Heir to Desire

Chapter 5

A week and a half later...

Stella

"Did the D.J. confirm the new arrival time?" I asked as I briskly walked down the hall, Joy and Anna in tow.

"Yes, he said he'd come a day early to beat the storm."

"Good." I sighed. "Maybe we should make it two."

"You really think he should come that soon?" Joy eyed me with worry.

"My vision was clear. There is going to be a blizzard. No one is getting in or out once it hits. Many of the other Alpha Kings and their associates have already changed their flight plans. Many will be here a week sooner than expected."

"You know that for a fact?" Joy raised a brow. "They called to tell you?"

"I had a vision, I'm sure," I snipped.

That vision came in the middle of the night while I was tossing and turning. I saw Caspian arriving with his father and mother, them thanking me for having them a week sooner than anticipated, and Caspian not being able to look me in the eye, dozens of people surrounding us. It was a short vision, but one that I couldn't seem to get out of my head.

"Is the kitchen stocking up on extra food?" I continued.

"Yes, My Queen." Anna nodded.

"Did they also confirm the changes I wanted to be made to the menu?"

"Yes, all of them," Joy frowned. "Though I'm not sure why you wanted to change it. You had a good menu before."

"I don't know, the thought of seafood just made me cringe. We are wolves after all, there should be more red meat or something." I waved my hand flippantly.

"Miss? If you don't mind me being so bold," Anna began, pausing for my okay.

"What is it?"

"I noticed your feminine supplies haven't been touched in the bathroom. Have you considered taking a test?"

I stopped dead in my tracks, Joy bumping into me.

"It's not even been two weeks since I was at the clinic. It's probably too soon to tell."

"Uh, that doesn't sound right," Joy chuckled, a frown etched in her face. "No offense, Stel, but you've been kinda snappy this week. I thought it was because you were upset that you weren't pregnant and just didn't tell me."

"It's just been stressful planning all these changes," I said a tad too quickly. "I'll take a test next week."

"Werewolf pregnancies only last three months. You'll be showing next week at this rate. Anna is right, you should take a test soon."

"But I'm a hybrid." I straightened my spine. "It could take longer."

Joy shrugged. "Yeah, maybe. But if you're wrong..."

"You didn't finish your breakfast the past two mornings either," Anna said softly. I shot her a look.

"Are you having second thoughts?" Joy frowned. "I thought you'd be thrilled, that you'd have taken ten tests by now, or had a vision or something."

"No, no, not at all," I said. "I want to have a pup."

It wasn't entirely a lie. My reservations didn't lie in being pregnant, but in not knowing who the father was. If it was Asher's it made things complicated, but an easy fix. Enough money and anyone could be bought. Except a certain prince, perhaps, who was already filthy rich. If Caspian found out it could be his, he would have a field day. Custody battles, back and forth, fighting for which crown the pup would take... it was all just messy.

"Then go take a test, right now." Joy crossed her arms.

"I don't have any tests here." I mirrored her body language.

"I do. I bought them the day you went to the clinic," Anna said.

"Fantastic, let's go," Joy said, pulling me along.

Five minutes later, I paced the bathroom, waiting for my phone timer to go off, to see the results of the test. Half of me was excited, hopeful even. The other half was scared beyond belief. Joy impatiently waited outside the bathroom door, refusing to give me an inch.

My alarm went off. I looked at the tiny result box.

Two lines.

Positive.

I covered my mouth as the door flung open.

"Let me see, let me see!" Joy ripped the test out of my hand and squealed. "Stel!! You're pregnant! Congratulations!!"

"The tests aren't that accurate... are they?" I asked, yanking it back.

"The positives are very reliable," Anna said, dipping her head. "Congratulations."

"The clinic will want to see you — I'll go call them right now!" Joy beamed, heading for the living room.

I stood frozen in place, eyes locked onto the test. Nausea churned in me.

My hands trembled as I lowered myself onto the edge of the tub. This was real. Not a vision. Not a possibility. A life was growing inside me, completely unaware of crowns, politics, or the chaos waiting beyond these walls. For a brief moment, everything else faded — and that terrified me more than anything.

"Queen Stella, are you alright?"

There was hardly enough time for me to lunge for the toilet before I began heaving.

"Oh dear!"

Anna quickly grabbed my hair and held it back as I vomited, rubbing soothing circles on my back.

"Your mother will be so happy," she said merrily. "Your whole family, actually. This pup will be spoiled rotten!"

She wasn't wrong. I only hoped that the father wouldn't find out. Whoever he was.

- - - - - - - -

One week later...

"No amount of perfume is going to hide your scent, you know," Joy said, leaning up against my bathroom door frame.

I let out a heavy sigh. "I just want everyone to get in first before I'm bombarded."

"I'd kiss that dream goodbye," Joy snorted. "Your parents and siblings will be here any minute."

"Distract them for me? Just give me a few minutes to get myself together?"

"Feeling sick again?" Joy frowned.

I was only vomiting once each morning, and after every meal, for the past week straight. Poor Anna had the luxury of cleaning up after me. I made sure to give her a raise then and there.

"I never stopped." I huffed a laugh. "This pup is giving me a run already."

"Shocker. He or she is going to be just like you." She flipped my hair over my shoulder. "I'll keep them busy, just don't take too long. You know how they get."

"Thanks." I murmured, just as there was a knock at the door leading to my private suite.

"Coming!" Joy yelled.

I plucked the sonogram picture from my bathroom mirror, marveling at the black and white photo. Last week it was confirmed I was expecting. A healthy heartbeat and an April due date. What more could I ask for? I tucked the photo back into my mirror, a small smile spreading.

"My Queen?" Anna asked nervously.

"Hm?" I raised a brow.

