Chapter 4: Pain and Secrets
1428 Words
Chapter 4: Pain and Secrets
(Elina's POV)
The pain knifed through me, sharp and searing. My body hurt in ways I’d never experienced before, and I couldn’t stop the tears from spilling down my cheeks.
"Elina," Damon’s voice broke through the fog of my agony. His tone was firm, but there was something softer underneath. Something worried.
I didn’t have the strength to look at him, but I felt him shift closer. The bed dipped slightly as his weight settled beside me.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper, as if saying it too loudly would make everything worse. His fingers brushed my cheek—gentle, careful. It shocked me how kind his touch could be, but it only twisted the knife deeper in my chest.
"I’m fine," I lied, my voice barely audible.
His blue eyes searched my face, and I could feel the tension radiating off him. "You’re crying," he said bluntly, but his tone wasn’t accusing. It was filled with something that almost felt like guilt.
I turned my head away, unable to bear the look on his face. I couldn’t let him see too much. He couldn’t know about the storm raging inside me.
He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I should’ve been more careful." His voice carried a note of self-recrimination. "It’s been a while since..."
He trailed off, but we both knew what he meant. Since we’d been together like this. Since I’d allowed him to touch me in ways no one else ever had.
But this wasn’t about him being too forceful or careless. This was about something else. Something far more terrifying.
The pup growing inside me.
The thought alone made my chest tighten, panic clawing at my throat. How could I possibly tell him? Would he even care? Or would he see this as yet another complication to deal with, another mess for him to control?
I placed a trembling hand over my stomach, my wolf whining softly.
There was a knock at the door, snapping me out of my spiral. Damon stood, his commanding presence filling the room.
"Who is it?" he asked, his tone sharp and authoritative.
"Dr. Reed," came the reply, calm and professional.
"Come in," Damon said, stepping aside as Dr. Sarah Reed entered the room.
The beta physician’s kind eyes scanned the scene. Her gaze briefly lingered on the tears streaking my face before she turned her attention to Damon.
"Alpha Blackwood," she greeted respectfully. "If I may, I’d like a moment alone with Miss Rivers."
For a moment, Damon didn’t move. His protective instincts were clearly warring with the logical part of him that knew he had to leave.
Finally, he relented. "I’ll be right outside," he said, his tone low but firm. His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer before he turned and left the room.
Dr. Reed approached me, her presence calm and steady. She set her medical bag down beside me and began her examination.
"How long have you been experiencing pain?" she asked gently, her hands pressed firmly but carefully against my side.
"Since earlier," I said vaguely, avoiding her gaze.
"Any specific triggers?" she pressed, her voice patient yet curious.
I hesitated. "No," I lied, keeping my answers as brief as possible.
She examined me thoroughly, her experienced hands moving with precision.
"There’s some minor tearing," she finally said, keeping her voice neutral. "Nothing too serious, but you’ll need to rest and avoid strenuous activity for a few days."
She reached into her bag and retrieved a small jar of healing herbs. "This should help. Apply it twice daily for the next three days."
I nodded, taking the jar with trembling hands.
Dr. Reed’s gaze softened. "Is there something else you’d like to tell me, Miss Rivers? You seem... distressed."
For a fleeting moment, I considered telling her everything. About the pup, the fear, the impossible decisions weighing on my shoulders.
But the words refused to come. I forced a weak smile. "No, that’s all. Thank you."
She didn’t seem convinced, but she nodded and stood. "Take care of yourself, Elina. And if anything feels off, don’t hesitate to reach out."
With that, she left, and Damon reentered the room.
"What did she say?" he demanded, his alpha authority barely held in check.
"Nothing serious," I replied, holding up the jar of herbs. "Just minor injuries."
His jaw tightened, and I could see the storm brewing in his eyes. Without waiting for permission, he took the jar from my hands.
"Lie down," he instructed, his tone brooking no argument.
"Damon, I can—"
"Lie down, Elina," he repeated, his voice softer this time.
Silently, I obeyed, too tired to argue.
He scooped some of the healing mixture onto his fingers and began applying it to my skin with surprising gentleness. His touch was firm but careful, his focus entirely on the task at hand.
"This should be the last time," I said quietly, unable to keep the emotion out of my voice. "The last time we do... this."
He paused for a fraction of a second, his eyes flicking up to meet mine. "You always say that," he replied softly. "But you’re the one who keeps coming back."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut because they were true. No matter how much I told myself this needed to stop, I couldn’t seem to let go.
It wasn’t until later that night, when the room was dark and silent, that my thoughts spiraled again. Damon’s phone buzzed repeatedly on the nightstand, the screen lighting up with the name "xx."
I tried to ignore it, but the constant buzzing grated on my nerves. Finally, unable to take it any longer, I picked up the phone.
"Hello?" I said hesitantly.
"Who is this?" came a sharp, unfamiliar voice on the other end.
Before I could respond, Damon emerged from the bathroom, water dripping from his hair. His eyes narrowed when he saw me holding his phone.
His long stride brought him to my side in an instant. He took the phone from my hand without a word, his movements tense and purposeful.
He didn’t acknowledge me as he pressed the phone to his ear and walked out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
I stared at the closed door for what felt like hours. He didn’t come back that night.
---
Three days later, I stood in the lobby of the pack’s medical facility, clutching an appointment slip in my hand.
"I’m sorry, little one." My voice was barely above a whisper, and my free hand instinctively rested over my stomach.
The elevator doors opened, and I froze. Damon and Asher stood inside, their combined alpha presence nearly overwhelming.
"Elina," Asher said, his expression shading with concern. "Are you alright?"
I felt his eyes flicker toward the slip in my hand and the wing of the hospital I was exiting.
"P-perfectly fine," I stammered. "Just... routine checks."
Damon’s sharp blue eyes bore into me, his lips curling into a smirk. "Routine, is it?" he drawled. "Funny how you’re always where the secrets are, little wolf."
My cheeks burned. "What are you insinuating, Damon?"
"Nothing," he said lazily. "I just find your idea of being ‘well-behaved’... entertaining."
I clenched my fists, anger bubbling to the surface. "That’s rich, coming from you. You have no right to judge me or assume you know my life."
"You’re awfully defensive, Elina," Damon replied, his voice cool but edged with mockery.
Before I could think of a retort, Asher stepped forward, his grey eyes filled with protective determination.
"Enough, Damon," he said firmly.
Damon merely raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
The tension was suffocating by the time we reached my mother’s hospital room. Eleanor brightened at the sight of us but quickly grew overwhelmed by the presence of two dominant alphas.
"I need a moment," I muttered, practically fleeing to the restroom.
I barely had time to catch my breath before the door opened behind me. Spinning around, I found Damon standing there, his piercing gaze locking onto mine.
Pure instinct took over. My hand shot up, slapping him across the face with a force I didn’t realize I had.
The c***k of the slap echoed through the small space, and my mouth fell open in shock at my own actions.
Damon’s head tilted slightly, his cold blue eyes narrowing as his wolf stirred beneath the surface.
I knew, in that instant, I had made a grave mistake.
- Writer
