?Chapter 408:


    Eventually, the knocking faded, and I sensed that yton had left. I wrapped the covers tightly around myself, silent tears continuing to fall onto the pillowcase.


    Perhaps exhaustion had taken over, for the tears mingled with fatigue and carried me into a dream.


    In that dream, I met the child again. His lips curled into a pure, innocent smile, and heforted me in a childlike voice. “Mommy, don’t cry. I’m here.”


    I stared at him, surprise washing over me as a strange warmth filled my heart. “Are you my baby?” I couldn’t help but ask gently.


    The child nodded, his smile growing even brighter. So adorable! In that moment, he felt like the sweetest being in the world, and the warmth in my chest momentarily chased away the bitterness of reality.


    But then the weight of my worries crashed back—what if I died after he was born? My mood soured again.


    The child seemed to sense my turmoil and spoke in his innocent voice. “Mommy, you won’t die. You just haven’t restored your strength yet.”


    Restored my strength? That phrase tightened my heart with unease. I was about to ask more when the dream abruptly shattered, pulling me back to wakefulness.


    Opening my eyes, I found darkness enveloping the room, leaving me alone in a silence so profound I could only hear my breath.


    I mulled over the child’s words, confusion swirling in my mind. Suddenly, I felt an odd difort in my hand. Looking down, I was startled to see that I had involuntarily shifted into my wolf form. How could this happen? I noticed the fur on one of my paws had begun to turn white. What was going on?


    While I was lost in a haze of thoughts, a knock on the door jolted me from my reverie. Who could be visiting me at this hour? I quickly shifted back to my human form and asked calmly, “Who is it?”


    “Makenna, it’s us,” came the voices of Alice and Lily from outside. Relief washed over me. “Come in.”


    The door opened, and Lily stepped in, a fancy food container in hand and concern etched on her face as she approached my bedside. Alice followed closely behind, silently indicating that they had crossed paths on their way here.


    I nodded almost imperceptibly, trying to appear calm, and turned to Lily with a smile. “Lily, what delicious food have you brought me?”


    Lily’s smile brightened as she deftly opened the food container. “I made chicken soup for you today.”


    The rich aroma of the soup wafted through the room, tempting yet unsettling.


    “I know you’ve been on a special diet these past few days, and I haven’t had a chance to make you something nourishing. Today, I asked the doctor, and he said you can eat this now, so I cooked it for you,” Lily said, her concern genuine on the surface.


    I couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. If I hadn’t known that Lily had already betrayed me, I might have been deeply moved by her thoughtfulness. But now, gazing at her innocent smile sent a chill down my spine.


    “Lily, thank you so much!” I said with feigned enthusiasm.


    “You’re wee,” she replied, her smile shy yet bright as she ced the food container on the table, arranging it carefully. “Eat it while it’s hot; it won’t be good if it gets cold.”


    I nodded, slowly sitting down at the table and reaching for the spoon. Just then, Alice eximed, “Oh no! My earring is missing!”


    Makenna’s POV:


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