Chapter 36: The Struggle is Real

Strix went back to classes as if nothing had happened. But I knew the truth. I could feel her pain, her fear. She was scared of something but she didn’t let it show. She wouldn’t talk to anyone, not even me. The more I tried, the angrier she got. I gave up but had Ben and Kyle help keep an eye on her.

We had finals coming up and winter break. I had no idea how to help Strix. I didn’t want to cause her any undue stress. So I turned to her family for help. They told me that she deals with things her own way. The next time someone comes after her, her family, or her friends they will regret it. They also said she is really stubborn, which I was beginning to get on my own. She wasn’t accepting what happened to her or the fact that she was pregnant. We had an ultrasound done and she still wouldn’t believe it. I was upset that she wasn’t happy and that she wouldn’t accept our baby. I didn’t know what to do to help her and her family wasn’t any help. Just let her be, they said.

*****Taylor’s perspective*****

After the fight with the wanderers, Phoenix and I started spending more time with Shawn and Strix. We could tell Strix was repressing her kidnapping and that Shawn was having a hard time understanding why. But we knew, in the end, everything would be fine. So until then we would help them both cope by offering our support. Over the next couple of weeks, we got to know each other better.

Phoenix and I started hanging out on campus to help keep watch, in case anything happened. We knew how long human pregnancies lasted and how long lycan pregnancies lasted, but vampires didn’t have a statistic. So it was anyone’s guess as to how long her pregnancy would last.

We knew from the prophecy that Khenzu was returning. What we didn’t know was when or what would happen; although, we had a good idea based on Phoenix’s visions. In our free time, we trained with the Hyacintho Lunar Pack and the Barnettes. Phoenix and I really needed the extra training. Aria helped with the magic side of training. I was getting really good at it too. I was able to control my powers.

Aria had a theory about my parents but wouldn’t share it with me. She said she needed to consult with her coven and mine before she divulged any information. She was a member of Vera Fides Coven. And that is the coven the witch council member, Samiya Harvester, is a part of as well. Aria was also teaching me a lot about the supernatural world: the moon goddesses, moon god, Sari, the general histories. Then she, Phoenix, and I focused on the prophecies. We knew one of them was already happening. She wanted to know if anymore would because of Khenzu’s return.

*****Phoenix’s perspective*****

For the most part, everything went back to normal. Strix was acting a little weird but she’s pregnant; she gets a pass. Harvard was different from what I expected. Sure we visited it when we first got to town, but now we were actually experiencing it. I got word that King Omelette was on his way to Drakmore, the Fae city in Boston. Until his arrival, I will focus on training.

Aria has helped Taylor and I so much. I was surprised to hear that her family has worked with the Hyacintho Lunar Pack for so long. I was getting better at physical combat. I was already pretty good with magic, being trained by the king. I did pity anyone who went against Aria though, I’ve never seen anyone move the way she does, like she has no bones in her body but at the same time strong as a giant. She has lived and trained with the werewolves her whole life, so I guess that makes sense.

Christmas was just around the corner. While Taylor and Aria focused on the prophecies ( I dabbled a little), I focused on Strix. Strix would be about four weeks pregnant by then. At the rate her baby was growing, the pack doctor said she could be due in as little as two months. Yeah, she told everyone at school that she had a tumor. Shawn was upset by that but he understood it was a supernatural pregnancy and she could give birth at any time, so a medical condition like a tumor would explain the sudden and growing bump and its quick disappearance.

The snow was sticking to the ground now and everything seemed peaceful. The council lifted the curfew and the mandated buddy system. We still adhered to it most of the time. Strix was annoyed that no one ever let her do anything alone. Shawn got the brunt of her anger, but he took it graciously as it meant she was still alive. He adored her and doted on her; she however, hated the attention.

Training was going well, Taylor was getting better at control. I was getting better and better at hand to hand combat as well as finding useful weapons in the environment.

*****Strix’s perspective*****

I was struggling with a few things. I was pregnant, I had ptsd that was making me angry all the time, and I was making my mate miserable. I also had some issues with the word mate. I was doing what I usually did. Ignoring the problem until it wasn’t a problem anymore. But to be honest, I wasn’t myself and was miserable. I decided to speak with Kat and her friends. They were the only people who would understand. Together we formed a secret group and had meetings on campus. They didn’t go to Harvard but I told Alpha Jacob that I needed their help with the club I had started on campus and he said it would be okay as long as we stayed together off pack land. I promised and so did they. We met on the same days SII had meetings so as not to arouse suspicion. The purpose of SII was to help students with their problems so it made for a great cover story. I told Ben that I was helping them deal with stuff they didn’t want to talk about in front of the group and he let me be. He knew what I was doing but didn’t force the subject. He was just happy I was talking to someone. Kat, Jane, and Trevor were great. They dealt with having to shift for the first time alone. I couldn’t imagine going through all that pain and not having someone with me for support. We supported each other. They told me I couldn’t ignore my pregnancy anymore and helped me come to terms with it. I had no idea that the mate bond almost guaranteed pregnancy during the first mating. That was something the books left out. Now I’m a pregnant college freshman. I hope I give birth soon, these blood cravings are killing me. I have been keeping a thermos of animal blood in my bag and several more in the trunk of Ben’s car. I am careful not to drink it in front of the humans, but sometimes it’s get caught or drain a human. The doctor says it’s a boy; Shawn apparently knew that before the sonogram proved it. That’s a werewolf thing apparently. At least being part vampire means I don’t have the achy back or feet problems. This kid kicks like a horse though. I’m not going to lie, it’s a little rough on my organs. And my butt occasionally goes numb when he kicks at my spine. I’m sure he will be a great kid; he’ll probably be an excellent soccer player for sure.