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As I waited, Nati uttered words in a language I didn’t understand, keeping her voice low and quiet. All the while, I couldn’t help but think back to my premonition and how perfect it all looked.
“You may open your eyes now,” she said, visibly trying to hide her smile despite how she let it slip anyway. “Congratulations, Jane. You’re with child.”
Everything seemed to stop at once, and every word slipped from my mind. I could only blink back at her, wondering if I was dreaming.
Despite the immediate rush of joy I felt from the news, I could still feel myself reeling.
I never expected to find myself in that position before, and it felt surreal. Before, nobody ever looked twice in my direction, and I had accepted the fact that I may never have kids or a happy family one day. I was so accustomed to that thinking that I couldn’t even conceptualize it actually happening.
It was uncharted territory for me, especially since Levi and I still had work to do with our bond. Months ago, we didn’t even know we were fated mates.
As much as I wanted to be happy about the life growing inside me, I hesitated to. It seemed too good to be true, and I didn’t know the first thing about being a mother.
Nati seemed to catch my more reserved reaction and reached across the table for my hand. “Levi will be elated to hear it. Having his Luna and child will help strengthen himself and the entire pack. It will all work out for the two of you.”
“I’m sure he will be,” I said, still struggling to grasp it. “I can’t believe it.”
“Everyone will be so excited to hear it when the news gets out,” Nati said, expressing that joy herself. “This will be the pack’s first and only baby so far. The Goddess has smiled on you indeed!”
I smiled at Nati's happiness, and a part of me wished I could’ve expressed the same.
It was great news, and I needed to remind myself of that. Even if Levi and I didn’t start our bond on the best foot, we created a child together, which was a big step for the pack.
“Please don’t say anything to Levi or anyone else,” I asked her, serious about it. “I’ll tell him when I’m ready.”
Nati made the motion of sealing her lips, eyes dazzled with excitement. “Nobody will hear a peep from me.”
When I eventually left her place, I tried my hardest to be optimistic, but that worry wasn’t far behind in my mind.
It would be my first time becoming a mother, which was daunting.
I had a lot to learn within a few months.
Chapter 19 - Levi
I wasn’t one to press Jane about anything, but the stranger she seemed to be acting, the more impatient I was becoming. I didn’t know what was going on, and I was nearly at my wit's end.
I thought we had been progressing in our relationship and actively working to better understand and connect. As far as I knew, things were going well, but I was thrown for a complete loop when I saw how withdrawn she had been.
Despite how I initially tried not to think much of it, I eventually couldn’t ignore how different she was behaving. From hardly touching her meals or eating more than usual, being more sluggish, and not being as attentive as she had been before.
It felt like she was on a completely different planet some days, and I’d wrack my brain for anything I might’ve done. It was taking up so much space in my head that I felt like I was going crazy.
It seemed like we had hit a sudden step back, and I couldn’t think of what might’ve caused it.
The thought of her going through something without me knowing, or if I had done anything to upset her, made me more desperate to find out what was going on. I didn’t want her to suffer anything alone.
Despite our bond, I couldn’t feel any indicators of what might happen. It was like she had pulled back, revoking my access to her emotions.
I knew I couldn’t go on much longer without asking her, and I decided that morning was the last I could take of it.
Once I had finished up in the bathroom and made my way downstairs for breakfast, I heard her get out of bed and hurry to the ensuite. While it was none of my business, that was another thing I had noticed.
I debated leaving it alone out of fear of upsetting her or crossing a line I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had to know.
Making my way back upstairs and into the bedroom, I caught her right on time as she stepped out of the ensuite again.
Despite sleeping all night, she looked exhausted. She wiped at her mouth discreetly, skin paler than usual. Everything about her appearance screamed that something was going on. Something she was hiding from me.
