Rebirth; The Alpha's Baby Mama

Chapter 6

Jade’s POV

Maverick's eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. But he quickly masked it by nodding stiffly. "If that’s what you want, I’ll respect it." His voice was gentle, careful.

"But you should know… I regret everything I did and I wouldn’t forgive me either.”

He stood and took a step back, his towering figure casting a long shadow across the sterile white hospital room.

“I’ll give you some time if that's what you need,” he continued, exhaling like he was holding something heavy in. “But I meant what I said, Gana. I’m not leaving your side again.”

With that, he placed the bouquet of deep purple flowers on my lap, his fingers brushing against the carton colored wrapper used to hold it.

Then, just before he reached the door, he turned back with a small, tired smile and blew me a kiss.

I felt my stomach turn at the gesture. When I heard the click of the door, I found myself releasing a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

I truly didn't want to be anywhere around him. I didn't even want to be bothered about wasting my brain cells on him.

I stared down at the bouquet, completely still.

Flowers–they were purple tulips to be specific. I didn't know how I knew that but I just did. I had never seen tulips in my life.

I had never even received flowers before. Never in my past life as Jade, where the only things I was given were commands, chains, and the cruel fate of being sold to a mate who only wanted me for obvious reasons.

My fingers traced over the petals as I took a whiff of it. They were soft, velvety, and so… alive.

Unlike me.

I swallowed hard, pushing the bouquet to the side and attempting to sit up again. The moment I tried, however, my body betrayed me.

This time, a sharp pain shot up my side, my legs weak beneath me. Before I could stop myself, I collapsed back onto the pillows with a frustrated groan.

“Ugh, this is getting annoying!” How would I get used to this body? Gana’s strength, her curves, her height. Everything was so different, I hated the feeling of being immobile.

I let out a shaky breath, reaching for the plate of sliced fruit on the nightstand. My mouth felt parched and dry, I didn't see a glass of water in sight so this was my next best option.

Plus I needed something to make me feel better. Then, just as I picked up a piece of fruit, the door swung open again.

Irritation flared within me. “Maverick, I swear to goddess, if you—”

But it wasn’t Maverick.

Instead, a petite blonde with impossibly bright blue eyes stepped inside, a sickeningly sweet smile plastered on her face.

She looked like a doll—delicate, soft, dressed in pastel colors that screamed innocence.

Who was she? My stomach twisted at the sight of her.

“Gana, you're finally awake.” Her voice was dripping with sweetness as she made her way in. “You got us all worried there.”

I didn't know who she was but Gana knew.

I was sure of it.

Still, I kept my face blank, trying to mask my unease. “Who are you?” I asked, my voice even.

The blonde blinked, her smile faltering for only a second before she clasped her hands together in hurt. “Gana, no way did you forget me or something? You were acting strange back in the palace as well.” She took a step closer, her perfume sickeningly sugary. “It’s me, Mel. Your dear friend.”

Gana’s dear friend? I couldn't believe that.

I didn’t react, merely watching as Mel sauntered toward the hospital bed and took a seat beside it, tilting her head in that ‘innocent’ way.

Then, her gaze flickered to the bouquet at my side, and for the briefest moment, her entire demeanor cracked.

I caught it—the tiny flash of jealousy in Mel’s expression. The way her lips pressed together, the slight tension in her shoulders. It was gone in a second though, replaced by another one of those smiles.

“They are very pretty flowers, who got them for you?” She asked.

“It was Alpha Maverick.” I said, carefully watching her and there it was again. Her jaws tightened and her brow slightly twitched.

“That's so lovely of him, I'm glad he’s by your side.”

Ah–I could see it now, way to make it obvious. If I wasn't mistaken, this Mel girl totally had a thing for Alpha Maverick.

And if Alpha Maverick showed this much affection to Gana then—

“It must be tough being in the hospital. You always hated confined spaces.” She said, cutting my thoughts off.

My fingers twitched, so that was why I had felt so desperate to leave when I first woke up.

Gana didn't like confined spaces.

I hadn’t even realized it until now, but the walls of the hospital room, the sterile air, the way everything felt suffocating—it made sense.

Mel continued rambling, pretending to be concerned, but her true emotions were painfully obvious.

I had quite enough as I cut her off. “What’s your relationship with Maverick?”

Mel froze, caught off guard.

Then, slowly, she smirked.

“Oh, you really did lose your memory, didn’t you?” She said, her voice a bit lower.

Mel leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Here’s a little advice,” she murmured, eyes flashing. “Stay in your place. Maverick is mine. He always has been. And I’d hate for you to get hurt.”

I stared at her, unblinking.

Before she could respond, the door creaked open again.

Maverick’s deep, unamused voice cut through the tension.

“I didn’t see you on my way in, Mel.”

Mel stiffened, instantly sitting up straighter. Her smile returned, but this time, it wasn’t even remotely convincing.

“Oh,” she laughed, a little too high-pitched. “I was just about to leave. I only stopped by to tell Gana how her babies were doing.”

I felt my stomach churn, I knew my hunch was right. Mel was equivalent to a b***h.

Mel stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her skirt before flashing another fake smile. “Rest well, Gana,” she chirped, then hurried out of the room, heels clicking against the floor.

Tensed up, thinking it was just I and Maverick together alone again, I realized there were others in the room.

Four men stood behind him—older with an undeniable powerful presence.

Maverick exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “These are the elders Gana,” he introduced. “They’re the guardians and officials of the pack.”

My brows twisted as I tilted my head, why was he explaining? I already knew what elders were.

The men eyed me carefully, their gazes sharp. Then, after a few questions—probing ones that I struggled to answer—they exchanged concerned glances.

One of them, an older man with graying hair, frowned. “You really don’t remember anything before the birth of your twin daughters?”

“Yes, I think so,” I hesitated.

The elders murmured amongst themselves, worry evident on their faces. Then, after a long moment, one of them finally said, “I think getting her back to the pack would be the best option right now.”

—

Later that evening, back at the pack palace, I sat on the edge of the bed, stiff.

Maverick was there too, sitting across from me, arms crossed, watching.

I hadn’t expected him to actually keep his word. But he did.

He stayed by my side in what seemed to be my room.

He didn’t speak much. Didn’t dare touch me. Just… stayed.

The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. I didn't think I could take much of this anymore.

I needed to leave, needed time to actually think and process things without someone breathing down my neck.

And so, the moment Maverick stepped out of the room, I acted.

Carefully, quietly, I pushed myself up, biting back a wince at the lingering soreness in my body. I pushed toward the window, using the wall for support, inching closer to my only escape.

Then, just as I reached it, a firm hand wrapped around my wrist.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Maverick’s voice was low, dark, edged with something dangerous.

I whipped around, heart pounding.

His grip on my wrist tightened, not painfully, but enough to keep me in place. His sharp green eyes burned into hers, unreadable, intense.

“Why,” he asked slowly, voice barely above a whisper, “are you acting so strangely?”