Escape to Midnight

Episode 16

Charis Point Of View

I woke up the next morning with a headache. I felt it was probably the mind link with the entire pack. It had been a little overwhelming. I stood up from the bed and was suddenly very nauseated. I rushed to the bathroom just in time to vomit everything I had eaten the night before into the toilet. I fell back into the counter. I was sweating, my head was now throbbing, and I did not think I had enough strength to stand. I decided to lay on the floor until I felt better. I am not sure how long I laid there, but I suddenly heard Beth link with me.

“Charis, are you still coming over for lunch?” she asked

I had forgotten about my lunch plans with them. Maybe food would make me feel better. “”what time is it?” I Asked 

“Almost 12:30.” she replied. I had been on the floor for four hours. I groaned as I stood up. I was already late to meet them. I splashed water on my face, pulled my hair into a very messy bun, and threw on some comfortable clothes. I walked next door for lunch. When I walked in Lenore was the first to see me. “ Are you okay, you don’t look good.” she said

I shrugged and plopped down into a chair. Beth rushed into the room after hearing Lenore's comment. She immediately felt my forehead and frowned. “You have a fever.” she said. “How are you feeling?”

I shrugged and suddenly felt like crying. I'm not even sure why.” I have a headache and I threw up.” I told her. 

She looked concerned and It felt good for someone to care. Lenore went into the kitchen to fix me some soup. “Charis what's going on?” Logan was mind linking me now.” I did not know how to respond, I just started to cry uncontrollably. He must feel my distress, but how do you explain it's just a slight fever but I'm being hysterical about it. We heard a loud knock at the door. it startled us and Beth went to open it. Seth was standing there. 

“Is Charis here? She is not at her house and we have a training session.”  I stood up, “I'm here, Seth” I shouted. He stepped into the room and looked at me. He laughed and said “How late did you party last night, Logan definitely kept you up too late.” He winked when he made the last comment. Beth swatted at him, “She has a fever. I don’t think she should train today.”

He looked at Beth and c****d his eye. “A fever….. You are acting like you don’t know what that means.” I looked up at them curious to know what he meant by that. 

Lenore came into the room as if on cue too give me some soup. “It means she needs to rest for a day, Seth.” She had an irritated tone to her voice.

 Obviously they knew something I did not. I was about to push the issue when Logan rushed past Seth into the room. 

“Easy Lover boy, she is okay no thanks to you.” Seth was laughing and smirking and enjoying my being sick to much. It only added to my confusion. 

Logan knelt down in front of me. '`How are you feeling, Baby?” he asked in the most gentle voice he had ever used. I was starting to freak out a little. “Why? Why are you asking me like that? "

“Wait, what? She does not know what is happening?” Seth looked shocked as he said the words.

 I looked at him and mind linked him, ”What is happening”

 He took a step back and said “ alright guys, I am going home, Charis, we will catch up later.” He turned and walked out leaving a very awkward silence.

“What is he talking about?” I asked. Logan kind of smiled and looked nervous. Clearly he was mind linking his mom and Lenore. I had enough. I mind linked them all and yelled at them.’ Stop talking about me like I am not here and tell me what is going on.” 

Beth and Lenore turned around and walked out of the room without saying a word. I looked at Logan. I was annoyed and wanted answers. He reached up and began to stroke my hair. 

“Charis, we don’t usually have a fever. Our wolves can heal any infection or anything that usually causes fever. There is really only two times a she wolf runs a fever.” He said the words and acted like I should know the answer to this riddle. 

“That time is…” I asked even more annoyed.

“When you are in heat or when you are pregnant. You are probably pregnant Charis.” He said.

My eyes grew wide. It was so soon. We just had the ceremony. I had only been here six months. I was shocked. Sure it could happen that quickly, we had been intimate for months now. I looked at him concerned. Would he be mad we were expecting a pup so soon? He was staring at me with a blank expression. I could not read his emotions at all.

I began to panic a little. I didn't want him to feel like I did this intentionally. I started to babble.  “I'm sorry Logan, I can take care of it on my own. You can focus on your career and I will handle everything for our pup. I know you have a lot going on. Today is your first day as Beta of the pack, you have so much pressure and a lot of responsibility. We won’t be a burden I promise.  I know this is not good timing for you.`` I was paralyzed with fear as I waited for his response. He threw his head back and began to laugh. 

“Not good timing, I have been waiting for this timing for years.” He embraced me, the strength of his embrace made it hard for me to breathe. 

“Logan let her go, you are squeezing her too hard,” Beth ordered with concern She had come back into the room. “A good night's sleep should make her feel better. Her body is adjusting. I can make an appointment for you two in the morning to see the doctor. Then we can announce we will be grandparents.”

I smiled at Beth, her enthusiasm was endearing. Rest sounded like  good idea. I finished my soup and Logan and I went home. I walked, but I think he actually floated. Logan went straight to the bathroom and started filling the bathtub, hot water, bubbles and bath salt. “Hey babe, I think a hot bath will make you feel better.” I walked into the bathroom. He began to undress me. I stepped into the tub and sat down. Logan sat beside the tub looking at me with a silly grin. “Are you happy about this?” he asked.

I started to laugh. “Of Course I am happy. My very own family.” I leaned out of the tub and kissed him. He made a low growl and backed away. “Enough of that until after we meet with the doctor. I want to be sure there are no concerns before we go any further.” 

