Caught Between Two Alphas

Episode 3

The small human town of Willowbrook seemed a world away from the pack lands I'd left behind. Three weeks had passed since that fateful night - my rejection, the encounter with the mysterious stranger, and my desperate flight from Matthew's bounty hunters.

I'd found refuge here, in this quaint little place where the scent of pine and wildflowers replaced the familiar musk of wolves. Mrs. Rachel, a kind-hearted elderly woman who owned a small hotel and restaurant, had taken me in without asking too many questions. Perhaps she sensed my desperation, or maybe she was just lonely. Whatever the reason, I was grateful.

"Ava, dear," Mrs. Rachel called from the kitchen. "Could you help me with these dishes? The lunch rush is about to start."

"Coming!" I replied, tying my apron as I hurried to the kitchen. The routine of my new life was comforting - wake up, help with breakfast, clean rooms, assist with lunch and dinner. It was simple, predictable. Safe.

As I scrubbed a stubborn spot on a plate, my mind wandered, as it often did, to that night. The stranger's blue eyes, his gentle touch, the way he'd made me feel... wanted. Desired. For one glorious night, I'd forgotten I was just a worthless omega.

"Earth to Ava," Mrs. Rachel's voice broke through my reverie. She was smiling, a knowing glint in her eye. "Thinking about a special someone?"

I felt my cheeks heat up. "No, I... it's nothing."

She patted my arm. "It's okay to have secrets, dear. We all do. As long as you're happy here."

Was I happy? Content, maybe. Safe, certainly. But happy? I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand.

As the lunch crowd thinned out, I started on the mountain of dishes left in the sink. The repetitive motion was almost meditative, allowing my mind to wander once more.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me. The room spun, and before I knew what was happening, I was hunched over the trash can, retching.

"Oh, my goodness!" Mrs. Rachel exclaimed, rushing to my side. She held my hair back, rubbing soothing circles on my back. "Are you alright, dear?"

I nodded weakly, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

Mrs. Rachel helped me to a chair, her brow furrowed with concern. She pressed a cool cloth to my forehead. "Ava, dear... forgive me for asking, but... is there any chance you might be pregnant?"

The word hit me like a physical blow. Pregnant? No, it couldn't be. But as I mentally calculated the dates, a cold realization settled in my stomach. It was possible. More than possible.

"I... I don't know," I whispered, my voice trembling.

Mrs. Rachel squeezed my hand. "Why don't you take the rest of the day off? There's a pharmacy down the street. Get a test, just to be sure."

The walk to the pharmacy felt like the longest of my life. My mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. What would I do if I was pregnant? How could I raise a child on my own, in hiding, with no pack, no family?

The cashier's knowing smile as I purchased the test made me want to sink into the floor. Back in my tiny rented room above the restaurant, I stared at the little plastic stick, willing it to give me the answer I wanted.

Two pink lines. Positive.

I sank to the floor, the test clutched in my shaking hands. Tears streamed down my face as the reality of my situation crashed over me. I was pregnant. Carrying the child of a man whose name I didn't even know.

As night fell, I sat on my bed, staring out the window at the twinkling stars. One hand rested on my still-flat stomach, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. Fear, certainly. Confusion, absolutely. But beneath it all, a tiny spark of... something else. Something that felt dangerously close to hope.

"Hey there, little one," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I don't know if you can hear me yet, but... I'm your mom. And I promise, no matter what happens, I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."

A soft knock at the door startled me. "Ava?" Mrs. Rachel's voice called softly. "May I come in?"

I quickly wiped my eyes. "Yes, come in."

Mrs. Rachel entered, carrying a tray with a steaming mug and a plate of cookies. Her eyes immediately fell on the pregnancy test on the nightstand, and her expression softened with understanding.

"Oh, honey," she said, setting the tray down and enveloping me in a warm hug. I broke down then, sobbing into her shoulder as she stroked my hair.

"Shh, it's okay," she soothed. "Everything will be alright."

When my tears finally subsided, Mrs. Rachel handed me the mug. "Chamomile tea," she explained. "Good for settling the stomach and calming the nerves."

I sipped the tea gratefully, the warmth spreading through me. "I don't know what to do," I admitted, my voice small.

Mrs. Rachel sat beside me on the bed. "You don't have to decide anything right now. But whatever you choose, know that you're not alone. I'm here for you, Ava."

Her kindness brought fresh tears to my eyes. "Thank you," I whispered.

As Mrs. Rachel left, promising to be just downstairs if I needed anything, I found myself once again staring out the window. The future stretched before me, uncertain and frightening. But for the first time since I'd fled my pack, I didn't feel completely alone.

I placed a hand on my stomach again, imagining the tiny life growing inside me. My child. A mix of me and the mysterious stranger who'd shown me kindness when I needed it most.

"We'll figure this out," I promised, both to myself and to my unborn baby. "Somehow, we'll make it work."

As I drifted off to sleep that night, my dreams were filled with images of a laughing child with my hair and those piercing blue eyes. And for a moment, just a moment, I allowed myself to hope for a future brighter than my past. But hope was always a useless thing.