Mia was in agony, staring at the cold expression on her husband’s face. Those deep red eyes bore into her with rejection, making her feel utterly vulnerable and deceived.
Seeing her tear-filled eyes, Alpha Domenik remained indifferent, without a shred of compassion.
"You can continue living here, but you will have no name. What your father asked me to do, I have already done. During the three years I was married to you, I reclaimed many lost lands for him and provided protection to his territory. In return, he promised me an heir of my own blood."
At that moment, Mia finally understood the full truth of her marriage to Alpha Domenik. It had all been a deal, nothing more. And she was the biggest fool, played by both her father and the man she had called her mate.
"Forget about the child that was just born! In the future, the true mother of my son will be your sister, Myriam, the only Luna I acknowledge as mine. You will no longer be Luna."
"But this isn’t fair! I am our child’s mother! Not my dead sister!"
Domenik cut her off sharply, unwilling to hear anyone say that Myriam was gone.
"I will grant you what an Alpha's rank deserves, though you are unworthy. You don’t even have a wolf within you. You may continue living here as the Queen’s sister. No one will dare to harass you. If you wish to see my son, you will be nothing more than the aunt who raised him. You have no right to call him yours.
But if you choose to return home, I will send someone to deliver you to your father first thing tomorrow morning. The moment you defy my orders, reveal secrets, or break your word, you will be exiled from the pack, and your father will see you as a deserter."
"It's not fair what you're doing to me, Domenik! You're so cruel… now you're finally showing your true colors," Mia's words came out in broken whispers. She felt drained, her strength slipping away, and the pain in her abdomen only growing stronger.
"Shut up!" he snapped. "From this moment on, your mission is complete. You are no longer Luna. In case Beta’s words weren’t clear enough for you."
Without another word, Alpha Domenik turned and left, leaving Leticia stunned—but even more so, Mia. She had clung to the hope that this child would change her husband's mind, that it would spark even the smallest bit of affection for her.
Alpha Domenik walked out of the maternity ward alongside Beta. He had more important things to handle—his esteemed guest was about to arrive, and he had no time to waste on a woman who had just given birth.
Mia felt pain, searing through every part of her body, an agony unlike anything she had ever experienced.
"I'm going to die…" she whispered. "Help me, Leticia!"
Omega Leticia was a young nurse, only eighteen years old. She had graduated from nursing school two years ago, becoming the first female Omega nurse, which was why she worked so hard.
She quickly realized that Mia was about to have another baby, the placenta of the first had already detached. The Alpha’s gynecologist had misdiagnosed the pregnancy, believing there had only been one child.
Mia wasn’t hemorrhaging, but she looked like she was about to go into labor again.
"Leticia…? I'm going to die! It hurts! My whole body is burning!" Mia gasped through the pain.
"Luna Mia, your second child is about to be born."
"This is impossible! Oh, please, help me… It hurts so much! Please, don't tell Alpha Domenik!" she begged between sobs. "He’ll take this one away too!"
"Please, try not to scream! I'll do everything I can to help you through this," Leticia reassured her. "Bite down on this towel—bite as hard as you can and push! I know you can do this!"
Leticia was ready to deliver the second baby, but the child's head was too large, causing Mia unbearable pain.
"I can't…!" Mia mumbled, feeling a wave of dizziness. Leticia quickly tapped her cheeks, trying to keep her conscious.
"Yes, you can!" she insisted, pressing the towel back into Mia’s mouth. When she saw her rolling her eyes back, struggling to keep them open, she lightly slapped her cheeks again.
Mia lost consciousness, making things even more difficult for Leticia. The baby's head was already crowning, and if Mia didn’t push, the child could die. Desperate, Leticia managed to wake her up, encouraging her to keep going. Seeing how weak she was, Leticia placed her hands on Mia’s belly, gently guiding the baby out with slow, steady movements.
"Keep pushing! You're there!" she urged.
Mia felt like she had nothing left to give, but she summoned the last of her strength and pushed again—only to pass out just as her baby was born. Leticia caught the newborn in her arms, wrapping the child quickly in a cloth.
The poor midwife had managed the entire birth alone. The baby was healthy, but now she had to take care of Mia, who remained unconscious. Yet what scared her the most was the thought of someone finding out—this child could be taken away just like the first. She had to be careful.
As night fell, Leticia sat with the newborn in her arms, watching over Mia without blinking. When she noticed Mia’s brow furrowing, a sign that she was waking up, she immediately stood and approached the bed.
"How do you feel, my Luna?" she asked gently.
"My whole-body hurts… and I’m so thirsty," Mia whispered.
"I'll get you something to drink. Here, your baby… It’s a boy. He’s precious."
"My son…" Mia murmured, holding the child against her chest as Leticia brought her water. Her lips were painfully dry—she was completely parched.
"I admire you, my Luna. You did an amazing job," Leticia said softly.
"I'm not Luna anymore… Help me. I don’t want Domenik to find out…"
"Shh," Leticia interrupted, placing a reassuring hand on Mia’s arm. "Don’t push yourself too hard, my Luna. You need to regain your strength—your son needs you."
Mia couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
There seemed to be a celebration outside the hospital, and indeed, fireworks were being set off.
"I think it’s to celebrate my son’s birth," Mia said bitterly. All those delusional thoughts of becoming a true queen had completely vanished from her mind.
"Luna Mia," Leticia hurried to say, "please don’t worry. For now, I’ll keep your little one in the incubator. I’m on duty at the hospital tonight, so take your baby and run before sunrise. I saw what Alpha Domenik did to you… I’m truly sorry."
"I have no strength left… Why are you helping me?" Mia didn’t understand.