Chapter 133: Chapter 133

As soon as we stepped inside, a female beta rushed to greet us, bowing down. It was an everyday thing; still. I shifted on my feet, not used to the whole thing yet. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed two nurses whispering to each other, potentially gossiping about our sudden visit.

The Alpha cleared his throat, back straightening as he roamed his eyes around the pale walls and harsh lighting.

“We are here to see Dr Finn.”

“Yes, Alpha.” The nurse bobbed her head. “Please allow me a minute to inform him about your visit.”

Aiden grunted and tightened his grip around my hand, not leaning my side. He was equally terrified at the result but trying to stay positive for me. Together, we walked to the nearby waiting area and sat down, admiring the silence that settled over us.

A few minutes passed as the nurse rushed back and guided us.

“Alpha Aiden, what a surprise!” Doctor Finn said with a broad smile on his face, bowing to greet us. He was a young chap, mid-thirties, I guessed, with the fine lines marring his face. The Alpha doctor had hair styled back and dressed in a plain dark shirt, a white coat and dark jeans.

“Miss Rose, nice to meet you.”

I hummed softly, giving him a polite smile as we settled on the chair in front. We explained the situation, excluding the part about me having healing abilities. The doctor was quick to note down the medical history, personal details before he asked me to lie on the bed.

I fluttered my lids shut as the gel was soothed into the expanse of my exposed tummy, not unbearably cold but a tad bit uncomfortable. Its seconds before the device started prodding at my belly; my insides appeared on the flat screens across the room on the wall. Always mesmerised, I gawked at the screen, my own heart thudding loudly in my chest.

There was a faint sound echoing in my ears, oddly jumbled. My brows furrow, lips parting with hundred different questions though Finn didn’t comment, moving the device until it's pressed to the curve, and the filmy image appeared.

“Mhm…”

“What does that mean? What am I looking at?" Aiden demanded, sitting up while staring at a blob on the screen—bigger and faint at the same time. I felt the familiar tightness in my lungs as I exhaled shakily, tears burning behind my eyes.

“Your pup. They are about six weeks now.”

The Alpha appeared awed, lips parting as he stared at the screen. I swallowed painfully, clinging to Aiden’s fingers almost excruciatingly, holding back an ugly sob. A little blob that’s only going to grow bigger and bigger. I could already see the head of the baby, making up almost half of its small size.

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed that my mate seemed just as affected, his lips pursed and eyes glimmering. As if sensing he’s being studied, Aiden tilted his head, eyes locking onto mine in a searing stare. For a moment, we just glanced at each other, a lone tear sliding from my eyes, but I did not dare brush them away. There was a rush of emotions mirroring in the Alpha’s eyes as they must be in mine.

“Do you want a copy?”

“Yes”

“Yes”

We both said in unison. The Alpha offered me a small smile which made shudder travel down my spine. A surge of feeling arose in my chest—incomprehensible, unrelenting and overwhelming.

I could still feel Aiden’s heavy gaze on me, the intense stare making my knees weak. He gently squeezed my hand again, and I finally smiled back, lips curling. The feeling was genuinely incomparable, my cheeks flushing a bright pink and heart thudding.

Finn cleared his throat, interrupting both of us, pushing his glasses. “Miss Rose, if you don’t mind, I would also like to run a few more tests.”

I froze at that. “Is everything alright?”

“We’ll find out soon.”

***

The tests went on for a while, and we patiently sat outside, waiting to see the results. I refused to go home and worry all along, so we ate something from the cafeteria nearby. As we sat in the waiting room, the same nurse came to take us back to Doctor Finn.

“Alright, well…” The doctor sat up straighter, hesitating as he shifted his eyes between us. “I have the results from your blood work, Miss Rose and umm...they do not look normal.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jade is right about your body not being a hospitable environment for the pup…You might have heard the heartbeat earlier; it was faint. Your body is very strong and rejects any foreign things from developing inside. There are going to be health risks for you if you decide to keep the pup. I am sorry, Miss Rose.” He removed the glasses and appeared sympathetic, hands clasped together.

