Chapter 5: A Desperate Decision
Chapter 5: A Desperate Decision
(Dr. Katherine Miller’s POV)
I stared at Samantha Reed, my professional composure momentarily shaken by her request. The woman sitting across from me looked nothing like the vibrant, determined Luna I’d treated for years. Her skin was pale, dark circles shadowing her eyes–evidence of sleepless nights and endless tears.
“Terminate the pregnancy?” I repeated, unable to hide my shock. “Sam, you’ve been trying for three years.”
I rarely used the familiar nickname, saving it for our private conversations. Now it slipped out naturally, a gesture of concern rather than professionalism.
Samantha nodded, her hands trembling slightly as they rested on her lap. “I’ve made my decision, Katherine.”
“May I ask why?” I kept my voice gentle, non–judgmental. “This is the baby you’ve wanted for so long.”
“The timing isn’t right,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Tears welled in her eyes but didn’t fall. “Things have…
changed.”
I didn’t press for details. The Northern Territory’s rumor mill had already been buzzing with whispers about trouble
between the Alpha King and his Luna. Samantha’s presence here alone, without Ethan’s hovering protectiveness, told me
everything I needed to know.
“I understand,” I said, though I didn’t entirely. “I can schedule the procedure, but not immediately. Three weeks from now
is the earliest I can arrange it.”
Relief and something like gratitude flickered across her face. “Thank you.”
I sighed, leaning forward across my desk. “Sam, I have to urge you to reconsider.”
Her expression hardened. “My mind is made up.”
“You should know your own physical condition,” I said gravely. “Your womb was already injured in that accident; and it took you three years to recover enough to conceive. If you terminate this pregnancy, it will inevitably harm your body again. If you want to have children in the future, I’m afraid it won’t be that easy.”
The weight of my words hung between us. Samantha’s hand drifted unconsciously to her stomach, a mother’s protective gesture at odds with her stated intentions.
“I know the risks,” she finally said. “Please schedule the procedure.”
(Samantha’s POV)
Katherine’s words echoed in my mind as I left Crescent Moon Medical Center. Three weeks. She’d given me three weeks
to reconsider a decision that was tearing me apart.
The autumn air bit through my thin jacket. I pulled it tighter around myself, one hand resting on my still–flat stomach.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to the tiny life growing inside me. “I’m so sorry.”
The baby was innocent in all this. I already loved it fiercely, this little miracle that had finally taken root after years of trying. But how could I raise a child alone? How could I give it the life it deserved when my own was in such turmoil?
I walked aimlessly through the medical center’s garden, finding a secluded bench beneath a willow tree. The golden leaves drifted down around me, nature’s gentle reminder that everything must eventually fall.
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Chapter 5 4 Desperate Decisi
Should I sacrifice my future for this child? After Ethan’s betrayal with Rebecca, could I bear to raise our baby while watching him build a family with her?
The realization hit me with sudden clarity, this baby was my only chance to escape my unhappy marriage and rebuild my life. If I waited untill the child was bom, I would be trapped forever.
Ethan had systematically dismantled my career and social connections over the past three years. He’d encouraged me to step away from healing, to focus entirely on conceiving. I’d agreed, believing it was a temporary sacrifice for our shared
dream of a family
Now I saw the truth. He’d isolated me, made me dependent on him. Without my career, without my own income, I had no power. I refused to be trapped in a situation where I had no meshs of supporting myself, my strength faded, and a man’s
fickle heart could leave me destitute.
The sadness in my eyes dissipated, replaced by steely resolve. If this path was blocked, I would forge a new one.
Ethan’s influence was primarily in the Northern Territories. It couldn’t extend everywhere–particularly not to the Easter
Territories.
I pulled out my phone, scrolling through old contacts until I found the name I was looking for: Hector Grayson.
Memories flooded back–Hector and I working side by side during the Silver Plague outbreak three years ago. Our professional chemistry had been immediate, our combined healing techniques seving countless lives when traditional
methods failed.
The mission had won us both recognition throughout the medical community. Our partnership had been praised in medical journals, our methods studied in healing schools.
Ethan had hated it.
