His Prisoner

His Devastation [29]

He turns to face me. I'm a little shocked to see how devastated he looks.

"Come on Meredith, we both know that this baby is Jack's and it's driving me crazy."

I open my mouth to reply but nothing comes out. I had suspicions that he was having trouble adjusting to the idea and accepting a baby that wasn't biologically his but he would never speak to me about it. He's always on edge and moody when the baby is brought into a conversation or if we're at an ultrasound. But he's never said anything.

"Did you think I could just accept it with open arms? I'm a werewolf, Meredith! Do you know how territorial we are and how much we value family? I can't accept another man's child. I can't accept that my mate has slept with another man other than me and has produced a child. I just can't do it." He shakes his head frustrated. I don't know what to say. 

Was it too much for me to ask him to do this?

Is it selfish to want him to step up and take responsibility for a child that isn't his? Just because the real father is a waste of space. I don't know. Maybe.

We never really discussed how it would work. We just brushed it off. 

"E-Eliot... I'm sorry. I didn't know you felt like this. Why didn't you talk to me about this?"

"Oh really? You're going to turn this on me? If I had slept with another woman and got her pregnant, would you accept that?" I frown. Would I?

"It was before I met you, Eliot. I didn't know about werewolves or mates. I thought the rest of my life would be Jack and that's it. I didn't expect to meet you."

"You're not answering the question, Meredith." How many times has he called me Meredith now? What happened to Meri?

"Well, I don't know Eliot. I can't answer that when I'm not in that situation. I don't know how I would feel."

"I'll tell you how you'll feel. Every time you have to see a sonogram of that baby, it makes you feel sick rather than overjoyed. Every time someone talks about that baby, you want to punch them in the mouth just so they would shut up. Whenever you see her belly round with that growing child, all you can think about is the fact that it's not yours. And it kills you. You can't bond with that child if all you feel is resentment and hate towards it."

I stare at him gobsmacked with tears in my eyes. He hates our child? 

The room is silent apart from his heavy breathing after his agonising speech and I'm not even sure if I'm breathing at this point. I just stare with my mouth slightly agape and tears building in my eyes until one falls down my cheek. 

I vaguely hear a door open and close before someone enters the living room.

"Son, your mother called. What can I do? Meredith sweetheart, are you alright? Claire said you passed out." It's Anthony. I can't bring myself to turn his way or answer him. I just continue to stare at Eliot as my heart slowly breaks inside my chest.

Eliot's jaw clenches at the sound of his father's voice but he doesn't take his eyes off me.

"Eliot? What's going on?" Anthony asks cautiously. 

"You h-hate-" I begin, my voice cracking. "Hate our child?" I finish in a whisper. 

Eliot narrows his eyes at me.