BOUND BY A RIVAL

Chapter three

Nine months later.

The day I went into labor began far from anything I had imagined. I knelt on the marble floor of the coffee shop, scrubbing stubborn stains, when a sharp, unfamiliar twinge twisted through my lower abdomen. My breath hitched, and I froze mid-motion, the pain whispering that something had finally begun

Few minutes later, I felt something tingling down my leg and behold it was my water. I was in labor. I couldn’t call the health care service to take me down to the hospital.

Rogues are not allowed to mingle with others. We were banned from using facilities that other werewolves used. We were all discriminated for no reason.

I had to drive myself slowly and calmly to the only hospital which accepted Rogues. After checking in with the doctor who confirmed that I was ready to have my baby, I walked into the labor room.

The treatment I received from the nurses were cold but I was glad I gave birth to my child without any complications. After my bouncy baby boy was dressed I picked him up to breast feed him, only to notice something strange on his left hand.

It was a birth mark; it looked beautiful on him but then I recalled seeing such marks before.

At Louis Avenue, where I had met Logan. He had the same type of mark which others could mistake for a tattoo.

I quickly covered up my son’s hand to avoid unwanted attention from others in the ward.

I thought my mother would be here with me even though I texted her to inform her about my labor. I didn’t receive any reply but I had hoped that she would at least visit me.

I felt very sad seeing some fathers, mothers and even husbands bring in gift and flowers to visit their love ones who just delivered, and here I was alone, disowned by everyone.

I didn’t eat dinner because it was way passed dinner time as the nurse had claimed. I glanced around just to see two girls across the room with their babies talking and looking at my direction.

I looked away and tucked myself close to my child and tried as much as I could to stop tears from gushing out of my eyes.

Side talks from the nurses were enough to make you break down but I wasn’t ready for that.

“Hello.” I heard from behind me. It was one of the girls who were talking across the room.

“Sorry to disturb you, I realized you were alone and decided to come over and say hi.” She spoke.

She had a little weight than I did with pretty blue eyes and a golden silky brown hair.

“Yeah, thanks for checking up.”

“No family to visit you?”

“Yes, but I’m fine.”

“We don’t too.” She said as the other girl made her way to my bed. I sat up and created space for them to sit.

“I brought this for you, I noticed you didn’t eat after delivering. Don’t expect anything from these nurses. It’s not their fault it’s because we are Rogues.” The other girl said.

How do I explain that I wasn’t born a Rogue and that I was actually a daughter of a popular Alpha? No need for that, it didn’t make any difference.

“What’s your name?” The girl with the blue eyes asked.

“I’m Elle.” I said.

“I’m Joan and she’s Mia.” Joan said.

Mia handed me a box of cookies and I kept thanking her. We talked and laughed for a long time. We decided to become our own family at the hospital.

From our conversation, I learnt that Joan got pregnant for her boyfriend who was a beta at Blackwood pack but he was cheating on her with another woman and didn’t want anyone to know that he has a child with a Rogue. So, without any family, Joan is forced to raise her child alone just like me.

But Mia was the only lucky one who had a family. A sister, mother and brother. She was r***d by a werewolf whom she didn’t know and was cut open to remove her child after she developed complications.

Their stories were as touching as mine.

Do you have any family or where to stay? Joan asked me.

“I’ve got a car which I stay in. I’ll be fine.” I said to them and all I could see was pity all over their faces.

The $800 dollars I had left home with, I had rented a space which had cost me $500 for five months and the rest went in baby things. The little money I made from the coffee shop, I used it for food and daily necessities.

I knew I’ll be fine but I didn’t know how everything was going to turn out.

I tried calling my mom again after Joan and Mia went to their bed space but this time instead of ringing it kept saying user busy which could only mean I was blocked and perhaps dad found out that she was in contact with me.

I wonder how Ria was coping in the house; tears began to pour down from my eyes and with that I slept off.

I remained in the hospital for three days, no food but was glad Mia’s cookies was available to help me survive. Both girls left the hospital before I did.

After the fourth day, I decided to continue my job at the coffee shop and move on.

My child deserves a better life than I enjoyed when I was a kid, this helped me stay motivated and work harder towards the goal I’ve set.