Chapter 1 - Cassie's POV
"I am sorry, Mr Andrew, but your wife's chance of getting pregnant is almost ending. It is even more complicated because we came to discover that her ovaries will be damaged if she does not conceive in less than a week. I know that you've both been trying for a long time, and I have been in the process with you, but right now I think you should consider adoption."
The doctor spoke to my husband as if I were not present there, and every word she said hurt me deeply. I and Andrew have been married for two years, and for the past two years we have been trying our best to get me pregnant, but everything seemed to be in vain. I have visited many doctors and midwives trying to find a way I could conceive, but every effort I put in came out fruitless.
Today we got an emergency call from the hospital after my test results came out, and the doctor was afraid that I would not be able to conceive if I do not conceive in the next six days. They said that my ovaries were close to being damaged, and if it were, I would never be able to conceive and bear a child again.
"Doctor Emily, please, you know that we have been trying for so long. Is there really no other way out except for adoption? I do not want to adopt someone else's child; I want to bear my own child," I pleaded with the doctor with tears running down my chin. But Andrew stood up and left without saying a word.
I sat there with the doctor in her office, weeping my eyes out. This barrenness had been the biggest issue in our marriage, and every single time Andrew never failed to remind me that I was not able to give him a child. I knew he would never accept adoption, and neither would I.
"I am so sorry, Mrs Andrew. But there is nothing we can do for you right now. It seems like so many medications you have taken have contributed to the damage of your ovaries, and from the results, you can only conceive in the next six days or less, after which it is never going to be possible."
Knowing fully well that there was nothing left at the hospital for me anymore, I dragged myself out of the doctor's office and began to walk towards the exit of the hospital.
By the time I got outside, I realised that Andrew had already left with our car. I would have to take another ride home, and deep down I was not ready for the side of him that would be very furious when I got back.
Despite my broken state, I took a taxi directly home. Getting home, I realised our car was not parked outside the house, and just as I walked into the living room, I felt something odd. The house was strangely silent, and as I looked around the living room, I noticed that some things were moved.
Taking one step further into the living room, I noticed a white envelope seated on the table in the middle of the room. I rushed over to the table, picked up the envelope and opened it. It was a divorce paper already signed by Andrew. There was another note in the envelope, and on it Andrew stated that he was not coming back.
"Not coming back?" I whispered to myself as I could not bear the ache in my heart.
My phone buzzed instantly, and as I opened it, it was a picture of a lady and Andrew at the airport. My ex Nick had sent it to me. With a question underneath, 'When did your husband start travelling around with other women?' He sent it with a laughing emoji at the end.
I was beyond shocked to see that Andrew was travelling out of the country with a woman at the same moment he divorced me. He didn't even wait for me to sign the divorce papers?
At that moment my head began to spin, and the only thing I was sure about was that I did not want to be alone. I turned round just the same way I was and took another ride back to the hospital. I was not sure exactly what I was going to get, but I needed the doctor to find a solution to my problem immediately.
As I was rushing up the stairs, I bumped into this man who seemed unconcerned. He wore a thick expression on his face, and despite the fact that my bag and everything in it went pouring on the floor, he did not say a word but kept walking forward.
"Oh my goodness, Mrs Andrew, are you okay?" A nurse passing by rushed to me, and she helped me pick up the items that had fallen out of my bag while I stood staring angrily; the man was walking away unconcerned.
"Who is that man? I cannot believe he just hit me and wouldn't even show any concern," I said to the nurse.
The nurse's expression changed instantly. And she seemed to be terrified when I made that statement, "Bring your voice down, Mrs Andrew; that is Alpha Donald. The current Alpha of the strongest wolf pack in the city. He is known for his coldness, especially to women, and there have been whispers of how dangerous he can be. They said he had never had a woman and vows not to have any association with them. Come on, let me help you in." She said to me as she led me away towards the doctor's office, While I kept glancing in the direction the strange man or wolf went until he was out of sight.
