Chapter 51

Gideon’s POV

Even though it has been years, the hospital hasn't changed at all. The air was filled with a sharp scent of antiseptic, everything was as quiet and had a hint of seriousness it should have since this is the place where life begins, survives or ends, yet today coming here felt different. A weight. I felt my heart feeling heavy with nervousness of not knowing what I will discover.

This was the place where Leo had been born. This is where everything started. Where everything had been taken from me.

The staff stood still with nervousness when they saw me. Some bowed respectfully and some glanced at each other worried. They knew better than to cross me, but fear radiated from them anyway. They were not scared because of me but they were scared of what I will find out.

I stopped at the main desk. A nurse of middle age and wore glasses stood behind it. She almost dropped the stack of papers when she saw me approach her.

“A-Alapha Gideon.” She stuttered “W-we weren’t expecting—”

“Bring me the records,” I cut her off, my tone flat, commanding. “Every record of the day Leo was born. Doctors. Nurses. Assistants. The entire team who were there at the delivery time of Leo.”

She gulped nervously sweat started to form on her forehead “Alpha..I..I don't know know–”

My voice dropped low as I growled. I spoke with authority and command. “I don't like to repeat myself.”

She opened her mouth to speak but before she could speak, a young attendant stepped in with a soft yet shaky voice. “The files… Some of them were lost during the renovations. It was years ago, Alpha. We have lost some—”

“I can smell lies.” I said as my eyes narrowed. “You think I don’t know how this place works? You know you can't afford to lose my son's file, you think I am gullible enough to believe your stupid lies?”

The attendant’s face paled with fear. “I swear, Alpha, it’s the truth. We really—”

I looked at them furiously and slammed my first on the table “Silence!” I spoke in my Alpha voice which made everyone go quiet and bowed their heads scared. The air felt heavy and no one dared to argue with me after that.

“You have one chance,” I said, my voice a deadly whisper. “One chance to bring me what I asked for. If you fail… every single one of you will be stripped of your posts by dawn.”

The silence stayed there for a moment, no one dared to move. Then an older nurse walked towards me from behind, her eyes looked exhausted, her hand trembling as she held onto a leather folder against her chest. She looked at me with an expression of fear but her eyes were full of guilt.

“Please forgive us Alpha Gideon,” her voice cracked as she spoke softly as she continued. “Please forgive us. We were ordered to keep this a secret. We were warned of the consequences if we ever spoke of it.”

My heartbeat increased “Who ordered you?”

She took a deep breath. She cast a nervous glance at the others, then back at me. “…The future Luna.”

Daphne.

The name was now starting to make my blood boil

“You better give me that file.” I ordered as I stepped closer.

She held onto the file like her life depended on it. Then she extended it toward me with shaking hands. I took the file from her grasp, the leather was cool but the weight of the file was light but the secret in it was heavy.

The more I looked at the file the more it made me worried, it might be keeping secrets or lies. I gulped and opened the file.

Leo’s name. His weight. His time of birth. All correct. But then my eyes landed on the mother's name, my face paled.

Claire’s name wasn't there. It was Daphne.

The words were written in black ink as I kept looking at the words in shock. I knew that Claire is indeed Leo’s mother but this file was denying the truth.

For a long moment, I couldn’t breathe. The walls seem to moving close. My hands trembled not because of shock but because of anger which was about to burst like a volcano. I remembered Claire's soft yet gentle voice, I remembered the night she told me she was pregnant. I remembered how she used to caress her belly with love and protection. I remembered the way her eyes sparkled with joy.

And now this.

Someone tried to bury the truth under the information in the document. Someone tried to take her place. Stolen his truth. Stolen our family.

I gripped the file tightly but didn't rip the file into pieces knowing this is evidence against Daphne. I looked up and gave the a fierce look.

“Who ordered you to change the mother's name?” I asked with a cold and dangerous voice. No one dared to answer and stood silently knowing I wouldn't like the answer.

“I am asking, who dared to change the mother's name in the file?” My Alpha power thundered through the walls, rattling the glass panes.

The old nurse shuddered in fear as I used my Alpha voice. Her eyes filled with tears as she whispered softly, “It happened years ago. Shortly after the boy was born. The future luna commanded. She said… she said it was for the good of the pack. That the truth would only bring danger. She made us swear to silence.”

Daphne. Why is she trying to mess everything up again and again?

I felt furious, my wolf wanted to take over as my eyes turned black. For years, I had disappointed Claire's trust. I have trusted Daphne’s lies for years, I trusted her to be a perfect Luna, even though our bond was forced. For years I fought my true mate to make the girl I thought I liked Luna, only for me to realize how venomous and evil she is. She dared to take Claire's place in every way possible.

I gripped the file tightly as it shook in my grasp. I punched the wall angrily and the cracks appeared on the wall. This evidence was eye opening for me. I was feeling many emotions at the same time.

I took a deep breath to calm down and looked at the file one more time and then looked at everyone who stood there silently.

“Everone better listen to me.” I said coldly yet commandingly. “Not a word of this leaves this room. If the word goes out from here, I will know you have spread out the information. And the consequences will be far worse than losing your posts.”

They nodded and bowed their heads and whispered their vows in silence. Everyone was afraid of me but I can tell it was respectful fear and beneath that fear was something else, It was a relief that I had finally uncovered what they had been forced to hide.

I walked down the hallway. My steps were fast paced due to anger and held onto the file tightly and finally stepped out of the hospital. I saw the hospital’s garden which made me calm down a bit and sat on the bench exhausted by the truth.

I looked at the sun, it was bright and hot just like my anger. I looked at the flowers and the shadows created by trees to calm down.

For years, I thought I had failed Claire. That I hadn’t protected her, hadn’t protected our child. But I hadn’t failed. She had been taken from me. Her place was stolen. Her name was erased as if she didn't exist.

And Daphne had done it.

I closed my eyes and the image of Claire's smiling face came to my mind. There was warmth and strength in her smile. She tried her best to talk to me and stay by my side before she was taken away from me but I didn't listened.She was my light. My true Luna.

And I had let Daphne cover that light in shadows. Not anymore.

This was not just a scheme or betrayal. It was treason. Against me. Against Claire. Against Leo.

The storm that had been in my mind for a while now had a name. It was betrayal. And soon… it would be justice.