Chapter 2

I forcibly snatched the letter back.

Lila cowered behind Eliot, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if she were frightened.

Eliot soothed Lila, then turned to face me, his expression darkening instantly.

"Seren, you're emotionally unstable right now. Don't go to the faculty tomorrow, and don't participate in the full professorship tenure review meeting either."

I looked at him.

"I'm an associate professor in the biology department. The full professorship review is decided by the University Academic Committee, it's not under your authority as department head.

Furthermore, this is White Pack territory. You don't have the authority to ground me."

Lila's tears started to fall immediately, her voice soft and trembling.

"Seren, I really didn't mean to steal your things. I just love Eliot too much; I couldn't control myself."

I laughed out loud.

"Well, you certainly know how to love, loving enough to steal someone else's mate."

Eliot lowered his voice, a warning in his tone.

"Don't be so harsh. We're all members of the White Pack; if word gets out, other Packs will laugh at us."

My phone rang.

It was the Pack's medical center.

"Seren, your mother has suddenly shown early signs of organ failure, and her blood pressure is unstable. Please come immediately."

I grabbed my bag and left.

Eliot subconsciously followed.

A flicker of warmth unexpectedly bloomed in my heart; Eliot wasn't completely heartless after all.

And as the Alpha of the White Pack, he had the power to mobilize the best doctors and top-tier treatment equipment.

But the next second, Lila clutched her stomach and crouched down, letting out a soft whimper.

"Eliot, I'm dizzy..."

"I didn't eat last night; the baby might be unstable."

Eliot's footsteps stopped.

He glanced at me, his voice reassuring.

"You take a cab there first."

"I'll take Lila to the medical center's obstetrics department; I'll be there to join you soon."

I didn't speak.

As the elevator doors closed, I saw him scoop Lila into his arms, holding her carefully as if she were a priceless treasure.

In the taxi, I called him three times.

No answer.

When I arrived at the medical center, my mother's face was ashen, and she was already semi-conscious.

The nurse pushed a risk disclosure form in front of me.

"Please sign, we may need to initiate organ suppression therapy or even resuscitation immediately."

My hand trembled so much I couldn't write my name.

For eight years, Eliot always said, "From now on, your mom is my mom. White Pack's medical resources will always prioritize her."

He said I didn't need to be afraid, he'd handle everything at the medical center.

But when this day actually came, I was still the only one waiting outside the hospital room.

Outside the emergency room, I opened my phone.

The first post on the White Pack forum was from Eliot.

In the photo, he and Lila held up their marriage certificate, both smiling happily.

The caption read: "My love, my only Luna."

The post time was when I made my third call.

Below it, many faculty members liked the post.

Lila replied: "Thank you, everyone. Eliot said he's treating everyone to a big dinner tonight."

I stared at that line, my palms slowly growing cold.

When my mom woke up, her first question was, "Where's Eliot? Why didn't he come?"

I flipped my phone face down in my palm.

"He's handling urgent Pack matters and can't get away."

A family member of the patient in the next bed, an older member of the Pack, suddenly leaned over.

"Alpha Eliot got married yesterday, Seren. Why wasn't the bride you?"

"Look at the photo Alpha Eliot posted on the forum."

She handed her phone to my mother.

I didn't have time to stop her.

When my mother saw the photo, her breathing suddenly became rapid, and the monitor emitted a sharp alarm.

I rushed out to call the doctor.

As I ran to the nurses' station, I saw Eliot and Lila, holding hands, distributing wedding favors to several familiar medical staff.

He had brought Lila for her prenatal check-up and casually announced their marriage to acquaintances in the Pack.

Someone joked, "Alpha Eliot, you kept that quiet! You already have a child so soon?"

Lila blushed and leaned against him.

Eliot saw me and frowned slightly.

"Why aren't you in the room looking after your mother? Don't you know she's not well? How can you be casually strolling around outside?"

I threw my mother's critical condition notice in his face.

"Eliot, how dare you say such a thing?"

"My mother just had an attack after seeing your post on the forum."

The medical center lobby instantly fell silent.

Lila's tears started again.

She softly said, "Seren, don't blame Eliot. It's my fault; I insisted he post it on the forum."

Eliot shielded her, his voice filled with anger.

"This is the White Pack's medical center. Do you have to cause a scene here and let other Pack members laugh at us?"

I looked at the box of wedding favors still in his hand,

and suddenly found it all very laughable.