Never in a million years, I imagined I would be pregnant. Again.

A few weeks ago before Leah was to move to our pack, Logan insisted on sleeping with me. I agreed. He knotted me.

Tears of frustration fell, but what was the use?

Healer Agnes, a young yet competent healer closed the curtains before taking a seat by the bed.

"Luna Elaine...I'm sorry." She started, her eyes red.

"Sorry for what?"

"Your second pregnancy is heavily risky. The fetus is five weeks old, yet showing signs of some serious conditions I don't want to confirm yet." Healer Agnes expressed.

"I see. But I have decided to keep it." I said, caressing my baby bump that I've just noticed. The days were spent stressing over my sick son. No wonder I never noticed my deteriorating health or my pack falling apart.

"You were a Healer, right?" Agnes asked. I nodded curtly.

"I haven't practised much. But given my rank, I can. But after Jean recovers." I said. Agnes nodded again and left.

Moments later, Mother Olga walked in. She was looking furious. She stood by the side of my bed.

"Stand up." She commanded. Her tone was disdainful and temperamental. I knew I was never in her good books. She wanted to marry Logan to a wealthy Alpha's daughter but he accidentally knocked me up.

"Why are you carrying his child?" She asked. It was such a lame question.

"Because he gave me the seed?" I retorted. She wasn't amused by my answer.

Suddenly, Olga held the back of my neck with both hands and kneed my stomach. Hard. I coughed out air, but something terrible happened already.

"Ah...AHH!" I began screaming, the pain only growing. The healers and others stood over me, but I was scared away by Olga. She watched me writhe, create a mess on the ground for I just miscarried by force.

"No...no!!" I kept screaming, I was losing my mind.

"That's what you get for talking back. It shouldn't have been you, Elaine. My Leah should be carrying his child now. Not you." Olga's words weren't registering in my head. I was in too much agony.

"What is happening here?" The robust voice of my mate burst through and silenced chattering.

"Logan...help me..." I reached my hand out. He crouched down, I thought he would comfort me and help me stand up. But he clicked his tongue, repeatedly.

"Mother. Didn't I tell you to wait? We had other plans to make her terminate the pregnancy. Did you have to go ahead and do it yourself? In such a way?" He said. Logan's voice was surprisingly calm.

"She talked back. You know I don't tolerate such things." Olga replied, her arms folded against her chest.

The brief memory of her insanity struck me at the moment.

Olga had a request when I was pregnant with Jean, six years ago. I was neatly arranging my clothes when Olga barged into my chamber and barked orders.

"That stupid sandwich that you make. I want 100 of them. Right now. I've got guests coming." Olga commanded and walked away.

She gave me two hours to make them all and decorate them on a huge silver platter all by myself. She even restricted omegas and others to help me. I almost fainted by the time I was done.

I was short of five sandwiches when a slap shook me and made me fall to the ground. Olga stood over me and barked atrocities. I kept staring at the monster standing over me, eyes wide and realization settling in.

At the end of her fiasco, she commanded the warrior ranks, "Throw her in the silver cell. Maybe she will learn a lesson."

My eyes widened. I tried to stand up but Olga kicked my hand. I lost balance and fell back disgracefully.

"You should know I hate when people lower than me, disobey me." Said Olga. Just then, Logan and Leah cheerfully skipped inside and I caught them briefly.

They were holding hands. Logan's white shirt had a lipstick stain on the edge of the collar. He wasn't even trying to hide it.

"She's going to the dungeon already?" Lovan asked nonchalantly.

"Well, yes. Unless you object." Olga asked, smirking. Her filthy son smirked back and replied,

"Well, it's a learning that I won't object to. She should learn some obedience, Mother. I will always follow whatever you say." Logan gave his ultimatum. He took the hand of his mother and kissed the knuckles.

That should've been the end of my torment. But they kept reeling me in with boastful surprises and grand gestures to hide the toxicity, the harm they caused me.

I sniffled, biting my lip as I lay lifeless on the ground. Everyone left. Except for Agnes who was holding her mouth and sobbing behind her palms.

"It's no use, Agnes. You should leave too. They'll punish you for helping me." I said.

"T-They won't punish me for staying and instructing you to clean yourself up, Elaine. We can start when you are ready. If you don't take the remains out, there will be deathly complications for the mother." Agnes spoke in a trembling voice.

I was nodding my head, continuously.

After a while, Jea pulled us together and I was able to stand.

It was the most awful experience as I was sucking out my own fetus, with my own hands.

I hoped no mother would face this situation, ever.

While all of this was unfolding, my mind was still directed to Jean. He's struggling.

He's dancing on the fence to the melody that is calling him to rest in peace and the chaotic noise and screams pleading him to live.

What would he choose?

The melody or the chaotic noise?

The next day, Olga caught me eating edible leaves and berries in the forest when she summoned me back.

In the presence of Elders, she verdicted,

"Due to the increase in war activity, I need my healers to be top priority. More healers, the better. Elaine was born a healer and should serve the necessities our pack is demanding. So Elders, accept my proposal to let Elaine go nowhere and give her services to Waterstone."

