Jessalyn's POV
…
"H-Help," I called out in a voice barely qualified to be regarded as a whisper.
My chest ached so much; it had been hurting for the past few days, but not like today.
Right now, I felt like I was close to the gates of death. With one hand clutching at my chest, I struggled to get to the edge of the bed, reaching for my phone on the bedside cabinet.
Gritting my teeth, I dialled my mate's number with trembling fingers and silently but desperately prayed for him to pick up.
But reality was different from what I had hoped frantically for. Undeterred, I called his line one more time, but he still didn't pick up.
"Arggh!" The phone tumbled from my fingers onto the bed as another violent bout of pain hit my chest. I pressed my trembling lips together and willed myself to pick up the phone once more.
One more dial. No answer.
Three more dials. Still, he didn't pick up. The pain was intensifying with each passing moment.
So I got out of bed somehow and crawled my way, with great difficulty, outside the capacious room, my quivering lips slightly parted but unable to let out a hearable cry for help.
Another wave of sharper pain pierced my chest, leading me to spew out blood. I was truly scared.
Outside my room, I looked at both sides of the hallway, but not a single soul was in sight.
I needed to get downstairs somehow; surely, someone would find me there. Slowly, I reached the stairs and, with my hands on the railing, I willed my quivering legs to descend the stairs.
But a much sharper bout of pain hit my chest, making me miss my footing and my grip on the rail. Down I rolled until I reached the base of the stairs.
Everywhere in my body ached. But that wasn't what made me scared. Instinctively, I brought my hand to my belly.
My baby. Nothing should happen to it.
But then my hope shattered as I smelled copper and felt something warm and unsettling between my legs.
Looking down, I saw what I feared the most. My breath quickened, tears rolling down my face as I shook my head.
"N-no," I muttered with quivering lips, eyes shot open. I couldn't lose my baby.
This was my only chance at getting a child after 4 years of union with my Alpha mate. We both had great hopes for this pregnancy that would finally make us parents.
Mustering whatever strength I could, I cried the loudest I could for help. After the 3rd time of hoarse screaming, my vision was blurring.
No, I couldn't fall asleep. Not now.
I had to hold on. My baby needed me awake. But then, as much resolve as I had, I couldn't hold on to consciousness.
I heard some muffled voices. At least, help was on the way.
And then…I blacked out.
...
A scared gasp tore out of my throat as I sat up abruptly, eyes flung open.
I wanted to believe the dream I woke up from was just a nightmare, not real. In that horrid dream, I had given birth to a son, but he died.
My hand flew to my stomach, but…it was alarmingly flat. Shaking my head in unwillingness as a surge of tears streamed down my face, I erupted into a loud wail, my shoulders heaving.
The door opened, and a familiar female rushed in. It was my maid, Calistra.
I had sent her on an errand a quarter of an hour before that blinding pain started. Now, as she made her way to me, her face betrayed her genuine concern for me.
Forget our status as master and servant; we were actually close. Calistra was the second person I trusted the most, other than my dear Alpha mate.
"L-Luna, you're awake," she said, pausing her tracks before the hospital bed, eyes reddened and lips pursed clearly to withhold a sob. "Thank goodness," she added with a choked-up voice, snuffling as a tear rolled down her face.
"Calistra…"
"Yes, My Luna…?"
"My baby…" I sniffled, "Where is he…?"
I was almost 8 months pregnant before that unfortunate incident happened. So I wanted to cling to the hope that the baby survived, perhaps kept in an incubator. I wanted to see my child.
Calistra lowered her gaze, more tears rolling down her face. This sight filled me with disquietude, and I got off the bed, ignoring the unsteadiness and sheer discomfort I felt. They were nothing compared to what was at stake here.
I gripped Calistra's shoulders and shook her hard. "Tell me where my baby is," I demanded in a hoarse voice. "Please…!" I added in a whisper.
But she shook her head. "Luna… I'm so sorry," she replied in a soft tone.
"Wh-what..?"
"The prince…couldn't make it," she dropped the bombshell and at that, my knees lost all strength, sending me crumbling to the floor.
"No, I don't believe this. You're lying to me!"
Calistra tried to help me up. "I swear on the goddess' holy name, I dare not lie to you on such an important matter, my Luna,"
"You're lying!" I still wanted to believe my baby son was alive.
So, with some sudden strength infused into me, I rose, tore off the IV and rushed out of the ward with my terrified maid calling out after me.
I soon came across the pack's doctor, Brian Smithon, the one who had given me the good news months ago. He was being accompanied by two red-haired pack nurses who, coincidentally, were twins.
"Your highness," he greeted me, bowing his head just like his staff.
"Doctor," I spoke in a calm tone, but my insides were not. Doctor Brian could definitely not give me bad news. He wouldn't, I hoped.
"Please, take me to the incubator chamber," I said with a small, quivering smile. "I would…like to see how my son is doing,"
But a defeated sigh escaped the doctor's lips as he lowered his gaze and shook his head gravely. "I'm sorry, your highness. But your baby isn't in there."
"What are you saying? Where else would he be if not there?"
"I'm really sorry, your highness. We did everything in our power to make your baby qualified to be there. But…"
"But what?"
"The child didn't make it," he divulged with another sigh. "I'm very sorry for your loss. I know how much this pregnancy meant to you and the alpha. But don't lose hope. The goddess will definitely give you another child."
Grabbing the collar of his lab coat, I howled, eyes full of anguish, "Doctor, you're lying. You told me that this was my last chance, and if I failed, I was doomed to remain barren. Now, you're talking about miracles?! I don't want a miracle. I want my son!"
"Luna, please calm down," one of the twin nurses said in a bid to pacify me, but I wasn't having it.
"No. I want my baby!" I cried. "I want to see him with my two eyes."
The doctor finally relented and brought me to where the baby was, covered in a white cloth.
With trembling hands and my heart in my mouth, I gently tugged down the cloth and saw…a tiny corpse.
I took a step back and shook my head. "No, it can't be." I turned to glare at the doctor.
"Why are you showing me someone's dead baby? I told you to bring me to my son!" I howled, almost grabbing his collars again.
"Your Highness, that is your son," he stressed, but I shook my head in refusal. My baby must still be alive. How can they just show me this lifeless one?
"I'm not the only pregnant woman in this pack," I said in argument.
"That's true, but you're the only one who miscarried this month, your highness. I hate to say it, but this child right here is yours."
"It's a lie. You're lying!"
"I swear on the goddess's sacred name, I am not," Doctor Brian said patiently.
I headed back to the bed and looked at the premature baby whose eyes were closed and whose skin was pale.
So he was indeed my son.
"K-kayden… It's mum. Mummy is here, my dear boy. Mummy is here," I reached a quivering hand to touch the fragile body, weeping.
But my son couldn't cry or move a finger…forever. My child was dead. My hope of being a mother was gone.
My head began to spin, and my legs lost strength once again.
"Luna!" Calistra caught me before I could sink to the floor. Then, with her hands cradling my back and knees, she rushed back to the private ward with the medical staff following.
All I heard was my maid's repeated words of reassurance, and then, I swooned.