Chapter 61 AGONY
SIANNA'S POV
Vance slept in bed late with me this morning. The rain from yesterday kept us both at home for the entire day. He stayed to pamper me because I had fainted at the hospital. You know, the whole Hailey passing away ordeal. Lying in bed with the pit patter of the raindrops had me in a deep slumber in no time. I had no idea when he fell asleep.
I observed his handsome face as he slept. I trailed my index fingers along his hairless chest and incredible abs, not being able to resist. He flinched as we both enjoyed the sparks.
He wasn't sleeping but kept his eyes closed. Not only that, but he could be thinking about the on-goings of the pack lately, and the person who was trying to hurt me. I could not detect anyone who would hate me that much.
I lived amiably with everyone and didn't intrude into people's personal space. So I could only think that I was in danger because I had become the High Luna. Perhaps this was linked to the other attacks on our warriors. I was worried about Vance.
Being the head of the werewolf realm was a vast burden on his shoulders. All other Alphas reported to him and relied on him for various forms of assistance, whether it be monetary, warrior's aid, mediation, or other resources. This meant meetings day in and day out. Now he had his own pack issues that were rising.
Last night, he was frantically sniffing me, running his nose over my jawline and the curvature of my neck, beneath my ears. The reaction was due to his wolf needing my scent to calm his distressed heart.
The craving for a tasty grilled cheese sandwich was urging me to jump out of bed and head to the kitchen, but when I tried to leave the mattress, his strong hands pulled me up against his sternum.
At this point, he opened his eyes, smelling me once more.
"Let's go get some food. You must feed your baby." I pouted.
He raised his slouchy body to stand up and extended his hand to the bed to assist me in getting out. His hand gently cupped my jaw and ran its thumb over my cheeks as he gave me a tender kiss on the forehead.
I massaged my plump stomach and smiled mischievously. "What if I have three pups inside of me?"
He gulped and cleared his throat before scratching behind his ear. "Let's hope for one or two and I'm done." His head was violently shaking.
I giggled and pulled a robe over my nightgown because I was too hungry to get dressed. Though, I went to the dressing table to brush the knots out of my matted hair to have an ounce of being presentable, especially if his Beta or Gamma showed up unexpectedly.
I took his hand and we walked toward the kitchen. I am eager to deliver this baby. I decided to set up a nursery in the room next to us. Hailey and I were supposed to go baby-supply shopping together, but since she was grieving, either the moms, or Vance will have to do it with me.
We do not know the gender. I thought it was best to wait and eventually Vance agreed. A boy or girl will be fine because we will love him or her either way. Man, this child was resting on my bladder.
While Vance prepared the fruit for us, I gathered the sandwich's ingredients. Barely say anything, he's locked away in his thoughts. I hated it when he shuts down like this because he hasn't said much about my being targeted.
Hands automatically encircled my waist from behind. "You're going to be fine," he reassuringly stated as he leaned down to my left ear. When our eyes met, he gave me a sweet smile. My anxieties were allayed by my utter affection for him.
"I'll be more careful," I assured him.
As he set the plates on our table, he replied, "I know."
We ate and talked about a design for the nursery with colors, themes, and setup. I went online and showed him some settings that I favored. For once in the span of 24 hours, his mind was on his family.
I stood and went behind his back with my head on his shoulder, then slowly massaged his tensed muscles. "I know that you are tired, baby." I kissed his temple.
He reaches his right hand to touch mine on his left shoulder, patting my fingers. "It's not so bad once I'm home and around you. You are my breath of fresh air. You are the eye in every hurricane area of my life."
My arms hugged him from behind, "Why don't I give you a full body massage when you get home later."
He grinned at my offer, displaying an upbeat temperament. "Then I shall be home early."
"I'll be waiting." I chuckled. He went upstairs to shower and get dressed, while I did the dishes and cleaned up. When he returned to my side, it was to give me a goodbye kiss, and went out the door.
The cleaners will be here today, and I wanted to check on Hailey, according to my itinerary. Moreover, Raj will be arriving at our pack as well.
The habit of leaving the cleaners in the house has changed since I began living here. My wolf hates the thought of having these female omegas alone in our mate's home.
It took two hours and thirteen minutes to get all the cleaning completed. I stayed on our back porch skimming through the baby catalog until the omegas were done. I headed upstairs to take a bath, get dressed, grab my bag and car keys, and drove to Hailey's.
Standing on their porch, I pressed the doorbell. The door opened to reveal Toya, Hailey's mother. She had bright gray eyes, and her golden brown hair was nicely pulled back with a black spiral wave hair band.
She grinned and gently embraced me. Being away at college for the past two years had prevented me from seeing them, and once werewolves resigned from their position, they had a tendency to travel a lot. Additionally, I was unconscious at the hospital when they picked up Hailey.
"Sianna, or should I say, Luna," She bowed her head although she knew I was not one for the titles.
"You are my second mom, so let's put away the formalities," I said softly to dismiss the matter of form.
She escorted me into the kitchen and past the living room. "Congratulations on becoming Luna. We regret not arriving back in time for the ceremony. You should enjoy our gift, I hope."
My cheeks broke out in a big smile. "It was lovely, as one would expect from you."
"When are you due?" She took a quick look at my round belly.
"Another terrifying two weeks." I sighed and made a grumpy expression.
She laughed. "It can't be that bad. Simply take it easy, rest, and eat healthily."
She was, as I already stated, my second mother. She frequently behaves in a maternal manner that is identical to that of my mother. I suppose that resulted from all the sleepovers I had at their home.
Toya, had several food items on the counter to prepare something to eat before I left. It was a lot of vegetables and she started chopping them up. "Hailey's in the guest bedroom in the basement. She wanted some alone time."
