CLAIMED - Fated to Two-Chapter 49: The Baby

I stir awake. The pain I felt earlier is gone, but the fear remains.

"My baby?!" I gasp, frantically pushing myself upright on the hospital bed.

Francheska and Eric stand on either side of me, while the doctor is at the foot of the bed, her expression calm but serious.

"The baby is alright," the doctor says.

Relief crashes over me, tears blurring my vision as a long breath escapes me.

"However," the doctor continues. "While the baby remains safe despite the physical trauma you experienced, the emotional and mental stress you’re undergoing may soon become a trigger for another bleeding. Or worse..."

"Stop," I interrupt sharply, shaking my head. I can’t bear to hear, let alone imagine the worst. That doesn’t mean I’m dismissing her advice. So I ask, "What would you recommend I do to avoid stress when the main cause of it is inside the Alpha’s mansion where I also live?"

Ignoring Andrea and Beatrice clearly won’t work. Leaving might be the only option, but I’m terrified of doing it because of Alpha Torrin. That’s why I need validation from an expert that what I’m thinking is the right choice for my baby.

"You are Alpha Torrin’s fated mate, everyone knows that, even non-Frostveil werewolves. You have every right to stay by his side and to remain in the Alpha’s mansion. You should talk to him about sending his mother and his... new friend to another house," the doctor replies.

"And if he doesn’t listen? If he chooses them over me?" I ask, my gaze dropping to my lap.

"I think you already know the answer," she responds bluntly. "As a soon-to-be mother, your priority must be your unborn child, especially after nearly losing it."

I’m being forced to choose between Alpha Torrin and our baby once again. Though I regret not helping Alpha Torrin at the cliff, I will never regret choosing to protect our child. This pains me, but if Alpha Torrin doesn’t get his act together when he returns, then I’ll leave him for sure, and for good.

About an hour later, the door screeches open. Alpha Torrin rushes in, his face pale and frantic. He hesitates before resting his palm gently against my belly. "How’s the baby?"

"Almost dead," I reply coldly. "Too bad your wish barely came true."

Francheska and Eric excuse themselves, leaving the tension between us to suffocate the room.

"About what I said earlier," Alpha Torrin begins, shame and regret flickering in his eyes. "I didn’t mean it. I only said it out of anger. I can’t help but think that you’re somehow part of Damian and Atticus’ plot against me. When I heard about the police investigation and your admission, I immediately assumed my fears had basis."

He swallows hard. "Without my memories, it’s hard to trust. But, if I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have gone to the multi-eyed seer to seek the truth. I’d just call the police to come back here and have them arrest you."

My anger softens slightly, replaced by desperate and hopeful curiosity. "Did the multi-eyed seer give you another alternative to regain your memories?"

My heart sinks when he shakes his head.

"She said it’s all up to me now. That there’s nothing anyone else can do to help."

There’s a long pause before I gather the courage to ask, "Do you want to fix yourself? Or are you content staying like this?"

He opens his mouth, but closes it again, then sighs deeply.

"You can’t have both Andrea and me," I say firmly. "If you want her, not just out of obligation you’re pressured to fulfill, I’ll leave and never bother you again. But if you choose me, then she must go back to her father. You should stop seeing her and communicating with her. Also, your mother should stay away from me and must live somewhere else."

Silence presses heavily between us.

Finally, Alpha Torrin speaks. "I wanna remember everything. You. Us. But since that’s not something I can force, I can’t just push Andrea away. She saved my life. The least I can do is..."

"It’s not your obligation to make her happy," I interrupt, my jaw tightening. "But it is your obligation to protect me and your baby."

He exhales several strained breaths before saying in a defeated tone, "Give me the remainder of this day to think. You’ll know my decision by tomorrow."

And just like that, my fate and my baby’s rest in the hands of an undecided, almost a stranger man.

Yet,...

Surprisingly, Alpha Torrin becomes a little gentler toward me, not only in the way he speaks, but also in the way he acts. On our way back to the Alpha’s mansion, his arm never leaves my waist. From the moment we slide into the backseat of the car until we step out, and even as we walk inside, he keeps me close, as if he’s afraid I might collapse the second he lets go.