I sucked a sharp breath, watching Aiden ball his fingers into a fist.

“W-What are her chances?”

“Honestly, it’s fifty-fifty because Miss Rose can also have a miracle like my wife. She also had difficulty carrying our twins, but everything worked out in the end.” With that, the doctor went into a detailed story, explaining his wife and the complications she endured.

Slowly every doubt started diminishing, lurking in the unconscious part of my mind as I thought back to the first time I heard about my pup. Also, seeing it on the screen, fighting with all its might.

“We’re going through with the pregnancy, Dr Finn,” I said firmly, smiling softly at my belly. With an abrupt lurch, the Alpha sat up, pinning him with a glare, his nose flaring.

“How—You heard him, Rose! There’s a fifty per cent chance you may lose your life. Why are you not taking it seriously?!”

“I am not killing our pup, Aiden!” I yelled, only to let out a sigh and lower my tone. Taking his hand in mine, I looked at him. “Dr Finn also said that there is a fifty per cent chance I have this pup. Can we focus on that?”

“I am not doing this with you again! Are you only thinking about the pup and deciding on your own? Does my opinion matter? Why am I here then? Huh?!” He glowered, abruptly standing up and kicking at his chair. “I need some air!”

I watched through blurry eyes as the Alpha stalked out of the room, firmly closing the door behind him. At the final

thud, a lump formed in my chest, painful and heavy. Sitting all alone, I stemmed my tears, refusing to let my despair devour me, chanting inwardly that he will come back.

Sniffling, I turned to Finn, my cheeks hot.  “I-Is there anything else I need to know? Any dietary changes?”

Finn ran through everything in nearly ten minutes, even preparing lists for me as I could not focus with the weight on my chest, suffocating me with all the details I was going to need. Two copies of the ultrasound pictures were slid into two different folders and slid in front of me.

“Thank you for everything, Dr Finn.” I gave him a weak smile, standing up and gripping onto the folder.

“No worries! Please don’t hesitate to visit the clinic if you feel anything. We are open 24/7, and my number is printed at the back.”

“Thanks.”

With that, I turned on the balls of my feet and pushed my way out, lungs becoming increasingly laboured. My heart felt heavy in my chest as I saw the Alpha leaning against the wall, the body pushed upright.

The Alpha twisted his head to face me, meeting my eyes from only a few inches of distance. He stared at me, brows furrowed tightly as he regarded my face. And it didn’t make sense at all. Why was he still here? It took me so long to actually say anything at all that eventually, I simply ended up standing there, staring at his face, completely stunted like an idiot.

“Aiden,” I exhaled, feeling my body drain at the sight of him taking a step in my direction. Brushing the loose strands of hair away from my eyes, I hardened my gaze at him. “What are you doing here?”

The Alpha swallowed noisily, his fingers tugging nervously at the sides of his trousers. “I, um… Well, I didn’t want to leave you alone here.” He let out a sigh as if that was all the explanation I needed.

“Please stop talking.” I hissed.

Aiden did stop, stumbling upon his words and he looked taken aback by my outburst. “I—I’m sorry.”

I stepped out of his proximity, walking ahead of him, “Let’s just go.” It was vexing, having him so close to me, and I resisted the urge to rub my eyes in emotional fatigue. Everything about the Alpha was overwhelmingly confusing. Despite how hard I tried, he seemed to slip into the cracks without my attention.

A startled yelp escaped me when I felt ticklishly light fingers on the inside of my forearm. Aiden’s hand was warm, firm, but careful as it slid toward my wrist, and the contact sent shivers up my neck. The Alpha called me warily, “Baby look at me.”

I swallowed, heart-thumping harder. “I didn’t mean to walk out on you.” His mouth slid ajar, bottom lip moving a fraction as he hesitated, thinking thoroughly before speaking.

