CHAPTER 5

Patched memories

—

I couldn't believe what Kathy had just said. Me, carrying Jack's baby? It felt surreal.

We had had a passionate night before the rejection after I had accepted to take the blame in his place.

To him, he now saw me as an angel and was super grateful for my bravery and trust in him.

How could I have not known? I had no memory of feeling anything different, no signs that could have pointed to it. It was almost like it was all happening to someone else, not me.

Kathy sat beside me, her presence calm, but I could tell she was just as confused as I was. She had been by my side through everything—my rejection, my decision to leave the pack, and even my journey to find safety in this new one. Now, here I was, with a piece of Jack inside me, and I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to feel about it.

"Are you sure?" I asked again, my voice trembling. "Could it really be his?"

Kathy nodded, her face serious but gentle. "You felt it, Vesper. We both knew you were different before you left. And now that you’re here, well… you’re stronger than you’ve ever been. Maybe that's because of the baby."

I rubbed my temples, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions that had suddenly flooded me. The idea of carrying Jack’s child was both terrifying and, strangely, comforting. The connection I’d had with him—before he rejected me, before everything fell apart—felt so far away now. But this child... this child was a part of him. And a part of me.

I let out a shaky breath and turned to Kathy. “What am I supposed to do now? I didn’t ask for this. I don’t want to be tied to him anymore.”

Kathy reached out, taking my hand in hers. "Vesper, I understand. But you need to think about yourself now, not Jack. This baby—this little one inside you—is your future. You don’t need him. You’ve already left him behind, and now, it’s just you and the baby. We’ll figure it out."

I wanted to believe her, but the idea of carrying Jack’s baby brought so many emotions to the surface. Anger. Hurt. Confusion. How could he just abandon me like that? And why had he never known about this baby? Was he even capable of caring?

I felt a knot in my stomach tighten again, and I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the pain. It was as if the very idea of Jack’s baby inside me made everything feel heavier.

“Do you think Ryker knows?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. I hadn't even thought about how Ryker might react to this news. I didn’t know where I stood with him, or even what I felt for him yet.

Kathy shook her head. "No. I don’t think he knows. He doesn’t seem the type to judge, but you’ll have to decide when the time is right."

I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. Kathy was right. Ryker hadn’t known about Jack’s betrayal, and he certainly didn’t know I was carrying his rival’s child. If I was going to be a part of this pack, I would need to figure out how to handle this situation carefully.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Ryker stepped inside. His presence filled the room, and I instinctively straightened up, trying to hide the confusion in my eyes. He looked at me with a mix of concern and curiosity.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice calm but with a hint of worry that I hadn't heard before.

I forced a smile, even though everything inside me felt like it was crumbling. "Better. A little headache, but I'll be fine."

Ryker didn’t seem convinced. He crossed the room and sat down beside me, his gaze fixed on me. He wasn’t asking just to be polite. There was something about the way he looked at me that made it hard to breathe. It felt like he was seeing through me, like he could sense the chaos swirling inside my mind.

“You’re sure?” he asked, his voice softer now. “You collapsed out there. It’s not something to ignore.”

I nodded, feeling a strange pull between us. It wasn’t just the fact that he was the Alpha—it was something else, something I couldn't put into words.

“I’m fine, really,” I said, trying to reassure him, but I wasn’t sure if I was convincing him or myself. My body still ached, and my mind was in a whirlwind of confusion.

He studied me for a moment longer, then stood up, seeming to sense that I needed space. “Alright. But rest. You don’t have to train today.”

I nodded again, grateful that he was being kind. It was rare for someone like him—an Alpha—to show such concern for someone like me. It made me feel small in a way, but also safe, like I wasn’t just some outsider.

After a moment, Ryker looked at Kathy and nodded toward the door. “I’ll leave you two to talk. Take care of her,” he said, before walking out of the room.

I exhaled deeply, the room feeling quieter now. Kathy and I were alone again. She gave me a knowing smile, her eyes filled with understanding.

“Vesper,” she said softly, her voice gentle. “This could be a new start for you. You don’t have to carry the weight of Jack’s rejection anymore. You have a chance to make your own path now.”

I let her words sink in. A new start. It was hard to picture it, especially with everything that had happened, but maybe she was right. Maybe this was my chance to move on, to find something new. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure about the future—but that wasn’t such a bad thing.

“I’m scared, Kathy,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what to do next.”

Kathy squeezed my hand. “You’ll figure it out. Just take one step at a time.”

I nodded slowly, trying to believe her. It was hard, though. This baby—this little part of Jack—was something I hadn’t asked for. But now, it was my responsibility. And I had to face it head-on, no matter how complicated things were.

But for now, all I could do was rest. And try to gather the strength I needed to face whatever was coming next.