I don’t know if it’s guilt or genuine concern for me and the baby, but either way, I’m grateful and happy that he’s making an effort.

At the living area, Andrea and Beatrice are waiting, both looking anxious.

"You’re back, Torrin. Why didn’t you text me?" Andrea asks.

Alpha Torrin doesn’t respond, but just barely glances at her.

Beatrice, however, audaciously rushes toward me, her hand lifting as if she intends to touch my face.

Alpha Torrin immediately steps in front of me, blocking her and shielding me behind his back. "Harleigh needs to rest. We’ll talk later about what happened, mom."

"Don’t be angry with me. It was an accident. You should listen to my side too, not just hers," Beatrice pleads, throwing a quick glare my way.

"Harleigh didn’t say anything about the incident," Alpha Torrin replies, his voice edged with restrained anger. "It was the witnesses who told me what happened. So stop pretending it was an accident."

The Omegas, who witnessed everything, lower their heads when Beatrice glares at them.

Alpha Torrin gently pulls me forward, holding my hand as we walk past both Beatrice and Andrea, who are both in deep disbelief and worry.

I can hardly believe how quickly the tides seem to be turning. Still, I know better than to celebrate too soon. Not until he makes a firm decision of finally choosing me and sending them away.

Inside my bedroom, he helps me onto the bed and lies down beside me. I rest my head against his chest while his arm wraps around my back. Warmth seeps into me from his skin, his familiar scent teasing my senses.

I’ve missed this so much, and I don’t want it to end.

But then,...

Memories intrude: him sleeping beside Andrea on the same bed, and their passionate kiss in the study room. The images disgust and pain me that I pull away and turn my back to him.

"What’s wrong?" he asks.

"I’m sorry. I just..." My voice trails off as I fight the sting in my eyes. "I can’t help feeling like being sweet and caring toward women, even when you don’t feel a mate-bond with them, comes so naturally to you. You weren’t like this before the elixir ruined your memories. At least that’s how I know you, that’s what you showed to me, for a short period of time we’re together."

Silence settles between us.

We’re finally making progress, yet my doubts are unraveling the moment.

I can’t fake what I feel, pretending that everything is fine just because he’s finally giving me the attention I’m craving for.

Alpha Torrin wraps his arm around my midsection again and gently pulls me closer. Then he buries his face against my neck and shoulder, his warm breath brushing my skin, while his palm moves soothingly over my belly. "After speaking to the multi-eyed seer, the Gammas also confirmed how much you sacrificed just to save me. My wolf was giving me a hint all along, but I doubted him."

I turn to face him as he shifts above me. Our eyes lock, noses nearly touching.

"When I slept beside Andrea... when I kissed her... I felt nothing," he admits. "I knew it was wrong and would amplify the conflict between the three of us. But I still tried to create a special connection with her. But there’s really nothing, just my wolf growling angrily at me."

My heart pounds as I lift my hand to his face, hope trembling inside my chest.

"What about me?" I ask. "If I kiss you, if we try being intimate, will it help restore your connection with me?"

We tried once before, back in Dingle Valley. Before we could know if it would last, everything fell apart.

Even if he can’t have his memories back yet, if he could just have his bond with me again... that would be enough to start.

Slowly and hesitantly, I lift myself until my lips meet his.

He doesn’t pull away. Instead, he moves with me, our lips syncing naturally.

But,...

I break away again, uncertainty clawing at me. I don’t know if this is truly what he wants, or if he’s just as desperate as I am to fix what’s broken.

We breathe heavily, suspended in that fragile space.

Then,...

He surges forward, crashing his lips into mine with hunger and longing. His hand cups and massages my b.reast briefly before sliding down my legs, his touch firm and searching.

His tongue soon slips into my mouth, and a moan escapes me.

I try to pull back for air, but he captures my lips again, refusing to let go.

Minutes pass in that consuming kiss, neither of us willing to break away. The only time he finally does is when his hands move to my clothes, tearing at them with bare urgency, as if he’s afraid to hesitate again.