Chapter 174: Confrontation and Truth
Chapter 174: Confrontation and Truth
(Aria’s POV)
Pain shot through my abdomen like lightning, causing me to gasp and press my back against the cold bathroom wall. My hands flew to my belly, desperately trying to shield my unhorn pup from Lily Lewis’s
aggressive advances.
“Please,” I whispered, my voice trembling with fear. “My pup…”
Lily’s emerald eyes blazed with jealous fury as she advanced toward me. “Your precious pup won’t save you now,” she snarled, her wolf’s aggressive pheromones filling the confined space.
My pregnant wolf whimpered in distress within me, sensing the immediate danger. The pain in my abdomen
was intensifying, and I could feel something was terribly wrong.
Suddenly, the bathroom door exploded inward with tremendous force. Wood splintered and flew across the
room as Dominic burst through, his powerful Alpha presence immediately filling the small space.
“What the hell is going on here?” he roared, his silver–gray eyes blazing with fury.
He took in the scene instantly – me pressed against the wall, clutching my belly in pain, and Lily standing over
me with her face twisted in rage. His cedar scent wrapped around me like a protective shield as he rushed to
my side.
“Are you alright?” he demanded, his voice tight with concern as he pulled me into his protective embrace.
His large hands immediately began scanning me for injuries, his wolf’s protective instincts in full overdrive. I
could feel his body trembling with barely contained rage.
“The pup,” I gasped weakly, my hands still pressed to my abdomen. “Something’s wrong.”
Dominic’s face went pale at my words. His arms/tightened around me as he lifted me carefully, his touch
gentle despite his obvious fury.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered against my ear. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
Behind us, I heard Lily’s voice suddenly change, becoming high–pitched and distressed. “Oh no! My shoulder!”
She collapsed dramatically into Dr. Nathan Lewis’s arms as he appeared in the doorway, drawn by the
commotion. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out convincingly.
“I think it’s broken!” she sobbed, clutching her shoulder. “I had to break down the door when Aria fell and got
stuck inside.”
Her performance was flawless, complete with trembling lips and genuine–looking tears. To anyone who
hadn’t witnessed what actually happened, she would appear to be the victim.
“Lily, what happened?” Dr. Lewis asked urgently, his professional instincts kicking in as he examined her
shoulder.
“I heard screaming from inside,” she continued, her voice breaking with manufactured emotion. “The door was jammed, and I could hear Aria calling for help. I had to force it open.”
Chapter 174 Confrontatio
The lies flowed from her lips so easily, so convincingly, that I felt sick. Her wolf’s scent betrayed her deception to those with enhanced senses, but Dr. Lewis seemed completely taken in by her act.
“You brave girl,” he murmured, checking her for injuries. “Let me look at that shoulder.”
I opened my mouth to protest, to tell them the truth, but a sudden warm wetness between my legs made me
look down in horror.
Blood. There was blood beginning to flow.
“No,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “No, no, no…”
The shock of seeing the blood combined with my body’s trauma caused my vision to blur. The bathroom walls seemed to spin around me, and I felt myself becoming dizzy.
“Dominic,” I managed to gasp, my hand clutching weakly at his shirt. “The pup… is the pup…”
But the words wouldn’t come. The emotional and physical trauma overwhelmed my system, and darkness began to creep in at the edges of my vision.
“Aria! Stay with me!” Dominic’s voice sounded distant, though I could feel his strong arms supporting me.
My pregnant wolf went completely quiet within me, withdrawing into protective silence. The last thing I heard
before fainting was Dominic’s desperate voice calling my name.
The antiseptic scent of Silvercrest Hospital filled my nostrils as consciousness slowly returned. The sterile
white walls and fluorescent lighting were unmistakable, even to my human senses.
Memories of the bathroom confrontation flooded back instantly, filling me with panic. My hand flew to my belly, desperately searching for any sign of movement or life.
“My pup,” I whispered urgently, my voice hoarse with fear. “Is my pup alright?”
Dominic was immediately beside me, his powerful Alpha presence radiating calm reassurance. He had been
sitting vigil in the chair next to my bed, his silver–gray eyes red–rimmed with exhaustion.
“The pup is fine,” he said softly, his voice filled with relief and tenderness. “Thank the moon goddess, the pup
is safe.”
His large hand gently covered mine on my abdomen, his touch warm and protective. The familiar sensation
of his cedar scent wrapping around me brought immediate comfort.
“But you need complete bed rest,” he continued, his expression growing serious. “The doctor said you’re showing signs of a threatened miscarriage. With proper care, everything should be alright.”
My entire body sagged with relief at his words. The terror that had gripped me since waking began to ease as my wolf finally settled within me.
“I was so scared,” I admitted, tears flowing freely down my cheeks. “When I saw the blood, I though
“Shh,” Dominic soothed, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my hand. “Don’t think about that now. You and the pup are safe. That’s all that matters.”
His other hand reached up to brush the tears from my face, his touch infinitely tender. “I’ll stay right here with you, I’m not going anywhere.”
< Chapter 174: Confrontatio
The emotional and physical exhaustion from the day’s events overwhelmed me. With the knowledge that our pup was safe and Dominic’s protective presence surrounding me, I felt myself drifting back into healing
sleep.
When I woke again, I could hear Dominic’s voice rising in anger from the adjacent room. His Alpha authority cut through the hospital walls like a blade.
“Your sister deliberately tried to harm Aria and our pup!” his voice carried the unmistakable edge of a furious Alpha protecting his mate.
Dr. Nathan Lewis’s calmer tones tried to placate him, though I could detect the strain in his professional
demeanor. “Dominic, please. Let’s discuss this rationally.”
“Rationally?” Dominic’s laugh was bitter and harsh. “She attacked a pregnant she–wolf in a bathroom. There’s nothing rational about that.”
My throat felt dry from sleep, and I cleared it softly. The small sound immediately alerted Dominic to my
consciousness.
He rushed to my bedside instantly, his silver–gray eyes scanning my face with tender concern. The transformation from furious Alpha to devoted mate was instantaneous.
“Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?” his voice had become gentle and soothing.
“Water,” I managed to croak, my throat still parched.
He immediately reached for a glass on the bedside table, helping me sit up slightly to drink. The cool liquid felt heavenly against my dry throat.
Dr. Lewis followed him into the room, his expression troubled as he approached my bed. His professional manner was evident, but I could sense his internal conflict.
“Aria, I need to ask you what exactly happened in the bathroom,” he said carefully, his brown eyes studying
my face.
I set down the water glass, my strength returning with each passing moment. “What do you want to know?”
“Lily told us that you fell and she injured her shoulder trying to help you when the door got stuck,” he explained, his voice neutral but watchful.
My eyes flashed with cold anger at the blatant lie. My wolf bristled beneath my skin, responding to my rising
fury.
“That’s completely false,” I stated firmly, my voice gaining strength with each word. “Lily deliberately tried to
harm my pup.”
Dr. Lewis’s face showed genuine shock and disbelief at my words. His professional composure cracked slightly as he processed my accusation.
“Are you certain?” he asked carefully. “Perhaps in your distressed state, you misunderstood her intentions?”
“I know what I experienced,” I replied coldly. “She locked the bathroom door to trap me inside. She shoved me against the wall and threatened my pregnancy.”
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