Chapter 45 Abortion
Aelira’s POV
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I grasp the mate bond severance agreement in my hands, hardly able to
believe its authenticity. After all the struggles, tears, and heartbreak,
Alarion has finally signed it.
“You will regret it,” his words echo ominously in my mind as I walk away
from the Unified Land Registry.
It feels hauntingly similar to what he said before when he first consented
to sever our bond. Yet, back then, he was filled with regret afterward. This
time, however, will be different.
Oriana is seated in the car, nearly bursting with enthusiasm as I slip into
the passenger seat. She grabs my arm, her eyes alight with anticipation.
“Show me! I want to see the divorce certificate!”
I shake my head and instead reveal the agreement. “It’s not finalized yet.
There’s a one–month waiting period.”
“What?” Oriana’s excitement quickly dims as she examines the document.
“Since when do they implement waiting periods for severing mate bonds?”
“It’s a recent rule,” I clarify, indicating the clause. “The official mentioned it allows our wolves time to adjust to the breakup and helps to avoid physical shock to our systems.”
Oriana looks concerned, returning the papers to me. “That sounds fishy. What happens if Alarion has a change of heart during this waiting time?”
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That same fear tugs at me. I bite my lip and carefully tuck the agreement
into my purse.
“The official stated that if both parties consent, the severance can be
reversed during this period. But I doubt that will occur.”
“Are you certain? Alarion has been so unpredictable lately. What if he
decides he doesn’t want to let you go after all?” Oriana’s expression shows
her worry.
“He’s eager for this severance now that Cyrinne is expecting,” I reply firmly,
although my wolf whines with doubt. “Regardless of whether the pup is his,
he has chosen to believe it is.”
Oriana scoffs as she starts the car. “Any paternity test would prove
otherwise. But I guess they would have to wait until the baby is born for
that.”
“Don’t forget about his fertility problems,” I remind her. “Somewhere inside, he must realize the pup can’t be his. But he wants to accept it.”
“Men,” Oriana exclaims, rolling her eyes. “Especially Alpha males. Their
pride makes them oblivious.”
I nod, my hand instinctively resting on my own abdomen, where my- Alarion’s–pup is developing. The irony does not escape me. Cyrinne is carrying someone else’s child and claiming it as Alarion’s, while I am
actually carrying his true heir.
“Oriana,” I say softly, gazing ahead through the windshield, “I need you to take me to the hospital.”
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She glances at me, comprehension registering in her eyes. “For the
abortion?”
“Yes.” My voice barely rises above a whisper. “I can’t be bound to him
forever through a child.”
She reaches over and clasps my hand. “Are you completely certain about
this, Aelira? It’s a significant choice.”
“I am certain.” I need to be. With the process of severing the mate bond
finally beginning, I can’t afford to complicate things with a pregnancy. “Will
you accompany me? I don’t want to face this alone.”
MI
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“Absolutely,” she replies, her tone growing gentle. “I’m here for you, no
matter what. I always have been and always will be.”
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The ride to Aethervale Hospital is silent. I gaze out the window, watching
the familiar buildings slide by, my thoughts a chaotic swirl. My wolf feels
unexpectedly restless, pacing anxiously beneath my skin. Is she picking up
on my inner conflict about the pup? Or is it something more?
Upon arrival, the hospital buzzes with activity. Both werewolves and
humans weave through the corridors with intent. My heightened senses
pick up the sharp scent of antiseptic mingled with the distinct aromas of
various medications.
“I despise clinics,” Oriana whispered, scrunching her nose at the
overpowering odors. “Everything reeks of excessive cleanliness.”
I stayed silent. My anxiety overwhelmed me, and my mind felt chaotic.
We are guided to the obstetrics unit, and I’m taken aback to find that the
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doctor who welcomes us is the same one from my last appointment.
“Ms. Sunmere,” he greets me, recognition flickering in his gaze. “You’ve
come back.”
“Yes,” I reply, managing a steadier tone than my insides suggest. “I’ve
come to a decision regarding the pregnancy.”
