Chapter 9
Elle's POV
The werewolf doctor's pen scratched across the chart as he reviewed my latest test results.
"Ms. West's condition has stabilized completely," the doctor announced, handing the report directly to Brad rather than me. "Both she and the pup are doing well. She can be discharged whenever you're ready."
I bit my tongue at being discussed as if I weren't in the room. The doctor hadn't even looked at me once during his entire assessment, addressing all his comments to Brad as if I were merely a vessel for the precious Alpha heir.
Brad's amber eyes scanned the report quickly, his expression revealing nothing. Without comment, he passed the papers to Elizabeth, who stood by the window examining me with that calculating gaze that always made me feel like a specimen under a microscope.
"Good," Elizabeth said after reviewing the report. "The pup's development is right on schedule." She folded the papers with a decisive snap. "Now we can focus on the next step. It's time to arrange the marking ceremony."
My head snapped up. "Marking ceremony?"
"The formal mate bonding," Elizabeth clarified, her tone suggesting this should have been obvious. "It needs to happen as soon as possible."
The air in the room suddenly felt too thin. I'd been so focused on surviving day to day in the hospital that I hadn't thought about what would come next. Of course they'd want to formalize this arrangement. I wasn't just carrying any child—I was carrying a potential Alpha heir.
Brad's thumb flicked open the silver lighter he always carried, then closed it with a snap. "The marking ceremony doesn't need to happen so urgently, does it?" His voice remained neutral, but I caught a hint of resistance.
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed. "The Frostclaw Pack will be visiting Moonshade Bay soon."
Brad's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly at the mention of that name.
"As Alpha, you're expected to attend the welcome ceremony," Elizabeth continued, her voice leaving no room for argument. "With your formally marked mate."
"I understand, Grandmother," Brad finally said, his amber eyes briefly flashing with something wild and untamed.
Elizabeth nodded, satisfied with his acquiescence. "Good. I'll make the necessary arrangements."
"Wait," I blurted out, panic rising in my chest. "This is happening now? Just like that? I don't even know what a marking ceremony involves."
Brad's eyes locked with mine, his Alpha presence suddenly filling the room like a physical weight. The air grew heavy, making it difficult to breathe. I felt small and vulnerable under his gaze, my body instinctively recognizing his dominance even if my mind rebelled against it.
"It's a simple ritual," Elizabeth explained, her tone softening slightly. "Brad will mark you as his mate in front of witnesses from the pack. It establishes your position and protection."
I swallowed hard. "Could I... could I at least go home first? To tell my mother what's happening?" The thought of Susan hearing about my sudden mate bonding from someone else made my chest ache. "She'll freak out if werewolves just show up announcing I'm getting married."
Elizabeth's expression hardened immediately. "Absolutely not. The human district is no place for you now. The environment there could be detrimental to the pup."
"I won't stay long," I pleaded, desperate for some small control over my life. "I just want to explain things to her in person. She's been through enough already."
Elizabeth remained unmoved. "We can send someone to inform your family."
"Please," I said, turning to Brad with what I knew was a pathetic, pleading expression. "I don't want her to be frightened when strange werewolves show up at her door. She deserves to hear it from me."
Something flickered in Brad's eyes as he looked at me—a momentary softening I hadn't seen before. For an instant, I felt the strange connection between us that the doctors had talked about, a pull that seemed to affect him despite his cold exterior.
"She'll be careful," Brad said unexpectedly, his voice low but firm as he addressed his grandmother. "She'll be fine."
Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She studied Brad for a long moment, then sighed. "Very well. But you won't go alone. Alex will drive you." She turned to me, her expression stern. "You'll have one hour—no more. The pup's safety is our primary concern."
Relief washed through me. "Thank you."
"Alex is human but loyal to our family," Elizabeth continued. "He'll ensure your safety and bring you directly back."
Brad nodded, his face a careful mask again. "As you wish, Grandmother." But I noticed his eyes had that predatory vigilance I'd seen before—alert and watchful, like he was assessing potential threats.
---
True to Elizabeth's word, Alex Gray arrived promptly to drive me to my family's apartment. His black sedan was clean and expensive-looking but unmarked—nothing that would immediately identify it as belonging to the Rayne family. Still, in the human district, any vehicle this nice stood out like a sore thumb. I could feel neighbors' curious eyes watching from behind curtains as we pulled up.
When we entered the apartment, Grace's eyes narrowed suspiciously at the sight of Alex in his impeccable suit. She looked between us with obvious confusion, her gaze lingering judgmentally on my hospital clothes.
"Elle," she said sharply, "we weren't expecting you. Who's this?" Her tone carried that familiar edge of disapproval, eyes flicking to Alex with naked suspicion.
"Alex Gray, ma'am," he introduced himself politely. "I'm here with Elle on some personal matters."
Grace's eyes lit up with assumption. "Oh? A boyfriend?" She gave him a calculating once-over, clearly trying to determine his status.
"No, he's just a friend," I said quickly, not wanting to get into explanations with her just yet. "Is Mom here? I need to talk to her."
Grace folded her arms across her chest. "What's this about? You disappear for weeks, no calls, then show up with some man we've never met? Your mother's been worried sick."
Alex sensed the tension and stepped back. "I'll wait in the car, Elle," he said. "Take your time, but remember we need to get back within the hour."
Once he was gone, Grace's expression darkened. "What kind of trouble are you in now?" she demanded. "Who is that man really? Why are you wearing hospital clothes?"
I sighed, suddenly feeling exhausted. The weight of everything—the pregnancy, the impending marking ceremony—crashed down on me at once.
Where do I even start?