13

[Jade ’s pov]

Lily and I sat comfortably on the lawn while sipping their afternoon tea, as the comfy breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees. The sun cast a gentle glow over the two of us, and I could not help but wonder when my life would turn out to be peaceful as my surroundings were.

"I must say, Lily, this weather is absolutely delightful," I remarked, taking a small sip of my tea and savouring its soothing warmth. Lily nodded, a content smile playing on her lips. "Indeed, Jade . It's days like these that make everything seem so much brighter. I just hope everything gets better."

As we continued chatting about various topics, I suddenly felt an unexpected wave of nausea wash over me. It was absolutely not sudden because I had been feeling weird from a few weeks but had no clue why it was. And i had told nobody about it because it was not something i deemed important.

My stomach churned, and the tea in my cup suddenly lost its appeal. Trying to ignore the discomfort, I carefully placed the cup down on the saucer, hoping the feeling would pass. Lily noticed my sudden change in demeanour and concern flickered across her face. "Are you alright, Jade ? What is wrong with you?"

I forced a small smile despite not feeling well, as i did not want to spoil the lovely afternoon we were having. "I think I will be fine. It's probably just a passing moment of uneasiness. Nothing biggie, i had been feeling like this occasionally for the past few weeks."

But the nausea persisted and I found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on our conversation. The world around me seemed to spin ever so slightly, and I realised that I needed a moment to collect myself. But before i could figure why it was happening my stomach began to churn even more.

"I'm sorry, Lily," I spoke while apologising to her, my voice slightly shaky knowing that it would not take long for me to vomit. "I think I need to sit still for a moment. The tea might not have agreed with me. Haha." I laughed with a bit of discomfort and nervously.

"Of course," Lily replied, concern deepening in her eyes. "Take all the time you need. I'll be right here." I leaned back against the soft grass, closing my eyes and taking slow, deep breaths, hoping the feeling would pass. Lily remained by my side, offering comforting words and reassurance, she constantly checked up on me.

After a few minutes, the nausea began to subside, leaving me feeling weak but relieved. I opened my eyes to see Lily still beside me, her caring presence bringing comfort. "Thank you, Lily," I said, grateful for her understanding and support. "I think I will be alright now. Though i still need to figure out why it happens."

She smiled warmly, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Jade . Your well being is the most important thing. We can always have tea another time. You better go to your room and rest, i will call some physicians."

I nodded while being touched by her kindness and how could i not? Lily was the only person who remained by my side no matter what and i was truly grateful for that. I stood up from the chair and headed towards the room while wondering why i had been feeling like that. Of course, something was not right.

I was in my bed and wondering what I was supposed to do ahead. Closing my eyes i inhaled deeply while laying in the bed and thought about alpha Ragnar. Again my heart ached and my mind recalled all those pretty moments which we spent. I wiped off my tears when the door of my room banged opened and Lily walked inside.

Concerned for my well-being, I assumed that Lily must have hurried off to fetch Zilver and a few physicians who were visiting the estate that day. Zilver's worried eyes met mine as he approached the bed. Tsk! Lily must have freaked out and brought him there, dammit! I felt embarrassed for some reason and became a bit cranky.
The physicians, all experienced in their field, kindly greeted me and began their examination. It was not long after, Lily returned to my room after i came back, with a female too whom she had quickly summoned. They all were kind and understanding, asking me about my symptoms and checking my vitals.
After a thorough checkup and some discussions among themselves, the female physician looked at me and smiled gently. "Miss Jade , it seems that you are experiencing morning sickness, and there may be a reason for it beyond a simple ailment. We conducted some observing, and it appears that you are pregnant. Jade , it appears that you are going to become a mother," he announced softly.
A mix of surprise and overwhelming joy washed over me. Pregnant? The news seemed surreal and for a moment, my mind couldn't quite grasp the density of it. Zilver's eyes sparkled with happiness and I saw Lily's face light up with excitement as she stood beside him.
"Are you serious?" I stammered, seeking reassurance. It could not be me, right? How could I get pregnant out of nowhere? The words took me by surprise, and a mixture of emotions washed over me. I felt a blend of strange joy, nervousness and a sense of wonder at the news. Lily clasped my hand, her eyes gleaming with happiness for me.
"I... I'm going to be a mother?" I whispered, still trying to grasp the reality of it all. The physician nodded, still smiling. "Absolutely. Congratulations, Jade . It's wonderful news. We will provide you with guidance and emotional support throughout your pregnancy journey."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I processed the shocking revelation. A wave of emotions flooded my heart, happiness, love, and a hint of nervousness at the prospect of becoming a mother. Lily held my hand tightly, offering her unwavering support as she patted over my back.
Overwhelmed with emotions and thoughts racing in my mind, I looked at Lily, who mirrored my excitement. "Thank you, Lily. Your presence and care mean the world to me." I knew that I needed her presence there when the child was of her brother’s. It was the dire need when I wanted Ragnar by my side.
She hugged me gently, saying, "I will be here every step of the way, Jade . We will get through this together. I just hope that my asshole brother comes to know about this.” Lily cursed her own biological brother which made my heart sink once again upon recalling that he got engaged with Clara.
I could sense Zilver’s expressions changing in the atmosphere of the room. Our gaze collided and he approached me, nudged closer, as if understanding the significance of the moment. He settled at the edge of the bed, and reached out to stroke my arm and kissed my forehead.
"Thank you, brother." I whispered, my voice choking with emotion. "Thank you for being here, all of you. I really cannot fathom…just thank you. I love you both!” I spoke to both of them, the only two people who were there for me when i had nobody else. How could i not be grateful to them who took me in when everyone disowned me.
The physicians assured me that everything appeared to be well, and they offered advice and guidance for the journey ahead. Lily, being the ever the attentive friend, made sure I had everything I needed before she could go back to her own room. Tsk this woman! What could i do without her?
As the evening turned into night, Lily stayed with me as he continued to discuss plans and preparations for the coming months. “What do you think, Lily? Will i have a boy or girl?” I asked her as we both laid on the bed and stared towards the bank roof while talking.
“I don’t know. But the child has to call me aunt as his or her first word. Or else I am never going to speak to you again.” Lily pouted and complained which made me laugh but somewhere at the back of my head i wondered if alpha Ragnar was informed about my pregnancy.

I wanted to ask my brother but i had no courage to do so, knowing that he was darn angry about him abandoning me without rejection. However i knew that with Lily, Zilver, and a group of caring physicians by my side, I was ready to hop in the incredible journey into motherhood.
In the days that followed, the news of my pregnancy spread through the whole pack, filling the atmosphere with delight and excitement. Everyone offered their well-wishes for the unborn child, while I felt a newfound sense of purpose and responsibility to protect my child from any kind of harm.