After a long conversation with the doctor, I made it clear to her that I just needed to have that baby so that I would not be alone, and then she suggested that I consider surrogacy.
" Surrogacy? How will I be sure of the baby's health? I mean, I want a healthy child, and I do not trust donors to be sincere."
I said to the doctor.
"You do not have to worry about the health of the baby; we have many donors who are very healthy, and their tests show that the child from these donors will be very much healthy, like a normal healthy child should be. However, there is a problem."
I adjusted myself on the seat as I stared at her with a blank look on my face, waiting to hear what the problem was. "What is the problem, doctor? You said if I do not conceive in 6 days' time, I might never stand a chance to have a child ever again. And I want to try my luck."
"I know. The problem is that it's quite expensive; it will cost you thousands of dollars. And again, the only donors we have currently are werewolves. Knowing you all this time, I know you do not want to have relations with werewolves, or would you consider..."
"No—no," I interrupted before she could finish speaking.
I had sworn to my late parents that I was never going to have anything to do with werewolves. This seemed calm now, but a long time ago my parents had told me about how they were beasts and how they fed on humans.
"I cannot accept a werewolf donor, never. Isn't there a way you can help me get a human donor, please? Doctor, this is very important to me. I have no one left; my husband abandoned me and went off with his mistress. He was the only person I had left in my life, and right now without him I am completely alone, and I do not want to be alone."
I could feel tears clouding my eyes as I spoke to the doctor, hoping that she was going to have a solution for me.
"I am sorry, Mrs Andrew, but..."
"Cassie— Just call me Cassie. I am not Mrs Andrew anymore, and my entire life is ruined. Can't you please help me?" I begged.
At this moment I could not hold the tears anymore as I let them flow freely, staring in eye contact with the doctor who seemed to be rather surprised at my sudden outburst.
"Fine, Cassie, We are going to look into the donors and try to find you a human donor as soon as possible. I just hope you can put yourself together until then," she said to me. I nodded my head slowly, a feeling of relief rising in me.
It was not the best news, but at least it was comforting.
Back home that day, I spent the rest of the night crying on my pillow. If anyone had told me that Andrew was going to leave me in such a state, I would never have believed them.
The next day I woke up to a text message from the doctor: 'Congratulations, Cassie. We found a very healthy human donor. Apparently, he checked in yesterday, and everything about him is perfect to make you a very healthy baby; only that it will cost you over $25,000."
I read the text with so much joy in my heart. I did not have up to that amount in my bank account, but I was ready to sell some of my assets and put them together.
I got the money in a matter of minutes; it left me almost broke, but I didn't mind. I was running out of the door when I saw a note outside the door. I was so excited that I did not bother reading it. As I stopped a taxi and went directly to the hospital.
Five hours in the hospital ward, the insemination was done, and I could feel my heart beating rapidly.
"Congratulations, it was a success," she said to me.
"Thank you so much, Dr Emily. You have no idea how much this means to me," I said to her, letting out a sigh of relief.
"You're welcome, Cassie. I'll wrap this up in a minute and you'll be ready to leave."
Immediately she said this, the door opened and someone walked in.
"Mr Donald, is there a problem?" The doctor greeted him.
Hearing that name, I remembered he was the same person in the hallway that I bumped into.
"Why is my sample missing?" He asked angrily. His gaze flickered from the doctor to me, who was lying on the bed, and then back to the doctor.
"What?" The doctor asked.
"Where is it?" He demanded angrily.
"Give me a minute; I'll check." The doctor said she rushed out of the room immediately. The angry man followed behind her. As I stared at their fading image, wondering what was going on.
After about 10 minutes, they both walked back into my room. The expression on the man's face was the same, but then the doctor wore a rather sad look.
"What's going on, doctor?" I asked her.
"There was a complication. The donor whose sample you took is Mr Donald. A patient and legal sample donor"
"What? What does that mean?"
"It means you're carrying my pup, and I want complete custody."
"Hell no..." I whispered with my eyes wide open as reality struck hard.