LEONARD.

The moment my eyes landed on Theresa lying on the floor, everything inside me froze.

Blood–there was blood, too much of it.

My heart skipped violently, a cold wave of panic crashing through me as the sight registered fully in my mind. Just moments ago... she had been upstairs, alive and breathing and now...she looked so fragile.

"Theresa!" I dropped to my knees beside her instantly, my hands trembling slightly as I gathered her into my arms. "Please... stay with us."

My voice came out more forceful than I intended, like I was commanding her to hold on, like sheer will alone could keep her from slipping away.

I wasn’t about to lose her.

Not after just finding her again.

Without wasting another second, I lifted her into my arms, holding her carefully in a bridal style as I rushed out toward the car.

Lawrence and Lurgard were already moving ahead of me, their urgency matching mine. The passenger door was thrown open before I even got there, and I slid in quickly with Theresa still in my arms.

They took the front seats immediately, Lurgard behind the wheel, and then...we were moving too fast.

Lurgard drove like a madman.

The car sped through the roads at a dangerous pace, but none of us said a word about it. Right now, speed was the only thing that mattered.

Within minutes...

We arrived.

The hospital doors barely had time to open before nurses rushed forward, quickly taking Theresa from my arms and placing her onto a stretcher.

"Wait here," one of them said firmly.

And just like that...she was gone from my sight.

I stood there, my chest tight, my hands still feeling the phantom weight of her in my arms as I was forced to remain outside with my brothers.

My thoughts spiraled.

How did this even happen?

How did she fall?

Why didn’t she just stay upstairs?

If she had just stayed...she would have been safe. I ran a hand through my hair, frustration and fear mixing into something I couldn’t quite control.

And then... 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Alex.

He stormed in like a man possessed, his breathing uneven as though he had run all the way here.

"Where is my wife?" he demanded, his voice loud, desperate. "How could you just drive off without me?"

The word ’wife’ struck something deep but before I could respond...

"Theresa is no longer your wife, Alpha Alex." Lurgard’s voice cut in sharply. "You have no right to be here."

But Alex laughed. A low, mocking chuckle that immediately set my nerves on edge.

"Whether you like it or not, Alpha Lurgard," he said, his gaze hardening, "she is still mine."

My fists clenched tightly at my sides. I had been holding back ever since he stepped into our house this morning. Holding back from doing exactly what he deserved.

But this...This was pushing it.

"I will advise you to watch what you say," I said finally, my voice low but filled with intensity as I stepped closer to him, my eyes locked onto his unwavering. "And our conclusion from earlier still stands."

I took another step forward, closing the distance just enough to make my warning clear.

"Sign the divorce papers," I added, my tone dropping even further."Don’t force me to act."

Alex chuckled.

The sound grated against my nerves almost instantly, as though he found amusement in a situation that was anything but amusing.

"Alpha Leonard... is that a threat?" he asked, a slow, confident smile spreading across his lips, his tone carried arrogance, pure, unfiltered. "Let me remind you clearly," he continued, his gaze locking onto mine without the slightest hint of fear, "I am not signing the divorce papers."

He paused briefly, as if letting the words sink in.

"And there is nothing you can do."

The air around us seemed to tighten, and before I could react...Lawrence moved.

His fist connected with Alex’s nose in a sharp, sudden blow, the impact echoing faintly in the hallway. Alex staggered backward slightly, clearly caught off guard as he tried to regain his balance.

"You son of a bitch!" Lawrence snapped, his voice filled with barely restrained fury. "Do you think I’m not aware of how you tried to kill her?" he demanded, his chest rising and falling with each breath.

The accusation hung heavy in the air.

"I have many ways to make you sign that paper, Alex," he added, his tone dropping dangerously. "You wouldn’t want to be dragged to court with a charge of attempted murder."

For the first time...Alex’s expression faltered. His face paled slightly, the confidence in his eyes flickering just enough to reveal something else beneath it.

Fear.

"You wouldn’t dare!" he shot back quickly, though his voice had lost a bit of its earlier certainty. "Ella loves me too much to agree to that," he added, almost as if trying to convince himself.

"We’ll see about that, Alpha Alex," I said, rolling my eyes slightly, my patience wearing thin because I was done with this. "Now get out of here," I ordered firmly.

There was no need to escalate things further—not here, not now and Alex knew it.

Despite being an Alpha himself, he was well aware of the unspoken truth between our packs.

For years, we had always held the upper hand. Without another word, he turned and walked away, his retreat silent but heavy.

The moment he disappeared from sight, the tension shifted and just then, the nurse from earlier stepped out again.

"Who is the patient’s husband?" she asked.

The question hit me unexpectedly. My expression stiffened, my mind going blank for a split second.

Husband?

Before I could even process how to respond...

"I am." Lurgard’s voice came instantly, firm and certain.

And it made something in me snap. My fists clenched tightly at my sides as I turned slightly toward him.

Who gave him that right?

To claim her like that?

To answer so easily?

"Alright sir," she continued, seemingly unfazed, "I just wanted you to know that the patient and the baby are safe... for now."

Her words landed and lingered, then she turned and walked away, leaving silence behind her.

I stood there frozen as my thoughts struggling to catch up.

The patient...and the baby?

My gaze shifted slightly, confusion settling deep within me.

The baby?

What baby?