Couldn't I even be consulted for an opinion? My son is dying in a human hospital because my pack refused treatment. I was recovering from a traumatic, forced miscarriage. And this is how they want me to act. Become the pack's newbie healer.

How selfish can everyone be? What's worse? The ploy is collective - against me.

I shed a tear from each eye before nodding and leaving the room. No one could have stopped me. I would have raged on them.

I called myself down and dialled the front office of the human hospital.

They seemed to be busy. It was around Christmas time for humans.

"Please...someone," I begged the Moon Goddess.

On the seventh dial, the telephone was answered by a male voice.

"Attending doctor Rayleigh speaking..."

The voice was stern yet silky. I took a shaky breath in before asking.

"Where are the receptionists? Or- or an attending nurse for the floor?" I asked.

"They've all gone for the festival, Miss. I need you to calm down, okay? I'm an attending doctor here and I will help you out." He said. Later, I learned the doctor was the only attending for three floors combined that day. What's wrong the Healthcare these days?

"Thank you. Um...my son Jean is in room 37. Please tell me his status?" I asked.

"Okay. Give me a moment, stay on line miss." He said and returned after a minute of silence.

"He's doing fine, Miss. You're Elaine, his mother. Is that correct?" He asked.

"Yes, I am his mother, Elaine. But sir, just because you sound concerned for me and you're out there taking care of patients instead of celebrating the holiday, I would want to ask of you..." I inhaled sharply,

"Please take care of my son. I'm bound by a few...things out here. I'm a werewolf. A healer rank." I said, accepting my position just for ease of explanation.

"Ah, I knew you were a werewolf, miss. And I will take care of your son. It's part of my job. But I would also want you to take care of yourself. Understood, Miss Elaine?" The doctor said. Somewhere in my heart, I felt at ease.

"Yes, doctor. Thank you. I owe you." He chuckled heartily as I said.

"No need to owe anyone anything, Miss Elaine. You're a strong mother already. And I'm just doing my job. See you." Saying, the doctor exchanged pleasantries and cut the call.

For the first time in forever, I felt as though someone was taking care of my son and...me.

Suddenly, a hand swatted the phone out of my hand. The woman stood across me, arms folded against her chest.

"See that? Didn't I tell you she was cheating on you already? She's got another MISTER taking care of that sick child." Leah spat as she turned away. Logan was leaning against the door. He smelled fresh pine and cinnamon.

Both of which I'm allergic to. I couldn't help but sneeze. The perfume was too strong.

"Logan. Can you please get out of the room? I'm suffocated by the smell." I spoke between sneezes.

"Pft! Look at her face! You're really the ugliest person I've ever seen, Elaine. Ew." Saying, Leah skipped away and into the arms of her lover.

"At least reimburse me for the phone," I said, seething with anger. Logan looked over his shoulder and said,

"She doesn't have to. I will. You're my mate, Elaine. No need to bring Leah into this when she was just trying to look out for me." Logan said and left.

How ironic. Leah was just looking out for him, huh?

In the evening, I emerged from my small chambers like a zombie. I reeked of dried sweat and blood as I made my way to the common bathroom. It had a line, so I sat there exhausted.

By the time it was my turn to use the bathroom, the omega who had gone before gave a guilty heads-up.

"Um...Healer Elaine. The water heater is broken. I'm sorry." She said. I rolled my eyes, even though it wasn't her fault. I didn't have the privilege of warm water to clean myself up. That was fine.

The real hustle started when warrior ranks were reeled in after a border attack in the south.

Olga was overlooking healers' performances. That was a task out of the blue. To say every healer was stressed under his scrutiny would be an understatement.

She came to my table. I was addressing the warrior rank with an open, bleeding wound to his calf.

"Why aren't you healing his leg? Why are you concentrating on his thigh? That's lewd." She commented with a face.

"His main artery needs to be paused so he wouldn't die of blood loss. It's basic knowledge. I'll heal his calf later-" I was explaining when she cut me off,

"Heal his calf first. And don't you dare talk back...ever again." She said, grinding her teeth and balling up her fists. I exhaled sharply and looked away.

I knew I would face the consequences, but at that moment, healing the patient was a priority.

At around 6 at dawn, the inflow of emergencies halted. Werewolves fight at night. They protect against the evils at night. Ironic, wasn't it? Because the Moon Goddess shows up at night, too.

"Her stats are too low. Isn't it?" Leah's voice was heard outside the hut. I was covered in bodily fluids from healing others when I overheard their conversation.

"Agreed. But I can't overlook the fact that her healing process is long-lasting." Said Agnes's mother, Healer Anne.

"Doesn't matter. Her efficiency will affect the pack. If she chose to heal someone fully, she had chosen to waste time and not save another wounded wolf. Think about it." Leah said to convince. My eyes widened.

"I will look into that, Luna." Saying, Healer Anne, who is the head of healers, bowed and left.

"I know you're there, Elaine." I emerged from the shadowd at Leah's call. She smirked.

"I made you stay here.

And I'll make sure I take full advantage of your stay here. I promise."

