as he continued.
“Besides, we have good news now. Shouldn’t we be focusing on the future, on what’s ahead of us?”
His words were soothing, but they didn’t dispel the nagging doubt that had taken root in my mind.
“You don’t understand, Alpha Dane; I need to know because I had a one-night stand with a stranger a few months back, and that’s how I got pregnant,” I blurted out, my voice trembling with the weight of my confession.