Chapter 196: Chapter 196: The Secret Growing Inside
SONIA’S POV
It has been a month. A whole month since Ramon came to ask for my presence back at bloodmoon.
Interestingly, not many things had happened in the past month. The days had blended into one another, each one carrying the same quiet routine that both comforted and suffocated me.
Father had gone on a secret journey he told no one about. His absence left a strange emptiness in the pack, like the air itself was holding its breath.
I had not heard anything about marriage anymore. The heavy words he had dropped that day in the garden still lingered in my mind, but the pressure had eased for now.
Everyday, I spent my time with a different brother. I guess that one thing did change. We were getting to know ourselves better. The conversations flowed easier now, the silences less awkward, the laughter more genuine.
Even Wolf didn’t seem as scary as he used to be. His massive frame still commanded the room, but there was a gentleness in the way he looked at me, a quiet protectiveness that made me feel safe in ways I hadn’t expected.
As for Freya, I barely ever saw her. I had gotten rid of the sadness I felt every time I saw her being mistreated. The image of her on all fours, the chain around her neck, still haunted me in quiet moments, but I pushed it down, burying it under layers of self-preservation.
She did help me a lot, but she had also sold me out to Ramon.
Ramon who turned out to absolutely hate me just like he hated my father. The memory of his cold eyes that day still stung, a sharp reminder of how easily everything had crumbled.
So here I was, strolling through the garden in hopes I didn’t sniff something that would make me want to throw up. The flowers bloomed brightly around me, their petals soft and vibrant, but I kept my steps careful, breathing shallow.
I had stopped throwing up after the first few days of feeling nauseous.
Only for the urge to return about a week ago. The sudden waves of sickness had become unpredictable, leaving me weak and drained more often than I cared to admit.
I couldn’t perceive certain things without feeling like I needed to empty my stomach. The strong scents of roasted meat or certain spices made my stomach churn violently, forcing me to turn away quickly.
My solace at this point was in fruits, and flowers.
Those scents I could actually stand. The sweet, fresh smell of ripe watermelon or the gentle fragrance of blooming roses brought a small measure of comfort in the chaos of my thoughts.
"Are you going to keep walking everyday? Do you think about the future?"
I stopped on hearing that voice. Lifting my head, I saw Jed come out from one of the flowers. A flower was between his teeth, and his hand behind him.
"What are you doing?" I chuckled, as he presented the flower to me, his grin wide and playful.
"Giving you a flower I plucked out of the flower garden you’re strolling."
He pointed out the obvious, and I couldn’t help but laugh. The sound felt foreign in my throat, but welcome.
"You’re always so silly," I replied, taking the flower and twirling it between my fingers.
"True, but there’s something serious we need to talk about," he said, his tone shifting suddenly.
The smile wiped off my face when I heard the seriousness in his voice. Jed was never serious. He was either sarcastic or mischievous, but never serious. The change made my stomach tighten with unease.
"Sure," I said, my voice quieter now.
He led me to a place we could sit, and we sat down on the stone bench under the shade of a tall tree. The leaves rustled gently above us, casting dappled light across the ground.
"What is it, Jed?" I asked, my forehead creased from worry, my fingers twisting the stem of the flower nervously.
"I overheard Wolf and Cade talking," he said, his voice low as he glanced around to make sure no one was nearby.
"You were eavesdropping on them? You know Cade hates that," I cautioned him, though my curiosity was already piqued.
"Well, when you hear what I’m about to tell you, you’ll be glad I eavesdropped."
"Really? Tell me then," I urged him hastily, leaning forward slightly.
He cleared his throat, and then suddenly lifted his brow.
"What?" I asked, my heart beating a little faster.
"I just remembered I brought you something cold."
He reached into his jacket pocket, and brought out a mini site milk straw drink, the packaging cool to the touch.
I smiled in appreciation. If what he was going to tell me would be as upsetting as I pictured it to be, I could really use the drink. The cold sweetness would be a small comfort against whatever storm was coming.
"So where was I?" He asked, handing it to me.
"You were about to tell me what you overheard Cade and Wolf talking about?"
"Yeah, right. I think they finally got a message from father. He wants them to get you ready to welcome your suitor."
I had just sipped from the drink, when he gave me the news.
Consumed by shock, I choked, and the motion sent the milk flying right out of my mouth. The cold liquid sprayed across the grass, leaving a small mess that mirrored the chaos suddenly swirling inside me.
I began to cough, and Jed swiftly patted my back to calm me down, his hand firm but gentle.
It took about a minute for me to calm down, and my throat to cool off. The sweet taste lingered, but it did nothing to ease the sudden tightness in my chest.
"I thought they were over that ridiculous idea? I can’t get married!" I protested in alarm, my voice rising as panic gripped me.
"Yeah, you can’t. Especially in your condition," he said, his tone serious.
I was nodding in agreement, when what he just said hit me.
I turned to him with my eyes squinted curiously, my heart skipping a beat.
"What do you mean by ’in my condition’?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
His brow furrowed as he stared pointedly at me, his expression a mix of surprise and concern.
"Common, Sonia. We’re the two last children of the great alpha Ferins. Didn’t we say we’ll grow closer and not hide secrets from each other. You can trust me," he said, his voice gentle but insistent.
I still did not understand what he was saying, and my blank stare was a dead giveaway of my thoughts. My mind raced, trying to piece together what he could possibly mean.
He could be referring to a million things, but I still didn’t know which it was. The confusion made my stomach twist again, a fresh wave of nausea threatening to rise.
"Wait, you actually don’t know?"
I nodded innocently, my fingers tightening around the drink.
"How’s that possible? I thought you usually know these things?" He said in a very confused voice, his eyes searching mine.
"I usually know what? I mean the only thing I’m well versed in is healing. I’m not even certain about that anymore. I mean I can’t even feel my wolf," I held on to my chest, as worried lines spread across my forehead, the absence of my wolf a constant ache I couldn’t ignore.
"Don’t say that. Your wolf will return when the time’s right. Thank the moon goddess you’re safe here. No one’s going to hassle you for not having your wolf. I’ll kill them with my bare hands."
He meant it too, I thought. My brothers had promised that the next person that hurt me would be dead before they have the opportunity to take their next breath.
It was a scary thing to say, but I didn’t take it for granted. The protectiveness in his voice warmed me, even as the confusion swirled.
"Don’t change the topic, Jed. What do you think I should know about?"
"I wasn’t trying to," he shrugged. "I just thought you knew, because I know," he stated, further confusing me, his eyes dropping to my stomach for a brief moment.
"Know about?"
"I mean—" he looked down, and I followed his gaze.
I was still totally confused, and wished he’d just spell it out.
"Alright, I’ll use myself as an example. But you have to promise to keep whatever I tell you between us," he asked, his voice dropping lower.
I nodded enthusiastically. I wasn’t a blabber mouth. I could definitely keep a secret, no matter what it was.
"Alright. So there’s this girl from MoonFire," he began, his cheeks flushing slightly.
"Wait, isn’t that the far away pack? Father hates their alpha," I interrupted to say, my mind racing to connect the dots.
"Thanks for interrupting. Can I continue now?"
"Sorry," I nodded, throwing an awkward smile.
He took a deep breath, and continued.
"She’s the princess of MoonFire, and she’s pregnant for me."
I gasped, but quickly brought my hand to my mouth, my eyes widening in shock.
"Yeah, I’m screwed," he said solemnly, as his face fell, the weight of his confession settling between us like a heavy stone.
