Talk To Me

Talk To Me

Chapter 50

.

.

.

Rhea

Elena didn’t see me at first. Her body jerked slightly when I called her name again. She quickly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, standing like she didn’t just throw up her entire soul. Her shoulders were trembling, and her hair was a mess, sticking to her damp face.

“Elena,” I said again, stepping closer, my voice low and shaky, “why the hell are you puking like that?”

I dropped beside her, hands flying to her back. “Wait—are you sick? Did you eat something bad?”

She didn’t answer, rather she just sat on the floor with her hands trembling.

“Elena,” I whispered, brushing her hair back. “Talk to me.”

"I’m fine," She said and it was a pathetic lie.

My eyes narrowed, but my voice stayed soft. "No, you’re not. Don’t even try me, Elena. You threw up in a pot plant. That’s not fine.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her face looked pale, like she’d seen a ghost or something worse. I wasn’t sure if she was about to cry or run.

I moved in front of her, blocking her from walking off. My arms were folded, and I wasn’t about to let her lie to me again. “Talk.”

She looked around like someone would save her. Then she finally whispered, “I think I’m pregnant.”

I stared at her like I didn’t know her anymore.

“What?”

She looked away from me, her arms wrapping around herself like she was cold. “I’m late, and I’ve been throwing up lately. Today was just worse.”

I blinked slowly. “Who?” I asked. “Don’t give me a ‘we don’t know yet’ answer. Who, Elena?”

Her lips parted, and for a second she looked like she might lie.

"Is it his?" I asked.

From the looks of things, it had to be Lucian’s.

I felt my chest tighten as she nodded. “It's Kael's.”

I let out a sound, it wasn’t exactly a gasp. It was more like a half-laugh, half-wheeze. "Girl. GIRL."

She winced. "Don’t. Please don’t freak out."

"I’m not freaking out. You’re the one who’s pregnant with the Alpha’s baby and didn’t think to TELL ME?"

She bit her lip. "It just happened."

"Oh, did it? Like you tripped and fell onto his di—"

"Rhea," She snapped.

I chuckled. “But wait a minute, When? How? I'm still shocked.”

She sighed. “It wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. It just… happened…after Elara’s dramatic entry with Myra. I had a bad headache, we were talking, then it got intense, and—”

“Elena!” I covered my ears dramatically. “Not the details. I’m traumatized already.”

She let out a dry laugh, but I could see how shaky she still was.

I stepped forward and held her by the shoulders. “Hey. You’re freaking out. I get it, but you don’t have to do this alone. First, we’re gonna confirm it. Then we’ll talk about telling Kael.”

Her face froze. “What if he doesn’t want it?”

“Then he’s stupid, sorry not sorry.” I said fast. “Besides that won't be possible, he would be thrilled to hear it.”

She grinned a little and I pulled her into a hug.

We walked back slowly to her room. I let her rest while I paced, mentally cursing myself for not realizing sooner. The signs were there. The weird cravings, the sudden mood swings, how she’d been sleeping way more than usual.

I heard a knock at the door.

When I opened it, I wasn’t expecting to see Aiden. He raised an eyebrow at me.

“I was expecting you,” he said.

“I had something urgent.” I stepped out and closed the door slightly behind me.

He looked at me with that quiet curiosity. His eyes dropped to my lips, then back up to my eyes. “You okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, just… girl stuff.”

He didn’t press further, just stared a second longer, then said, “If you need anything…”

“I’ll find you.”

He smiled at that, and I forgot for a second that my best friend might be carrying a whole baby.

When I got back in, Elena was already curled up in bed, holding her pillow like it was keeping her together. She looked small.

I climbed onto the bed and laid beside her. We stared at the ceiling together.

“I don’t know how to be a mom, Rhea.”

“You don’t have to figure it all out right now okay?”

She nodded and we laid there in silence.

Then, finally, she whispered, “Can you come with me? To get a test?”

“Of course.”

We left quickly before the darkness covered more.

The streets were mostly empty, and the air was a little too cold for comfort. Elena kept rubbing her hands together, even though I’d offered her gloves.

The pharmacy was open, bright lights humming overhead. We didn’t talk much inside. She picked the test, and I paid for it. The cashier looked at us like she wanted to say something, but didn’t.

Back at the room, she stared at the little box like it was a bomb.

“You ready?” I asked.

“No.”

I handed it to her anyway.

I waited outside the bathroom, pacing. My heart was thumping like it was my test.

Minutes passed, then she came out.

She didn’t need to say anything. Her eyes were full of water, and her hands were trembling.

I took the test from her slowly.

Two lines.

I looked up at her. My mouth parted, but I didn’t say anything.

“Elena…”

She broke down into my arms.

We just sat on the floor without saying anything. Her crying quietly into my neck, me holding her like she might break apart.

"So, what do you want to do?" I finally said.

"I don’t want to hide it, but I’m not ready for the world to know either."

"Then we keep it quiet for now, just until you’re sure."

"You’d do that?"

"Girl, please. I’ve kept your secrets since we were thirteen. Remember when you shaved your eyebrows trying to impress that guy from chemistry?"

"Don’t bring that up."

"I will bring it up every time you forget I’m ride or die."

She laughed and leaned her head against mine.

"You’re gonna be okay," I said. "But you gotta be honest especially with him."

I nodded slowly. "I will, just not yet."

"Fine, but don’t wait too long. Alpha genes or not, babies don’t stay secret for long."

I stood and stretched. "Now come on, you need water and maybe toast, or...ginger? Isn’t that a thing? Ginger helps with nausea, right?"

She smiled weakly. "You googled it, didn’t you."

"I googled everything the second we got to the pharmacy. I’m two searches away from buying you prenatal vitamins."

She couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. "You’re insane."

"And you love me for it."

Elena

Rhea left after an hour or so after keeping me company. I sank onto the bed and exhaled.

I was pregnant, and Kael had no idea.

As I turned to the side to tap a nap, my phone buzzed on the nightstand.

One new message.

From Kael.

"Can I see you tonight?"

I stared at it.