I couldn't help but smirk. "She likes to start stuff because it gets her husband mad. I think it's a form of foreplay for them."
Wendy snorted. "Well, it wasn't that night. No one touches my husband, and certainly not when I'm sitting right next to him." I could see a spark form in her eyes, knowing full well she wasn't someone I wanted to piss off.
She tapped her fingers on the table, and I was suddenly interested to know what she'd done. Tabitha could do with being brought down a notch or two. She thought she was everything because Zavior, our alpha, picked her. Yet, they had no children and had been married for several years now.
The waiter came back, taking our order, and she patted Wendy on the shoulder. "Wendy, thank you so much for those flowers."
Wendy gave the girl a sweet smile before she turned and walked away. I looked at her, and Wendy's smile slipped into a sad one. "Her mother died a few weeks ago. I sent her flowers."
"You must eat here a lot to know that," I said, stirring my water with my straw.
She shook her head. "No, Ayden and I know everyone's names here. Well, Ayden knows all the names. I'm still learning. I'm trying my best to know everyone a little. Make them feel like I'm worthy of Ayden."
I was shocked. I know for a fact that Zavior had called me by the wrong name once or twice, but that also could have been on purpose to embarrass me. And here she was, the wife of anAlpha, hoping she was good enough. This pack certainly worked differently.
I looked at the menu, once more feeling out of place. This wasn't normal, was it? All this…happiness?
"How did…" I looked at Poppy, taking in the sweet child. "Did you know you wanted to have children?"
Wendy made a face, shrugging slightly. "Not entirely. Poppy was…she was meant to be mine." Wendy stroked her daughter's hair. "I didn't know it, but she a gift."
My stomach twisted up slightly.
"Is she your only?"
Wendy shook her head. "No, we have a son, Zayde, who's about a year old. And I'm actually pregnant again." She smirked. Apparently, Ayden wasn't joking when he said he wanted an army of children."
As sarcastic as she sounded, I could see the spark of happiness in her eyes. Her eyes drifted to me. "And you?"
It wasn't like we could ignore where I had been standing or what I had brought. She was at least nice enough not to ask me outright.
"I'm not a hundred percent sure, but… I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant."
"You don't look…happy about it," Wendy said, her smile slipping.
That's because I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel. This wasn't the plan. I couldn't figure out my life without bringing a child into this mess. How was I to protect a baby if I could hardly protect myself?
"I just…this wasn't the plan."
Wendy smirked. "They never are."
I knew that. I knew children sometimes happened, but this was terrible timing. If Lucas and I couldn't pull this off, I was fucked out of a house. And I couldn't go back to the pack. I couldn't stomach the idea of seeing everyone and them knowing I had lied about everything.
And would Lucas let me? If I was pregnant with his child, he would likely want to be in its life…or have it altogether. Would he think I'm an unfit mother?
A shiver ran down my spine.
"My life is a mess," I admit, unsure of why I did it. Maybe it was because I had no one else to tell. Maybe because I never had a friend, and I wanted one. And Wendy seemed like someone I could trust. "This was supposed to be fake," I said, looking down at my ring, the diamond ring he had given me. "But it seems as time moves on, it feels less fake."
"How so?" Wendy asked.
I thought of everything. The dinners and the coffee. He slept at my house now, never making me feel like a burden. He texted me throughout the day, letting me know where he was and if I needed anything. He was there, even when I didn't want him to be.
"I don't feel that it's fake," I offer. "Fake marriages they…" I couldn't speak from experience, but I figured.
"For starters, they don't actually have sex," I said, and then quickly snapped my eyes to Poppy, who was humming as she colored. I frowned, "Sorry."
Wendy chuckled, waving your hand. "Don't worry. She's heard it all."