CHAPTER 1
IRENE'S POV
Sitting in the sterile, white room of the pack hospital, my heart pounded with anticipation. The doctor, a kind-faced man with a gentle demeanor, entered the room holding a folder. He smiled warmly, a smile that immediately put me at ease and dissipated my fears a little.
"Irene, I have some wonderful news for you," he began, his voice calm and reassuring, Mali g me eager to hear what he has to say. "You're pregnant."
For a moment, the world stopped spinning. Pregnant. The word echoed in my mind, each syllable sinking in slowly.
"Are my ears playing a trick on me? Did I hear you right?" I uttered, rubbing my face with my hand to know I wasn't imagining things.
"You heard right, Irene. You're indeed pregnant." The doctor confirmed.
Pregnant. I placed a hand over my abdomen, as if I could already feel the life growing inside me. A flood of emotions surged through me—joy, relief, disbelief, excitement.
"Pregnant?" I whispered, almost afraid to believe it. "Are you sure?"
The doctor nodded, his smile widening.
"Yes, Irene. The tests are conclusive. You're going to be a mother. Congratulations."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I processed the news.
"Thank you, doctor," I said, fighting back tears. "You have no idea how much this means to me and Matthew. We've been trying for three years. This...this is a miracle."
He reached out and patted my hand gently.
"I understand, Irene. I know it's been a long journey for you both. But now, it's important that you take care of yourself. Rest well, eat healthily, and avoid any unnecessary stress. Your health and the baby's health are the top priorities now."
I nodded, barely able to contain my excitement.
"I will, doctor. I'll do everything you say. Thank you so much."
Who was I not to follow the doctor's instruction? My husband and I have been hoping a bit desperately for a child. And now that one finally showed up, I would never do anything to jeopardize that.
As I left the hospital, my mind was already racing ahead to the moment I would share the news with Matthew. I imagined his face lighting up with delight, his eyes shining with the same joy I felt.
Our marriage had been strained lately as the pressure of trying for a child weighed heavily on both of us. But this news—this precious, wonderful news—would change everything. It would rekindle the love and connection that had brought us together in the first place. So, I thought.
As I returned home, my heart was full of anticipation and joy. I couldn't wait to share the wonderful news with Matthew. I imagined his face lighting up, his eyes brimming with excitement. But as I opened the door, all my beautiful fantasies shattered in an instant.
There, on the living room couch, were Matthew, my husband and mate with my half-sister, Thea. They were wrapped around each other in an intimate embrace with Matthew's member still in her as she moaned to his thrusts.
Right there, their betrayal unfolded before my eyes. I felt my world collapse; my trust and love evaporated in a heartbeat. Tears began to slide down my face silently, and my voice choked, barely able to make a sound. I never expected this. Definitely not! How could he?
"Matthew," I finally managed to whisper, my voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and anguish. "What is going on here?"
He looked up, startled, but then his expression hardened. He disentangled himself from Thea and stood up, his eyes cold and unfeeling.
"Irene, it's not what it looks like," he started, but his words lacked sincerity.
Thea, too, had the audacity to stand there without doing anything or flinching. She had this look of defiance on her face instead. "Irene, we didn't mean for you to find out like this."
"Find out what?" I demanded, my voice rising with anger and pain. "That you've been cheating on me with my own sister? How long has this been going on?"