"Why I hid myself from you?" he asked.
"Yes, and Mum. For years she spent grieving your loss, and you were here all along. How could you do that to her? Do that to me?" my voice breaking on the last word, I reigned in my emotions. I needed to hear this, hear the excuse he comes up with, not that that will change my anger right now from being lied to.
"I didn't have a choice, Aria. When the Hunters found out about me, they hunted me for weeks, you and your mother hid away. I couldn't let them find out about you. Your grandfather and I set up a trap hoping to let them think I was dead, only it backfired, and it actually got your grandfather killed. I pretended to be dead, waited, and when the coast was clear, I left the City. It was safer that way, they would know about your existence if I stayed, they would have found out and killed your mother and done only goddess knows what with you,"
"That doesn't explain why you didn't tell me when you came back."
"I didn't want to interrupt your life. I saw you had a sister and were raising her like your own. If I told you, it would have put both of you in danger, so Zoe and I decided to keep it from you, you're the only one that couldn't see me for me. I only glamoured you, that's why I look the same to Reid." I nodded in understanding, but that didn't make me feel any better knowing he was here all along just watching in the shadows.
"After David saw me, I knew it was a matter of time before he blurted it out."
"Yes, I went to see him after Hunters were spotted in the city. He has connections with them. David told them what I am," Panic took over my father's face as he looked around quickly as if we were being followed, Reid started shaking with anger, fur sprouting across his arms and his canines protruded. I forgot I hadn't told him about David being the one to alert the Hunters to my existence.
I placed my hand over his that was digging into the table because his claws were extended.
My father sat back and relaxed when he saw no one watching. Reid slowly calmed down, my thumb rubbing circles on the back of his hand. Zoe came over and placed a coffee in front of us. The smell instantly hit my nose and made me gag, jumping up Reid slid out, letting me out. I ran into the bathroom and threw up. My throat was burning, and my eyes watered. I threw up blood everywhere. Zoe walked in to check on me.
"Are you alright, dear?" I stood up and flushed the toilet before walking out and rinsing my mouth at the sink. What the hell is wrong with me?
"Yep, I'm fine," I said, trying to catch my breath. "This is why I needed to speak to my father." Zoe nodded and handed me the tea towel from her apron to dry my face. Walking back out, I made my way to my seat, holding my breath, so the strong smell of coffee didn't make me want to be sick again.
Reid was talking to my father, but I didn't catch what they were talking about when I sat down.
"Your mother used to do that, she even craved blood. The hormones would make her crazed with bloodlust." I looked at my father confused. My mother was a werewolf, werewolves don't crave blood.
"Reid told me how you have been sick, starving hungry and sleeping, it is the only thing that makes sense" He tilted his head to the side listening for something. "Don't you hear it?" he asked.
"Hear what?" I asked, looking between him and Reid, who was also listening intently.
Reid's face lit up when he heard the mystery noise, while I just stared at them both, Reid's face broke into a grin, and his eyes sparkled brightly.
"You're pregnant." He whispered.
Aria's POV
"Isn't this great? We are gonna have a baby," said Reid, kissing the side of my face. I was in shock. This was not the sort of news I was going to be excited about. Zoe wiped tears from her eyes as she excitedly congratulated us. I just zoned out and put my walls up, blocking Reid from invading my mind and my tumultuous thoughts. I didn't want kids; I have been raising a kid since I was a kid myself. This was far from anything I wanted. I didn't want a baby, to bring a baby into this chaotic world, let alone right now when we were about to go to war. A war I also didn't want a part of. This was far from any future plan; I had come up with in my head. The worst part is the excitement on Reid's face, how do I break it to him, that there won't be any baby?
I watched as my newly found father and my mate spoke excitedly about kids and potential baby names. Zoe, noticing my silence, placed a hand on my shoulder and looked down at me, her eyes knowing. Zoe knew I didn't want kids, and after seeing everyone's excitement, how do I tell them I don't want to be a mother. Zoe nodded her head in the direction of the kitchen, getting up I followed after her.
"That's some big news," she stated. While making up orders, I leant on the bench next to her. Keeping my voice low so Reid and my father didn't overhear.
"I don't want this, Zoe. You know this already." She nodded in my direction, so I knew she heard what I said.
"I know the timing isn't great with everything going on, but you will come around eventually dear, Babies are a miracle."
I shook my head. This was no miracle; this was a disaster. How do I tell Reid? I looked up at the ceiling, things were going to get worse before they got better and chucking a baby in the mix is just ridiculous.
"I am not keeping it. I don't want this, Zoe. He can't make me." Zoe put the egg flip down and glanced around paranoid someone overheard my words.
"You know Reid, even Ryder won't allow that, Aria. You do anything to jeopardise this pregnancy and Reid is going to lose it. Even I know werewolf pregnancies are sacred, you will be shunned and forced to leave the Pack Aria, think of Lily."
"I am thinking of Lily. I have enough on my plate without adding more to it. I need to focus on her, focus on keeping her safe, I can't do that pregnant. Besides, it isn't a real werewolf child. It will be a Hybrid so they can think what they want, it's my body, my choice," my voice coming out louder than I would have liked. Zoe stuck her head out, looking back into the diner, I did the same. My father and Reid were both happily bonding over baby news. I felt guilty for not wanting to keep this baby, but at the end of the day, it is my choice. Reid isn't the one that has to birth it. I am.