Chapter 95 The Father Revealed
DANIEL'S POV
Dr. Morrison looked at Lisa carefully and the silence stretched too long before she spoke. "Before I tell you, I need to explain something unusual about your pregnancy. The silver wolf genetics created complications with the standard paternity test. We had to run it three times to be certain."
Lisa gripped the arms of her chair so hard her knuckles turned white. "Just tell me. Please."
"The father is Ryan Blackstone."
The room exploded in different reactions all at once. Ryan made a sound like someone had punched him in the stomach and it was relief, joy, and terror all mixed together. Emma started crying and covered her mouth with both hands because her secret about Nathan would stay buried after all. Adrian's face closed off completely and he accepted defeat with grace even though I could see the pain in his eyes. I watched my sister process this information and saw a thousand emotions cross her face in seconds.
"You are sure?" Lisa whispered and her voice shook.
"One hundred percent certain. Conception occurred approximately three weeks ago which matches the timeline you provided for," Dr. Morrison checked her notes quickly, "the night after your challenge with Sophia."
Ryan moved toward Lisa and then stopped himself halfway across the room. "Say something. Please."
Lisa looked at him and really looked this time. Human now and Vulnerable. The man who gave up his wolf and his family legacy and everything that made him powerful. For her. The sacrifice hung in the air between them like something you could touch.
"You are the father," Lisa said slowly and tested the words like she was learning a new language. "You are going to be a father."
"I know I am human now. I know I cannot protect you like I used to be able to. I know I am probably not what you wanted when you imagined having a child and I know this is complicated but I swear I will do everything I can to be there for you and for our baby even though I have nothing to offer except myself and that might not be enough but I will try every single day to be worthy of this and of you and I will never stop trying no matter what it takes or how hard it gets and I just need you to know that I am not going anywhere this time because I already lost you once and I cannot survive losing you again.
So, please just tell me what you are thinking because your silence is killing me right now and I need to know where we stand and what happens next and if you even want me to be part of this at all because I will respect whatever you decide even if it destroys me and I just need to hear you say something anything at all because this waiting is worse than anything Viktor ever did to me and I cannot breathe until I know what you are thinking and feeling and wanting from me right now in this moment because everything depends on what you say next and my entire future hangs on your words and I am terrified and hopeful and desperate all at the same time and I just need you to please say something because the silence is too heavy and too loud and I cannot take it anymore so please just tell me what you are thinking right now."
"Stop," Lisa interrupted. She stood and faced him directly. "You are exactly what I wanted. You just took three years and losing your wolf to become him."
Ryan's eyes filled with tears that spilled down his cheeks. "Does this mean we can try again? That you will give me another chance?"
"It means we have a lot to talk about. A lot to figure out. But Ryan?" Lisa touched his face with gentle fingers. "I choose you. Not because of the baby and not because of the mate bond and not because destiny decided for us. I choose you because you finally chose me back. Loudly. Completely. Without reservation or conditions or half measures."
They kissed and it was gentle and careful like two broken people learning each other again after years of pain. Adrian turned away and headed for the door without saying anything. Lisa broke the kiss and called out to him. "Adrian, wait."
He paused but did not turn around to face us. "I am happy for you both. Genuinely. But I need," his voice cracked and broke, "I need to go home. Western Pack. Deal with my condition privately."
"There might be other ways to heal you," I offered because I could not stand watching him give up. "Medical treatments and specialists who understand wolf biology better than anyone here. We could research options together."
"Maybe. But not here. Not watching the woman I love build a life with someone else." Adrian finally turned and smiled sadly and the expression on his face broke something inside my chest. "Be happy, Lisa. Both of you. You have earned it after everything you have been through."
He left without another word and Emma followed him out into the hallway because they needed to talk about Marcus Krane anyway. Suddenly it was just Lisa and Ryan and me standing in Dr. Morrison's office and the air felt thick with unspoken things.
Dr. Morrison cleared her throat and pulled our attention back to her. "There is one more thing about the pregnancy that you need to know. The silver wolf genetics mean this baby will be extraordinarily powerful. More powerful than any wolf born in generations. You will need specialized care and constant protection throughout the pregnancy and after the birth because there will be people who want to control this child or eliminate the threat it represents and you cannot take any chances with security from this point forward."
Her pager beeped loudly and interrupted whatever else she was going to say. She checked it and her face went pale white. "There has been an accident. Multiple casualties. All hands are needed in the ER immediately."
She rushed out without explaining further and left us standing there confused. Lisa and Ryan and I looked at each other and something felt wrong about this. My instincts were screaming that something bad was happening.
"Accident?" I said and my voice was tight with tension. "Or attack?"
We moved quickly toward the ER and followed the sound of shouting and running feet. But when we turned the corner we all froze completely. The casualties being wheeled in on gurneys were werewolves. Burned badly. Tortured with precision. And carved into their flesh with a blade were words that made my blood run cold.
"THE SILVER WOLF'S BABY MUST DIE. THE COALITION"