My Baby and I Died in Labor While He Celebrated Hers Chapter 4

Caspian’s POV

"Impossible!" I grabbed Ronan by the shoulders. "She was fine just a moment ago! This has to be another one of her tricks! She's faking it!"

Ronan's face was ashen. "Alpha... the Luna's body is right by the water cell... there's blood everywhere..."

"Shut up!" I roared. "She can't be dead! She's lying to me!"

I released him and tore out of the room like a madman.

"Celeste! Get out here!" I screamed as I ran. "Don't think you can fool me with this stunt!"

The water cell door loomed ahead. I shoved it open—

And froze.

The entire chamber had turned crimson. The overpowering stench of blood hit me like a wall. On the stone floor beside the cell lay a motionless figure.

Her white dress was completely soaked in blood. Her belly was still swollen, but utterly still. Her face was white as paper, eyes closed, not moving.

My legs gave out. I could barely stand.

"Celeste?" My voice shook. "Hey, cut it out... wake up..."

No response.

"No!" I collapsed beside her, hands trembling as I brushed the blood from her face.

But that familiar face, even drained of color, was unmistakably hers. My wife. Celeste.

"Celeste! Wake up! Wake up, damn it!" I shook her body frantically. "Stop playing around! I know you're pretending!"

Her body didn't respond.

"Get up!" My voice cracked. "I... I know I was wrong! Whatever you want, it's yours! Just wake up!"

But she just lay there, broken. Like a discarded doll.

"Celeste... please... open your eyes and look at me..." My voice dissolved into pleading. "Just wake up, and I'll give you anything. I'm begging you..."

I pulled her into my arms. Her body was already growing stiff. That body that had once been warm and soft was now cold as ice.

"You can't leave me!" I clutched her and wept. "You said you loved me! You promised you'd never leave!"

Footsteps approached. Ronan stepped cautiously into the room.

"Alpha... the Luna is already..."

"Shut up!" I screamed. "She's not dead! She's just sleeping! She loves me too much to leave me!"

I lifted Celeste's cold body and carried her through the corridors to my bedroom.

I pushed open the door, laid her gently on the bed, then took a warm towel and began carefully wiping her clean.

"Our baby must be beautiful," I murmured as I worked. "When you wake up, I'll take you and the baby to meet your parents... We can travel the world together..."

As the blood washed away, I saw her skin beneath—pale, but marred with wounds. My hands began to shake.

Her body was covered in injuries. Whip marks. Burn scars. Deep brands where silver chains had seared her flesh.

"Who did this?" I demanded, horror-struck.

The door opened softly. Genevieve glided in, wearing an elegant gown.

"Such a tragedy..." She sighed. "Celeste, gone just like that..."

I looked up, rage burning in my eyes. "Get out."

"Caspian, I know you're hurting..." She moved closer. "But life goes on. I've loved you for so long. Now that Celeste is... well, we can finally be together. We can be a real family. I can give you another child—one that's truly ours..."

"I said get out!" I stood abruptly and shoved her away.

Genevieve stared at me in disbelief. "You pushed me? For a dead woman?"

"I was only good to you for my brother's sake. For the family alliance." My voice was ice. "Nothing more."

Her face twisted into a sneer. "Did you really love her? Then why did you torture her while she was in labor? You killed her! You have no right to grieve!"

Her words stabbed through me like daggers.

"Get out!" I bellowed. "Now!"

Genevieve shot me a venomous glare, then fled the room in tears.

Silence settled over the room. I walked slowly back to the bed and took Celeste's cold hand in mine.

"I'm sorry... this is all my fault..." My tears fell onto her skin. "I thought once I'd fulfilled my duty with the alliance, I could make it up to you... I thought there was still time... For my brother, for the family... I thought it was all necessary... But I was wrong..."

"Celeste, please wake up..." I gripped her hand tighter. "Let me start over... Let me love you the way you deserve..."

But she would never hear my confession.

I held her cold body all night, sitting by the bed until dawn.

When morning came, Ronan knocked and entered.

"Alpha... we should arrange the Luna's funeral..."

"She's not dead," I said without looking up.

"Alpha..."

"I said she's not dead!" I whirled around, eyes wild. "Anyone who says she's dead—I'll bury them myself!"