Page 33 of What Haunts the Heart
I couldn’t be pregnant. I just couldn’t.
I stood and stared at my reflection in the mirror, noting the bloated bump of my belly. I placed my hands on it and tried to imagine my body growing bigger with every month. It sent a shockwave of icy fear through my veins.
“Stupid boy. Ain’t no Alpha a good Alpha. Didn’t I teach you better’n that?”My mother’s words taunted me. I could picture her scraggly-haired, drunken face as she tipped back the bottle of Jack. Her beady brown eyes stared into my soul, judging me.“Go and get yourself knocked up? How stupid can you be?”
The knock on the door jolted me back into reality. I gasped and spun around, my heart thumping away inside my chest.
“Eden?” Oakley’s voice was soft.
“What?” I barked.
“Are you okay? You’ve been in there awhile.”
I swallowed the bile rising my throat, then rinsed my mouth out to try and dislodge the rank taste of vomit. I took a deep breath and opened the door, forcing myself to look Oakley in the eye. The concern I saw there made me ache.
I needed to get out of here, pronto.
“I think you were right. I might be getting sick,” I fibbed. “I feel like shit. Do you mind if I take the car and go home?”
He touched my shoulder. “Of course not, baby. I’m sorry. I should’ve let you sleep.”
“No, it’s okay, I just… Yeah. I feel really gross. I think I just need to sleep it off. Sure you’ll be okay?”
“No problem. I’ll run home later. Drink some water and take a nap, okay? Hopefully you’ll feel better afterwards.” He tucked me to his chest and the familiar scent of his aftershave was almost overpowering. I gave him a quick hug and stumbled back, needing some fresh air.
“Yeah,” I said weakly. “See you tonight.”
“Love you, Eden,” he said, pressing the keychain into my hand. “Take care of yourself and drive safe.”
“Love you too. Bye.”
By the time I got in the car, the tears I’d been holding back so desperately rushed fre to streak hot paths down my cheeks. As I drove, a sob tore up my throat, panic closing in on me like wolves circling a lamb.
This can’t be happening to me…
