CHAPTER 5: Aurora and Silas

Raymond's POV 

Pregnant.

The word sent a chill down my spine, rooting me to the spot. My mind raced as a storm of emotions battered me—disbelief, anger, dread, and a faint, unwelcome pang of guilt.

I turned slowly to face Lillian, her expression defiant, as if daring me to challenge her. “You’re lying,” I said, my voice cold and steady despite the chaos inside me.

Her lips curved into a smirk. “Am I? You know I’m not. You’ve been too careful all these years, but accidents happen, Raymond. And this time, there’s no escaping it.”

A cold fury gripped me. “You planned this,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “You knew exactly what you were doing.”

She laughed, the sound hollow and sharp. “You think you’re the only one who knows how to play games? You’ve used me for your little power struggle, and now you want to cry foul because I’ve finally turned the tables? Spare me your smelling outrage, Raymond.”

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out. Lillian was cunning, ruthless even, but I had underestimated the lengths she’d go to. “If you think this changes anything, you’re mistaken,” I said, my voice hard. “A child won’t make me love you, Lillian. It won’t make me forget Aurora.”

Her face twisted in fury, but before she could respond, the entrance door flew open. Lucas, my Beta, rushed in, his face pale.

“Alpha,” he said, his voice tight with urgency. “We have a situation.”

I turned to him, grateful for the interruption. “What is it?”

"Alpha," he said, breathless, "It's your father—he’s collapsed."

I froze. "What do you mean collapsed?"

"He fell, Alpha. The doctors are with him now, but... it’s serious." Lucas’s voice was tight with worry.

Without thinking, I rushed, my heart pounding in my chest. 

When I reached his room, the pack doctor, Dr. Vance, was already there, working fast. My father lay motionless on the bed, pale and barely breathing. I dropped to his side. "What happened?" I demanded.

Dr. Vance didn’t hesitate. "His body gave out suddenly. We’re doing everything we can."

My stomach twisted. I couldn’t lose him—not like this.

I stayed there, watching the doctor work through the long hours, the night was more like forever. By the time dawn broke,stiil dark but the morning light is raising already my father finally stirred. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. His eyes flickered open. "Raymond..." His voice was weak, but at least he was alive.

Relief washed over me. "Father, can you hear me?" I whispered.

He nodded faintly. "I’m... I’m here."

Lillian walked in with a basket of fruit, glancing at me as though she could sense my anger. She didn’t say a word, just set the basket down. We exchanged glares, both too tired to bother with anything else. She left as quickly as she came, and I turned my attention back to my father.

***

Hours passed, and I wouldn’t leave my father’s side, no matter what. My father was still my father, and I couldn’t abandon him, not after everything. Lucas suggested I go get some rest, but I refused. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

Morning came, but my father still lay there, his breaths shallow. The pack doctor had done everything he could, but it didn’t feel like enough. I was starting to feel the weight of the hours, the stress, and the worry.

Lucas came back in the morning, his face a little more serious than usual. After greeting me, I could tell he still had something he needed to say.

“Do you have something else to say?” I asked, my voice quiet.

He nodded, looking at me with a mixture of guilt. "I think I should have told you this sooner, Raymond. I’m sorry it’s coming this late... Yesterday, I was too panicked to mention it."

I raised an eyebrow, waiting.

He hesitated before continuing, his voice low. "Silas might be coming back today."

I blinked, disbelief taking over. Shock washed over me, and I couldn’t quite process what he’d just said. “Silas... What? You mean my brother?”

I stared at him, trying to make sense of it. My brother? Silas? Or was there someone else with that name coming back?

"Yeah. Your father was in contact with him before... you know," Lucas said, a slight tremor in his voice.

I clenched my fists, a rush of anger swelling inside me. So, after everything, after all I’d done, my father still reached out to Silas? The brother who left us, the one who betrayed this pack?

I pushed past Lucas, and left the room, unable to hold back the frustration anymore. “So, after all this time, that’s who he contacts? The one who walked away? Silas, of all people?”

Lucas didn’t respond. He didn’t need to.

Before I could form another thought, a presence filled the corridor. Someone tall was walking straight toward us, his figure emerging from the shadows. I looked up, my heart pounding.

And there he was.

Silas.....Nice timing Moon goddess.........

He was dressed in a dark suit, his hair longer, his beard heavier than I remembered. His posture was confident, maybe even cocky, as he strode closer, his gaze locking onto mine.

But just as I was still trying to process the shock of seeing him after so long, I noticed movement behind him. A lady bent down to fix the collar of a small boy’s shirt.

Is that his wife? I couldn’t stop the first very thought that comes to my mind from forming.

But the shock of my life hit me when the lady raised her head, and my eyes widened as I recognized her. It was the last person I ever expected to see.

I froze.

Aurora