Bound By Legend

CHAPTER ONE: IT'S TIME

REVERIE POV

"You once told me I was unworthy of your Luna mark. This marriage is a contract, a farce, and it will never be anything more. I know that… All I ask is, what if we had a child? Would you…"

I sighed and stared at the draft on my screen. My gaze drifted to the calendar on the wall. Three months from now, a giant red circle marked the end of it all.

Ninety days until the 7-year Bond Severance Agreement expired.

My phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts.

Leoric: Rhiannon had another parent-teacher conference today. It was last minute. Some kids were asking about her father again, and she ran into the bathroom to hide. Have you decided to tell Kieran? I support you either way, but I think she needs to see you. Can you get away this weekend?

Nausea swirled in my stomach, and the spot at my collarbone where Alpha Kieran Solvane's mark should be tingled. Tears stung my eyes. As much as I had loved him once, I no longer cared about his affection or the Luna title. But my daughter deserved her father, or at least the closure of knowing him.

Before I could spiral further, the office door burst open.

"Dr. Dawne! Come quick! Alpha Kieran just brought in a level two trauma!"

I shoved my personal life aside and rushed to the med-bay. Kieran had already bypassed triage, carrying a frail body in his arms as he pushed past doctors and nurses toward a private suite.

I was hot on his heels, pulling on latex gloves. When a male nurse stepped up to assist, Kieran bared his teeth and snarled.

"Alpha Kieran!" I snapped. "Don't growl at my staff for doing their job."

He hissed in panic, his chest heaving. I stepped directly into his space. "Alpha or not, if you don’t let my team work, you will be removed. This is my hospital. Get me the chart!"

He hesitated, his jaw tight, before stepping back. We had an agreement in our contract marriage: he ruled the pack, and I ruled the hospital.

A nurse handed me the chart. I looked down at the name, and my heart stopped.

Delilah Solvane.

Delilah. In my hospital, cradled protectively in my husband’s arms as if she were his true mate.

She was Kieran’s ex, the one that got away. She had abandoned him years ago to marry his older brother, Draven, back when Draven was the heir to the Alpha title. She hadn't wanted the "spare" when she could have the golden goose. Only, two years into her marriage, Kieran became the Alpha instead.

Now, she was back.

I watched them interact. The longing looks, the way she trailed her fingers over his collarbone, right where my mark should have been. My wolf clawed at my chest in silent rage, but I forced her down. We needed a professional head.

Delilah whimpered, shifting weakly on the gurney. Kieran fussed over her like a frantic mate, caressing her face, rubbing her abdomen, and wiping her tears.

They were openly playing in my face, completely disregarding Draven, who had been physically incapacitated for the last six months.

A sickening realization hit me. She was the reason Kieran's clothes had been smelling like another she-wolf for months. The scent had invaded my car, my home, and now, my hospital. I swallowed the bile in my throat and stepped forward.

"Step aside, Alpha. We need vitals."

"No males," he growled.

I held back a sigh. "Calvin, please bring in the female nurses—"

"No!" Delilah cried out weakly.

I paused, raising an eyebrow.

"You do it," Kieran snapped.

"Ki, it's okay," Delilah said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "Reverie, I don't trust anyone else. Please, care for me."

Kieran glared at me. "Do as you're told, Dr. Dawne."

"Unlike some," I replied, my voice cool and sharp, "I actually know how to remain professional. Mrs. Solvane is in good hands."

He bared his teeth but stepped back. I began the exam. Delilah put on a pitiful, fragile act, but when Kieran turned his head, she flashed me a look of pure triumph. She wanted to rattle me.

Kieran hovered over me, micromanaging my every move, watching my hands as if I were trying to hurt her.

"I'm going to run some tests, Mrs. Solvane. I'll be right back."

"Make it fast," Kieran ordered. "I want to take her home."

"Medicine doesn't work on your schedule, Alpha. The tests will take as long as they take."

"I'll remember this disrespect, Dr. Dawne. I am your Alpha."

