Chapter 4：The Price of Blood and Tears
1333words
Opening my eyes, I found myself lying on the bed in the cabin, bandages wrapped tightly around my leg.
"You're awake," Noah's voice came from beside me.
I turned to look at him, my throat too dry to speak.
"Here, drink this," he said, helping me sit up and pressing a glass of water to my lips.
"James... where is he?" I managed to croak.
Noah's expression darkened. "They're still at the lake. I came back early and found you collapsed at the doorway."
Memories flooded back like a tidal wave. The wolf pack's attack, James's rejection, my agonizing journey back alone.
"My baby..." I trembled as I touched my abdomen.
Noah avoided my gaze. "I called a doctor, but..."
No. Impossible. I refused to believe it.
"Tell me the truth," I gripped his arm with surprising strength.
"You lost too much blood, Emma. The doctor said... the baby couldn't be saved."
My world collapsed in that moment.
I curled into a ball, heart-wrenching sobs tearing from deep in my throat.
My baby, my flesh and blood, gone just like that.
Noah tried to comfort me, but his words couldn't penetrate my grief.
I don't know how much time passed, but my crying transformed into a deep, primal howl—the mourning of a wolf.
The necklace emitted a faint glow, barely containing my urge to transform.
"When will they be back?" I finally asked, my voice raw and broken.
"In the evening," Noah answered. "I texted James, but he didn't bother to reply."
Of course he didn't reply. He chose Aria, chose laughter, abandoned his wife and unborn child.
"You need to rest," Noah said softly. "I'll get you something to eat."
After he left, I dragged myself out of bed, limping to the bathroom on my injured leg.
The woman in the mirror was ghostly pale with bloodshot eyes—a walking corpse.
I lifted my shirt and saw that my abdomen was no longer swollen.
That space that once nurtured life now held only emptiness.
I collapsed to the bathroom floor, pressing my skin against the cold tiles, desperate to numb the pain inside.
But the pain followed like a shadow—inescapable.
In the early evening, I heard laughter and voices outside.
They had returned, full of joy and laughter, as if sorrow didn't exist in their world.
The door swung open, James walked in, and the smile on his face froze when he saw me.
"Emma? What's wrong?" He rushed over, reaching for me.
I recoiled from his touch, nothing but ice in my eyes.
"Don't touch me."
He frowned in confusion. "Are you still upset? I thought you were just being dramatic..."
"I lost our baby, James."
His expression morphed from confusion to shock to disbelief.
"What? That's impossible..."
"Because you didn't believe me, because you refused to help me," my voice was terrifyingly calm, "our baby is dead."
He staggered backward, the color draining from his face.
"I didn't know... I thought you were just..."
"Just what? Overthinking? Creating drama?" My voice began to tremble. "I was attacked by wolves, James. I nearly died out there!"
Footsteps sounded outside, and Victor, Helen, and Aria walked in.
"What's going on?" Helen asked, taking in my appearance. "Emma, you look awful."
"I lost the baby," I said, staring straight into her eyes. "While you were all out having fun on the lake."
The room fell silent.
"Oh dear," Helen finally spoke, with barely concealed indifference. "That's... unfortunate."
"Unfortunate?" I sneered. "I was attacked by wolves, couldn't get help, miscarried alone, and you call that 'unfortunate'?"
"Why were you in wolf territory?" Victor asked, brows furrowed. "That's reckless."
"I got a message that my pack was under attack and needed help," I answered. "I called James for help. He refused."
All eyes turned to James.
"I thought she was exaggerating," James defended himself. "She always makes a big deal about her transformation issues."
"Makes a big deal?" My voice rose. "I was carrying your child, James!"
"Calm down, Emma," Helen interrupted. "Shouting won't change anything."
"Change anything?" I looked at her in disbelief. "My baby is dead, and you're worried about how loud I'm speaking?"
"We're all very sorry," Victor said, in a tone one might use to discuss a minor inconvenience. "But this sort of thing... isn't uncommon for people with your... condition."
"Your condition." He couldn't even say the word "werewolf."
"Emma," Aria approached, tears glistening in her eyes. "I'm truly sorry. If I had known this would happen..."
Her performance was almost perfect, but I caught a fleeting glimpse of satisfaction in her eyes.
"Don't touch me," I backed away. "All of you, stay away from me."
"Emma, you need to calm down," James tried to approach. "We'll get through this together."
"We?" I laughed, a hollow sound full of bitterness. "James, from the moment you hung up on me, there was no more 'we'."
"You can't do this," his voice hardened. "You're still my wife."
"Yes, your ATM, your trophy wife," I said coldly. "But not anymore."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Helen snapped. "James has always treated you well!"
"Really?" I turned to her. "Then why was he with Aria when I was bleeding out in the woods?"
"That was just a coincidence," Aria said quickly. "We were just enjoying the lake..."
"Enough!" I cut her off. "I don't want to hear your excuses. I just want to be alone."
"We can't leave you alone," James insisted. "You're emotionally unstable right now."
"GET OUT!" I finally exploded, golden light flashing in my eyes as my wolf nature surged to the surface.
Everyone stumbled back, naked fear on their faces.
This is what they truly thought. In their eyes, I would forever be that dangerous, unwelcome outsider.
"Let's give her space," Noah suggested, herding the others toward the door. "Emma needs rest."
After the door closed, I collapsed onto the bed, tears flowing freely once more.
My baby, my hope, my everything—all gone.
Late that night, a gentle knock came at the door.
"Emma?" It was Noah's voice. "May I come in?"
I didn't answer, but he pushed the door open anyway, carrying a bowl of soup.
"You need to eat something," he said softly. "To keep up your strength."
I silently accepted the bowl but couldn't bring myself to eat.
"What are they saying?" I asked.
Noah hesitated. "Are you sure you want to know?"
I nodded.
"Helen says you're overreacting, Victor is worried about the family's reputation," he paused. "James... says he doesn't know how to face you."
"And Aria?"
"She's putting on a good show of being upset, but..." Noah shook his head. "I saw her with James in the hallway. They looked... intimate."
My heart shattered again, but I was too numb to feel it.
"Thank you for telling me the truth," I said softly. "And thank you for saving me."
"I'm sorry I couldn't save your baby," Noah lowered his head. "If I'd come back earlier..."
"It's not your fault," I interrupted. "It was James's choice that led to all this."
We sat in silence for a while.
"What will you do now?" Noah finally asked.
I looked at the nearly full moon outside the window.
"I don't know," I answered honestly. "But I won't let them hurt me again."
Noah nodded and stood to leave.
"If you need anything, just ask," he paused at the doorway. "I'm on your side, Emma."
After he left, I limped to the window, staring at the nearly full moon.
The full moon was approaching, and my heart had already died.
But the wolf can never be defeated.
The wolf will lick its wounds, grow stronger, and wait for the perfect moment to strike.
I gently touched my abdomen, where life once existed—now only seeds of hatred remained.
"I will make them pay," I whispered to the moon. "Every last one of them."
