Chapter 132 — Family

Aria slowly blinked her eyes open, the harsh hospital lights making her squint. Everything felt hazy, her body weak and heavy. She tried to move, but pain shot through her abdomen. She winced and let out a small, involuntary cry.

David, slumped over in the chair beside her bed, lifted his head. His eyes were bloodshot, dark circles marking his sleepless nights. His clothes were rumpled, and he looked like he hadn’t eaten or showered in days.

“Aria,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Oh, thank God, you’re awake.” He moved closer, taking her hand in his, gripping it like a lifeline.

Aria looked at him, confusion clouding her eyes. “David… What happened? Why am I here?” Her voice was weak, trembling.

David's eyes filled with tears, his grip tightening. He couldn’t find the words, his throat constricting.

How could he tell her? How could he break her heart all over again?

Besides, David's mind immediately darted back to the warning that Elara had left.

She was more guilt-ridden at losing the baby than David himself.

She had left by herself to look for the child without telling anyone.

She had left a note for David and it read -

'I will not know sleep or peace until I bring back your little girl, David.

Aria might not remember anything about the dark world or the encounter with Selene. It's better that way. She must never relearn her past. Try to keep her from overthinking.

Work hard to give her a new start. '

Her tear marks had smeared the ink on the note. David could understand.

Ester had gone with Sebastian to settle things around werewolf camps.

Gery was a wreck but he was drowning himself with state affairs because David was in no condition to address his ministers.

They heard Alpha Lucas was recovering well but Brianna was in bad shape.

She was banned and cursed by her own coven, further deteriorating her health.

Nobody understood her motive for betraying her own kind.

The doors of the netherworld had opened because of the balance. It was meant to open sooner or later. The borders between the worlds had been tampered with repeatedly.

But Brianna had accelerated the process.

David had a score to settle with that witch but he had other loads on his shoulder at the moment.

Aria’s eyes darted around the room, panic rising in her chest. She tried to sit up, wincing at the pain. Her hands flew to her stomach, her eyes widening in terror as she felt the flatness. “David… David, where’s the baby? Where’s my baby?”

David looked away, tears streaming down his face. He couldn’t meet her gaze.

“ David… Look at me! Answer me! What happened? Where is our child? ” Aria tugged at his sleeve.

“Aria… our baby… is gone.”

David wasn't even looking in her direction.

Aria’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean, gone? What happened? David, tell me!” Her voice grew louder, desperation lacing every word.

“Aria,” David choked out, his voice barely above a whisper. What was he supposed to tell her without rekindling her memories?

“Someone… someone took the child after the birth. Our baby is gone.I am sorry! ”

Aria felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. Her baby, her little one,her little load that she carried so affectionately for so long, was gone? Taken? How? Why?

“No, no, no! This can’t be happening!” she screamed, tears streaming down her face as the monitors beeped and the machines went berserk. “Who would do this? How did this happen?”

David pulled her into his arms, his own body shaking with sobs as he tried to calm her down. “I don’t know, Aria. I don’t know. I tried… I tried to find her, but she’s gone. I failed you. I failed our baby.”

Aria pounded her fists weakly against his chest, her grief and anger consuming her. “You were supposed to protect our baby! You were supposed to be there! How could you let this happen?”

David didn’t try to defend himself. He deserved her anger, her blame. “I’m so sorry, Aria. I’m so, so sorry. I never wanted this. I never wanted to lose our baby.”

Aria collapsed against him, her strength spent. “Our baby… my baby…” she sobbed, the pain in her chest unbearable.

“Why? Why did this happen to us? You are supposed to be the Lycan King…you couldn't even take care of a newborn…”

David held her tighter, his own tears mingling with hers. Her words pierced his bruised heart further.

“I know I am worthless, Aria. But I promise you, I’ll find our baby. I’ll bring our baby back. No matter what it takes, I’ll bring our baby back.”

Aria pulled away slightly, looking at him with wide, desperate eyes. “David… Was it a boy or a girl? I don’t even know if it was a boy or a girl.”

Aria’s face crumpled, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.

“It was a girl, Aria. We had a baby girl. She was so beautiful… so perfect. I’m so sorry you didn’t get to see her, to hold her. I’m so sorry.”

Aria let out a heart-wrenching sob, the reality crashing down on her. “A girl… my baby girl… I never even got to see her. I never got to hold her. This can’t be real, David. This can’t be happening.”

David pulled her close again, both of them consumed by their grief …lost in their loss. “I know, Aria. I know. But I swear, I’ll do everything I can to bring her back. We’ll find her. We’ll bring our baby girl home.”

Aria howled for hours.

Eventually her sobs subsided into silent tears, her body weak and exhausted from the emotional upheaval. David continued to hold her, his heart breaking with every tear she shed. As the hours passed, Aria drifted in and out of a restless sleep.

The doctors and healers came and went.

David stayed by her side, unwilling to leave her alone for even a moment.

And then suddenly Ester came, panting, gasping to catch her breath.

“ David…”

“ Ssshhh! ”

David glared at her. Aria had just fallen asleep.

He walked out of the room on tiptoes, gently shutting it after him.

“ What is it? ”

“ Aria came around? ”

“ Yes, she did. But now, she is sleeping. What happened, Ester? You should sit and breathe! ”

“ No, thanks! I am fine! Brianna… she went missing… I am sure it's not a coincidence. We should try to trace her. ”

“ Why should we care where that witch disappeared? Ester, did you lose your wits? ”

“ She might have gone after your baby! She was running away with her to begin with till we intercepted her. We should at least try to trace her. I have a gut feeling! ” David gritted through his teeth.

“ I will be leaving with a team. You don't need to rush it. Stay with her. I will send for you if we have any leads! ”

Ester rubbed David's arms as he glanced back.

“ Yeah! I will! There's a very very important thing that needs to be taken care of before I do anything else.

I am not repeating my old mistakes! ”

Ester held her brother’s gaze for a moment.

A subtle smile crossed her lips as she seemed to understand what he meant.

“ Took you a lifetime and a hell lot of a barrage of suffering to come to the decision! ”

She patted his arms before rubbing them again.

“ Better late than never… ”

But she could see the pain in his eyes,

“ I can't bear to lose her ever again. I need to chain her before another hurricane comes tearing us apart! ” After a pause, he added, “ How's Sebastian doing?”

Ester had already turned around to leave.

“ It will take work to make his people accept his Lycan reality. The werewolves still don't trust us. I don't remember the last time we attacked their territories…any ways… I am sure he will manage that. He doesn't need me to babysit him all the time… ”

“ Does he know you are leaving? ” David asked her, concerned.

She shook her head before waving goodbye.

“ Men are egoistic creatures. I prefer solving my own problems. This is about my niece! I don't need permission from anyone… not even you, Lycan King. ”