I glowered at him with a sour contortion on my face, brows drawn and lips pulling down. A scoff escaped me. “Really?”

“Yes. I don’t know what came over me.”

“I said I don’t want to talk about it.”

He gave up after that. We walked in silence, the eeriness of the woods almost sending shivers down my spine. I let the shadows of our bodies distract me as we reached the cabin.

Aiden took that opportunity and came to stand in front of the door, blocking my way with a nervous smile. He stubbornly crossed his arms, coming to a stop on the pavement. “Now, can we talk?”

Releasing a laboured breath, I urged to get a grip on the night finally. Fighting with the Alpha did not make sense, and I wanted to forget it, but it was impossible now.

“Why? What more do you have to say?”

Aiden frowned as he followed me inside the cabin, my chest constricting as I took a glance at him. His hands came to grasp at my arms just above my elbows, his hold solid and sure. Keeping my arms crossed, I stared up at him with impatience.

“B-Baby, I apologise for doing things that upset you. Trust me, I’m aware that this situation is hard for you. But it’s also equally terrifying for me. I don’t want to lose you, Rose.” His voice turned strained,  head tilting slightly to meet my eyes.

I frowned in sudden bewilderment, watching him deflate, his bright green eyes slipping to the ground between them. “You won’t lose me! It’s a fifty per cent chance, Aiden.”

“Your life is not a gamble for me!” He pressed his lips in a thin line, and his grasp on my arms slipped. “I care so deeply for you, and you wish to leave me behind. It’s unfair, Rose.”

Oh, moons! I thought under my breath. Why was it so difficult to convince him?

Why did my body blatantly refuse to step out of his hold, and why did his face look like it did? Why were his eyes that hues of emerald, and why did he plead drill into my flesh like this?

“I cannot lose the pup, Aiden.”

“So you are choosing it over me?!”

“No…I am not making any choice here.”

Panic charged the atmosphere around us, fat tears rolling down my cheeks, and I quietly clamped a hand over my mouth. “Please don’t do this to us. I don’t want to leave you, but you are forcing me to make a decision here. I want to see our pup.”

With those words, my omega went into a frantic sob, hysterical cries slipping out of my lips. That spurred Aiden into dropping to his knees in front of him, pulling me into his lap, where I succumbed to my spiralling trauma. Fisting the lapels of his

coat, I stained his button-up with tears, “I n-need you right now! Aiden, I need you to take care of both of us. To support our pup! I’m scared! You aren’t the only one who’s scared, Aiden!”

Tightening his hold around me, the Alpha buried his face in the wisps of my hair. “I know. I know I’m sorry. I want this. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, scared or not. Please do not leave me.”

“I-I’m not going anywhere,” I let out a quiet sound, dry heaves wrecking through me, “I love you. And I need you to love us too!”

“I do!” Aiden whispered, slowly lifting my chin, so we were gazing into each other’s eyes, lips wetly curling. “I love you. I love you so much that the thought of losing you scares the hell out of me.”

“You won’t lose me,” I assured him, clenching my eyes shut and praying that my words would remain true in future.

***

My phone started vibrating on the nightstand, but I refused to move. I was warm, and rested, and so comfortable with Aiden’s arm draped heavily over my hip. After our emotional breakdown, we had a long chat and decided to take a nap.

Trying to move without jostling him, I stretched out my arm and fished for the phone.

“Yes?” I answered, rolling out of his grip and swinging my sore legs over the edge of the bed.

“Rose!” Liam exhaled exasperatedly. “Where are you? I’ve been trying to reach you for an hour!”

“Sorry, I was sleeping.”

“Why are you whispering?”

“Because Aiden is still asleep.” It slipped out before I could stop, biting on my bottom lip and staring at the Alpha.

“That’s a relief!”

“Mhm?” I raised my brow at those words, nose scrunching at his unsteady breaths. “W-What is going on, Liam?”

“Aiden’s mother is outside the border. She  has requested to see you as soon as possible, Rose.”

***