I nodded and moved down the corridor. In the basement, the room door was ajar. Before going in, I glimpsed her resting on the bed with Bluetooth earphones covering her ears. I determined her mood to be mellow.
I went to the bed, took a pillow, and sat down. I used the pillow to support my back against the square bedpost. She gave me a gentle, despondent stare while feigning a smile.
"Look how large you are!" She playfully rubbed my belly. I placed my hand over hers. "You bloated up overnight or something. You shouldn't be walking around like this. Stay off your feet." She was trying too hard to sound alright. "In any case, I was going to come by your place."
"Don't be a mother hen to me, Hailey. I came to do that to you." I pointed out as we both laughed. "How are you?"
"They said that you healed me. My best friend is so amazing." Hailey complimented. Though it was obviously hard to sound like her usual self.
"I couldn't let you go. Don't you know much I love you?" I've told her many times.
She came across and hugged me, then said teasingly, "I love you too, fat stuff."
We embraced in that manner for a while. She repeatedly assured me that she was fine because she understood how worried I was. Despite that we still do not know the gender of her new niece, she made me pledge to take her shopping. "It will be a girl," she says.
I scowled at how obstinate she was being and she rolled her eyes.
"Raj will be stopping by to see you." I broached the sensitive subject.
I noticed a change in her demeanor in the enveloping silence. Then, when she reclined on the plush pillow, she sighed. "Okay."
I extended my hands to rub her feet. "Vance said he's a complete disaster," I said cautiously. "He'll be staying at the pack house."
"I love him, I'm delighted he wasn't guilty and did not sleep with Adhira of his own free will, but.. " she spaced out, "I am not going back there because he hasn't proven to me that he can protect me and our future pups," she said, her blue orbs fixed on mine.
"Yes, I agree," I said, thinking that he should not have subjected himself to fall victim to his mother's wiles. "Let him put measures in place to demonstrate that his mother and ex won't attempt to, or have the chance to, sever your bond."
"Sianna, I'm not going to be lenient with him. I won't ever leave this pack again. Whether he is here or not, I will remain right here." She vehemently affirmed.
"Are you planning to stay here permanently?" My brows furrowed deeply. She nodded, "What if Raj is unable to stay with you? He might not be allowed to resign from his position because he is a Gamma."
"Then that proves that I am not significant to him," she snapped. She was not furious with me and I understood; she was a whirlwind of emotional distress and I wasn't going to take offense.
Although I could see why she might hold that opinion, I felt that she could be acting a little irrationally. Raj could not be here and fulfill his Gamma duties to the White Clovers Pack, nor could he hold the same rank within this pack if he chose to stay. Gammas were chosen by their ruling Alpha personally, and they could only hold that position if they were close friends or blood relations.
Toya knocked and entered carrying two bowls of creamy vegan pasta salad, looking quite delish. Instantly, I felt famished. We dived in once she set the platter down on the bed.
"When she finds out that I had a miscarriage, I can see the happy look on her face. This would give her another justification for turning Raj against me." Rolling her eyes in disdain as she referred to Raj's mother, Hailey retorted "not anymore."
I tried to change the subject when I noticed how agitated she was getting. I added, "Talk to him first, you'll see that you are the world to him," as the last statement.
She concurred and twinkled her toes. "Aren't you glad that we're back together?" She grinned as I chuckled.
"Of course, you could babysit on date nights and assist me with my Luna responsibilities." I teased her with my eyes full of love. As we ate and talked about many other aspects of our lives, I noticed that she smiled more.
Next, Toya entered the room, picked up the empty plates, gave us each quick glances, and then added, "Raj is in the living room, honey. Since he arrived, he has been waiting for around twenty minutes. We were giving you more hangout time."
"Send him down, mum," Hailey replied with twitching lips and an uneasy throat clearing.
With that said and done, I stood up, knowing that it was my cue to give the couple privacy. I quickly kissed her on the forehead. "Don't be a hothead when I leave," I cautioned her.
"Okay, mother-hen. I will behave." She batted her eyes at me and put her lips together to send me a smooching kiss in the air. Toya and I left her and passed Raj on his way down. "Luna," he bowed in greeting and proceeded.
"Thank you so much for the meal," I remarked sweetly to Toya, but not completely entering the kitchen. "I have to head home
now."
As she put the dishes into the sink, she smiled. Then she spun around and escorted me to the door. "Do you believe they'll be alright?" The elderly woman asked, her face showing wrinkles of worry.
Honestly, I had my doubts, especially when Raj received the ultimatum from Hailey. However, I chose to console her by saying, " They need each other, and sadness sometimes brings couples closer."
Her hand gently touched the middle of my back as I left the living room and entered the porch. She said, "She still cries, but I am hoping that he will stay here with her and not rush back."
I hoped that saying "He will," would be comforting enough. I said goodbye to her and left for home. Drowsiness overtook me as I entered the foyer. Yep, it was definitely time to take a nap. I got in bed, laid on my back, and thought about Hailey and Raj. I wished for their reconciliation and happiness. Subsequently, my eyes closed and engulfed me in the blackness of sleep.
I dreamt about the eclipsing of the moon and a little boy calling out to me with outstretched hands. "Mommy," he calls, and I reach out to him but we fail to meet each other. Not being able to connect with the little boy breaks my heart.
"Uh," My eyes flapped open unwillingly. I gripped the sheets tightly, breathing in short bursts through my mouth as I felt the burning agony in my heart. A desperate shriek that caught in my throat begged to be heard as my lips trembled, and tears welled in my eyes. The sharp piercing pain goes through my body, ripping from my heart to my abdomen.
"Vance."