Chapter 82

Chapter 82
Felicia’s POV

I sat on the hospital bed, cradling my newborn pup in my arms.

Her skin was soft against my chest, her tiny fists curling instinctively, her breathing slow and even.

Her eyes remained closed, fragile lids fluttering slightly with  every dream she slipped into.

But despite her perfect little form, my heart raced with anxiety.

This wasn’t what I expected. This wasn’t what I planned. I had done every possible scan. The doctors had confirmed it.  a he-wolf, strong and destined.

I had prayed, hoped, fought through endless obstacles believing in that outcome.

A king.

A future Alpha that would elevate my status forever.

And now… this.

A she-wolf.

My chest tightened, panic swelling in my throat.

What changed?

Why now, when I was so close to everything I had sacrificed for?

Suddenly, my phone buzzed against the side table.

The sharp vibration snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts.

I reached for it with trembling fingers and glanced at the caller ID.

Father.

I hesitated for a breath, then swiped to answer.

“Congratulations on your newborn pup,” Elder Joe’s voice rang through the speaker, booming and proud as ever.

“Thank you,” I managed to say, though my voice barely rose above a whisper.

Tears prickled at the back of my eyes, unshed and burning.

Was this truly something to be congratulated for?

A she-wolf.

No matter how strong she might be, no matter what hidden destiny the Moon Goddess whispered about, she would never be the king of alphas.

Not according to everything I had been taught.

Not according to every law and tradition carved into our bones.

And after everything I had gone through , the betrayals, the sacrifices,  how could fate be so cruel?

“Why are you silent?” my father barked across the line, his tone laced with suspicion.

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice.

“She-wolf,” I said finally, the word slipping from my lips like a confession.

There was a long pause.

Then, 

“What?!”

My father’s voice exploded with disbelief and fury, crackling through the phone like thunder.

I winced, pressing the phone harder against my ear as if that could protect me from the weight of his disappointment.

“You told me the scans confirmed a male heir!” he snapped.

“I know!” I cried out, my emotions unraveling. “I did everything right! I took the herbs! I followed the rituals! The healers. they said it would be a boy!”

There was a heavy, charged silence on the other end.

Then he said in a low, dangerous voice, “Something is wrong, Felicia. Something is very wrong.”

Before I could respond, the door to my ward burst open.

Kael, Lucien, and two unfamiliar he-wolves strode in, the door slamming against the wall behind them.

I froze, clutching my daughter instinctively closer to my chest.

Lucien’s expression was unreadable, but there was a dark storm brewing behind his eyes.

Kael looked grim, his jaw clenched tight.

The two other he-wolves, warriors by the look of them,  flanked the door, sealing off any chance of escape.

My heart pounded wildly.

What was happening?

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my effort to stay strong.

Lucien didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, his gaze swept over me, then down to the tiny bundle in my arms.

His jaw tightened even more.

“You need to come with us,” Kael said, stepping forward.

“Why?!” I demanded, clutching my baby closer. “I just gave birth! I’m not going anywhere!”

“It’s not optional,” Kael said.

There was a cold finality in his tone that chilled me to the bone.

Lucien finally spoke, his voice low and measured.

“There’s been… new information. About the child.”

New information?

Panic flared inside me.

Was it about her gender?

Were they planning to replace her?

Destroy her?

Blame me for something that wasn’t my fault?

“What are you talking about?” I asked sharply.

But they didn’t answer.

Lucien  simply moved to my side, his hand firm but not unkind on my arm.

“You need to come,” he said again.

I looked at Lucien, searching his face for any trace of the man I once trusted.

But he gave nothing away.

Fear wrapped itself tighter around my chest.

I couldn’t lose my daughter.

Not now.

Not after everything.

“I won’t leave without her,” I said fiercely, drawing strength from the tiny warmth in my arms.

Lucien gave a slight nod.

“You’ll bring her,” he said. “But you need to see something first.”

That didn’t reassure me at all.

Lucien helped me to my feet carefully.

Pain rippled through my body, but I forced myself to stay strong.

My daughter whimpered against me, sensing my fear.

We moved together down the cold, sterile corridors of the pack infirmary, the two guards trailing close behind.

The farther we walked, the more dread settled over me.

Where were they taking me?

What were they about to show me?

I clutched my pup closer, pressing a kiss against her soft forehead.

“I’ll protect you,” I whispered against her skin.

No matter what it cost me.

We turned a corner,  and then another ,  until we reached a door at the end of a long, dim hallway.

Lucien stopped in front of it.

He turned toward me, his face grim.

“What you see in here,” he said quietly, “will change everything.