My eyes bugged out of my head. “Halfway, you just started your pregnancy!” I shouted as soon as the music stopped. Everyone at the bar turned to stare, and I placed my head on the table, closing my eyes, hoping I would disappear.
The music played again, and Delilah rubbed my back. “Oh, sweetie, don’t worry. I felt the same way when I found out. Hawke said shifter pregnancies are pretty short. Four, maybe five months.” Delilah looked for confirmation from Journey, who nodded.
“Yeah, and there isn’t much prenatal care, either. I feel you stressing.” Journey helped me bring my head from the table. “We get it. It’s a lot. We are still getting used to it ourselves. Just think of us as animals now. Our bodies are stronger. We don’t have to be looked after as much because of the animals inside us.” Journey petted my hair. “We will help you every step of the way. You just need to catch the pup so Bones doesn’t get his eyes ripped out by Hawke.”
I took a heavy swallow. “Is it going to be a pup or a baby when it comes out?” My voice shook.
Both women looked at me and shrugged their shoulders.
Oh dear.
Anaki let out a bark of laughter and let go of the tap he was pulling to fill up a glass full of beer. “No, you will not give birth to an animal, gods.” He wiped the invisible sweat off his brow. “You will give birth to a human child. Your children will not gain their animals until puberty.”
Delilah rolled her eyes. “Great, so we get to deal with them going through puberty and getting an animal. That sounds so much fun.”
Anaki grinned and knocked his knuckle on the table. “Hey, little miss, you doing okay?” he asked me with a voice filled with concern.
As much fun as I was having, I knew my eyes held dark circles and bags under there. Bear was equally concerned but tried not to bring it up. With the bond we shared, it was hard not to feel what he was feeling. I didn’t want the extra attention or the pity, either.
In all honesty, despite the sleeping troubles, I haven’t had this much fun in a long while.
The drinks had been fun. Getting to know the girls, the bar. The whole place was lively and made me forget my problems. Not having Bear here was a little unsettling, but having Anaki and the girls here was comforting enough.
But I was tired. So utterly tired. I didn’t want to sleep. I didn’t want to rest because the dreams were getting harder to deal with. I could wake myself up as long as Bear was around. He was always there, so I never wanted to know what it would be like when he wasn’t.
“I’m fine.” I gave him a small smile and twirled the martini glass with my fingers.
Anaki tilted his head down, giving me a stink eye. He wasn’t buying it.
He leaned over the counter, getting closer to me. He curled his finger for me to come closer and whispered, “How did the last exorcism go?”
The same group came every day at sunset to watch Tajah and Bram cast the same spell over my head. It had been four days, and I appreciated everyone staying with me to show their support.
Each spell went on for longer and was stronger. The fire burned brighter on the candles, and my screams echoed even outside the building. They all looked horrified when I finally woke up. Bear was consumed with guilt that he couldn’t do anything for me, and for at least an hour afterward, he wouldn’t let me out of his arms.
And the pain I felt in my head was excruciating.
I said nothing about it. They were helping me just by being there, and that was all I could ask for.
“Hopefully, it’s not too much longer. At least that is what Tajah said.” I perked up.
Anaki pursed his lips and nodded. “It’s okay to ask for help.” He put his hand over mine. “We’re here for you.”
I pressed my lips together and let out a troubled sigh. Both Journey and Delilah had been through a lot. You could see it on their faces. They had a lot of physical scars, a lot of my troubles were internal, and not to say that I was hurting less than them, but I didn’t want to bring down their smiles either.
The Iron Fang, these friends, had done a lot for me. I was grateful, and I wanted to give back to them and help out in the future.
“I’m really alright. If we can get more of those women out from the mansion, soon I think that will lift my spirits.”
“Can’t do that yet.” Anaki shook his head. “Have to get you better. The club needs an alpha if we are gonna travel. Locke’s in no shape for that yet, unfortunately.”
My heart sank a little. Before I could say a counterargument, the guitar from the band squealed, and everyone covered their ears. We all jerked our heads to the stage and saw one singer push over the mike and jump into the crowd.
“That’s Cyran,” Anaki said, annoyed.
The woman running away, I remembered briefly from the plane when I was rescued, was skirting through the crowd, trying to get away. She had midnight black hair, dark eyeliner, and bright red lips. She was stunning as she dashed toward the door, trying to escape.
The men were laughing, and the women swooned at Cyran as he grabbed the woman.