I remembered his thinly veiled jealousy whenever Hector’s name was mentioned. To appease him, I’d publicly declared my devotion to our marriage and plans to start a family during the award ceremony.
A reunion healing project with Hector would be the perfect comeback opportunity. His influence in the Eastern Territories could shield me from Ethan’s reach, giving me the chance to rebuild my career and independence.
I stared at his contact information, my finger hovering over the message icon. Would he even remember me? Would he care about my situation?
Taking a deep breath, I composed a simple message: ‘Hello Hector, it’s Samantha Reed. I hope you’re well. I’m
considering a return to healing and wondered if we might discuss potential collaboration.”
I hit send before I could second–guess myself, then waited, heart pounding. To my surprise, a reply came almost instantly.
‘I’m here.
Then, a second message: “I’m waiting for you.”
I stared at the screen, confused by the cryptic response. Did he mean he was waiting to collaborate? Or something more?
“Could we meet to discuss this?” I typed, hands trembling slightly.
“Yes. When and where?”
I bit my lip, considering my options. The Northern Territories were too risky–Ethan had eyes everywhere. The Eastern Territories, where Hector had established himself, would be safer.
“Hong Harbor? Tomorrow afternoon?” I suggested, hardly believing my own boldness.
‘I’ll be there. Text me your flight details.”
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< Chapter 5 A Desperate Decisi
I booked the earliest flight to Hong Harbor, a strange mixture of anxiety and hope churning in my stomach. Was I being reckless? Flying to Hong Harbor without a concrete plan, just a desperate hope for a fresh start?
What if I was interrupting his life? Hector had largely disappeared from public view after our healing mission, suggesting he preferred solitude to spotlight.
Yet his immediate response to my message suggested otherwise. “I’m waiting for you.” The words played in my mind as I packed a small overnight bag.
The flight to Hong Harbor passed in a blur of nervous anticipation. I’d dressed simply–jeans, a loose blouse, and a heavy coat to ward off the autumn chill. My hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, my face bare of makeup.
As the plane descended into Moonlight International Airport’s Eastern Terminal, I spotted a familiar figure waiting by a sleek black car. Hector Grayson stood tall and imposing, even more striking than I remembered.
The youthful innocence I recalled had been replaced by mature elegance befitting his status as Alpha King of the Southern Territory. His sharp features had hardened, his lean frame more powerful, his presence more commanding.
*Samantha Reed,” he said as I approached, his voice a deep rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. “Long time no see.”
“Long time no see, Hector Grayson,” I replied, extending my hand.
He took it, his grip warm and firm. The brief contact sent a jolt of warmth through me, a sensation I hadn’t felt from a man in years, outside of my healing work.
In the car, silence settled between us, charged with Hector’s potent presence. I felt his gaze on me as I stole glances at him.
I was suddenly conscious of my simple attire, more befitting a college student than the Luna of a powerful Alpha. I nervously fiddled with my coat, fihally removing it to reveal my plain shirt and jeans.
“I’m sorry for the impromptu visit,” I said, gathering my hair with a rubber band. “I wanted to discuss a potential healing project with you.”
Hector nodded, his expression unreadable. “We’ll talk over dinner.”
As evening fell, Hector removed his coat and loosened his shirt collar, revealing a glimpse of his throat. The casual gesture seemed strangely intimate in the confines of the car.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, his dark eyes studying me.
“No, thank you. I ate on the plane,” I replied politely, just as my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl.
Hector’s lips curved slightly, a hint of amusement warming his usually stoic features. “We’ll eat,” he said, more statement than suggestion.
He took me to The Silver Fang Restaurant, a small, elegant establishment overlooking Hong Harbor’s glittering waters. To
my surprise, he ordered Northern Territory cuisine–dishes that reminded me of home.
As we sat facing each other in the private dining area, he gestured to my heavy coat. “You won’t need that inside.”
I removed it, feeling oddly vulnerable under his intense gaze. In the dim light, Hector’s demeanor shifted subtly. The formality gave way to a more relaxed, yet still intensely present manner.
“Hmm?” he asked, his voice a low, captivating rumble. “What do you want?”
His gaze lingered on my bare wrist, where a faint mark from my wedding band remained.
