Richard's POV

Anita's eyes were filled with fear. Thoughts of Lucky slightly ached my heart.

“Give us a moment, please,” I said to the policemen.

They nodded and moved to the side.

I held Anita by the arms. “Listen to me, you have to go with them, but you will not be there for long.”

Her eyes filled with shock as a snarl ripped out of her. “Richard! You want me to go with them? But you promised to take care of everything. You are an Alpha! They will do as you instruct!” she cried.

“Listen to me, Anita! I might be an alpha, but I am also a law-abiding citizen!” I snapped angrily at her.

Seeing how scared she was, I sighed and added softly, “I will take care of everything. You just need to spend the night there. By morning, everything will be sorted out, okay?”

She searched my eyes for a few seconds and nodded in response, “Thank you, Richard.”

After she had left with the policemen, I turned to Martins, who was now standing by my side, and instructed, “Negotiate with them for any amount of compensation. Minimize the impact of this incident.”

Martins nodded in response and left with my lawyer to the police station.

**********

A few hours ago, this morning, Martins and my lawyer were able to successfully secure Anita's release from the police station. They brought her to the suite in my hotel where I had lodged her and Lucky.

I was relieved to see the mother and son duo finally reunite.

Last night, after Anita was taken away by the police, I went to the hotel to stay with Lucky. It was one hell of a night, as I barely had any sleep due to his constant cries, calling for his mother.

Upon her return, Anita was very down and cried intermittently. Due to this, I stayed with them until dawn the next day before I left.

I checked my cellphone when I got home and realized that I had missed several calls from Martins. I had put my cellphone on silent mode since yesterday, not wanting to be disturbed.

I called him back to know why he had called.

As soon as the call connected, Martins’ voice rang out, “Alpha, we have a problem.”

I furrowed my brows. “What problem is that?”

He hesitated for a moment before he replied, “The victim has refused to negotiate any compensation from us.”

“Do they want money? You can give them more, do everything you can to prevent them from pressing charges,” I ordered coldly.

I could hear Martins take a deep breath, pausing momentarily before he said in a low tone, “Alpha... the victim is Luna Ceres, your wife... and...”

There was absolute silence. I was still trying to process his words when he added, “She was carrying your pup. One month along. The pup died due to the accident.”

His words hung in the air like a death knell.

“What did you say? How can it be her?” I asked in utter confusion.

“It is indeed her, Alpha. I confirmed it from her girlfriend who has been by her side since the incident.”

My wolf roared in my head. I clenched my fist, my claws piercing my palm as realization crashed over me.

I finally understood why I felt a bit restless last night. It was because something bad happened to my mate!

She was one month pregnant? And now it was gone?

A piercing sensation slashed through my heart like a sharp blade, leaving me in excruciating pain.

“Go to the hospital at once. I will meet you there,” I ordered and ended the call.

When I arrived at the hospital half an hour later, I saw Martins sitting in the lobby with my lawyer and two other people: a man and a woman.

She must be Ceres's friend, the one Martins spoke about.

Approaching them, I asked, my voice trembling with fury, “Where is she?”

Martins hesitated briefly, his gaze flickering towards the calm lady who sat beside the man. Unlike him, she looked unfazed by my presence.

She then turned her cold gaze at me, her sharp blue eyes brimming with defiance as she said in an icy tone, “She just had surgery and doesn't want to see you.”

She rose to her feet and advanced toward me.

“Alpha Richard, it is such a pity your pup is gone,” she taunted.

I narrowed my eyes at her. A mix of rage, guilt, and grief coursed through my entire body as a low growl ripped out of my throat at her.

But she wasn't finished. Her voice, dripping with venom, snarled. Each word was a dagger aimed at my heart. “Why would you even care? Your illegitimate child is alive and well, isn't he? That's all that matters to you! Congratulations, Richard, you are free from this marriage now, just the way you wanted!”

I staggered a bit, her words striking me harder than a physical blow. My voice, when it finally came, was hoarse and fractured. “Where is Ceres?” I growled.

For some reason, in the midst of the panic, I felt a strong sense of powerlessness. I didn't have high expectations for the pup with Ceres, but upon hearing she had lost it, I couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in my heart.

My pup was gone! The ache in my heart deepened as I realized the cruel irony. While Ceres had bled and suffered last night, I had been comforting the woman responsible.

I clenched my fist, my heart crushing under the weight of excruciating pain.

The lady in front of me grabbed a document from the man still seated and hurled it at me.

"This," she said, her voice as sharp as a blade, "is the divorce agreement. Sign it. If you don’t, we’ll press charges against Anita for intentional murder and make her rot in a cell for the rest of her miserable life.”