Chapter 3
His expression shifted slightly, a flicker of hesitation passing through his eyes.
I arched my brows deliberately, my tone light and casual.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to come with me?”
He opened his mouth but avoided my gaze.
“No, it’s not that… I just worry it’ll tire you out. And I’ve got a pack meeting tomorrow—how about another day?”
I looked at him and let out a soft laugh, my voice warm and considerate.
“Of course. Pack business comes first. I’ll go on my own.”
He seemed relieved, smiling as he reached out to lightly ruffle my hair with practiced affection.
“You’re always so thoughtful. What would I do without you?”
The morning of the procedure, just before leaving the house, Landon suddenly took out a small bracelet and gently put it on my wrist.
“This is for you,” he said with his usual gentle tone and soft gaze.
I looked down—it was the matching bracelet to the one he gave Megan. A freebie.
My fingers clenched slightly. I looked up at him and smiled softly.
“Thank you. It’s lovely.”
He smiled too, ruffling my hair again as he murmured,
“Lauren, you’re always so good to me.”
Before heading to the hospital for the procedure, I decided to stop by my parents’ house.
But before I even reached the door, I heard voices drifting out clearly.
Megan’s spoiled, complaining tone:
“What’s so special about Lauren? She hit me yesterday!”
My mother’s gentle voice trying to soothe her:
“Just be patient a little longer. Didn’t we already help you take her fiancé? This time will work too. Don’t rush.”
My father sighed heavily.
“Enough. You’ve already become the Luna of Lauren’s first mate. If your mate’s Alpha parents ever find out how this child really came to be, there’ll be a lot to pay—for all of us.”
Landon’s voice chimed in, soft but steady:
“Megan, don’t worry. I brought the prenatal report from yesterday—it’s all good. We just need to wait now.”
He paused, then added,
“Ryan, Amanda, please don’t worry. I’ve got this. For Megan, I’ll do anything.”
My fingertips went ice-cold.
It felt like all the blood in my body had stopped flowing.
So… they all knew.
All this time… they’d been in it together. I was nothing more than a pawn.
A maid knocked to deliver coffee.
Landon opened the door casually—then froze.
Lying quietly at the threshold was the broken bracelet he had just given me that morning.
His expression changed instantly.
He gasped, eyes darting in panic as he bolted to the door and looked around frantically.
Then came the calls. Over and over.
When I finally picked up, his voice was trembling with anxiety.
“Lauren, where are you? I can explain—just listen, okay?”
I kept silence.
His voice grew increasingly frantic.
“Lauren! Please— Where are you?!”
Then, over the phone, a nurse’s voice came through clearly in the background:
“Lauren Whitman? Please sign here before the procedure.”
On the other end, Landon sounded like he had been punched in the gut.
He choked, then exploded into hysteria.
“Procedure? Where are you?! What are you talking about?!”
He was screaming now, voice completely unraveling.
I stared at the screen for a moment, then gently swiped my finger.
Call ended.
Phone off.
