Chapter 380

Third Person POV

23 years earlier

Michele, also known as Shelly Montague, wanted only one thing in life… to be a mother. She and her husband of five years, Richard, had been trying for the last several years to get pregnant, but they had failed. When Shelly found Richard as her mate, she thought to herself that this was it… this was her happily ever after. She would finally get everything she wanted for herself in her life.

Moving to the Redmoon pack had been a tough transition for Shelly; her mate was the Delta and had grown up there. So, not moving to that pack wasn’t an option, despite how much Shelly missed her own pack a few hours away, still in the Landry territory.

It wasn’t that Shelly didn’t like the Redmoon pack; it was just that she was having trouble making friends. They were very cliquish; there was a group of rich and snobby people that she tried to get along with, but it seemed no matter what she did, she could never impress them.

Especially, the queen bee, Miranda Cash. She was a snobby bitch that Shelly shouldn’t even want to be friends with… but she was the Beta’s mate, and getting along with the female Beta could set Shelly up for a long time in the popularity department.

The main issue was that most of these snobby ladies were either mothers or expecting to be mothers. Shelly told them she was trying for a baby, which gave her an “in.” Now, they invite her to brunch and get her parenting advice for when she gets pregnant.

She didn’t tell them how long she’d been trying because that would have been embarrassing and would have ruined her potential future popularity.

She was a 25-year-old woman who shouldn’t have cared much about being popular, but she did. She cared a lot.

And now, in minutes, it seemed her world was falling apart.

“What do you mean I can’t get pregnant?” Shelly asked, choking back a sob. The word “Infertile” hung in the air between her and Richard as they stared back at the doctor. They had been seated in the hospital for over an hour, waiting for their appointment, and now that they were there, Shelly wanted to take it back.

Maybe it was better if she didn’t know.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Montague. But you have options. You could do a surrogate… or even adoption is an option. Many children are out there in need of a good home. I can give you a referral,” Dr. Edwards said, a small smile on his lips. “Don’t lose hope of becoming parents.”

Shelly wanted to just sob; despite the reassuring words of both her husband and the doctor, she felt sick to her stomach. Richard took her hand and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in a warm hug as she cried.

She could barely form words to even say goodbye to the doctor. He handed Richard the brochure for their other options because Shelly was too numb to take it herself. Richard guided her out of the doctor’s office and down the long hallway of the hospital. Shelly barely even registered stepping into the waiting room.

“I need to use the restroom,” Richard had told her, kissing her cheek softly. “Sit here and I’ll be right back.”

Shelly Barley registered his words but sat down anyway, willing her tears to go away.

“I can’t do this…” a small voice said from nearby.

Shelly looked up to see a young girl… maybe around 19 years old—sitting in one of the chairs, her hands clutching the seat so tightly that her knuckles grew white. She had dark circles beneath her eyes, and her blonde hair was a tangled mess… it looked as though it hadn’t been washed in weeks. Her clothes were also worn out and aged, ripped in some places.

The main thing that stood out was that this girl was incredibly pregnant. Like, seriously, about to pop kind of pregnant. She was deep breathing and looking pained, both physically and emotionally… Shelly wondered if she was in labor and if so… why wasn’t she in a room yet?

The hospital was in neutral territory; it wasn’t the best, but it was far enough away from the Redmoon pack that no one would hear about this appointment. She didn’t want the pack doctors to know about Shelly’s situation; she knew word would travel around the pack if she wasn’t careful.

From appearance alone and then scent, Shelly could tell right away that this girl was a rogue.

“I can’t do this…” the girl kept murmuring, tears filling her brown eyes.

Before Shelly could think against it, she stood and walked over to the young girl. She hadn’t noticed Shelly at first, not until Shelly sat beside her and grasped one of her hands, which was still clutched around the seat.

“Hey,” Shelly said softly. “Are you okay?”

The girl looked up, her bottom lip quivering. She stared at Shelly for a long while, trying to figure out if she could talk to Shelly.

Shelly couldn’t blame her; the girl didn’t know her, and it was clear she had been going through something. Shelly decided to go a different route.

“Are you here alone?”

The girl blinked and then glanced around the room, confused as to why Shelly was choosing to speak to her instead of everyone else. Eventually, the girl nodded slowly.

Shelly gave her a small smile, but she couldn’t help but feel concerned and worried that it showed on her face.

“My name is Michelle Montague… but you can call me Shelly,” she introduced, hoping not to sound intimidating. She outstretched her hand to shake, and the girl looked at it questionably before lifting her gaze and meeting Shelly’s.

“Meg…” the girl finally said, lifting her hand to take Shelly’s; she shook her hand tentatively.

“That’s a pretty name. Is it short for Meghan?”

