004 | More Misunderstandings

Aurora’s POV

I woke to the steady beeping of machines and the overwhelming smell of lemon and pine disinfectant. I wrinkled my nose.

“You’re awake!” cried Zoe. 

I opened my eyes. She was sat on the edge of my starchy white hospital bed, her expression caught between worry and fury. Swallowing hard, I managed to rasp, “What happened?”

Her jaw flexed. “I can’t believe I left you alone with Ethan.” At my frown, she took a deep breath and explained. “Raina and I brought you here. She’s a friend,” she added, with a wave of her hand. “We couldn’t get you to wake up, so…”

“Thank you.” I squeezed her hand. “What about Ethan?”

“What about him?”

“Well – where is he? Is he here? Did he come with you…” I trailed off, seeing the answer in her eyes. 

Hesitantly, she said, “Selene got sick, too. Her health has always been bad.” 

My heart plummeted as I waited for her to go on.

“He’s with her,” she muttered, shaking her head in disgust. “I’m sorry, Rory. He’s a dick.”

It was like she’d ripped my heart out of my chest with her words. I let out a shaky breath; tears stung my eyes, burned the back of my nose and throat. “He’s with her?”

She nodded. Then the door to my room swung open.

The doctor cleared her throat. Dabbing at my tears, I looked up at her. There was something kind about her dark eyes, their eyelids creased with age, but her mouth was set in a way that told me whatever she had to say wasn’t good. 

“Aurora,” she said gravely, gesturing to Zoe’s discarded seat by my bedside. “May I?”

I nodded, unable to make a sound. The doctor settled herself in the chair; Zoe excused herself so she could talk to me; all the while I stared at my hands, bundled in the too-thin sheets, listening to the rush of blood in my ears.

“It’s good to see you awake,” she hedged, before clearing her throat again. “My name is Doctor Jean Grey. I am a maternity specialist–“

“This is about my pregnancy?” I frowned.

“Indeed it is. I’ll get straight to the point, Aurora, and lay out your options for you. Your babies are at risk,” she said, not giving me a second to process the news. “I’ve had a look at your records and your health issues, relating to a past incident, are a threat to your pregnancy. These health issues, combined with the strain of carrying twins to term, could be life-threatening.”

I didn’t like to think back to that time. The incident she meant… it haunted me. I could still feel the water filling my lungs, surging down my throat and choking me. I couldn’t remember much else, but I’d been told after that I’d nearly drowned. I’d lost a lot of blood, too, and I’d woken up with memory loss. My parents said I must’ve hit my head in the water. 

I remembered being in and out of hospital for tests, but since then I hadn’t had any major health problems. I’d never expected it to affect my children!

My hands found my belly. Though I didn’t have any bump yet, I cradled it as if I did. Her warnings fell on death ears. All I heard was: twins. “I’m having twins?” I murmured, picturing two beautiful babies in my arms.

‘Twins!’ cried Violet, cheering. ‘Two little babies! I can’t wait to meet them!’

“You didn’t know?” Doctor Jean said. “I would’ve thought Alpha Ethan would have- anyway. No matter. Yes, Aurora.” She cracked her first smile since she’d entered the room. “Congratulations.” She paused. “That said…”

I could guess where she was going with this – and I wouldn’t hear it. “No. That’s not an option.”

“Terminating this pregnancy could be the only thing that saves your life,” she said gently.

“I’m not losing my babies,” I snarled. 

Doctor Jean nodded. Her voice softened again as she said, “I understand. There are other things to consider, too.”

“Like what?”

“If you did choose to terminate the pregnancy, it might affect your ability to conceive in the future.”

“Then there’s no way.” My voice cracked. “They’re my babies.” 

“The choice is yours, Aurora.” She stood up and looked at me kindly. “I’ll leave you to think about it.”

My head spun. I didn’t even notice her leaving and Zoe coming back until Zoe prodded me and said, “Well? What did she say?”

I stared blankly at her, my hands still resting on my flat stomach, and murmured, “I’m having twins.”

She leapt off the bed and cheered. I cut her celebrations short with a quiet, “Wait.”

She paused mid fist-pump. “What is it?”

I explained everything the doctor had said. Zoe sat down heavily in the chair as I spoke, her shoulders slumping. When I finished, she said, “What are you going to do?”

My voice broke. “I don’t know. They’re my babies, Zo. And if I lose them now, I might never be able to have any again. And they’re Ethan’s babies, too. If I…” 

A sob choked me. I crumpled in on myself, tears streaming down my face.

“Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important than your life.” She rubbed my back as I cried. “I know you want kids, but are they worth dying for? And, besides, Rory – you’re right. These are Ethan’s children, too. If he does go ahead with the divorce,” she sneered as she said it, her hatred for him bleeding into her tone, “given his pack’s power, they won’t let you leave with your own babies. They’ll see those children as his heirs, not your kids.”

I couldn’t speak around my sobs. Zoe just held me until I’d cried myself out, then went to settle the bill for me when I’d calmed down enough to get up and wash my face.