"Your cousin would like to see you on the balcony. Right away."

"The balcony?" I frowned. I noticed then how quiet the house was. "Who was at the door?"

"A young man, I hardly got a look at him before Joy dragged him off," Anna said, wringing her hands.

I pushed past her, going straight to the balcony. There was another knock at the door — this one familiar — accompanied by the usual banter that came with my family.

"Wait just a minute!" I whisper-shouted to Anna as she went for the door.

She hesitated just long enough for me to get onto the balcony and see what mess waited for me there.

Asher.

He has his hands above his head — Joy cornering him, a deadly look in her eyes. A large bouquet of flowers laid on the ground, the glass vase shattered at their feet.

"Oh my goddess — what are you doing here?!" I hissed.

"He said he was the father!" Joy snapped. "You've got a lot of nerve showing up here making such claims! You've been out of the picture for over a decade! You think you can just show up here and - "

"The clinic called me! They told me the news!" Asher interrupted, his eyes darting between me and Joy.

My jaw clenched painfully. Joy tracked the movement, her shoulders sagging.

"You're the donor?! He's the donor?!" Joy yelled.

"It's complicated," I cringed. "He might be."

"Might be?" Asher frowned.

Joy looked at me expectantly. The balcony doorknob began to twist. I grabbed the handle before anyone could come out there.

"Just a second!" I called, thankful for the dark winter curtains Anna insisted upon.

"Stel, what didn't you tell me?" Joy frowned.

"He might be the father, but so might my other guy, okay? It's complicated, and I should have told you, but I didn't expect him to show up like this," I seethed.

Asher huffed a humorless laugh. "If you hadn't jumped me so quick, maybe you would have had time to read the paperwork, and that I wanted to be informed of any outcome. As soon as they found out, I got the call. I was hoping you'd reach out, but clearly that wasn't going to happen."

"Look — can we talk about this another time? Like literally any other time?" I pleaded. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it and I have to go back in there and tell my family after I've been vomiting all week. I can't do this right now," I waved my hand at him.

"Fine. I'll get out of your hair then. But I want answers — soon," Asher said firmly.

"You'll get them." I promised.

"How is he supposed to get out of here?" Joy asked. "One look, and you know what your family will think."

I paused, hating how right she was. I certainly couldn't shove him off the balcony. He might be able to climb down like he used to back in high school, but the lattice that was once there was long gone. But then it hit me. I turned to Joy.

"Go get Xander for me."

"Xander? Are you sure?" Her nose scrunched up.

"Positive." I nodded.

"Alright." Joy shrugged, slipping back into the living room.

"What are you going to have him do? Throw me off the balcony?" Asher snorted.

"Don't be mad at me. This is not how any of this should have gone." I shook my head.

"It seems to be a habit with you." He let out a heavy sigh.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You keep blindsiding me."

I opened my mouth to say something back when the door handle rattled. My older brother, Xander, was there a moment later, dodging broken glass as he stepped onto the balcony.

"Joy said you wanted to see — Asher, what are you," his nose twitched. "Oh my goddess, Stel, are you pregnant?! Are you the father?!" Xander's jaw fell slack.

"Shhhh!!" I cringed, grabbing Xander and pulling him aside. "Xander, do you remember when we were kids, and you broke mom's bracelet and buried it in the backyard? Only to find it missing later that day? The one that belonged to her mother? Her only heirloom?"

"You said we'd never talk about it," he said nervously.

"Well, if you don't want that to be a topic of conversation tonight, I suggest you open a portal for Asher to the parking lot, and pretend this little exchange never happened."

His eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't."

"I absolutely would." I let some of my Alpha aura surge, letting him see and feel just how serious I was.

His eyes never left mine as his magic flared and a portal opened.

"You'll call me then?" Asher asked.

I nodded. "Soon."

"Alright." He nodded, taking a step into the portal. "Congratulations."

He stepped through and Xander closed the portal.

The balcony suddenly felt too empty. Cold air rushed in where Asher had been, carrying the faint scent of pine and magic. My hand drifted to my stomach on instinct, a protective curl of my fingers. One truth had just shattered into two, and I had no idea which future I was supposed to brace for now.

I turned to Xander.

"Not one word." I warned.

He stared at me, an unreadable look on his face. And then he pulled me in for a hug. "Congratulations, Stel. I'm happy for you, really. A pup is a blessing, no matter how it happened."

My heart swelled, a lump forming in my throat. "Thanks, Xander."

He gave me a half smile, something like worry in his eyes. "See ya in there?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I just need a minute."

He tucked his hand in his pocket and gracefully stepped back inside.

If I didn't feel like vomiting before, I certainly did now. Asher knew. And so did Joy and Xander. Anna probably would too by the end of the night. I leaned against the balcony railing, staring out at the setting sun. My life was about to change forever. Now I just had to tell my family.

I jumped at the sound of a muffled, ear-piercing scream coming from the inside, followed by hurried steps. The balcony door flung open — my mom emerging with my bathroom sonogram photo in hand.

"You're pregnant?!" She beamed.

"I'm pregnant." Smiling, I chuckled.

"I'm getting another grandpup!" she yelled.

My father was at her side a moment later, my siblings not far behind.

"Let's get back inside, it's cold out here," I said, coaxing them back in and away from the broken glass and flowers.

My mom rapidly fired off a dozen questions, pulling me to the couch. Anna discreetly went by with a broom and dust pan. Joy downed three glasses of wine while our family visited, eyeing me suspiciously the entire time.

I smiled and laughed when expected, answering questions I barely heard. But beneath it all, my thoughts spiraled. A storm was coming - outside these walls and within them. And this time, no vision had prepared me for what would happen once the truth finally surfaced.