"And I am your doctor, Alpha Kieran."

I turned on my heel. Before stepping out, I glanced back at where they were cuddled together on the gurney. "Oh, by the way... how is Draven? Has his condition improved at all?"

Both of them froze. I didn't wait for a reply; I just smirked and shut the door.

Back in my office, I sat down and looked at my unfinished draft to Kieran. My finger hovered over the delete button, but I shook my head and focused on Delilah's chart instead.

A few minutes later, the door slammed open. Kieran marched in and pulled the blinds shut.

"Yes, Alpha?" I asked without looking up.

"Delilah says she’s in pain. She needs something."

"And you couldn't have sent a nurse to tell me?"

"Are you throwing a fit because you're jealous, Reverie?"

I ignored him, continuing to type.

Kieran slammed his palm onto my desk. He reached out, gripping my chin and forcing me to meet his cold gaze. "You're jealous. Any anger you have, take it out on me. Leave Delilah out of it."

I held his gaze, refusing to let him see me flinch. "Is there something I should be jealous of?"

He stared at me, his grip tightening slightly before I wrenched my chin free. "Are you going to let me do my job, or are you just here to waste my time?"

He let out a harsh breath, running a hand through his hair. "Bringing up Draven was a low blow. You know that."

"I'm not entertaining this. Leave."

He glared at me once more before storming out.

I pulled up the lab results as they came through.

Urinalysis: Positive.

Beta-hCG Blood Test: Positive.

Estimated Gestational Age: 12 weeks.

Three months pregnant.

My blood ran cold. This was impossible. Draven had been completely paralyzed and bedridden in our long-term care facility for six months.

I grabbed the chart and walked back to Delilah's room.

"Alpha Kieran, I need you to step out for this," I said, my voice empty of any warmth.

"I'm not leaving."

"Kieran, this is private patient information. You don't need to be here."

"I am taking care of her. I’m not leaving without answers."

"It's fine, Ki," Delilah chimed in, squeezing his hand. "Anything you have to say, you can say in front of him."

"Fine." I stood at the foot of the bed, holding the tablet. "I asked you earlier if there was any medical history I should know. You said no. Want to try again?"

"Watch your tone, Dr. Dawne," Kieran warned.

I ignored him, looking straight at Delilah. "Why are your labs showing you are nearly three months pregnant when your husband has been in a coma for six?"

Delilah’s face drained of color, then flushed with rage. "What are you implying?"

"I’m not implying anything. I’m asking who—"

Slap.

Delilah’s hand connected with my cheek. My face snapped to the side, stinging.

"How dare you?" Delilah sobbed, immediately collapsing back against the pillows and clutching her stomach. "My life is falling apart, and you're letting your pathetic jealousy accuse me of—"

"The blood work doesn't lie," I said, my voice deadly quiet as I turned my head back to face them.

"Get the f**k out!" Kieran roared, stepping between me and the bed, his wolf pushed right to the surface.

Looking at him now, the last lingering threads of hope inside me finally snapped. For years, I had waited for him to change. I had made excuses for his coldness, telling myself he simply didn't know how to love.

But seeing him now, so fierce, so protective, so desperately defensive of another man's pregnant wife.

I finally saw the truth.

He knew how to love. He just didn't love me.

Over his shoulder, Delilah’s tears vanished, replaced by a smug, victorious smirk.

I didn't argue. I didn't yell. I just gave them a polite, empty smile. "Very well. The fragile patient can pick up her prescription on the way out."

I turned and walked back to my office, shutting the door behind me. I didn't slam it. There was no need for dramatics anymore. I was simply done.

I picked up my phone and opened the draft I'd spent months agonizing over. I selected all and hit delete. Kieran didn't deserve to know he had a daughter. He didn't deserve Rhiannon at all.

I opened a new text message.

To Leoric: Forget Kieran. I'm coming home. Keep Rhiannon safe for me.

Then, I swiped to another contact.

To Uma: It's time. Start the plan.