Tomorrow

Tomorrow
Elizabeth took me to her house. Not mine. Hers. Said I needed to be around people. Needed to not be alone right now.

I was too tired to argue.

She sat me down at her kitchen table. Made tea. Put food in front of me that I couldn't stomach. Sat across from me and waited.

"How long have you known?" she asked finally.

"Four days."

"And you were coming back to tell him."

"Yes."

"But you thought he was here. With her."

I didn't need to ask who she meant. "Yes."

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment. Her fingers traced the rim of her own teacup. "Celeste has been... active while you were gone."

My stomach tightened. "Active how?"

"Subtle things. Comments to pack members. Questions about you and Darian. Implications about the bond. About whether it's real or just convenient."

"What does that mean?"

"She's been suggesting that the mate bond is just physical attraction. That it doesn't mean anything permanent. That Darian will eventually realize he belongs with his own kind."

The words were too familiar. Too close to what Celeste had said to me directly.

"Has he been with her?" I asked. My voice was flat. Emotionless. Safer that way.

"Define 'with her.'"

"You know what I mean."

Elizabeth met my eyes. "I don't think so. But I don't know for certain. He's been... closed off. Angry. Desperate to find you. He barely ate. Barely slept. Just trained and searched and drove himself into the ground."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"No. It doesn't. Because I can't give you certainty about something I didn't witness."

Fair. Honest. Still not what I wanted to hear.

"She's been near him constantly," Elizabeth continued. "Offering support. Being present. Playing the role of old friend who understands him. And he's been too distraught about you to push her away effectively."

My wolf snarled. Low. Vicious. Wanted blood.

"I'm not defending him," Elizabeth said quickly. "I'm just telling you what I saw. What Connor saw. We've both been concerned. But Darian is technically a guest. A visiting diplomat. We can't just throw Celeste out without cause. Without proof of wrongdoing."

"She kissed him. In front of me. That's not wrongdoing?"

"It's disrespectful. But it's not a crime. And he did pull away."

"Not fast enough."

"No. Not fast enough."

We sat in silence. I stared at my untouched tea. Tried to breathe through the rage building in my chest.

"I saw them," I said quietly. "Before I left. In his room. She was pressed against him. His hands were on her waist. She said she missed him. Missed them."

Elizabeth's expression shifted. "And what did he say?"

"I don't know. I left before I could hear. Couldn't stand to hear him confirm it."

"Lyra—"

"Don't. Don't tell me I should have stayed and listened. Don't tell me I jumped to conclusions. I saw what I saw."

"What you saw might not be the whole story."

"It's enough of the story."

Elizabeth shook her head. "You're doing it again. Running before you have all the information. Making decisions based on fear instead of facts."

"I'm not running. I came back."

"You came back because you're pregnant. Because you had to. Not because you trust him. Not because you believe in what you have together."

The words stung because they were true.

"I don't know how to trust him when she's here," I said. "When he can't make her leave. When he lets her touch him and talk to him and act like she owns him."

"Then tell him that. Tell him exactly what you need. What you saw. What you're afraid of. Give him a chance to explain. To choose."

"What if he chooses wrong?"

"Then at least you'll know. At least you won't spend years wondering. At least you can move forward."

I put my hand on my stomach. Still flat. Still showing nothing. But I felt it now. Felt the weight of the decision. Of what came next.

This baby would tie me to Darian forever. Whether we were together or not. Whether we worked through this or not. We'd be connected. Co-parents. Bound by more than just the mate bond.

The thought was terrifying. Comforting. Overwhelming.

"I'm scared," I admitted.

"I know."

"What if I'm a terrible mother? What if I can't do this? What if—"

"Stop." Elizabeth reached across the table. Took my hand. "You'll figure it out. Like everyone does. One day at a time. One moment at a time. And you won't be alone. You have the pack. You have me. You have Connor."

"I might not have Darian."

"You might. If you let yourself."

I wanted to believe that. Wanted to trust it.

But doubt was easier. Safer. More familiar.

The door opened. Connor walked in. Looked between us. "The tracking team left. They'll follow Darian's trail north. Should intercept him within two days."

"What did you tell them?" I asked.

"That he needs to come back. That it's urgent. That it's about you."

"Did you tell them about the baby?"

"No. That's your news to share. Not mine."

I nodded. Grateful for that at least.

Connor pulled out a chair. Sat down heavily. He looked tired. Older than usual.

"I owe you an apology," he said.

I blinked. "For what?"

"For not seeing this coming. For not handling the Celeste situation better. For letting things deteriorate to this point."

"That's not your fault."

"Isn't it? I'm the Alpha. I'm responsible for everyone in this settlement. That includes you. Includes Darian. I should have intervened sooner. Should have forced a resolution."

"You can't force people to make decisions," Elizabeth said quietly. "You can't make Lyra trust. Can't make Darian send Celeste away. Can't make Celeste leave if she doesn't want to. All you can do is create space for them to figure it out."

"That space nearly cost us both of them," Connor replied. "Nearly cost us this." He gestured toward my stomach.

"But it didn't," I said. "I'm here. I'm back. And Darian will be back soon. And then we'll figure it out."

The words came out more confident than I felt. But I said them anyway. Needed to hear them. Needed to believe them.

Connor studied me. "You're staying this time. No matter what happens with Darian. You're staying."

Not a question. A command. Alpha voice. The kind that didn't allow argument.

"Yes," I said. "I'm staying."

"Good. Because this pack is your home. Pregnant or not. Mated or not. With Darian or without him. This is where you belong."

Something in my chest loosened. Relief. Gratitude. The knowledge that I had a place. A home. People who wouldn't abandon me.

Even if everything else fell apart.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

Connor nodded. Stood. "Rest. Eat if you can. Let Elizabeth take care of you. We'll deal with everything else when Darian gets back."

He left. Closed the door quietly behind him.

Elizabeth squeezed my hand. "You should sleep. You look exhausted."

"I am."

"Guest room is ready. Take as long as you need."

I stood slowly. My body ached. My head hurt. My emotions were a tangled mess.

But I was home. Safe. Surrounded by people who cared.

That was something. Had to be enough for now.

I made it to the guest room before the tears came. Let them flow. Let myself break down where no one could see.

Cried for what I'd lost. For what I might never have. For the baby growing inside me who deserved better than parents who couldn't figure out how to be together.

Cried until I was empty. Until exhaustion pulled me under. Until sleep took over and gave me a few hours of peace.

Tomorrow Darian would start heading back. Tomorrow we'd be closer to confrontation. Tomorrow everything would change.

But tonight I just slept. Let my body rest. Let the baby grow. Let myself exist without decisions or fear or plans.

Just for tonight.

Just for now.