Chapter 38 THIRTY-EIGHT
Janice parked the car in the garage of the apartment building and turned off the engine. She glanced at Brienne, who was staring out the window, lost in her thoughts.
"Bree, I’ve already told Sherry that you’ll be staying with us for a while," Janice said softly, breaking the silence. Brienne turned toward her, a small, grateful smile appearing on her face.
"Thank you so much, Nice. I’m really sorry for burdening you like this," she said, her voice laced with sincerity and guilt. It's only Janice that she could count on in times like this. Janice reached over and placed her hand gently on Brienne’s.
"Hey, don’t apologize. That’s what friends are for, right?" she said with a warm smile.
Brienne let out a small laugh, and Janice joined in, the shared moment lightening the heavy atmosphere.
"It’s nice to see you smile, Bree," Janice said, her tone genuine. "I hope whatever happened between you and Raven gets resolved soon. You both deserve to be happy," she added, leaving Brienne wordless.
They stepped inside the apartment, and Brienne noticed a brunette woman emerging from one of the rooms, wearing large headphones around her neck.
"Hey, Nice!" the woman greeted cheerfully, a bright smile lighting up her face.
"Hey, Sher! This is Brienne," Janice said, gesturing toward her friend. "You’ve met her before, right?" she added. Sherry nodded, her expression lighting with recognition.
"Yeah, at that party a while back. Nice to see you again, Brienne," she said warmly. Brienne returned the smile and gave a small nod.
"Nice to see you too, Sherry. And thank you so much for letting me stay here," she said sincerely. Sherry waved it off with a casual grin.
"It’s no big deal, really. Glad to help. Anyway, I’ve got to head out now—I’ve got a shift at my part-time job," she explained, grabbing her bag and a plastic container from the table.
"See you later, Sher! Take care," Janice and Brienne said in unison, waving as Sherry headed out the door.
"Bye, girls!" Sherry called over her shoulder before disappearing down the hallway.
Brienne watched her go, feeling a small sense of relief at the friendly atmosphere. She turned to Janice, who gave her a reassuring smile.
"Come on, Bree, let me show you my room. You'll be sleeping with me," Janice said, leading her further into the apartment.
Janice pushed the door open to reveal her room. The walls were painted a soft pink, and the bed was neatly made with matching pink sheets and pillows.
"You can put your clothes in here," Janice said as she walked over to the closet and opened it. Half of it was empty, leaving plenty of space for Brienne’s things. "And don’t worry, we can share the bed," she added with a reassuring smile.
Brienne dragged her suitcase to the side of the room and set it down. She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Nice, I’m really sorry for imposing like this," she said. Janice waved her hand dismissively and smiled warmly.
"Oh, come on, Bree, it’s really no trouble," she said. "And don’t stress too much—I don’t want my future godchild feeling all that worry," she teased lightly, glancing at Brienne’s stomach.
Brienne placed a hand over her belly, her smile faltering slightly. She didn’t know what to feel. Questions flooded her mind—was her baby going to be like Raven? A werewolf? How would she handle this?
"Bree? Earth to Bree?" Janice’s voice broke through her thoughts, snapping her back to the present.
"Huh? Were you saying something, Nice?" Brienne asked, blinking as she focused on her friend.
"I said, let’s go grab something to eat," Janice repeated, grinning. "There’s a small restaurant next to the apartment, and they serve really good food," she added. Brienne managed a small, grateful smile.
"That sounds nice," she replied. Together, they left the room, with Janice chatting cheerfully, doing her best to lift Brienne’s spirits.
Brienne found herself once again standing alone in the middle of the forest. The trees loomed around her, casting shadows that made her feel trapped. She looked frantically for a way out and began running, her heart pounding in her chest.
After several minutes, she stopped, her breath ragged. A strange unease washed over her as she instinctively touched her belly—and froze. It had grown unnaturally large for a three-month pregnancy. Suddenly, warm liquid trickled down her legs. She looked down and gasped, her hand trembling as she touched the blood staining her dress.
"N-No! This can’t be happening!" she cried out, her voice breaking. An excruciating pain shot through her belly, forcing her to collapse onto the ground. Brienne whimpered as another wave of agony hit her, leaving her helpless. She screamed, the pain unbearable, as her body pushed on its own.
"Aaaaahhhh!" she cried, her voice echoing in the stillness of the forest. When the cries of a baby broke through the silence, she gathered her remaining strength and reached for it.
But when she finally held the baby, her heart stopped. It wasn’t human. The tiny creature was covered in thick fur, its face and features unmistakably wolf-like. Brienne stared in horror, her body trembling as she clutched the strange being in her arms.
From the darkness of the trees, a massive wolf emerged, its blue eyes glowing as it stepped closer.
"R-Raven... No... N-No!"
Brienne jolted awake, gasping for breath as beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. Her heart raced, and her hands instinctively flew to her belly. Relief washed over her as she realized it had all been just a terrible nightmare.
She let out a shaky sob, rubbing her belly as if to reassure herself and her baby. Her gaze shifted to her side, where Janice lay peacefully sleeping. Her eyes caught the faint glow of her phone on the bedside table. Picking it up, she saw a string of messages from Raven.
With a deep breath, she turned off her phone and set it aside. Brienne lay back down, staring at the ceiling as tears silently streamed down her face.
Just outside the apartment across the street, Raven's car was parked. He was looking at Janice's apartment, where Brienne was currently staying. His phone suddenly rings, and when he looked at it, it was his beta.
"Hello," he said.
"Where are you, man?" he asked on the other line. Raven heaved a sigh and massaged his temple.
"I followed Brienne and Janice; I'm in front of their apartment across the street," he answered.
"Man...she didn't talk to you?" Carter asked making Raven gripped the steering wheel as tight as he could.
"She didn't. She hates me, man," Raven muttered. "Dad will fill in for me. I won't come home for the meantime," he added and hung up. All his life, he was a proud werewolf. He had embraced his nature, his instincts, and the bond he shared with his pack. Being a werewolf wasn’t just who he was—it defined his purpose and identity.
But now, everything felt uncertain. The strength he once took pride in felt like a burden, and the truth he had hidden for so long had driven away the one person he cared for most. For the first time, he questioned if the life he had always known was worth the pain it had caused. What if he was a human? Would that change everything?
He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair as he stared into the distance. He had never thought he’d be in a position where being himself would cost him love. But no matter the pain, he knew he couldn’t give up. If there was even the smallest chance to make things right, he’d fight for it—because that’s what werewolves did. They fought for their pack, for their family, and for the ones they loved.