Chapter 5 Reika's Ovulation Day

REIKA'S POV I sat on the cool, sterile examination table, tense and out of place. Thunder Howl's hospital was like nothing I'd ever seen in my old pack. Everything looked advanced and immaculate here, making me feel small, almost unworthy. But the doctor's calm presence kept me grounded. Dr. Jade Astor, that's what her chest pin reads. She was unlike anyone I'd met before. Her soft gray eyes held no judgment, only kindness, which I rarely saw. "All right, Reika," Dr. Jade began. "I'm going to perform a general health check, then some tests to ensure everything is in good shape for… well, the contract with my brother." I managed a nod. The contract was the reason I was here in the first place. It felt clinical, almost like a transaction without a child involved. Dr. Jade adjusted the stethoscope around her neck and gave me a reassuring look, noticing my stiffness. "Is this your first time seeing a doctor?" she asked gently. "Yes," I replied quietly. I glanced at the door, half expecting judgment, but Jade's expression remained soft, understanding. "In my old pack, I healed alone, so…." "You seem to have a resilient body," she observed. "That's rare for an Omega. I'd say it's something to be proud of." I'd never seen my healing as anything special, especially when my old pack constantly reminded me I was "weak and didn't have the same healing ability as them.” But hearing it from Dr. Jade gave it a weight I hadn't felt before—like it was something I could value in myself. Dr. Jade explained each step as she went along. The tests were more thorough than expected, and her calmness dulled some of my discomfort. But when it came to the swab test, I couldn't stop the heat from creeping up my face. "This might feel a bit uncomfortable," Jade said, sensing my hesitation. "I'll be as gentle as I can." I nodded, trying to keep my mind still, even as the nurse beside Dr. Jade cast me a cold look. I could see it in how her eyes narrowed—a message that said I didn't belong here, that I was just a lowly Omega daring to step into a place meant for the elite. I set my jaw and focused straight ahead, determined to endure. Dr. Jade set aside her tools when the tests were finally done and smiled. "I'll add you to the list, Reika, but if all your tests turn out good, I'll need to monitor you closely." I blinked, frowning. "List? What do you mean by a list?" "Apollo keeps a waiting list of surrogates—women who volunteer or are assessed as potential candidates for giving him an heir." Dr. Jade tilted her head, watching my reaction. I couldn't hold back a scoff. "So he just… has a whole lineup of women he thinks he can pick and choose from?" He had planned this all along, not just to make me pay for the favor Orion did. Jade didn't look offended, only nodded slightly. "I know it sounds impersonal," she said, a touch of sympathy in her voice. "But the pack needs an heir, and Apollo feels a duty to make that happen. He's… driven by responsibility, maybe more than most. He had been longing..." Dr. Jade seemed to speak more but halted herself. I get it. She could be in trouble, knowing how authoritative her brother was. He probably wouldn't think twice about punishing even his sister. How ruthless! "That's one way to put it," I muttered, bitterness edging my tone. "I'm used to being treated like a tool, just something convenient. I'm not here to be someone's backup plan. But what choice do I have?" I've seen the nurse scoff. She had never shown an ounce of sympathy since I got in the hospital. She's more like enjoying my agony. "Whatever Apollo's reasons, I think he sees something in you beyond the potential for an heir. If he didn't, you wouldn't be here. He is picky." Her words struck something deep inside me. There was sincerity in her tone, a warmth that didn't feel forced. I felt a glimmer of reassurance for the first time since I'd arrived. The next day, Alpha Apollo sat across from me, his intense gaze fixed on my face as he slid a sleek, white folder across the table. The contract lay between us, and there was an unspoken demand for my cooperation. "Here," he said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. "These are the terms, as we discussed." I took a shaky breath before opening it, forcing myself to stay steady. My fingers tingle with nerves and resentment as I flip through the pages, skimming over the details—compensation, living arrangements, and medical provisions. Everything had been accounted for, down to the last clause. Apollo's signature was already inked on the bottom of each page, and every word was set in stone. My eyes trailed to the phrase I'd dreaded: "The surrogate will relinquish all parental rights to Alpha Apollo Astor. Upon delivery, the child will be placed solely under Alpha Astor's care." A sharp ache pierced through my chest. I reread the line, hoping it would somehow soften the second time, but the words hit just as hard. The reality sank in, cold and unrelenting. I'd be bringing a life into this world, only to abandon it—just like my parents had done to me. My parents threw me like garbage like I was nothing to them. Who would do that to their own child? Sometimes, I wish to take revenge, find my parents, and tell them what kind of hell I went through before I kill them with my bare hands. But they probably wouldn't care what they put me through anyway. They are heartless to begin with. Now, I realize what kind of mistake I would be making. "I can't do this." I held my ground, meeting his eyes. "Why would you want your child to grow up without a mother?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my defiance. He hadn't expected an Omega to question him, let alone challenge the terms he had laid out so meticulously. But I couldn't hold back the anger that had built up inside me. The thought of abandoning my child, leaving it to grow up alone, cut me more deeply than any contract or promise of security could heal. "Do you know what it's like to grow up without anyone? No mother, no family? You have the power to give your child both—why would you deny him that?" I knew I could be in trouble. He could kill me right now, mercilessly, tore me apart just like what Orion did to the rogues. But I couldn't care less. Does he think he could fuck anyone with a vagina? Is that all he thinks about? What about the child's welfare? Apollo's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he listened. His expression remained unreadable, he was holding back a response. And then, without warning, he stood up. I flinched, expecting a reprimand or some cold dismissal. Instead, he walked around the table, standing next to me. He leaned in, and I could feel the heat radiating off him, his scent—powerful and unmistakable—filling the space between us. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, and I froze, my heart racing as his fingers lingered near my cheek. His eyes locked onto mine as if daring me to rechallenge him. "Today is your ovulation day, isn't it?"