Chapter 17 Sheldon's Pov

• I sit by Esmeralda's side, the weight of everything crashing into me. With the news of her pregnancy, every action, every harsh word, feels like a blade of guilt slicing through me.
• I brush a hand over her forehead, watching the gentle rise and fall of her breathing. She’s so delicate right now, and the knowledge that she’s carrying my child only deepens my protective instincts. I lean down, whispering softly, “I’ve put you through so much… And you still found the strength to survive.”
• Just then, Astrid enters; her face is a mixture of relief and regret. “Alpha Sheldon,” she says quietly, her voice barely breaking the silence. “I… I had no idea she was pregnant. If I had known, I wouldn’t have suggested the trial.”