Page 35 of The Worst Mate Ever

I took a few breaths, inhaling through my nose and back out of my mouth. Once I had my stomach under control, I gave the area a final sniff to make sure that the trail was gone. Only then did I finally shift back and run back to the packhouse.

The children were shaken but safe as I opened the panic room and let them out. We spent the rest of the day inside with Deigo teaching them all how to play cards as a cartoon played on the TV behind them.

I sat and watched them, amused by Deigo’s attempts to read the cards as Paige had once done for him in the past. As I watched, I realized I needed to call her back and reached for my phone, only to find that I had a new message from her already.

Paige:Explain the sickness. Have you thrown up? How long has it been going on? Have you been to a doctor?

Me: I don’t know how to explain the sickness. I’m nauseous. I wish I would throw up because then maybe I’d finally feel better.

Paige:How long has it been going on?

Me: I told you earlier. A week. I’m okay, Paige. Calm down.

Paige: You should go see a doctor.

Me: You sound like my mother. It’s just a stomach bug.

Paige: It sounds like more than a bug, Madie.

I frowned as I looked at the message, my stomach churning again as nerves mixed with the nausea.

Me: What do you mean?

Paige:When was your last period?

I froze at the question, my mind running numbers and dates as three dots appeared on the screen telling me that Paige was typing.

When was my last period? So much has been happening recently between accepting Brady after so long of pushing him away and the vampire attack. I had completely lost track of my cycle.

Paige:I think you might be pregnant, Madie.

I nearly fell out of my seat as I rushed to go upstairs to the Luna office. Diana and Orion had just gotten back from Montana two nights ago and I expected the Luna would be in her office.

As I broke through her door, forgetting to knock first, I found both her and Alma sitting with coffee and chatting. The two older women looked up at me, startled by my sudden entrance, and a blush burned along my cheek as I tried to catch my breath.

“I’m sorry,” I gasped. “Um, I don’t know who else to talk to or ask.”

“Is everything okay?” Diana asked with concern. She stood and sat her cup down as Alma scooted her chair closer.

“Oh my,” the oldest of the two women said. “Diana, I think I know what’s going on.”

“What?” Diana asked as she looked between Alma and me.

I swallowed a hard lump in my throat, my hand resting over my stomach as it churned again. I felt the blood rush from my face in that moment and I dove for the trash can before finally emptying my stomach as I had thought I might in the forest before.

“Oh dear,” Diana gasped. “Alma, call the crones. Tell them that we are on our way.”

“Already on it,” Alma replied as she picked up the landline from Diana’s desk.

I stayed on the floor and hugged the trash can as tears rolled down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” I cried to Diana as she rubbed my back.

Diana smiled softly, her hand moving in a calming circle. “You have nothing to be sorry about, Madie. Don’t stress. Everything will be okay.”

I gasped, the burning in my throat was less pleasant than the feeling of nausea. “I thought throwing up would be better than feeling nauseated. I was wrong.”

Diana chuckled. “No, I don’t imagine it is. Don’t worry. The crones will help you with that.” She looked up at Alma. “Have they answered yet?”

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