Loss

LOSS

The excruciating pain that Phoebe felt around her waist after her wedding was indescribable. Balthazar became worried and afraid that he might lose his wife. The pain made her sweat profusely and she began to emit a bad odor, this made them more afraid and they consulted with the pack's doctor who ran some tests on  Phoebe and his diagnosis made them tear up.

“There is a poisonous substance in her system and the only herb that can counter the poison can kill the baby.” Dr. zain said.

“What baby.”

“Your wife is a few weeks pregnant, I doubt she is aware of this.” the doctor replied.

Balthazar's body shook with sobs, “mother goddess, protect my family.” he prayed.

“Is there no other way around this?” Demetrius asked, his arms rested on his friend’s shoulder as he spoke. He had insisted on going to see the doctor with Balthazar who looked dazed throughout the morning as he watched his wife wriggle in pain.

“The poison is spreading fast, you have to choose now or risk losing both of them.”

“We would look for other alternatives. Let us leave here .” Demetrius grabbed his friend’s arm.

“Save my wife's doctor, she is more important to me.”  Balthazar had always listened to his instincts and he knew any more delay could be fatal.

“I'm sorry .” the doctor glanced over at Balthazar, he had always admired his strength and today he had shown it once again. 

The angry wolf growled, his perfect chance to kill both mother and child ruined again by this bald doctor, he would surely teach him a lesson.

Two

*************

Phoebe's treatment started immediately. She reacted violently, her wolf howled even when phoebe tried to stay calm. Her body jerked as she threw up and her pores had beads of sweat all over her body. Three days into her treatment, she had a heavy discharge and clogs of blood pushed out of her woman vault after hours of heavy cramping. She and Balthazar had hoped and prayed that nothing would happen to the baby but were nonetheless ready for worse. 

Balthazar encouraged his wife to have faith as she couldn’t stop herself from crying, “we would have another one surely, once you feel better we would go to work immediately.” he joked and made silly gestures towards his wife, even though her heart was broken Phoebe could not resist her husband’s charm and slowly she came out of the hole of depression she was sinking into and blossomed again.

True to his words Balthazar and phoebe tried for another baby and she became pregnant again. They were both ecstatic and rejoiced, it was a dream come true. The whole pack rejoiced at the news of their alpha having a baby. Sweets were distributed and Phoebe's family came the next day with a truckload of food for a celebration, two weeks into her pregnancy Phoebe screamed as she went to the bathroom to relieve herself.

“What is it?” Balthazar ran to the bathroom, his heart thumping within him so hard it felt like it was being ripped off.

“Blood.” she cried.

“It might be nothing serious but we have to see the doctor to be sure.”

 With head bowed they went to see the doctor.

“Are you cramping?” dr. zain checked phoebe

“No”

“That's a good thing, I can still hear the baby’s heartbeat, I will advise you to stay on bed rest and don’t do any chores till you pass your first trimester.”

“I will ensure she doesn’t.” balthazar replied, with a sigh of relief. 

That night, things got worse and phoebe cramped heavily, she turned and rolled in pain before the doctor could get to her, her uterus contracted and the lumps of blood dropped out of her body. 

“Im sorry phoebe.” Dr. Zain said when he checked her.

“No!, this can’t be happening, Balthazar, what did I do to deserve this.” she wailed uncontrollably.

Balthazar just stared at his young wife, she was the kindest woman he knew. He knew she didn't deserve this, maybe him for all those he killed in battle but not phoebe she could never hurt a fly. Drawing her so she could lean her head on his shoulder, he spoke words of comfort to her. All hope was not lost, they both were still young and could still try again. Balthazar for his sake and that of his wife hoped this was true.

Phoebe did get pregnant again but it all ended in miscarriage, at a point they both began to be afraid whenever she missed her period. The doctor decided to conduct some tests on her, but his findings were nerve-racking. The day he called them to his office to inform them of his findings his heart broke at the look of hope in their eyes. He hated that this profession made him a bearer of both good and bad news, unfortunately, today he would be telling this amazing couple that they could never have a child together.

For the first time in a long while,  Balthazar cried like a baby, his wife had somehow expected the worst but he had been hopeful. Now he felt crushed and without hope. 

******************************

TWO WEEKS LATER

“That's what the doctor said, the poison had destroyed phoebe's womb lining so she can’t carry a baby full term.” Balthazar told his most trusted friend

“That is sad, but is there no other option available to you both,” Demetrius asked

“Sadly no. Phoebe doesn't deserve this.”

“Neither do you.”

“I just don’t know anymore, I feel shattered. We both wanted babies, lots of them.”

“You can still father a child can't you.”

“Didn't you hear what I just said, phoebe can't carry a child to full term.” his voice sounded louder than he intended

Demetrius paced the lawn where they were both seated, “you could remarry and father a child.” his brow furrowed

“Are you crazy?”

“I'm just trying to help.” Demetrius shrugged

“This is not helping,”

“Why not ask your wife what she thinks about this, if she truly loves you she would do anything to keep you happy.”

“Shouldn't  I  be doing what would make her happy too? After all, I love her.”

“You are the packs alpha, you need an heir” Demetrius growled, 

“This is the wrong Demetrius, it isn’t her fault.”

“Neither is the fault yours, you shouldn’t suffer because of her barrenness.”

“You better watch your tongue.”

“You better act fast before it's too late.” Demetrius stormed off without waiting for a reply

His shoulder hunched over with his hands over his face, a broken alpha wept. Would he ever be a father, could he bring himself to betray his beloved luna,  by fathering a child with another woman. The darkness enveloped all around him.