CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 132 UNCERTAIN PATERNITY

Draven’s POV

A whole month had passed since that wild night with Caroline in the elevator. Just thinking about it made my body heat up. Two months without really seeing her was driving me crazy. She’d gotten pretty good at staying away from me too,Kyle and Ava would tip her off whenever I left my office or went to see Ryan. By the time I got there, she’d be long gone.

Clara was visiting again for the week. We had this big audit meeting coming up on Saturday that would hopefully wrap everything up. But today? Today I had to deal with something way worse,taking Ella to see her baby doctor for the first ultrasound. Just thinking about it made my stomach turn.

The appointment wasn’t until late afternoon, but knowing it was coming ruined my whole day. I couldn’t focus worth a damn. I did everything I could to avoid running into that woman, making the poor lawyer play messenger between us. And Howard being so quiet lately? That had my alarm bells ringing. I’d already mentioned it to Ryan and Alpha Arthur,something felt off.

At four, Kyle stuck her head in to remind me about the doctor. Felt like I was walking to my own execution. I dragged myself up from my desk, threw on my jacket, and went to face the music.

The second I walked into the clinic, there she was with her mom. Before I could blink, Ella tried launching herself at me like some kind of human missile. I stepped aside quick, watching her crash onto the couch instead.

"Ouch, sweetie!" she squealed in that voice that set my teeth on edge. "What a silly game. I could have gotten hurt!"

I felt Alaric growl deep inside me, his fur standing on end at just being near her. "This isn’t a game," I snapped, catching the secretary trying not to laugh. "How many times do I have to tell you not to touch me?"

I didn’t even look at Ella’s mother. Just stood there staring out the window until I heard them call that pain in my neck’s name.

The doctor came over wearing this fake smile."You must be the happy father! Congratulations!" He stuck his hand out.

I looked at his hand but kept mine in my pockets. Something about this guy felt off, like he was putting on a show. My senses were screaming at me, though maybe I just hated him because he was Ella’s doctor.

"Let’s get this over with," I said, not giving a damn if I sounded like a jerk. "I’ve got better things to do."

The exam room felt too small with all of us in it. The doctor went through this endless list of questions before turning to me with that annoying smile again.

"So, daddy, is your mate driving you crazy with her cravings yet?"

My hands clenched into fists. I wanted to punch his lights out. "She’s not my mate," I said through gritted teeth. "And I couldn’t care less about her cravings."

His smile dropped. Ella jumped in quick, babbling about our mating ceremony next month. I wanted to bang my head against the wall.

When she got changed and laid down for the ultrasound, I thought it couldn’t get worse. I was wrong.

"There’s your baby!" The doctor practically sang it.

"Oh my god!" Ella squealed like a teenager. "Look honey, it looks just like you!"

I couldn’t hold back anymore. "It looks like a blob in a black and white mess." The words came out sharp and cold.

"Don’t talk about our baby that way!" Ella’s voice hit that pitch that made my teeth ache.

The doctor, still playing his part, turned on the sound. "Let’s hear that little heartbeat!"

The room filled with this quick thumping sound, and Ella lost it - screaming and clapping like she’d won the lottery. Moon Goddess above, she scared the hell out of me. Her and her mother were putting on a whole circus act.

"Isn’t it amazing, honey?" She flashed those teeth at me, and I wondered what kind of idiot I’d been to ever sleep with her.

"No," I said flatly. "I never wanted this with you. I’m only here because I have to be."

She screamed my name again. "You’ll give our baby issues before it’s even born!"

"Fine. I’ll add therapy to the child support." I walked out, feeling sick to my stomach. Something was wrong with me,an Alpha should want his pup, should feel something. I’d always wanted kids, but this? I felt nothing. Just empty.

That whole appointment felt like torture. I could barely breathe in there. The doctor loaded us up with vitamin prescriptions and test orders, then told us to book another appointment for next month.

