My Mate

Chapter 3

I’m pregnant. My heart sank. For some reason, I wasn’t entirely surprised by the news, but I still struggled to accept it. Just one time—that was all it took. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. “You have a few options if you decide you don’t want to keep it. It’s early enough for an abortion. If that doesn’t feel right to you, you can always consider adoption,” the doctor said, looking at me with a blank expression. “I’m keeping it,” I told her, my voice cracking with emotion. She smiled wearily. “Okay, I’ll have the nurse schedule your follow-up appointment, and then you’ll be free to leave. Do you have any questions?”

“Is there anything I shouldn’t do? Like physical activities?” I asked, feeling a bit foolish. She smiled gently at me. “No, at this point, you have no restrictions. The morning sickness should pass soon.” "Be sure to eat healthily, and I’ll prescribe some prenatal vitamins for you to take once a day. If you have any issues, concerns, or questions, don’t hesitate to call us." With that, she turned and exited the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

It was no longer a question of whether I was pregnant and what my plans would be; it was now a reality that I was pregnant, and I didn’t have much time to decide what to do next. The nurse handed me my appointment card, and I made my way back to my apartment. During the drive home, I resolved to tell Cyrus. I would track him down later and share the news. I had no idea how he would react, but regardless of his attitude, he’s the father, and he deserves the chance to be part of this baby’s life if he wants to.

Once I got home, I ran a bubble bath, sinking into the warm water and feeling my muscles unwind. I let my mind wander as I soaked in the tub. I hope Cyrus steps up to help with the baby, but if he doesn’t, I’ll do everything I can to ensure this child has everything it needs and knows how loved it is. As the water turned cold, I climbed out, towel-drying myself before slipping straight back into bed. I was exhausted—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Now would be a great time to have at least one good friend to confide in, but it’s okay; I’ll manage.

I woke up late in the afternoon, surprised at how long I had slept. I must have been more tired than I realized. Butterflies danced in my stomach at the thought of finding Cyrus and breaking the news to him. I gathered the energy to get dressed and head out the door. I figured I would find Cyrus either at the bar or at the Retro Eat. I checked the restaurant first, but when I didn’t see his car in the parking lot, I made my way toward the bar. Sure enough, he was there, standing out front with his arm around a revealingly dressed woman. I parked my car and took a few deep breaths to steady myself before approaching him.

I walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder. For a moment, he looked pleased to see me, a brief smile crossing his face, but it quickly faded into a scowl. “What?” he asked, his tone making me hesitate. “Can we talk for a minute?” I attempted to sound polite. I didn’t want to create a scene in front of everyone. He scoffed and turned back to his friends.

A bit taken aback, I raised my voice and said, “We need to talk, now, please.” Frustration was building inside me. I just needed a few minutes of his precious time to tell him he was going to be a father, and then I wouldn’t bother him again. When he kept ignoring me, I lost my temper. “So, Cyrus, guess what?! I’m pregnant.” There it was, for him and his entire group to hear.

Cyrus quickly turned around, grabbed my arm, and pulled me toward the parking lot. “Let go! You’re hurting me,” I protested as he pushed me into his car. He slammed the door shut and took his place in the driver’s seat. “Your what?” he asked, his expression shifting. “I’m pregnant, Cyrus. I just found out today,” he said with a smirk, which only fueled my frustration. “It’s not mine,” he declared plainly. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He knew I was a virgin before him, and I hadn’t been with anyone else since.

“You’re the only person I’ve been with, so yes, it’s your baby. Get a DNA test if you want—I have nothing to hide.” I reached for the door handle, but Cyrus’s deep growl made me pause. I slowly turned to face him, his eyes swirling with shades of black and blue. He grabbed my arm, pulling me close until we were face to face. “You’re not my mate,” he growled through clenched teeth, his nails digging into the flesh of my arm. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but regardless, you’re going to be a father. Now please let go of me.” I struggled to conceal the fear that gripped me in that moment. He stared at me, his fingers still wrapped around my forearm. Then he released me, reached into his pocket, and tossed a pile of hundreds onto my lap. “Get an abortion, and keep your mouth shut about this.” His eyes flickered from black to blue.

Without waiting for my response, he climbed out of the car and walked back to his group. They all turned to stare at me, their intense gazes making me feel self-conscious as I made my way to my car and drove away. I need to leave town. Cyrus gave me money for an abortion that I have no intention of having. If I stay here and don’t go through with it, I can’t imagine what he might do. I’d never seen him so angry; it was like staring into the eyes of someone unhinged. Well, he is unhinged—he actually thinks he’s a damn werewolf, for goodness' sake. I stopped by the restaurant to grab some food and ate it on the way home.

When I got to my apartment, I began packing, deciding to finish tonight and leave in the morning. I stuffed as many clothes as I could into my worn-out duffle bag and set it by the front door. Then, I retrieved my stash of cash from the freezer and sat down at the small table to count it. I had $1,500 in total, including the thousand that Cyrus had thrown at me for an abortion. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to get me out of here. I gathered everything into an envelope and slipped it into my purse before heading off to bed.