Chapter 50: The Calm
My eyes fluttered open then immediately shut. The sunlight spilled through the stained glass window. It illuminated everything it touched.
"Argh..." I moaned, pulling my arm over my face.
"Regina." His voice whispered in relief.
I squinted at what I thought was his general direction. His face broke into a wide grin.
"You're okay!" He practically shouted.
"Shhh, too loud." I groaned and he chuckled lightly. "Too bright."
I could hear him shutting the blinds. When I opened my eyes again the lighting was still bright but better. At least it was no longer cringeworthy.
"How long was I out?" I rub my belly and feel a bulge. "What the-"
"Don't freak out. You've been out for 10 days. The baby is fine, you are fine, there's no need to be alarmed. Remember we are growing an alpha pup which is going to be bigger than a regular pup. You'll grow faster since the gestation period is faster. After all, you are growing our pup." Rex smiled with pride.
"What in the goddess happened?" I say breathlessly.
*It's about time you woke up!*
*Damn Praesul we took a hit. Can you give me a minute to recover?*
*It's about your...uh condition.*
I sense anxiety. *You mean my pregnancy?*
*Yeah, about that...*
*OH EM GODDESS IS THE BABY OKAY?!*
*Yes! He's fine! It's just I'm starting to hear his thoughts and -*
*SPOILER ALERT YOU TROLL! I wanted to wait to find out the gender!*
*DON'T call me a TROLL! Those poor misunderstood creatures are extinct!*
"...and that's how we ended up safely at the pack hospital. Safe and sound at home. Your witch friend is visiting by the way. She set up a new badass perimeter. The Goddess herself would be proud." Rex was holding my hand gently.
*This conversation isn't over.* I grumble at Praesul and give my full attention back to Rex.
"She wants to come visit you when you're ready." He plants a kiss on the back of my hand. "You're famished! I'll be right back with some food."
"Don't be gone too long." I say smiling at him. He bends down and kisses my lips softly. His hand rests on my stomach.
"I thought I lost you both." He whispers.
"I'm right here." I reassure him and myself.
I feel the pup kick and my heart skips a beat. He smiles and kisses me again before leaving abruptly. I can feel his sense of desire.
*Are you up yet?*
Five minutes to myself, that's all I want. Actually, after ten days I guess I should be happy to be back in the thick of things.
*Hi Niveus, what do you want?* I sigh thinking about how it's been a long time since I've seen her.
*Another prophesy headed your way. You're not going to like it.*
*How come all your prophesies have to do with me and my life?*
*I have other prophesies - they just don't make sense unless they're about people I know. Geesh. You sound like a critic. I'm not some fortune teller asking you to pick a card!*
I sighed, the kid was hopeless. *Come visit the hospital after class.*
*It's a Sunday...*
*Right, come visit after training.*
*It's like 5 PM. I'm done training already.*
*Fine, just get over here then!*
*Yes, Alpha.*
I close my eyes and begin to count the silence. It is calming.
"Knock, knock." Her voice, a lovely melody, I could place anywhere.
"Malefica!" I said smiling and opening my eyes.
"I knew you'd wake up sooner or later." She smirked.
Her beautiful dark skin shimmered. When she walked in the room, her head full of curls bounced effortlessly.
"What brings you?" I say absentmindedly.
"I haven't seen my childhood wolfie in over a year! What do you mean what brings me? Since I saw you last, you were still wearing the necklace and single...so there's that. You were also constantly buying my magic meaning I lost one of my best customers." She sat in the chair beside my bed with a huff. "I also heard you had a run in with the Moirai."
"Who?"
"Well that's what we call them, but they're known as the Fates."
"Who is this 'we' you speak of?" I gave air quotes and the IV pricked uncomfortably in my arm.
Malefica noticed and flicked her wrist. The IV removed itself from my arm and I instantly started feeling better.
"Why didn't you do that from the beginning..."
"You weren't conscious. I couldn't find you in the unconscious world either. It was actually very worrisome." She sniffed, clearly pretending to be distraught.
"What do you mean you couldn't find me in the unconscious world?"
"One question at a time!" She feigned annoyance, a smirk on her face. "Us witches call the three 'others' the Moirai or Fates. They are running with the wrong crowd and they always seem to be one step ahead of everyone around them. They appear to know the future and are thought to manipulate it. No one can figure out how."
"First off, even the Goddess herself can't do that. Secondly, We need to find what makes them seem so powerful and stop them!"
"Calm down, your blood pressure is spiking." She looked at her nails, examining them with little interest.
I admired the long points, painted bright white. I'd seen her extend them like knives and gut a vampire before. It was traumatizing...but also pretty fierce.
"Okay, so back to me being unconscious or whatever."
"A conversation for another time." She stood and exited swiftly without looking back.
A few moments passed and I could smell Niveus approaching. She was not alone.
"Hi, Alpha." Niveus said, Aether following close behind her.
"Hi pups." I narrowed my eyes at her and emphasized the plural ending.
"He was there when the prophesy consumed me. Don't be upset." Niveus waved her hand dismissively at me as though I was a child.
"Get to the point. I'm tired and growing a living thing." I say exasperated.
"About that..." Aether says and Niveus gives him a look I can't quite make out.
"What Aether means, is that your child is potentially in danger." She nervously twirled a strand of her pale hair.
"Just come out with it already. The suspense I killing me."
"The heir will be stolen. The future beholden. To save his life, once again a mother and wife." Blood rushed from my face when she finished.
"Alpha you're pale." Aether gasped as they exchanged glances.
"Regina?" Rex ran in, holding two bags clutched tightly in his hands. "I felt your terror, are you okay?"
He looked at Aether and then at Niveus.
"We told her." Niveus gave him a pointed look.
"But I'm not a wife?"
"I don't know the details okay?" Niveus snapped.
"Niveus..." Aether said, putting his arm around her protectively.
She shook it off and stormed out of the room. He ran after her.
"Niveus!" I called but I could sense she was gone. "What's going on with her?"
"Early onset puberty." Rex shrugged casually.
I burst out laughing. "Wait, really?"
"Nah, I don't know. She's been in a funk lately." Rex was already sitting opening the bag and placing food in front of me.
I almost salivated when I smelled the pasta. He chuckled.
"The kid is funny."
"Are you hearing him too?"
"Him?"
"Oh snap, Praesul told me. I'm sorry I didn't mean to -"
"Don't apologize, I couldn't be happier!" A genuine smile covered his face. "Yeah, the kid has been sharing feelings. We're connected somehow. When I was choosing the food, I would get queasy looking at certain food but when I saw the pasta I almost jumped in excitement. He's particular."
"I wonder where he gets that from..." I mumble and Rex rolls his eyes.
"Bon appétit!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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