Page 32 of Fated Despite the Moon

"Oh, no. Colt loved it here. He went home because of his broken heart."

Makayla knew all about Colt's teenage indiscretion. The one that no one talked about. She figured it was because the girl he'd gotten pregnant had been a bitten, or worse, a rogue female. She'd never once thought it was because he'd actually cared for her.

"I didn't realize," she said.

Mary gave her a sideways glance. "There are many things in this world that aren't what they appear to be. You have to look below the surface to see the truth."

What did that mean?

They pulled off the highway and drove into town. The rural town gave off the small town feeling but was sprinkled with newer businesses as well. Much larger than Wolf River but nowhere near as large as Los Angeles.

Mary pulled the truck into a parking spot outside a building called the Uma Center. Makayla stared at it for a minute.

"What's this?"

"Our first stop. It's a health center. We're going to get you checked out."

"Excuse me?"

Mary gave Makayla a hard look. "Jeremiah said you haven't seen a doctor yet and you're what? Twenty weeks?"

Makayla plucked at her blouse. "About."

"Well, it's time we got you looked at. I didn't want to take you to Doc in town because everyone would see you go in there, and news would fly faster than a jackrabbit. But you need to see a doctor. We need to make sure both you and the baby are healthy."

"I'm fine."

"Maybeyouare, but what about your young? Do you care how the baby is doing?"

Makayla frowned and put her arms around her stomach protectively. "Yes." She hadn’t realized until that moment just how much she did care about her baby.

"Well, then get your ass out of my truck and let's go." Mary hopped from the cab.

Makayla stared after her, unable to move. If she went to a doctor, it meant that everything she’d been avoiding was real. She’d have to face the truth of where she was and what was happening to her. There would no longer just be a little alien taking over her body, it would be a baby. A real baby. Her baby.

“I can always call your mom to come take you,” Mary called.

Oh, hell no!Makayla blew out a breath and got out of the truck. As she looked up at the brick and glass building she had to admit, itwouldbe nice to hear from an expert, to know for sure the baby was okay. She stroked her belly.My baby.If something was wrong because she’d waited so long she’d never forgive herself.

Makayla laywith her butt hanging out the back of a hospital gown, knees in the air, ankles in stirrups, trying to focus on anything but where she was. She grabbed her phone for the third time and reread all the text messages. Her friends messaged her for the millionth time about where she was, was she okay, was she ever coming back? But it was the text from Derek that really got to her. Derek, no longer referred to as the baby daddy, because she’d changed his contact name on her phone to ‘the sperm donor’. She'd read his message over fifteen times since she'd been waiting for the doctor, and now, while being probed and prodded, she finally had both the nerve and irritation to respond.

He wanted to know where and how she was.

It’s been almost five months and now you care??? Why?

The reply came back almost instantly.Because you're pregnant with my baby.

Really? Because I think I remember you saying, quote, “don't they have those morning after pills?”

She slammed her phone on the table. The nurse glared at her.

"I'm almost done," said the doctor. "Everything looks just fine."

Her phone buzzed. She willed herself not to pick it up, but she couldn't help it.

I was in shock. I didn't know what to say. But I've been worried sick about you, especially after hearing you'd been shipped off to Idaho to marry some wild mountain wolf.

She smiled. Wild mountain wolf. Yeah, that sounded about right.

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