Said Leah.

But she didn't know I had a very elaborate plan, intending on NOT staying any further.

The night was exhausting again. But I didn't let it stop me from learning healing by the day.

I got a call on my new phone, a semi-functional hand-me-down of Leah's.

"Hello?" I answered.

"What are you doing right now?" It was Logan. He sounded relaxed, munching on grapes or something.

"I'm working on a few-" He didn't let me complete before cutting me off,

"There's a delivery of roses by the borders. Since human contact is minimized, get them from the south borders." I raised an eyebrow at his request.

"You sound free enough for that. Do it yourself." I said.

"Stop being a rebel and get me that. I have a surprise for you too." My eyebrows were crushed. I sighed at the end of the call and decided to do it anyway.

I collected the roses. It made me sneeze. The pollen doesn't suit me, Logan was well aware of that. Just then, I got a call from Dr Rayleigh.

"Hello doctor. Any progress on his condition?" I asked.

"Jean is still undergoing testing. There is a possibility of multiple organ failure, Ms Elaine. You should come to visit before it gets too late." He suggested.

"Doctor, given my condition, I can't travel. I love my son dearly, but this is beyond me. Please take care of him. I trust you." I said.

"I understand. The werewolf world seems to be in shambles." I hummed, and he cut the call after saying, "Take care".

While returning to the packhouse with the roses, I came across Leah. She was discussing her pregnancy with someone on the call.

"Wait. Someone's here." She abruptly cut the call to turn to me.

"Look at your face. It's so stupid swollen." She commented.

"These are for me, right?" Leah continued, I nodded. Suddenly, she plucked the thorny bush for a bouquet and smashed it to the ground.

And then, out of nowhere, she started crying loudly.

"MUMMA! LOGAN! LOOK WHAT SHE DID!' she cried. I raised an eyebrow at her actions.

"What the hell!?" Logan screamed and entered the scene. Olga wasn't far behind. She had a vicious look in her eye.

"How dare you do this..." Logan came forth to hold me by the collar. I was used to the abuse anyway. However, the situation was leveraged by Leah.

She stepped forward and slapped me across the face. While the others watched in silence.

"You're such a selfish bitch!" She screamed and stormed away. Olga ran behind her, cooing and calling Leah an 'angel'. I laughed in my head at the irony.

"You know you shouldn't have done that, right? I know you're jealous of Leah, but still." Logan said his grip on my collar loosening.

"You must be sick in your head to think I'd stoop so low." I retorted.

"So you didn't stomp on these...?" Logan asked innocently. I rolled my eyes.

"Obviously. I didn't. Her shoes have the thorns, not mine. She did it herself." I said. Logan didn't respond and left the scene.

In the evening, I was preparing another inflow of warrior ranks and more who have been fighting at the border.

Healing was distributed between the seven of us. I was the seventh addition.

Before I could address the patient on the bed, Logan pulled me aside.

"Logan, I have work," I said, sounding desperate to leave.

"Listen to me. You and I will go to a nice restaurant soon. I need to talk to you. But remember this. I will always love you." Saying, Logan kissed my forehead and walled away.

Normally, I would have been swayed. But I was done with his toxicity. I brushed it off and got to work.

After the healing was done, it was dawn again. Everyone else was sound asleep in the healers' hut. While I walked around with bedpans and other necessities, trying to keep the wards sanitized.

I wanted to cry at the kind of work I was doing. Sure, it was for my own pack. But I was helping the same people who never supported me through harsh times. Instead, they turned a blind eye and deaf ear, just because their 'alpha and Mother Olga' told them so.

I silently shed tears in agony.

Just then, I got a call from Dr Rayleigh. My heart sank. I dwelled in the corner, holding the phone at an angle that the network worked.

I was losing my mind when I saw it was a video call. Was this a call for Jean's parting...?

"Hello, Ms Elaine." It was Dr Rayleigh's soothing voice.

"W-What's wrong with my son?" I held my face and cried.

"He is fine, Ms Elaine. We had just pumped up all the fluids out of his lungs. He is out of danger." Dr Rayleigh said.

I let out the heaviest sigh of my life.

"Also, he wants to talk to you." I gasped the loudest I could. I looked around and nodded.

"Hello...mumma..."

His voice...

Jean hadn't spoken to me for 3 weeks. His condition worsened way too quickly. I thought I'd never be able to say goodbye or love properly one last time.

I, as the Luna of Waterstone, never had time for him as he was growing up. But my negligence cost him his life.

"I love you, Jean...mumma loves you so much." I said. No other words were crossing my mind.

"I love you too, mumma. I will be fine." I clutched my chest and cried silently as he said. Jean is such a mature child. Way too mature for his age. He makes me a proud mother...

We couldn't talk much since baby Jean fell asleep quickly. Dr Rayleigh said the procedure was only possible since werewolf children had more immunity and resilience than normal human children.

I was more than thankful for Dr Rayleigh.

However, a presence was looming over me. I didn't realize it was Leah as her wide eyes stared at the contact on display.

"Why are you talking to my ex-boyfriend?"