“Concerns,” I asked. “What kind of concerns?” 

‘Well, you had some very severe injuries six months ago. we need to make sure they are not going to affect the way you carry the pup or deliver.” He ran his fingers through his hair as he spoke, his mind was racing. “I will feel better when the doctor gives us the all clear.” I nodded. I had not thought about it.

 I rubbed my hand on my belly. Don’t worry little one, Mommy will take care of you. I laid back into the tub and rested. 

The next morning Logan woke me for the doctor’s appointment. As we walked outside I started to laugh. They were all waiting for us. Beth and Lenore looked very excited. Robert looked like he wanted to apologize. Logan and I were holding hands, so I looped my arm through Beth's. We walked to the hospital together as a family. They joked about the different things I should expect. I was a little surprised by the changes my body would go through. I always thought you got fat and had a baby. There is so much more to it. 

We walked through the doors into the Hospital and continued down the hall to a large room. As we entered Beth introduced me, Dr. Jennings, this is my daughter Charis.” Dr. Jennings turned and smiled at me. She had a beautiful smile. it immediately put me at ease.

"It is nice to meet you Charis. You can go into the bathroom and undress. Everyone else wait in the hall.” she ordered them out of the room. That made me feel better. I had questions and I was embarrassed to ask in front of everyone. I should know more about being pregnant, but I don’t.

I took off my clothes and slipped on a gown hanging on the door. I came into the room and she directed me to a table. She began her exam, it was uncomfortable, but I distracted myself by asking questions. “How pregnant am I ?” I asked. she laughed. "you are very pregnant, totally pregnant.” I rolled my eyes but had to laugh. "I mean how many months pregnant and when am I due.” 

You are a little over a month pregnant. you should deliver by March, a spring pup. I smiled at the thought. It was becoming more real. “can I still train?” I asked

“you can still train, but because of your previous injuries, no contact. you do not need any hits to the body or falls.” she responded.

I nodded in agreement, it made sense. “”what about s*x?” I blushed as I asked the question.

“s*x is the cause of pregnancy.” She laughed again. She enjoyed making me ask direct questions. “Can Logan and I continue having s*x?” I was violently red asking the question out loud. 

“He will have a stronger s*x drive while you are pregnant. His wolf will be very involved in protecting you and the pup. expect everything to be more extreme. More s*x, more possessiveness, but also he will be driven to take care of you. Let him, taking care of you will calm his wolf.” I was listening intently trying to understand everything she was saying. This was the information I needed. I knew this would make things different, but I was not sure what would  change. 

“Charis, I am dying out here. Are we pregnant?” Logan was mind linking us. Before I could answer Dr. Jennings answered. “ No you are not pregnant.” she paused and I looked at her confused until she continues. “Charis is pregnant though.” I smiled. I really like her. I could hear Beth and Lenore talking fast and excited on the other side of the door. I started to laugh again. Dr. Jennings opened the door and Logan and Beth rushed in to hug me. Beth was crying. Robert looked so awkward, he clearly wanted to escape this moment. “Do you guys need to go to work while we start planning?” I asked giving Robert a wink.

“I do need to get to work” Robert replied.

“Nice try, you retired yesterday. We are in baby prep mode!”

“I stepped down yesterday, I can’t abandon my son as he takes over. He needs guidance.” Robert was definitely stretching, but I thought he had convinced her until Logan spoke.” I have cleared our entire day. Come on Dad we are in Baby prep mode.” Logan was beaming. 

“Let’s get lunch,” Lenore said. 

“I want to check with DR. Carrington first." Logan said. "Charis had some very severe injuries. We need to be sure we do everything we can for her and the baby during this pregnancy.” The mood became a little more somber as we headed down the hall to the area Dr. Carrington was in earlier.

Logan approached Dr. Carrington and began speaking with him. We could not hear what he was saying, but they walked over to us. 

“Charis, Congratulations.” He said. “Logan wanted me to talk with you about your injuries as it relates to your pregnancy.” I nodded my head as I looked at him. This doctor saved my life, but he reminded me of all the doctors in Crescent. Even so, I listened intently to his advice. You will experience additional pain as the scars across your abdomen stretch. I would have preferred you wait a full year to allow your body to recover, but there is no reason you can’t carry this pup to term. You need to rest more, eat healthy and avoid strenuous activities. Any extra stress on  those scars could  cause additional discomfort. Logan was soaking in everything Carrington said, but I like Jennings answers. I shook my head and we left the hospital or lunch. We had only been seated a few minutes when Logan and Robert received a mind link. The look on both of there faces showed how serious it was. They excused themselves from the table and walked away to discuss and continue their mind link. As we were ordering they returned. “:Charis, we need you to come with us.” They said. 

“what is wrong?” I asked. 

"Some rogues are at the Border. They are asking to speak with you." I was shocked. I don’t know any rogues. I started shaking my head. I did not want to go. 

“ Babe, I think its Benny, He will only speak to you. Sterling is already there with a group of warriors. I have asked Seth to join us to. You will be protected ” I was backing away, I did  not want to be involved in this. Everything is so perfect. I don’t want to lose it all. My heart was racing. 

“I need you to do this for me. You are the mate of a beta. This is a very serious threat. I need you to help us figure this out.” Logan seemed to be pleading with me. I took a deep breath and concentrated on being strong.