Valencia!

Eleven

“Hey girls, how was . . .” was all Valencia’s father managed before his eyes met his daughter’s swollen, tear-streaked face the next morning as he and Griffin stayed out late the night before, hitting up the bar scene in Seattle. The smile dropped from his lips. He froze mid-step in the kitchen, eyes filled with concern.

Anna stepped between them and gently pulled Valencia closer to her side, giving her husband a quiet shake of the head. Not now. His brow furrowed, but he nodded slowly, taking the hint. Valencia’s chest tightened with silent gratitude. She couldn’t handle explaining it all again. Not yet.

Mrs. Sydney, ever perceptive, broke the tense moment. “Ty, why don’t you and I step out on the balcony for a bit?” She suggested. Tylon hesitated, looking at Valencia as if torn, but eventually nodded, brushing past her with a soft glance. He followed his mother out to the patio, the glass door clicking softly behind them.

“Why don’t you lie down for a little while, sweetheart?” her mother said gently, brushing a hand through Valencia’s hair. But she shook her head. Her voice cracked but carried determination. “No, Mom. Let’s just get it over with.”

Anna nodded solemnly and guided her daughter to a stool at the kitchen island. Valencia sat stiffly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Griffin appeared from the living room and took the seat beside her, his arm brushing against hers in quiet solidarity. Across the island, their father stood tall, arms crossed, his gaze bouncing from his wife to his daughter with increasing worry.

“What’s going on, Anna?” he asked, voice low but tense. Anna took a steadying breath. “Valen . . . would you like to tell them?” she asked softly, placing a comforting hand over her daughter’s. Valencia could only offer a small shake of her head. Her mother gave her hand a squeeze and turned back to face her husband. “Valen’s pregnant.”

The silence that followed felt deafening. Their father blinked slowly, his brow creasing. “Then… why is she crying?” he asked, voice filled with cautious hope as he reached over and rested a large, calloused hand atop Valencia’s. “Don’t worry about school, sweetheart. Your mom and I will support you however we can. Tylon’s already here. Wolves look forward to having pups.”

He glanced instinctively toward the balcony. “So why is Tylon outside, and not in here with my daughter?” Anna caught his arm before he could march out to the balcony. “Honey, wait.” He looked back, confused. “It’s not Tylon’s pup,” she said carefully. “Valen and Tylon aren’t . . . they’re not actually together. People just assumed.”

Her husband stared at her, stunned. “What do you mean it’s not-” He stopped mid-sentence as realization dawned. His eyes darkened. “That motherfucker.” “Language,” Anna muttered instinctively, but her husband didn’t hear her.

“One pup wasn’t enough for him, huh? He had to go and knock up my daughter too?” His voice trembled with fury, his hands now clenched into fists. Anna rubbed soothing circles along his arm, trying to deescalate him before his temper exploded.

Across the counter, Griffin leaned back in his chair. He hadn’t said much, but now he turned toward his sister, his face unreadable. “What are you going to do, Valen?” He asked quietly. Valencia barely found the strength to respond. “I don’t know yet,” she whispered. The room was heavy with silence until the sliding door opened again. Ty stepped back inside, his expression firm but gentle as he approached her.

“Can I talk to you?” he asked, voice soft. Valencia nodded and let him help her down from the stool. Her limbs felt heavy, her body and emotions exhausted. He led her quietly to her bedroom and closed the door behind them.

She sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her arms anxiously as Ty crouched down in front of her, his hands resting gently on her knees. His eyes searched hers, full of care and concern. “Valen, I . . .” he started, but she stopped him with a raised hand. “I don’t expect you to stay now,” she said, her voice brittle. “This is a huge responsibility. You’re not obligated to me.”

Tears welled in her eyes again, and she cursed herself for not being able to stop crying. Her face felt sore, her chest raw. “Valen,” Ty said, voice firm but kind, “I want to stay. I want to help you raise this pup.” She stared at him, her mouth opening slightly in disbelief. “What?”

“I’m not walking away from you,” he said. “I don’t want to leave you to face this alone. I care about you, Valen. You’re my best friend. Please don’t push me away now.” The tears came again. Fresh and unstoppable. She slid off the bed and into his arms so quickly that it knocked him backward onto the carpet. She wrapped her arms tightly around his torso, burying her face in his chest.

Ty chuckled softly, stroking her back. “So . . . is that a yes? I can stay?” She nodded against him, voice muffled by his shirt. “Of course you can stay. I thought . . . I don’t know . . . I thought maybe you’d hate me. For being stupid. For letting this happen.”

“I could never hate you,” he whispered, fingers brushing soothingly through her hair. “This is life, Valen. Messy and unfair sometimes. But that’s why we lean on the people we love.” Valencia’s sobs began to ease. The storm inside her didn’t vanish, but Ty’s presence grounded her, like an anchor in the chaos.

“I’m sorry everything’s such a mess,” she said, pulling back slightly to meet his gaze. He tilted her chin gently, so she was looking directly into his eyes. “We’ll figure it out. One step at a time. You’re not alone in this.” For the first time that day, she believed it.

Back in the kitchen, the mood had shifted. Her father paced with pent-up frustration, while her mother tried to explain everything as delicately as possible to Griffin, who listened in stunned silence. When Valencia and Ty emerged from her room a while later, her father walked over and pulled her into a tight hug. No words were exchanged, just the warmth of a parent who would always protect her, even when he was hurting too.

Griffin stood and met Ty halfway, the two sharing a long, silent look before Griffin nodded. “Thanks for not bailing,” he said quietly. Ty gave a half-smile. “She’s family.” Valencia sat back down, surrounded now by people who loved her, who were staying . . . even when everything felt uncertain.

She still didn’t have all the answers. She didn’t know what she’d do about Maximus, or how school would play out, or what kind of mother she’d be. But for the first time that day, she didn’t feel like she was drowning. She had her family. She had Ty. And she had time to figure out the rest.