Chapter 20: The Life Within Her

“Alpha, I am ready to give you my full report. I can come to your office whenever you are available.” The healer’s mind link brushed against Ryker’s thoughts—calm, composed, professional. Ryker did not hesitate. “No need. I will come to your office.” There was a brief pause before the connection faded. He felt it—the healer’s flicker of surprise. The Alpha of Bloodmoon was never summoned. He summoned others. He did not go when called. But this was different. He opened another mind link immediately. “Kylian. I’ll be at the hospital.” “Yes, Alpha,” his beta responded without question. ___________ The healer stood when Ryker entered her office. “Alpha. Welcome. Please, have a seat.” Ryker sat without ceremony. “How is she?” he asked immediately. The healer folded her hands neatly on her desk. “As I mentioned earlier during the initial examination, she is severely exhausted. She has signs of recent trauma. And there is clear evidence of bond rejection.” Ryker’s jaw tightened. “Do we know if she was rejected,” he asked carefully, “or if she rejected her mate?” The healer’s gaze sharpened slightly. “I would wager she did the rejecting.” Ryker leaned forward. “On what basis?” The healer hesitated. “Alpha, I would not disclose this information lightly. Even if you are her mate, and even though you are my alpha, patient privacy remains sacred.” “Healer,” Ryker said tightly, “tell me.” The healer studied him for a moment before nodding. “She has scarring along her abdomen and chest.” Ryker frowned. He did not understand. Scars? What did that have to do with her mate— "Previous mate," his wolf said coldly. Her previous mate, Ryker corrected himself. The healer continued. “They are consistent with betrayal pain scarring. Repeated trauma. Not from a single incident.” Ryker went very still. “Explain,” he said quietly. “Her previous mate was bonding with someone else,” the healer said bluntly. “While still mated to her. At least that is my assessment.” The words landed like a physical blow. Ryker’s vision darkened at the edges. Her previous mate had claimed another female while still bound to her? Had forced her to endure betrayal pain repeatedly? "I will kill him." His wolf erupted. Ryker’s fingers curled into fists. He had never met the male. But already, he hated him. “That is not all,” the healer said carefully. Ryker forced himself to focus. “What else?” The healer took a slow breath. “Alpha… she is with pup.” The world seemed to narrow. “With pup?” he repeated. “Yes.” The healer’s voice remained calm, but her eyes held gravity. “When I told you her wolf was curled around something, I meant it literally. Her wolf is not attempting to heal her human form fully. It is focused entirely on shielding the pup.” Ryker’s wolf went silent. “She rejected her mate while pregnant?” he asked, disbelief heavy in his tone. “I believe so.” The healer nodded. “She endured betrayal pain while pregnant. Then a bond rejection. Then a prolonged physical escape. Her wolf diverted nearly all its energy toward protecting the pup while she ran.” The healer leaned forward slightly. “That level of strain would break most wolves.” Ryker’s breathing slowed deliberately. “How long?” he asked. The healer did not soften her words. “They do not have much time.” His wolf let out a low, anguished sound. “We cannot let our mate die,” his wolf said fiercely inside their shared mind. “What can we do?” Ryker asked aloud. The healer did not hesitate. “She needs her mate.” Ryker’s eyes flicked up sharply. “I am not the pup’s father,” he said quietly. The healer met his gaze steadily. “But you are her mate.” Silence. “She does not need the father of the pup,” the healer continued. “She needs her mate’s energy. The bond. The stability.” Ryker’s wolf pressed forward. "I will give it. Our mate are strong but right now they need us." “If you and your wolf are willing,” the healer added, “you may accept the pup as your own. The body does not distinguish biological father from bonded mate when it comes to survival energy.” Ryker swallowed. Accept the pup. Not his blood. Not conceived with him. But his mate’s child. “There is no other decision,” his wolf snapped. "We accept." The healer’s voice grew more urgent. “But you must decide quickly, Alpha. If you intend to claim both of them—her and the pup—you must commit to it. She does not have the luxury of time.” Ryker’s gaze hardened. “There is no question,” he said quietly. “I will accept them.” The healer exhaled softly. “Then there is one more complication.” Ryker stiffened. “What now?” “You cannot claim her yet.” His wolf snarled. “What do you mean?” Ryker demanded. “She and her wolf are critically weakened,” the healer explained. “I am not certain when she will wake. And even if she does, her wolf will require time to recover.” Ryker frowned. “And without her wolf,” the healer continued, “she will not feel the mating bond pull towards you.” The words landed heavily. She would not feel him. Would not recognize him. Would not feel the connection that had already ignited so violently inside him. His wolf whimpered softly. "She won’t know us. Know me." Ryker’s jaw tightened. “What are you suggesting?” he asked. “I am suggesting patience,” the healer replied. “You must provide proximity. Energy. Stability. But you cannot overwhelm her. If you attempt to force a claim now, her body could reject the bond entirely.” The risk was real. Her system was already traumatized. Another sudden bond surge might push her beyond recovery. “So I wait,” Ryker said quietly. “You wait,” the healer confirmed. “You remain near. You let your presence strengthen her wolf gradually.” “And the pup?” “The pup will respond to your energy even before she does,” the healer said. “But it must be done gently.” Ryker leaned back slowly in his chair. He had faced wars. Rebellions. Pack challenges. But this— This required restraint. His wolf was restless but no longer raging. Instead, there was something else. Protectiveness. Fierce and absolute. “She will live,” Ryker said quietly. The healer nodded once. “If you commit fully, she has a chance.” Ryker stood. “I will remain near the hospital wing.” The healer inclined her head. His wolf’s presence surged with quiet, deadly promise. “She crossed into Bloodmoon,” he continued. “She is under my protection now.” The healer did not argue. As Ryker left the office, his wolf spoke softly inside him. "We will not fail her." Ryker nodded once to himself. No. He would not.