Chapter 1: Two pink lines
Aria POV
The healer smiled before she said a word. That should have warned me. Instead, I sat across from her wooden desk, nervously twisting my fingers together while my heart tried to climb out of my chest.
For the last week, something had felt different. I was tired all the time, food smelled stronger. And my wolf had been acting strangely. At first, I thought I was getting sick. Then Nora had taken one look at me and dragged me to the healer. Now here I was. Waiting. Trying not to panic.
The healer folded her hands.
"Aria."
My stomach flipped.
"Just tell me."
The older woman laughed softly.
"You've never been patient."
"That's true."
Her smile widened.
Then she slid a small piece of paper across the desk. I stared at it, for a moment, I couldn't understand the words. Then I read them again.
Pregnant.
The world stopped. Everything around me faded, disappearing until there was only one word.
Pregnant.
My eyes burned.
"No."
The healer chuckled.
"Yes."
A shaky laugh escaped me. Then suddenly tears filled my eyes. I covered my mouth.
"Oh my God."
The healer reached across the desk and squeezed my hand.
"You and Damon are going to be parents."
Parents.
The word hit me harder than anything. For years, Damon and I had talked about the future.
Not often.
Neither of us were the sentimental type. But sometimes late at night, after pack meetings and patrols and responsibilities, we'd talk about the life we wanted. About the house we’d build one day.
About children.
Damon always pretended he didn't care. But I knew better. Every pup in the pack adored him and he adores them too. He just tried very hard not to show it. Gods, the way his jaw clenched whenever a pup tugged his hand.
I laughed through my tears. And the healer handed me a cloth.
"You should sit down."
"You look like you're about to faint."
"I might."
She laughed again. And I could not stop smiling.
Nothing had ever felt this right. The walk home felt unreal. The annoying rooster near the eastern training grounds sounded less irritating than usual.
My hand drifted to my stomach. The baby was still tiny. But somehow I already loved them.
How was that possible?
I didn't know.
Maybe mothers were simply built differently. I guess love didn't need time and it arrives all at once.
I stopped outside a small market near the pack square.
Then changed direction.
A few minutes later, I walked into a tiny shop that sold children's clothing. The elderly woman behind the counter smiled.
"Looking for a gift?"
"Something like that."
Twenty minutes later, I left carrying a small box. Inside sat a pair of black baby shoes. I opened the box three separate times on the walk home just to look at them. And every time, I smiled. By the time I reached the pack house, my cheeks hurt but I did not care.
The front door flew open before I could touch it. My best friend, Nora stood there. Her eyes immediately narrowed.
Uh oh.
She knew me too well.
"What happened?"
I blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"That smile."
I tried to look innocent but it failed immediately.
"I'm pregnant." I blurted
Her hands flew to her mouth.
"No."
I laughed.
Her eyes widened.
"ARIA."
Nora screamed as she grabbed my shoulders. A flock of birds exploded from a nearby tree. I burst into laughter. Then Nora started crying. Which immediately made me cry. With both of us crying it was a complete disaster.
Several minutes later, we were still standing in the doorway hugging each other.
Neither of us had stopped smiling.
"I can't believe it."
Neither could I.
Nora wiped her eyes.
"Does Damon know?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"You haven't told him?"
"I'm going to."
"When?"
I smiled.
Next tomorrow night.
The mating ceremony. The entire pack would be celebrating. Damon would be there .The perfect moment. Afterward, I'd tell him. Just the two of us. I could already picture his reaction. Gods, he was going to cry.The thought made me laugh. Nora pointed at me.
"You're doing that smile again."
"I can't help it."
"You are disgustingly happy."
"I know."
"And I love it."
For a while, we talked about names. For the first time in a long time, the future felt simple.
That night, after Nora left, I sat alone on my bed. The small box rested in my lap and I opened it. The baby shoes sat exactly where I'd left them. I'd tell Damon one day from now and I imagined his face. The way his eyes would light up. The way he'd pull me into his arms and the way he'd promise to protect us.
A soft smile touched my lips. Tomorrow would be the happiest day of my life and I was absolutely certain of it.
Outside, the bright moon rose over Moonfang Pack.
Unaware that fate had already changed direction.
And that by this time one day from now...
Everything Aria Blackwood believed about her future would be shattered.
