Chapter Seventy-one: News with fear

I wake up, still tired from yesterday. I rub my eyes before turning to my left, seeing Lukas still asleep. I check the time and see it’s still four-thirty in the morning.
I yawn, unable to hide my drowsiness. I stay in the bed, Lukas moving his arm over me and pulling me into him.

I toss and turn for what seems like hours, unable to shake the doubt from my mind. I feel restless as I notice Lukas starting to stir, his body clock probably trying to wake him up for training.

I turn to face him and see his eyes starting to flutter open. When he finally opens them fully, seeing me watching him wake up, a sleepy smile curls up his lips.

“Hello beautiful. You’re up early?”

“I am. I used to wake up early all the time but I’m finding I’m getting very tired after my training sessions with Nuria.”

Lukas stretches and yawns as he does. “That’s what training does to you little one. Are you sore at all?” He adds, looking slightly concerned.

I shake my head in response. “No my sweet, don’t worry about me. My muscles were aching at the start but I think they’ve gotten used to it all now.” I say, remembering when I couldn’t walk the day after we solely trained our legs. I’ll never forget Estelle laughing at me as I scowled at her for not helping me to my feet, when they felt like jelly.

Lukas cups my cheek and kisses my lips, but quickly jumps out of the bed and starts to change into his training clothes which consist of a pair of shorts and a plain polo top.

He heads into the bathroom to brush his teeth and comes out just as quick, coming over and leaning over to give me a quick peck.

“I love you. I’ll see you later.” He says and heads to the door.

“Enjoy training!” I say and he waves to me and disappears through it, closing it behind him.

I take a breath and decide to get up for the day. I shower and change into a pair of shorts and a simple white top to match the white pumps I’ve put on my feet. I make the quick decision of wearing a hooded jumper and shove it over my head.

I look at the time and see that it’s seven am. I decide to start off, I’ll see if I can speak with Mandy as I’m sure Nolan would have headed out for training as well.

I make my way down to the third floor and head towards Mandy’s room. I can tell Nolan has left recently as I smell his scent heading towards the stairs. I turn to the door and knock on it.

I wait a few moments but no answer. I knock again, a bit louder this time. I hear some grumbling from behind the door and can hear the lock being turned so I take a step back to not be so close.

The door opens and Mandy peeks her head around the door. I can see her complexion looks paler and she seems to have lost a bit of weight.

“Mandy, what’s happened?” I gasp, unable to understand what’s put her in this state. I stay where I am not wanting to frighten her as she stays behind the door.

She opens the door wider, my eyes dropping to her belly that has slightly swollen. I gasp, a smile reaching to each side of my face. I was about to squeal, but she shushes me and pulls me into her room and closes the door behind her, but not before checking the hallway both ways.

She guides me to the edge of her bed and I notice a bucket to the side. The room smells faintly of vomit and I frown, looking at how pale she’s gotten. A hundred questions running through my mind.

“Are you ok?” Is the first thing I think to ask.

She smiles faintly before flopping on the bed gently, a hand going to the bottom of her belly. “I’m fine. Just having a large bout of morning sickness, as you can see.” She says and waves her hand in the direction of the bucket on the floor.

“How come you’ve not said anything? Or spoken to anyone?” I ask concerned, but slightly sad she’s not come to see me.

“Honestly, I’ve wanted to. I’ve told Mum and Nolan obviously knows, but I’ve asked them not to say anything to anyone.” She looks guiltily at the floor. “I’ve been worried about this God or whatever he is coming for us and I just didn’t want to get excited about something that I could lose. Then all of the attacks on Elijah and Loretta, someone close to me being targeted, I just don’t understand what’s going on.”

I see the tears forming in her eyes and I instantly move closer and pull her into a hug. I feel the fear and sadness wash over her and I stroke her hair trying to calm her. I hear her take a deep breath and I decide to try and calm her down.

“Firstly, Lukas and I will protect you, and everyone else in the pack until our last breath. There is a war coming, yes, but we will do everything we can to get rid of the darkness that is coming for us. If it comes down to it, I will try and make a deal with Fedori.” I start, and she goes to complain, but I cut her off before she does. “Next, I’m personally investigating these attacks on Elijah and Loretta, and so far it’s only happened outside the pack house, and only to the cottages that Elijah has moved into. He wanted to be independent but this is now stopping him and so him and Loretta will temporarily move into the pack house.”

