Chapter 5 : Time’s Ticking

“But why do you have to go so out of the blue, you don't look too good let's go to the hospital” Katherine beckoned for the millionth time as Alpha Raymond continued packing a suitcase with some clothes

“I'm fine and there's nothing I can do to avoid going, I'll just have to go”

“B..but why?”

“The investors I'm working with urgently called for a business meeting and I have to go. I'll be back before you know it, okay?” He kissed her forehead, closed the suitcase, and the maid in the room with them carried it down from the bed to take downstairs. Katherine folded her hands in defeat and just followed him till he got outside where the car was waiting. She knew she couldn't change his mind at this point and besides, he was going for an understandable reason but it seemed like her pregnancy hormones were messing with her ability to understand or compromise

“Bye, please take care of yourself and my little prince inside you okay?” Katherine pouted and he chuckled

“So cute” he lightly squeezed her cheeks and walked towards the car which had been opened for him by the chauffeur. He waved as he got in and Katherine waved back. Before she could think of anything else, the car had driven out and the maid who took the suitcase started going back into the house. She sighed heavily and then made her way back in.

Alpha Raymond on the other hand sighed in relief as soon as the car left the place and the gates to the mansion were closed. He took out a tissue from his pocket as soon as he felt his nose runny and used it to collect what came out which was nothing else but blood. He sighed once more thinking about the whole thing and he was far from being pleased. Just yesterday he had spoken to his beta about the same thing, his health, and he could remember himself vividly telling Beta Diego that he was fine. The story of the matter had suddenly changed in less than 24 hours and there he was, desperately rushing to go get checked by his doctor who had been begging him for an appointment. He took out his phone and dialed Beta Diego's number and the latter picked up right after the third ring

“Cancel all my meetings and engagements for the next two days, I won't be around for any of them” he ordered straight up and beta Diego remained silent for almost 30 seconds trying to process what Alpha Raymond had said

“Hello? Can you hear me? I said to cancel every engagement I have for two days”

“Oh yes, I heard you”

“Good. If there are any of the meetings you can go to on my behalf you can go but for the rest, just postpone them till I get back”

“If I may ask Alpha, where are you going right now? You didn't tell me you were going anywhere  when we met yesterday”

“I'm currently on my way to Doctor Thomas' place”

“What? I thought you said you were going to go much later, what changed?”

“Just yesterday night, all my symptoms started coming at the same time. I'm even having a nosebleed right now and I know I can't keep it in for too long”

“And the Luna?”

“What about her?”

“Did she see you yesternight when you…”

“No! Luckily she was in a deep sleep and she didn't even wake up throughout the night”

“Okay, that's a relief”

“I told her I went for an impromptu business trip so if she asks you anything that's what you'll say”

“Alright Alpha, please take care of yourself”

“Thank you” he hung up the call and proceeded to wipe his nose as the blood continued running

**********

Days turned into a week and a week soon turned into months since Alpha Raymond had left the house for his “business trip” according to Katherine. Every time she called to know what was keeping him from returning for so long, he would always give the excuse of being occupied with work or the rise in complications had brought about him being compelled to stay till it was all resolved. Unbeknownst to her, Alpha Raymond had been paralyzed the whole time from his waist downward. Doctor Thomas had still not been able to discover what the disease was but he was still able to manage the whole thing for years and no one else but Beta Diego knew about it. The paralysis lasted for about two months and it led to the alpha having to take online therapy classes to learn how to walk again and stay strong.

Throughout this period, Katherine's baby bump had gotten bigger and she was already counting down to her delivery day. Not having Alpha Raymond around throughout the time was very heartbreaking for her but she was only able to survive it because she had the company of Ma'am Sarah, the cook and caretaker of Alpha Raymond's house and Alex, her bodyguard. Ma'am Sarah would constantly visit her in her bedroom and give her foot massages, they would spend time cooking and gisting or just laying around, just about anything Katherine wanted, while Alex would join her for her walks. This particular day was one of those days her hormones would get the best of her

“Why wouldn't he take my call, we just stopped talking about 2 minutes ago” she whined, angrily tapping on the screen to dial Alpha Raymond's number. The line rang for a while and after the fourth ring, the call was immediately connected and she began

“Why didn't you answer my calls? I'm all by myself and you just left me like that, do you think that's fair huh? I'm never talking to you again, humph!* Alpha Raymond laughed on the other end as he listened to her little rant. Unbeknownst to Katherine, he was taking his usual walk therapy class whilst having the phone call conversation with her that lasted up to an hour just 2 minutes before. They had both ended the call with smiles and goodbye kisses, only for Katherine to call him back, claiming that he had abandoned her!

“Come on dear you know that's not true, I would never leave you alone”

“Then why aren't you home yet? It's been months and my tummy already looks so big that I think it'll explode, why did you leave me alone here? You could have just allowed me to follow you”

“No dear, there's so much stress here and I wouldn't want it to affect you and the baby. Besides, you're not alone, are you? Sarah's there and you also have Alex to keep you company”

“Hmm whatever but the babies need their Daddy to be here with them”

“Wait I'm sorry babies? Them? Wh..what are you talking about Kat?”

“When I went to the hospital for my regular check-ups, Doctor Talia suggested I did a scan of my belly to see how our little one is doing but instead we saw that there were two of them”

“Haha, what? That's amazing my love! We're having twins!!” Alpha Raymond beamed unconsciously and he cleared his throat to comport himself again

“That's such great news, how could you keep it from me, Katherine?”

“And how could you abandon us just like that?”

“No I didn't abandon you and our child, I mean children. I'll do my very best to get home as soon as possible, I wouldn't want to miss being there to see them enter this world”

“So you're coming back home?!!”

“Yes my love, I'll make sure I'm around as soon as possible”

“Yes” she screamed in excitement and Alpha Raymond quietly chuckled

“So can I leave now my beautiful Luna?”

“So far you call me back again soon”

“I promise”

“Hmm you can go Alpha” They both laughed and then hung up the call. Katherine sighed and relaxed back in bed. After staying there for about twenty seconds, she got up restless again and then stood up to go find Ma'am Sarah

She carefully walked into the kitchen and she met ma'am Sarah chopping some vegetables for dinner.

“Hello” she greeted while walking to grab an apple from the fruit bowl

“Oh good evening Luna, let me just help you with that” ma'am Sarah beckoned as she took the apple from her and started rinsing it under the running water. After making sure the fruit was well rinsed, she then gave it back to her Luna who straight up  took a huge bite from it

“So what can I do to help today?”

“Ah Luna, all you have to do for me is just sit down relax and wait for your dinner to be ready”

“Oh come on Sarah, you know I always get bored just resting all day. Besides, I've always joined you to cook occasionally so why are you stopping me today?”

“Your belly is already so big and I wouldn't want you to be stressed from anything, Luna please just rest and I'll get everything ready” Katherine stood up and went towards where she was chopping the vegetables and then took the knife

“You already know how stubborn your Luna is so just let me do this one. After this, I'll go and rest like you want me to” Ma'am Sarah laughed and shook her head before giving up. At least she only asked to chop some vegetables and that was it. Together, they both had fun discussions and completed the dinner with some time to spare for more discussions