I stared at my reflection as I contemplated my options. I was backed into a corner, and it seemed like I didn’t have any choice at all. It was carry my babies and lose them to Ethan, potentially dying in the process, or lose my babies as well as my husband in one fell swoop.

There had to be another way. I already knew I would risk my life for my children.

Behind me, I heard the door open slowly, quietly. I froze. I wanted to call out for Zoe, but there was a prickly feeling oozing down my spine that told me it wasn’t her.

I swallowed my fear and called out, “Zoe? Is that you?”

“Not quite.”

My blood turned to ice. That saccharine-sweet voice wasn’t Zoe’s.

It was Selene’s.

* * *

 “Selene.” I barely managed to force out her name. 

“Hi, Aurora.” She smiled at me, sickly-sweet. “Can I sit?” Before I could answer, she sat down in the empty chair, folding one leg neatly over the other. “We need to have a conversation, you and I.”

I stood frozen by the sink. 

She raised her eyebrows at me. It unnerved me to see my own face looking back at me like that.

I realised belatedly she was waiting for me to reply. “Oh,” I muttered, crossing the room and sitting awkwardly on the edge of the bed. Then, more confidently, I said, “We do. About Ethan–”

“That’s exactly why I’m here,” she interrupted. “Look. I know you think you and Ethan are in love, but you aren’t. Our relationship goes back years – long before he met you.”

I opened and closed my mouth, trying to conjure up something smart to say and coming up with nothing. My head throbbed; my heart struggled to go on beating it hurt so much. Selene took advantage of my silence and ploughed on.

“You’re nothing more than a side chick who took advantage of my absence. Now I’m back, Ethan will drop you and be with me.” Her smile grew, the fake sweetness turning savage.

I spluttered. Finally finding my voice, I stood up and marched over to her. Black spots flashed across my vision, but I clung to my anger to keep myself conscious.

“I’m his mate,” I snarled. “I’m his wife. I’m his Luna. Who do you think the real side chick is?”

Her upper lip peeled back. Selene stood, shoving me in the chest so I staggered back a step. “Ethan already knows about your affair, you whore,” she hissed. “You’re just a dirty little slut who’ll open her legs for anyone. You don’t deserve Ethan; I do.”

I glared at her. “What affair? I haven’t had an affair.”

“Don’t lie to me, you bitch. I know you’ve been sleeping around.” She smiled triumphantly. “And so does Ethan.  He knows just how much of a desperate whore you are.”

“I haven’t had an affair!” I yelled, balling my hands into fists. 

I expected Selene to lash out at me again – but she pulled back, whimpering. “Don’t hurt me,” she begged, sticking out her lower lip, cowering into her seat. 

“What?” I frowned at her. 

Ethan’s arrival was all the explanation I needed. He stormed into the room and stepped between us, glaring at me as he positioned himself in front of Selene. 

“Ethan,” I whispered, wanting to reach for him but stopping myself. 

“Why are you being so mean to Selene? She’s been admitted to the hospital; she’s not well. Really not well,” he added snidely, and another piece of my heart died at his implication.

“I…” But what could I say to make him believe me? He could see that I was in the hospital, too; I assumed he’d seen me collapse back at the club. Still he thought I was lying, and now apparently he thought I was having an affair, too. 

‘Even though he was the one kissing another woman,’ pointed out Violet. 

‘This has to be some big misunderstanding,’ I replied desperately. ‘He just needs to talk to me, without Selene, and maybe we can work this out.’

“Ethan, can we talk?” I asked aloud.

“We are talking.”

“Alone.” My voice came out pleading. I hated that I sounded so pathetic in front of them.

“Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Selene.” He crossed his arms and waited.

I tried to find my husband hiding in his eyes, but it was like staring at a stranger. A lump formed in my throat. “Ethan, I…”

He sighed, cutting me off. “If this is about the divorce, it is inevitable, Aurora. I’ve made my mind up. I will offer you a substantial amount of money, but I can’t be with you. Not after this.”

“This? If you mean the affair, Ethan, it never happened! I’ve only ever slept with you.”

He sneered at me. “If you keep lying, I won’t give you anything.” For a second, his eyes softened, and I almost saw the man I loved looking back at me. “Don’t lie,” he said softly. 

“I’m not! I haven’t had an affair. There’s no reason for us to get a divorce. Please, don’t do this. We’re going to have twins, Ethan. Don’t do this. If not for me, for them.”

His eyes narrowed. “You want more from me. You’re being greedy.” He silenced my retort by holding up a hand. “I’ve already discussed this with your parents. They’re more than happy with the arrangements. It’s done, Aurora.” He pulled out a cheque from the inner pocket of his jacket and held it out to me. “It’s over. Take it.”

My parents were happy with his offer? Did they care about my happiness at all? Or did they just care about Ethan’s money?

I snatched the cheque from him and tore it up. Consumed by my anger and pain, I shoved the scraps of paper in his face and yelled, “Get out!”