5. In the hospital.

EVELYN POV

My eyes fluttered open and it seemed like I was getting pulled out of a dark sea. A dull pain filled my head and spread through my body.

I blinked against the bright light, my eyelids feeling heavy as I tried to open them.

I couldn’t even remember when I passed out. The last thing I remembered was the doctor’s words:

“If Alpha John finds out we’re not finished with the first stage, he’ll kill us…”

As my vision cleared, I slowly turned my head to the right. Each movement took a lot of effort. My heart sank when I saw the heart rate monitor on the wall, beeping softly. Wires connected it to my chest and left hand, tying me down.

Taking a deep breath, I turned slowly to my left, feeling dread in my stomach. There, hanging from an IV pole, was a blood bag, its red contents swaying gently. It was connected to my hand.

That was when I realized. I could feel the emptiness in my veins, knowing that my blood was being extracted from my body without my permission.

This was the ‘first stage’.

I struggled against the rope holding me down, filled with panic. I was completely trapped.

“Don’t worry, my love. You’ll be fine, okay?” I heard these comforting words beside me, followed by a soft kiss that made my heart ache.

With a groan, I tried to open my eyes wider. Everything was still blurry from the sedative that made me feel foggy. I slowly turned my head to the right when I saw another bed across the room.

Diane was sitting there, wearing the same blue gown as me. My vision cleared just enough to see her, but what hurt the most was seeing Alpha John next to her.

I held my breath as I watched him take her hands, their fingers intertwined like a couple in love.

He gently kissed her knuckles and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It was such an intimate moment that it felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

How could he be acting so lovey-dovey with her while I was here, suffering because of her?

I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms, but I released my grip when I felt a sharp pain that reminded me a needle was connected to the back of my palm.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heartbeat so that the heart monitor would not beep loudly.

“You know your heir is in my belly, Alpha John. I would do everything to protect this child,” Diane said softly. She cradled her belly gently, her fingers gliding over her gown. My heart twisted as I watched John lean closer, his expression softening as he looked at her still-flat belly.

“I love you, Diane,” he whispered with a smile, his voice filled with affection . He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned in to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. “Thanks for making me a man again.”

*Beep! Beep! Beep*

The heart monitor blared to life and began to beep loudly, catching the attention of the lovebirds.

I felt their eyes shift toward me, but honestly, I didn't care anymore. My eyes reddened with anger, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, a sign that tears were about to fall.

Frustrated, I clenched my fists, ignoring the sharp pain from the needle in my hand. I tried to sit up, but my body protested, aching all over.

"You’re finally awake," Alpha John said coldly, the sweet expression on his face fading. He stood, his tall frame looming over me, and took a step closer.

"I thought you'd be dead," Diane chimed in, her voice dripping with sweetness. She leaned forward, her eyes pretending to be concerned—was she really? "I'm so happy you're awake, Evelyn. Thank God you survived the first stage..."

As I met their gaze, I felt anger, betrayal and hatred fill me.

My heart raced, and the monitor beeped faster. "You didn’t even ask how I’m doing, John! This is so unfair!" My voice shook as the words spilled out. "Not even a bit of sympathy for me? I was your Luna for two years…”

“Enough!” He shouted, barely holding back his anger. He glanced quickly at Diane before turning back to me, his face hardening. “You’re going to upset her with what you say, so be careful.”

I felt heat rise in my cheeks, but I pushed on, driven by hurt and desperation. "You should care! You should be worried about me! I'm the victim here!"

John narrowed his eyes and his blue eyes glared at me with anger. "You should be happy for me, Evelyn. You’re about to save my future Luna and child!"

I looked at Diane who was wiping away her tears, her hands shaking and her body shivering. She seemed fragile, like a porcelain doll about to break.

My heart ached when I saw her touch her left side, where her failing kidney was. She clearly needed help. I felt so bad for her. But couldn’t they get a willing donor?

Then, unexpectedly, our eyes met, and to my GREATEST surprise, she winked at me, followed by a smirk that threw me off.

What was that look? My heart SANKED!

I frowned, trying to understand what she meant. She looked like she had a lot of secrets hidden.

“Look, Alpha John,” Diane said, her voice shaking as she looked at him with a false sweet but sad expression. “We shouldn’t force her to give me her kidney if she doesn’t want to. It’s okay—I don’t want her to feel like I’m trying to take her place, please.”

As she spoke, she lowered her head and pressed her shaking hands to her face, trying to hold back her tears.

Alpha John went back to her bed, his eyes softening as he gently held her face and kissed her softly on the lips. He wiped away her tears with his thumb, his touch both comforting and possessive.

“You are mine and I’m yours alone,” he declared firmly with warmth. “You will wear the crown as my Luna.”

I turned away, unable to watch their closeness, my heart twisting.

Diane nodded with a pout on her lips but I knew very well that meant. She was trying to remind me of my place, telling me that he chose her over me.

I could hear his footsteps getting closer. “Here are the divorce papers, Evelyn,” he said, his voice cold and distant. “If you wish to sign them now, they’re right here on the table. You’re a good person, so act like one.”

He slammed the papers down on the bedside table. The sound echoed in the silence, making me flinch. A pen fell next to them.

Without saying anything else, he stormed out of the room.

“No, John! John!” I cried, watching him leave but he ignored me.

I turned to look at Diane, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw her shaking her head mockingly, arms folded tightly across her chest.

She stood there, suddenly bursting into laughter that sent a shiver down my spine. Wasn’t she sick?