Chapter 13
Sienna:
The silence in the Infirmary was the sound that I started getting used to.
At this point, it was only the constant hum of footsteps in the murmuring of nurses which faded, leaving only the rhythmic beep of the monitors and the soft sound of my daughter’s
breathing beside me.
I had my arms wrapped around myself as I debated on how I was going to be dealing with
everything that I was now forced to go through. I did not even know how things were going to
- be. I did not know what the plan was, nor did I know how my fate was going to be from here.
I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair. This was not the way that I wanted things to be,
not for my daughter at least.
I glanced down at Isla, who was securely asleep in my arms. Her tiny fingers crawled into the
fabric of my hospital gown as she let out a small whimper. It was a tough night for the two of
- us. She was wrestled through it all, her small body seeking warmth and comfort from her
mother.
Did she somehow feel that she was unwanted by her father? Did she somehow understand
that this was not the way that things were supposed to be? I did not know.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, adjusting her slightly as I rocked her back and forth. Thought of that pained me because I knew that it was my fault. It was not hers. She was not to blame for this, it was not her mistake. She shouldn’t be suffering resentment simply
because she was my daughter.
“It’s okay, little one,” I whispered, running my fingers gently along her delicate cheek. “You have me. I’m going to be there for you through it all.”
The words were meant to comfort her, but they only made my heart ache. I had told myself from the moment I knew I was pregnant that I would fight for her, that I would keep her safe no matter what. But now, trapped in this pack, under Damon’s rule, I wasn’t sure how much of a choice I had. I just felt like a prisoner here. I was not even allowed to leave this Infirmary room. While I understood that my daughter needed to be staying here, I understood that she needed to be monitored. I still did not know until when that was going to happen.
No matter how many times I tried to ask, the nurses did not bother responding. It was as if I did not even exist, or maybe my existence was one that they resented here. Either way, neither
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one of them looked at me, spared me a second glance or a word, unless it was to check on me
and check on my vitals.
I heard the door creak open behind me, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. His presence filled the room even before I turned my head to confirm it. Damon.
His tall frame leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression
unreadable. His green eyes flickered between me and the baby, lingering on Isla for a moment
before shifting back to me.
“You’re awake,” he said, his voice void of emotion.
I swallowed and nodded, shifting Isla’s weight in my arms.
“She barely slept,” I admitted. “She kept crying through the night. I couldn’t get any sleep until
she rested.”
Damon remained silent, his jaw tightening as if he were forcing himself to stay in the room.
He took a slow step forward, his gaze dropping once again to our daughter.
I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but something in his posture told me he wasn’t just here
for a casual check–in. I was not the person that he would want to check on anyway and I
doubted that he would want anything to do with Isla.
“She’s fragile,” he finally said, his tone rough. “The doctor said she needs constant monitoring. She is going to need to be in their care.”
I frowned, instinctively pulling Isla closer. “I’m taking care of her. You don’t need to worry about that, alpha.”
Damon scoffed, rubbing a hand over his face. His eyes hardened for a moment, and I found myself flinching as I waited for whatever it was that he was going to throw at me right now. His eyes mostly spoke louder than his words did, and even without thought, I found myself wondering why I did not understand his expression when he was only using me months ago.
“You can’t even take care of yourself, Sienna.” His voice was sharper now, edged with something bitter. “You nearly died carrying her. What makes you think you can do this alone? You nearly died giving birth to her, and she would have died too had we not intervened, had I not found you.”
“What did you expect me to do at that point? I had no other choice.” I said, making sure to
keep my tone maintained. I did not want to wake my daughter up.
Damon’s jaw ticked, his eyes flashing with irritation. He took another step closer, looming over
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- me. I looked up at him, refusing to back down as I tightened my grip around my daughter, shielding her from him. He was not going to take her from me. I was not going to allow it.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he said darkly. “You do have a choice, but you keep making the wrong ones. And right now you are making another wrong choice by challenging me with this.”
I stiffened. “And what is the right choice, Damon? Being under your control? Watching you pretend like we don’t exist? Or is it the fact that I chose to run away knowing that you did not even want me? Knowing that you used me?”
His nostrils flared, his fists clenching at his sides. For a moment, I thought he would lash out, but instead, he let out a sharp breath and straightened. “I don’t care what you think of me, but Isla stays here. This is her pack. This is where she belongs.”
“And me?” I whispered. Damon’s expression darkened. He didn’t say a word for a few moments. I just kept my eyes on him, studying his expression, already understanding what he was going to tell me. He did not care whether or not I stayed.
“If you want to leave, Sienna, you can.” His voice was cold, final. “But you leave without her. And if you think of putting on a fight, you are going to be the one to suffer the consequences.”
The room fell into suffocating silence. My heart pounded, my body going rigid at his words.
Damon turned, walking toward the door without looking back. “The doctors will be coming to pick her up soon. The nurses are going to put her in an incubator. You can do it the kind way and allow them to do it. Allow them to do their job or trust me when I say they are allowed to do it by force. The choice is yours…”