Meg nodded. Her breathing seemed less labored, though she still had a pained look in her eyes.

“How old are you, Meg?”

Meg nibbled on her bottom lip as she broke her gaze from Shelly’s to look at the ground.

“I turn 19 next week.”

Shelly’s chest tightened.

“Where are your parents?”

Meg was quiet for a moment; at first, Shelly didn’t think she would answer.

“They aren’t around,” she said softly. Shelly couldn’t help but feel that Meg wasn’t telling her something, but she decided not to pry or dwell on the subject. As far as she could tell, Meg was completely alone.

“Boyfriend or husband?”

Once again, Meg was quiet, and then she breathed.

“He’s not around anymore…” she whispered. “He was killed…”

Shelly’s heart broke in an instant.

“I’m so sorry,” she said softly. “So, you have nobody?”

Meg nodded and then put her hands on her belly, tears filling her eyes.

“I’m not sure what to do…” she whispered sadly. “I have nobody to help me… I can’t raise a baby. A goddamn baby. I’m in over my head. My mother was right… I should have had an abortion or something.”

Shelly didn’t think her heart could break any more.

“You shouldn’t speak like that… some can’t have children. You should count yourself lucky. Now you’ll have a partner in crime for life.”

Meg let out a breathy laugh, which turned into a desperate sob.

“I’m used to being alone,” she muttered. “I never wanted that for this baby, though… I don’t want her to grow up alone like I had to.”

“As long as she has you, she’ll never be alone,” Shelly told her.

Meg nibbled on her lower lip, thinking about that for a moment before she winced in pain, her hand flying to her belly again.

“Meg, are you actively in labor?” Shelly asked, raising her brows.

Meg swallowed and then nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why aren’t you in a room already? Preparing for birth?” Shelly asked, quickly standing ot her feet.

“They told me to wait. There are not enough doctors right now,” she said, shaking her head.

Sehlly pressed her lips together.

“Come on,” Shelly said, helping Meg to her feet. “Let’s get you treated.”

Before Meg could protest, Shelly dragged her to the nurses' station.

“Excuse me, this young woman is in labor and needs to be brought to a room right away,” she told one of the nurses.

The nurse turned to look at Meg, her eyes narrowing before her gaze shifted back to Shelly.

“I already told her she needs to wait,” the nurse said. “All of our doctors are currently tending to the Blackwells. They, too, are having a baby, and they take priority.”

The Blackwells?! What were they doing in this hospital? They were such a wealthy family that they could afford the best medical team in the world and chose the low-class hospital in neutral territory.

“There has to be at least one doctor who can help this girl… look at her… she’s about to give birth in the waiting room,” Shelly said, folding her arms across her chest.

“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do,” the nurse said almost coldly, making Meg flinch.

“What’s going on?” Richard asked as he approached his wife.

Shelly let out a breath of relief. If anyone could help, it would be Richard. He had a way with words, not to mention the status of a Delta.

Shelly explained the situation to Richard and his expression darkened with annoyance, not at Shelly or at Meg, but with the nurse and the hospital in general. After making some threats and promises, the nurse finally relented and assigned a room, along with a doctor, for Meg.

Shelly and Richard went with Meg to the room to ensure she was being treated.

“You’re lucky you got a room when you did,” Dr. Joel Pierce said as he examined Meg. “Any longer, you’d have given birth in the waiting room.”

“That’s what I said,” Shelly said, folding her arms. “They refused to see her until my husband intervened.”

Dr. Pierce nodded.

“The Blackwells are here, giving birth to their heiress. All hands on deck, even though it’s unnecessary,” he said, shaking his head. “I swear, once my daughter becomes a doctor, I’ll ensure she treats everybody fairly, and something like this never happens. The future generation is where it’s at.”

“Your daughter will become a doctor as well?” Shelly asked, making conversation.

He nodded.

“At least that’s what she wanted. Honestly, she’s brilliant for her young age… it would be a shame if she became anything else. Elizabeth will make a fine doctor, and she will treat everyone equally. At least that’s what I’m trying to bestow in her.”

Shelly immediately liked this doctor and trusted him with Meg.

After the doctor left the room, Shelly and Richard decided it was probably time to leave.

“Can you stay?” Meg asked quickly. “I mean… if you don’t have anything else to do. I really don’t want to be alone.”

They agreed to it and sat with Meg, making mindless conversation to keep her mind off the fact that she was about to give birth to a baby she wasn’t ready for.

“Do you have any names in mine?” Shelly eventually asked, curiosity piquing her interest.

Meg blushed, and a small smile, the first real smile she had given all day, graced her lips.

“Judy,” Meg finally said with a soft sigh. “I want to name my baby Judy.”