Page 35 of The Alpha's Forced Pregnant Mate

I did as Laura suggested, letting the hot water soothe me as much as it could. I felt a little better after my shower, but the nausea had returned full force and I was sweating again. My whole body ached, and I was ready to climb back into bed and sleep until this was over.

I got dressed and pulled my damp hair into a braid, then headed into the living room to talk to Laura. She looked up at me from the couch and frowned, setting down her book.

“You look worse,” she said, shaking her head.

“I feel worse,” I admitted, sitting down beside her on the couch. “I’m just going to get some more rest, and I’ll be fine.”

“Actually, I think we should go into town. I have a suspicion about what’s going on.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, frowning at her.

My friend looked troubled, but she put on a happy face for me. “We’ll talk about it when we get there. Grab a soda out of the fridge for the ride, it might settle your stomach.”

I let Laura drive, sipping my cold drink and staring out the window at the scenery, trying to ignore how much the dirt roads were making the car jolt. When we made it into town, Laura pulled immediately into a drug store parking lot and marched us to the family planning aisle, where she shoved a box of pregnancy tests into my hands.

I looked down at the box, and then back up at her, a cold flush of nerves coming over me. “No way. It was only a few nights ago and—"

“And we’re werewolves,” she pointed out. “We test positive almost immediately, remember? Something about stronger hormones and all.” She took the box out of my hands, ripped it open, and handed me a test. “Here. Go to the bathroom and pee on this while I go pay for them.”

“Fine,” I grumbled, taking the test and walking to the back of the store.

I peed on the stick as she instructed, and then set it on the counter in front of the mirror and washed my hands. I turned to stare at it, my stomach twisting in a knot. What if it was positive? I couldn’t have a baby. I didn’t want one, and especially not now, with the world literally going to hell in a handbasket.

Letting Julian bite me was a necessary evil, but having his baby was out of the question.

The test still had time to develop, but I could already see the little pink plus sign forming. I closed my eyes and leaned forward, resting my hands on either side of the sink and letting out a slow breath.

Laura knocked on the door, and I snapped out of my mini panic attack. “What?”

“You okay?” she called, her voice muffled by the wood.

“Yeah, it’s just…it’s positive.”

There was a moment of silence, and then she cleared her throat. “Okay, well. That’s what we expected, right? Don’t worry Whit, it’ll be okay. You know you’re not alone here.”

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah, I know. Thank you.” I picked up the test and tucked it into my pocket before leaving the bathroom.

Laura was waiting for me at the front counter, looking worried. She smiled at me, but I could see the concern in her eyes. “It’s going to be okay,” she promised, stepping forward and giving me a quick hug.

I forced myself to not cry. “Of course it will. Let’s get out of here.”

I followed her outside, letting out a slow breath. This changed everything, but I wasn’t going to let it ruin my life. I’d figure this out, just like I figured everything else out.

“We’ll go to the next town over and see a doctor there,” Laura said, getting into the car and buckling up.

I got in the passenger seat, strapping in. “What? Why? The pack healer is just fine.”

“Because you need to know how far along you are, and a doctor can tell us that. Plus, I bet they’ll have something to help with your morning sickness.”

I sighed softly. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. Let’s just get back to the cabins so I can…I don’t know. Wallow in my self-pity.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. A quick trip to the urgent care clinic, we’ll get you some nausea meds, and then head back to the cabins. It will give you some time to figure out how to tell Julian—"

“No!” I snapped, whipping to face her. “We are NOT telling Julian.”

Laura frowned at me. “Whitney…if you don’t want to tell him, I get it. He’s horrible. But if you want to keep this a secret we need to get back to Silverfang Creek territory as soon as possible."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I know, but I just…can't deal with that right now, okay? Please, Laura?"

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