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?"

"Dr Rayleigh?" I asked.

"Do you think I'm lying?" She questioned back, arms crossed.

"Well, he's taking care of my son. Karma?" I said and was about to turn away. But Leah clutched a tuft of my hair in her fist. It hurt my scalp so badly, but I held it in.

"You should stop being such a bitch before I tell that dumb Olga about you. And I'll make sure you're not going to that dinner with my man. Nor you're talking to Rayleigh." She said. Her words were a lot to process.

Dumb Olga?

'My man'?

Rayleigh?

What does she even want from me?

"How did you know about Logan asking me out for dinner?" I asked, seething in pain as my scalp felt like ripping off. A meek human like her had a lot of strength.

"You're not the only one with good ears. Best of luck for that stupid dinner." Saying, she left my hair and strutted away. I wiped the tears of pain from the corners of my eyes.

The following evening, Logan dressed up in a nice tuxedo and was waiting for me at the packhouse entrance. I didn't have much clothing. Showing up in a tee and jeans seemed normal.

"Whoa! Look at her!" Leah was there, gasping a my attire.

"She isn't even respecting your invitation to such a fancy restaurant, Logan." She fed lies.

"Okay, first of all, I didn't know which restaurant-"

"Bullshit. If you didn't want to go, you should've told me." Logan threw his woollen scarf to the ground.

"I can still change," I spoke humbly. My chest was growing warm for some reason.

I went back and came out in a black dress. Clearly, I've grown out of proportion since I became a mother. Moreover, a stressed mother.

My plumpiness spilt around the underarm tucks. I didn't mind it. Helps me flaunt my natural beauty. But I was wrong.

Leah walked out, flaunting in a red dress. Her baby bump didn't seem as obvious in this. Or maybe she was wearing a compressor - which is harmful to the fetus.

I was confused and asked,

"Why are you dressed for our date?" I asked Leah.

"Because I invited her," Logan uttered, nonchalantly.

"Yup. Because he needs company who doesn't piss him off." Leah added to his words. When I turned to look at Logan, he was giving me a disgusted, annoyed gaze.

I didn't realize it until much later.

He was comparing me to the young beauty of his new lover. His new breeder, the human who made my life hell.

We reached the location. People pulled out cameras to take their pictures, thinking they were celebrities of sorts.

"Is she your maid or make-up artist? She's blocking the view!" One person stated, pointing to me. Leah burst into hysterical laughter.

Logan cut the impromptu photoshoot short and ushered us in. My face was red with embarrassment.

"Did you see that!?" Leah asked Logan whilst we rode the elevator.

"I did. I mean, she chose the dress herself." Logan replied, casually brushing Leah's face and booping her nose.

I didn't pay much attention to them. However, I looked down and noticed something odd.

Leah's heels were unbearably smaller for her swollen feet. I looked up with a raised eyebrow. She's hiding her discomfort for the sake of image.

"I can't wait to lick all the plates clean, Leah. The restaurant is fabulous, per reviews." Logan said suggestively. Oh, my Goddess...what did I bring myself into?

But when Logan let the door open and let Leah walk out, he suddenly caught my face in his hand, making my lips pucker out.

"You look beautiful to me regardless." Logan then kissed my lips, grunting like a beast and slapping my behind.

I knew Logan always had a thing for plump figures. One that Leah wasn't but she gave him more than physical pleasure. Manipulation. And he fell for her tricks too easily.

"Two glazed Rôti Pomme and wine for starters. Salad for the lady." Logan spoke to the waiter. The waiter was visibly confused.

"Which lady, sire...?"

"Both of them?" Logan nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. I interluded and said,

"Steak with mashed potatoes and heavy gravy, please. Can I have sautéed vegetables on the side with pepper?.... thank you." I gave out my order and watched the server leave.

"Aren't you feasting a little too much?" Leah asked, sipping on water while Logan and I enjoyed wine.

"Might as well use the opportunity and eat a proper meal after a long time," I said casually. The table grew uncomfortable. Logan, even more annoyed.

His gaze suggested, "We will talk later".

I was munching on my well-deserved steak when Leah's stomach growled. She looked at Logan, who looked at me.

"She's not feeling well. Pregnancy is always hard for the women, isn't it?" Logan said, standing up. My reminiscence reminded me of the days when I was pregnant. The first trimester was messy.

'You're being too dramatic.' Said my mate. He was scrolling on his new phone. Agreed that we were young, barely 20 when I was pregnant. But he lacked empathy for me.

'I'm literally carrying your child, Logan.' I said in tears. He clicked his tongue, looking at me with disgust.

'So what? You're not the onky woman who was ever pregnant.' Rolling his eyes after breaking my heart, Logan walked out of our room.

The indifference made me chuckle. Logan and Leah disappeared for a few good minutes.

The restaurant, though on the higher end, had loads of hungry clients. The waiter passed by many times. Two hours passed.

"Maam. We need to clear the table." The manager approached and asked. I exhaled sharply and knew I had to pay with the whole of my savings or even work as a dishwasher to compensate.

I held in the tears as the card was declined thrice.

Just then, I got a call. From the least expected person.

I had to turn to him for help.