The doctor’s demeanor stays professionally detached as he motions for us
to follow him into an examination room. “Understood. Before we continue, I
would like to conduct another ultrasound to assess the embryo’s current
condition.”
I agree, reclining on the examination table while he readies the equipment.
The chilly gel applied to my abdomen elicits a slight wince.
“Apologies for that,” the doctor remarks, adjusting the monitor. “It tends to
be a bit cold.”
As the doctor glides the wand over my belly, his expression tightens. He
examines the screen intently for several extended moments before looking
back at me.
“Ms. Sunmere, I regret to inform you that things have changed since your
last visit.”
A jolt of panic runs through me. “What do you mean? Is there a problem
with the pup?”
“No, the pup is developing properly,” he reassures me swiftly. “However, the
embryo has securely attached to your uterine wall. This indicates that any
attempt at termination at this stage would involve considerable risk.”
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“In what way is it risky?” Oriana inquires, moving in closer to provide her
support.
The doctor’s voice turns serious. “There’s a substantial risk of lasting
damage to the uterine tissues. For werewolves, this may lead to
permanent infertility. Your wolf’s reproductive functions could be affected
as well.”
His words strike me like a physical impact. Permanent infertility? The
possibility of never becoming a mother again? My wolf wails in anguish
within me, the sound reverberating in my head.
“But…” I grapple for the right words, my heart racing. “Surely there must be
a safe way to end this pregnancy.”
The doctor gently shakes his head. “For your specific case, I strongly
caution against it. The embryo displays what we term ‘tenacious
adherence,‘ which is rare but does occur occasionally in werewolf
pregnancies, especially when the father carries an Alpha lineage.”
I feel faint, the room tilting slightly. Naturally, Alarion’s Alpha traits would
complicate matters even further.
“Steady yourself, Aelira,” Oriana urges, holding my hand firmly. “Just
breathe.”
1
“Ms. Sunmere,” the doctor continues, his tone softer now, “I sense your
uncertainty. May I inquire why you’re contemplating termination? Is it due
to health concerns?”
I turn to Oriana, who offers me an encouraging nod.
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“No,” I confess, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. “I’m choosing to end
my mate bond with the pup’s father. I don’t wish to remain linked to him.
through a child.”
Understanding flickers in the doctor’s eyes. “I understand. That’s a
challenging position. However, I implore you to think about the fact that a
life is developing within you–one that, based on these readings, is healthy
and thriving.”
His words provoke a protective stirring within my wolf. Despite my logical choice to terminate, my wolf has already begun to bond with the pup.
“This puppy is already a part of you,” the doctor gently states. “Your wolf
senses this connection, which is why the bond is so intense.”
Tears trickle down my face. I hadn’t fully grasped until this moment just
how conflicted I really am. My mind seeks liberation from Alarion, yet my
wolf–my heart–craves this tiny being growing within me.
Oriana tightens her grip on my hand, her own eyes shimmering with
unshed tears. “Aelira, perhaps this is a sign. If it’s so risky… maybe you
were meant to have this pup.”
The doctor gestures toward the screen. “Would you like to see your baby?”
Before I can respond, he swivels the monitor to face me. There, in a blurry
black and white image, is a small shape that hardly resembles anything
human.
“At six weeks, your baby measures roughly the size of a small blueberry,” the doctor clarifies, his tone becoming warmer. “Although it may not appear to be much at this stage, development is advancing quickly.”
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I can’t pull my gaze away from the screen. That tiny speck is alive. It is a
part of me. My pup.
“The facial features are starting to form,” he continues, indicating a
specific section of the image. “Here, you can see where the eyes will
develop.”
Eyes. That word resonates deeply within me. I envision those tiny eyes looking up at me one day, bright and innocent, perhaps amber like Alarion’s
or brown like mine.
I rest my hand on my slightly rounded belly, feeling a bond I hadn’t
previously allowed myself to recognize.
A
た
“Those little eyes,” I murmur, my vision swimming with tears. “They will see
- me. They will look at me.”
The doctor offers a kind smile. “Yes, they will. And in a few months, they’ll
recognize you–your scent, your voice, your face.”
I picture that small face lighting up with a smile upon seeing me.
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