She seems a bit more hopefully but I continue, looking back over at the bucket beside her bed. “Lastly, this is your home Mandy. If anyone lays a finger or even looks at you the wrong way, rest assured Lukas will rip their heads off. You need to get out of your room and have some fresh air. I know you’ve been sick but fresh air will do good for you….and the baby.” I saw a smile peaking on her lips.

She exhales and I can see her visibly relax, making me smile.

“Thank you Aliana. I think that’s what I needed to hear.” She says more happily. “I think I’m going to go shower and it’s about time I went on a walk. Would you mind coming with me?” She asks.

“I’d love to.” A thought pops into my head. “How far along are you?” I ask, unsure if she’s seen Doctor Lowe yet.

“I’m about eight weeks along. Doctor Lowe has seen me a few times.”

My head falls to the side slightly, unsure how she’s showing a belly already when it takes several months to give birth to a child.

She picks up on my confusion and understands why instantly. “Ah, so a werewolf pregnancy usually lasts around five months. So I’m nearly half way in.”

I feel the air wheeze out of me as she says this. “Wow, that short?”

She chuckles lightly which brings a smile to my face. “Yes, how long was it where you’re from?”

I think back to the human districts and the births that took place there. “I think it was around nine months. Much longer than werewolves anyway.” I shrug.

Her jaw drops. “Oh Goddess, I couldn’t imagine being pregnant that long.” She looks to the bucket. “I’ve got some serious morning sickness. The Doctor thinks if it’s not stopped now I’ll probably have it all the way through. I didn’t even know I could get this sick!”

I smile apologetically at her and give her another small hug.

“Have you had a scan or anything yet? Do you know what you’re having?” I ask, wondering if they’re able to tell these things earlier seeing as how the pregnancy doesn’t last longer?”

She shakes her head. “I’ve not really left my room. Usually we’d have a scan around now and the doctor has asked me to pop down but I’ve not wanted to leave. That, plus I just feel ill all the time.”

I frown at her and give her a look of sympathy. “I think it’s about time we change that, hmm. How about you go shower and I’ll wait here for you, then we can grab Nolan and I can get you both to the hospital, for this much needed scan.”

She smiles at me. “Thanks Aliana. I honestly think I just needed this pep talk. I need to come to my senses and just get on with it.” I see her raise her hand to her small bump as she stands. “I’ll go shower and will mind-link Nolan to come over when he gets a chance. Then we’ll head over to the hospital. Just give me a few minutes and I’ll get ready.”

I go to sit on the edge of her bed to wait for her. I hear the shower turn on and my thoughts drift to having my own children with Lukas. I wondered if it was difficult to have pups, finding that I definitely wasn’t pregnant after the heat I endured. But I know it can happen at any point, it’s just seemingly more desirable for a wolf to get pregnant during heat.

I suppose it’s better this way. I don’t know what I’d do if I was pregnant with this war on our doorstep. I also have no idea how my body or powers would react if there was a new life inside of me. I think for a moment and wonder if the Moon Goddess is able to stop a pup from being conceived when we’re up against a war incoming.

I put that thought to the side. I’m unsure if I’d like the answer.

I go back to imagining what our little baby would look like when Mandy exits the shower room. I look up and see she looks much better being more fresh and less sickly.

“Nolan’s heading this way. I’ve also linked Doctor Lowe and she’s happy for me to head over today to have a scan.” She says.

I smile at her and get up. “I’ll leave you both to it then.” I say with a smile. “Will you find out what you’re having?”

She thinks for a moment before responding. “You know what? No, I think we’ll leave it as a surprise.”

I walk towards the door but she stops me, gripping my arm lightly as I reached for the handle. “Aliana, please don’t tell Lukas yet. I want to go for this scan first and I’ll tell everyone else about it after.” She pleads.

I nod. “It’s your choice. I won’t say anything to anyone. But don’t keep this secret too long.” I point to her rounded belly. “You won’t be able to hide this much longer!” I say with a chuckle.

“Thanks Aliana. I’ll see you later.”

I say my goodbye and head out the door. Next on my agenda today. Finding and questioning Emma.