Eloide
“Yes.”
“Can I ask why? I thought Gavin was excited about the pup’s arrival. Is the therapist having a personal crisis too?” Dr. Calder laced his fingers together on the desk.
“I just... I don’t want to be a mother who can’t take care of her child properly.”
My voice was barely a whisper, weighed down by the doubt that clung to my heart like fog.
Dr. Calder looked at me for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll schedule the procedure.”
Yes, I was full of doubt. All these pent-up emotions, this constant mental and physical exhaustion—it was wearing me down. And Dad, insisting I carry the Alpha’s child like it was a holy mission, wasn’t helping.
I returned to the pack house with thoughts swirling in my mind. At the stairs that separated the east and west wings of the building, I saw Dad—Gamma of the Frost Mountain pack—watching me with his usual cold stare.
“Why are you wandering around?” I lowered my head, unable to meet his eyes.
“I just got back from a checkup at the clinic.”
“Why wasn’t Gavin with you? You two are supposed to go together.”
“He’s busy, Dad. He canceled our Mating Ceremony for something he said was more important. I don’t want to burden him.”
The image of Gavin and Catherine tangled together in that steaming hot spring flashed in my mind. Their bodies pressed together, her moans, his groans as he reached his climax—it all played on a loop, stabbing at my heart. Something more important meant satisfying the needs I couldn’t fulfill. He chose his pretend little sister for that. There would never be a place for me in his heart again.
“Pathetic girl. Come on, I’ll talk to him.”
Dad dragged me to the warrior barracks. There, I saw Gavin wiping sweat from his face with a towel. I used to admire those broad muscles, the sheen of sweat from training—back when I was naive, hopelessly drawn to him. But now, this was what I had: wasted love and shattered illusions.
“Gavin, got a moment? Eloide’s too shy to talk to you, so I’m speaking for her.”
“Yes, Gamma Holden. Go ahead.”
“Considering what happened yesterday, Eloide didn’t want to ask you to go with her to the clinic. She was afraid you were busy, so she went alone. Could you go with her next time? I mean, this pup is an Alpha’s heir. I’m sure you both want everything to go smoothly.”
“Oh, of course.” Gavin’s gaze finally turned to me. “When’s the next checkup, Eloide?”
“Next week. Dr. Calder said he’d give me some vitamins,” I lied.
“You should’ve just told me. You don’t have to carry everything on your own, Eloide. Gavin loves you,” Dad added, glancing between us.
Gavin let Dad return to training the warriors. Then he pulled me behind the barracks and wrapped his arms around me like we hadn’t seen each other in ten years. He brushed his hand across my cheek and kissed my lips.
I didn’t kiss him back. When he pulled away, I saw the hickey on his neck. He could play pretend and say he loved me, but he let another she-wolf touch what used to be mine.
“Listen, Eloide. I promise I’ll go with you next week. After that, we’ll start documenting every moment of our pup’s growth, okay?”
I nodded lazily. He tilted my chin and kissed me again, but it was pointless. That fire he once lit in me had burned out.
“Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.”
“What is it?”
Honestly, I wasn’t in the mood for any of this. I knew Dad was watching us from a distance, probably making sure I didn’t walk away. If he wasn’t there, I would’ve left without a word.
Gavin led me forward in the dark like an excited kid with candy. When I opened my eyes, we were in our room.
“I got you something.”
He picked up a medium-sized box from the bed and handed it to me. “Go on, open it. You’ll love it.”
Inside was a pair of turquoise high heels. The heels were engraved with the YSL logo. Gavin had never bought me shoes before. This had to mean something.
“Do you like them?”
I nodded, just so he wouldn’t keep asking. He waited for me to try them on, so I did—half-heartedly. I’ve never liked high heels.
Catherine, the party queen, was the one who loved flashy designer heels like these.
I placed the shoes back in the box and noticed Gavin’s confused expression. I explained that pregnant women aren’t supposed to wear heels. He made me promise I’d wear them after I gave birth.
Then his phone rang. Catherine’s voice rang loud and clear through the speaker.
“Every woman loves fancy shoes! I can help her pick out more stylish things if she wants.”
The call ended, and Gavin looked at me intensely. I turned away, refusing to fall under his spell again.
He walked over and crouched in front of me, kissed my belly, and spoke softly.
“Your mom loved my gift. If you’re a girl like her, I’ll spoil you with everything you want. I love you both.”
His words were sweet poison. I stepped back, pulling his hands off my stomach. Gavin was just a biological father—and a man who satisfied his biological urges with someone else.
I was so done with his lies.
He excused himself to return to training. The moment the door shut, my phone buzzed.
Two new pictures.
Same number as yesterday.
In the photo, Catherine stood on her balcony, hand touching the moonstone pendant at her neck. One leg lifted, clearly showing off the same exact heels Gavin gave me.
Damn it.
I stepped out onto our balcony and looked across at hers. There she was—Catherine, smiling like the devil who just sealed a deal with her next victim.
I held back tears and whispered to myself, “Hang in there, Eloide. Just a few more days, and you’ll be free from this poison.”
My phone rang again, but it wasn’t Catherine’s number. I answered, and a soft voice came through on the other end.
“I’m going to send you a photo of your chosen mate, Eloide.”
