Chapter 17 Chapter 17
Chapter 17
\- Sophie -
"Why, I just stepped out to have some fresh air," I said, sounding confused at his questions. "I was feeling sick and nauseous. It happens to pregnant women you know."
"Oh, I am so sorry dear," Marcus said. "You know because I was wondering when I woke up and you were not by my side. I thought you were in the restroom, but when I checked, you were not, and even when I went out to check, I didn't see you anywhere around."
"Yes, I had to go for a walk to see if I would feel better. My back and feet are sore too," I told him.
"But why didn't you wake me up?" He asked. "You don't have to go through all of that while I am here. After all, you are carrying my child and I want to take care of you."
"There is no need to disturb your sleep when I can help it. But now the baby and I need to get some rest, okay?" I yawned loudly.
"Right, rest well my love," he shifted closer and kissed me on the forehead. I held my breath, hoping he would not scent James on me.
I always make sure to leave no trace, though I was still being careful. He went back to sleep and only then did I release the breath I was holding.
Marcus must not get any more suspicious in the future. At least now that I have convinced him that I am pregnant, he won't have to question me any further till I come up with something again.
\- Marcus -
I woke up in the morning with a very sour mood and Sophie did not even notice
I wouldn't blame her though. She's carrying our child and has that worry about.
But my heart was heavy and I did not know who to talk to. Even though I understood Sophie's condition but I expected a bit of care from her.
I couldn't eat my breakfast and Sophie did not even care to know why.
It got me thinking, while I was with Aria, she cared about me, even more than she cared about herself.
She wouldn't eat if I had not. She made sure I was fine. There were times I was burdened with pack issues and even though I hated to admit it now, she was my safe space.
She would listen to me rant and comfort me.
With Sophie it was different. I stood outside the building, looking down at the pack below.
James had finished explaining the matters of the pack to me but even that was not as gnawing as what I actually felt.
"Alpha," Beta James called. "Are you okay? You seem to be lost in your thoughts."
Well, at least James was someone I could trust. I turned to him and sighed.
"Do you think what I did was wrong?" I asked him and his face was drawn with confusion.
"I am not sure I quite understand you Alpha," he said.
"Do you think what I did to Aria was wrong?" I repeated with clarity. "Do you think I made a mistake letting her go and marrying Sophie?"
He looked away as the question settled in, and I could tell he had something on his mind.
"James I need you to tell me nothing but the truth," I pushed. I needed to hear it. No matter how difficult it would sound. I need someone to tell me the very thing I was afraid of telling myself.
"Are you still thinking about Aria, Alpha?" James asked. "We don't even know what's happened to her, if she's alive or not. But you're here with Sophie who's pregnant with your child, your heir. Why do you still question your decisions?"
"Even I don't understand it, James," I told him sincerely. "I have tried to convince myself I did not do anything wrong but my wolf has been unsettled. It keeps nudging me and wailing. Something's wrong, but I don't understand it. What could be wrong?"
"Alpha, I think you are just overthinking this," James said, and I looked at him.
"You think so?"
"From the moment you found the test about Aria being pregnant. I understand how you must have felt because it felt like you were torn between the truth and a lie, and you did not know who to believe. Because of the curse, I think. But now you've confirmed, Sophie is really carrying your child. Just give yourself time to recover from all the incidents around Aria and you'll be fine."
I nodded. Perhaps James was right. After all, Aria lived under a facade.
She pretended to be innocent but oh the things she was capable of
I tried to remind my wolf, just in case it had forgotten, that the same Aria, was the one who tried to poison Sophie and our unborn child.
Not only that, she planned to escape her own death with Doctor Mills.
That is not Innocent. If she could pull out all of that, how much more the fake pregnancy result?
This was all her plans with Doctor Mills. She could not accept rejection and would have gone to any length to remain Luna.
But she was not destined to be. I thought she was, but my real mate is Sophie. The only one destined to have my babies.
Should I have left that for Aria? I said this over and over just so it would sink in and my wolf would stop complaining, let me have some peace.
I am tired of thinking about Aria all the time, wishing she were alive and safe out there.
And if she was? Would I still want anything to do with her?
Goddamnit! This is crazy. I cannot even understand why this is getting at me but James was right.
Maybe it was all because Aria's schemes messed with my mind when I found out, especially the pregnancy thing.
It is not real, it is not real, I told myself repeatedly. What was real? Sophie and my unborn child were real.