At the front desk, I pulled out my card to pay. The secretary was quick about it, but when she handed me my receipt, she slipped me her number too.

"Call me," it said.

I almost laughed,maybe flirting with her would piss Ella off. When I looked at her face again, something clicked. I knew her from somewhere, but the thought slipped away as soon as I walked out.

"Honey, you’re taking Mommy and me to that fancy French place," Ella announced like she was the queen giving orders. The look on her face made me want to laugh.

I smirked at her. "You must be out of your mind if you think I’m going anywhere with you two."

"Draven!" There she went again, screeching like a banshee.

Her mother jumped in. "You have to drive us home at least. We sent our driver away." Great, another one trying to boss around an Alpha.

"Fine. Let me show you something amazing." I walked to the curb and waved down a taxi. When it stopped, I swung the door open with a flourish.

"It’s called a taxi. Magic, right? It’ll take you anywhere you want!"

The look on their faces was priceless. I left them standing there with their mouths open and drove off. In my mirror, I could see Ella throwing a fit while her mom shoved her into the taxi. First real laugh I’d had all day.

I headed straight to Ryan’s place. He’d set up a guys’ night,probably trying to cheer me up after the day from hell. Everyone was already there when I walked in. Nate handed me a whiskey, just what I needed.

"So how was your date with the banshee and baby?" Luke grinned.

I took a long drink. "Man, it was like dancing with the devil herself."

They lost it when I told them about ditching Ella and her mom with the taxi. But when I got to the weird feeling I got from the doctor, and how I felt nothing for this baby, the mood got serious.

"Look, I always wanted kids, especially after losing my parents," I said, staring into my glass. "But I feel absolutely nothing for this one. Zero."

"Maybe it’s because your wolf hates the mom?" Joseph offered.

I shook my head. "That’s the thing,I love Liam like crazy. My heart just explodes when that little guy runs at me for a hug. But my own kid? Nothing."

"Could be because Liam’s Caroline’s," Nate said quietly. "Your wolf sees him as part of her."

I felt Alaric rumble in agreement.

"Maybe. But shouldn’t I feel something? Anything?" I ran my hand through my hair, frustrated. "When they played that heartbeat today, I felt empty. Isn’t an Alpha supposed to connect with his pup?"

"My dad always said he was over the moon when Mom was pregnant," Ryan added. "Said he could feel me through their mate bond before I was even born."

"Yeah, my dad was the same way," I sighed, feeling my stomach twist. "That’s what’s eating at me."

Luke looked up from his glass, his face dead serious. "What if it’s not yours?"

"I’ve been thinking the same thing," Ryan leaned forward. "You were pretty wasted at that farewell party. Are you even sure you slept with her?"

"That crazy woman would totally pull something like this," Luke’s eyes narrowed.

I downed my drink. "We tried that angle already. She won’t take a DNA test. Says it might hurt the baby."

"Hold up," Joseph frowned. "Don’t we wolves have different DNA tests? Less risky than human ones?"

"Hell if I know." I ran my fingers through my hair for the hundredth time that night.

Nate sat up straight. "Give me that doctor’s name. My uncle runs the Lunar Medical Center. I’ll ask him about it."

My heart jumped a little. "For real? That would be amazing." I grabbed my phone and sent him the name right away. "If there’s a safe way to test, I can make her do it."

"I’ll set up lunch with my uncle soon," Nate grinned. "We’ll figure this out."

Then I remembered something that made me laugh. "Oh yeah, get this—the secretary tried to pick me up. Gave me her number and everything."

"Oh come on!" Luke threw his hands up. "Did the Moon Goddess sprinkle fairy dust on you at birth or something? Women just can’t help themselves around you, can they?"

We all cracked up at that. The guys kept the jokes coming, and somehow they turned my crappy day around. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t shake thoughts of Caroline and Liam. Something felt wrong about all this. I could feel Alaric pacing inside me, more worried by the day.