Chapter 44

(Isabella’s POV)

Santiago texts me that Layla is in labor. Against my better judgment, I decide to go to the hospital. I don’t have to go inside the room or see Layla or her baby.

There is no risk of running into Jesse. I’ll just go and sit in the waiting room and be there to support Santiago.

The labor and delivery waiting room at the pack hospital is meant to be comfortable and mirror a homelike atmosphere. The ceilings are high, wood-beamed, with a candle-lined chandelier. The walls are a mix of wood panel and stone, with large windows that invite nature into the room.

With a full moon shining in, it almost feels like the Moon Goddess joins the wait. I inhale deeply upon walking in, picking up a faint hint of bleach cleaning solution. It’s somewhat masked by the crackling fire burning pine and cedar in a massive stone fireplace.

Santiago is the only person sitting in the waiting room. He stares straight ahead, sitting on the plush leather sofa in his gray muscle shirt and dark wash jeans. Each muscle fiber in his marble-sculpted biceps stands out.

I whisper to him, “Hey.”

He startles and looks at me with wide eyes. “Bella? Hey.”

“Mind if I join you?” I ask.

He nods for me to sit. I sit on my knees, facing him with my arm across the back of the couch. “How’s Layla?”

“She’s alright. She’s been in labor for a few hours now.”

I nod contemplatively. “And, um, how are you?”

His icy blue eyes jerk toward me. Once locked in my gaze, his softens. “I’m fine. If the baby is mine, I’ll do right by him or her.”

I nod. “I know. You’re a good man, Santiago.”

He runs both his hands through his hair. “I didn’t expect you to come, Bella. But, thank you for being here. It helps.”

I manage a smile. “Of course.”

The doors to the back fly open and a doctor and nurse emerge and make a beeline to Santiago. “Alpha. Layla has delivered a healthy baby girl.”

Santiago stands up. I can hear his heartbeat thumping from the couch where I sit.

I quickly stand up by his side and put my hand on his arm.

“What is it you’re not telling me, doc?” Santiago asks.

The doctor and nurse take a step back, bowing their heads.

“We ran a rapid paternity test as you requested, Alpha. There are similar markers, but I don’t believe you are the father.”

I cock my head to the side as I process what the doctor has just told Santiago. “How are there some markers but not an exact match?” I ask.

“We have sent the testing to a lab to confirm, similar markers indicate relation, but not fatherhood. Alpha, Santiago, I am 95% sure that you did not father this baby.”

I gasp. That bitch. How, how could she deceive Santiago like this? How are there some markers, but he’s not the father?

(Layla’s POV)

Oh, Moon Goddess, this is bad. The witch…she said this would work. I didn’t think Santiago would order a rapid paternity test. I get dressed as fast as I can and flee. I must find Jesse.

Before I approach Jesse at the pack house, I put on his favorite of my dresses. It’s a little tight being post-partum, but not much. He’s always been a sucker for this short, low-cut black babydoll style dress. I curl my hair and put on my makeup.

“I’m here to see Alpha Jesse,” I tell the guards. He comes downstairs and locks his honey-hued eyes on mine. I notice how they trail down my body. This will work. If I play it right…this will work.

Jesse’s always been sexy. Never in the dangerous way that Santiago is, but more like a cute guy next door. He has straight, blond hair, shaved on the sides and in the back with enough on top to fall just right against his forehead.

He stands at 6’4” with a slender, but muscular build. His jaw ticks as his fists tighten at his sides, flexing his biceps ever so slightly.

“Hey Jesse,” I say.

“Guards, leave us,” he tells them. “What do you want Layla? Why are you here?”

The guards leave.

I swallow…hard.

“I need to come clean with you,” I say.

He grabs me by the waist and pulls me to him. “Where’s your baby?” he says with a low growl.

“She’s in the nursery at the Veridian Shadow Pack Hospital.”

He growls again. “Why are you here, Layla?”

“You have every reason to hate me, Jesse.” Tears sting the corners of my eyes and run down my cheeks. “I made a power play for Santiago’s pack…I did it for you, for us.” My voice cracks on the last word.

“You cheated on me and gave that asshole my heir,” he spits out at me.

His grip on me tightens. My belly is still tender. It hurts. I concentrate on my breathing and try not to react.

“No. that’s why I need to see you. I can’t lie anymore. The child is yours, Jesse. I love you so much and I’ve missed you. I am sorry for my betrayal. I should have told you all of this from the start.”

He kisses me…hard, grabs my ass and lifts me.

I wrap my legs around his waist and kiss him back.

He carries me across the room, then suddenly throws me to the couch.

My eyes widen. My pulse quickens. He’s never been so rough with me.

He cocks his head as he studies me, then sits in the armchair across from me and crosses his left foot over his right knee. Leaning back, he folds his arms over his chest. “The child is mine, eh?”

I sit up and sit on my knees on the sofa and nod.

“You delivered my baby in my rival’s pack territory and left it there to come find me. Is that right?”

I nod. “She’s safe there,” I promise.

“She?” he asks. “I’m a father to a baby girl?”

I smile. “Yes, and she’s beautiful, Jesse. I can take you there right now. You can hold her.”

“Alright,” he says.

He takes my hand and leads me to the door. Once it’s open, he yanks me into the threshold. He wraps his fingers around my throat and bangs my head on the wooden doorway. “There’s just one problem, Layla.”

My eyes are wide.

Jesse’s pupils eclipse the honey hue of his irises. His eyes are wide, and his face is

red.

“What?” I croak out.

His lips are within kissing range as he lifts me off the ground by my throat. I can feel his warm breath on my face.

“The baby is not mine,” he says with a menacingly low growl.

“Yes. She is, I swear!”

He releases me, turns his back and walks back inside. “There’s something I’ve kept from you too, Layla.”

My heart pounds within me. Sweat beads drip from my forehead. At the sudden release of pressure on my windpipe, I begin coughing. “What is it? What haven’t you told me, Jesse?”

He turns around. His eyes flash red like he might shift any second. “I’m infertile. So, the baby you say is mine…is not possible at all.”

I gasp. “No, that’s just an ugly retaliatory rumor started by Isabella!”

“No!” he roars. “It’s not a rumor; I only let you believe that.”

I shake my head. Tears stream down my face. Fear crawls up my throat and sits there…keeping me from taking in enough air.

Claws spring from his clenched fists. Oh goddess, he’s shifting. He’s going to kill me!

“Get to your feet, you idiot!” my wolf screams.

I scramble to my feet, bowing my head to him in submission and backing up.

His fangs elongate before my eyes as he foams at the mouth.

“Get the fuck out of my territory, slut. If I ever see you again, I swear I will rip you to shreds!”