“Maybe he has the same stomach bug as Annie,” Ella muses.
“You’re still not feeling well?” I ask in worry.
Annie rubs over her head. “I don’t know,” she mutters. “Sometimes it’s okay, but then I just eat or smell something, and then I feel…” her voice trails off.
“What?” Ella presses.
She stares at us. “Goddess… I… no… what? I thought…” She hits her forehead with her palm. “I’m so stupid. It’s unbelievable.”
I’m surprised by her reaction until it slowly sinks in. “No way! But wouldn’t Liam have noticed the change in your scent?”
Annie shakes her head. “It’s a weird lycan thing… but before you enter the stable period of the pregnancy, your body won’t change its scent. It’s to protect the future mother from possible attacks.” She pauses to rub her face. “I’m only off birth control for a few weeks. I, I need to make sure,” she blurts out.
“I’m sure someone has a pregnancy test here, somewhere,” I muse.
“No, no way I’m going to ask someone here. Elden and Flora will find out for sure. And I want to tell Liam first, in case it is true.” Her eyes light up in sudden joy. “Goddess, I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Maybe one of us can get a test?” Ella muses, before she frowns. “But no, that would raise suspicions about Dante and me, and he might hear about it. I really don’t want to raise his hopes already.”
“Same here. I don’t need the rumors,” I mutter. I consider the situation for a moment before I nod. “I have an idea.”
“Spit it out?” Ella smirks.
“When the girls disappeared, I asked Garret and some of our warriors to come for support. The others already left to protect our pack, but Garret is still around.” I smirk. “He’s trustworthy.”
“Good idea, Celine,” Ella giggles.
I suddenly feel like a teen again, a bit secretive and giddy. I link Garret instantly to meet me in front of Silverlake’s pack house. Then I hurry downstairs, careful not to meet anyone. Garret is already waiting for me, eyeing me nervously. “Is everything alright, Alpha?”
“This is a top-secret mission,” I tell him.
“We are not going to a bar, are we?” he asks warily. “I think Elias is still mad at me for last time.”
“No, don’t worry. I need you to drive to town and buy me something from a drugstore. I would do it myself, but it’s more discreet if you do it.”
He blinks at me, both curious and appalled. “What am I supposed to buy?”
“A pregnancy test.” When he stares at me, eyes wide, I chuckle. “Not for me, idiot. Once you have it and are back, link me. Don’t tell anyone else. That’s an order.”
He nods, looking at me curiously. He must be wondering who I’m doing this for. But I don’t tell him. This is Annie’s secret to tell.
An hour later, Annie, Ella, and I celebrate with orange juice and cookies. It seems like all the tension has left her. She was probably so worried about being sick all the time. Now she knows why. She is making plans about how to tell Liam... she wants to make it a romantic candlelight dinner and surprise him in a cute way.
Eventually, we all go to bed. The events of the day and my thoughts about Marius keep me awake though, so I grab one of the books I borrowed from Elden.
I lazily start skimming through it, too tired to read anything for real. I almost put it away again when my eyes catch a footnote. I read it.
I read it again.
And then again.
I’m suddenly fully awake. When I look at the cover, I notice it’s the book Flora gave me containing an old collection of myths and legends. I open the page and study it again, my eyes growing wide.
Hybrids Type 1: Werewolves x Witches. Genes carry on to the second and third generations. Werewolf genes dominate in terms of looks. Often rare colors for wolves, such as pure white. Enhanced senses. Enhanced wolf gifts. Eye color of wolves not black but silver.
I close the book again. That’s basically me in a nutshell. But I’m not a hybrid. Mom was not a witch. I’m sure she wasn’t. But it said witch blood runs in the third generation too… so… was one of my grandparents…
I feel completely taken aback by the sudden realization. Was one of mom’s parents a witch? Did no one know, or did no one tell me?