Free Web NovelChapter 131: Chapter 131
Lavender. My favorite scent. The one I always asked for specifically.
I stumbled to the windows and threw them open, gulping cold December air like my life depended on it. My stomach slowly stopped threatening mutiny, but now I was freezing and confused and increasingly worried that something was actually wrong.
"Sophie?" Diana’s voice came from the doorway. "Why are all the windows—" She stopped, taking in the scene. Me, hanging halfway out the window. The candles are still burning. The tea tray in her hands. "Oh."
"Don’t say it." I turned to face her. "It’s just stress making me sensitive to smells."
"When was your last cycle?"
I froze. My mind went completely blank, searching for the answer and coming up empty. "I... I don’t..."
Diana set down the tea tray and crossed her arms. Her healer face was on—the one that said she already knew the answer and was waiting for me to catch up. "You can’t remember, can you?"
"I’ve been busy." But even as I said it, I was counting backwards in my head, trying to remember. When had I...? "It’s the stress. And I’ve been using a lot of Luna energy lately with the sanctuary connection. That’s probably affecting things."
"Luna energy depletion doesn’t cause nausea and food aversions." Diana moved closer, her voice softening. "I’ve seen that before. This is different."
"It’s nothing. I’m fine."
"You need an examination. Today. No arguments."
I wanted to argue anyway, but the look on Diana’s face said she’d drag me to the medical office if necessary. "Fine. But only to prove you’re wrong and stop Christian from worrying himself into an early grave."
"Of course." Diana’s smile was way too knowing. "Come on."
The walk to the pack medical office felt surreal. My mind was racing through possibilities, each one worse than the last. What if the silver from Alexander’s claws had done permanent damage? What if using Luna energy as a human was hurting me somehow? What if being mated to an Alpha was too much for my body to handle?
Diana was setting up supplies when Christian burst through the door.
"Diana called me," he said, moving straight to my side. "What’s going on? What did you find?"
"I haven’t examined her yet." Diana arranged her equipment with practiced efficiency. "Sit down, both of you. You’re making me nervous."
I sat on the examination table, and Christian immediately took my hand. His palm was slightly sweaty—Christian never got sweaty hands. He was scared. freeweɓnovel.cøm
"It’s going to be fine," I told him, squeezing his fingers. "Diana’s being overly cautious."
"Diana’s doing her job." He raised my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. "And I’m grateful for it."
Diana started pacing, which was never a good sign. "Sophie, tell me everything. The nausea, the exhaustion, the food aversions. When did it start?"
"This morning, mostly. But I’ve been tired for a few days."
"And the smell sensitivity?"
"Just today with the lavender."
Christian’s grip on my hand tightened. "Could it be the silver? From the challenge?" His voice cracked slightly. "Did I hurt her?"
"You didn’t hurt me." I turned to look at him properly. "Christian, none of this is your fault."
But he wasn’t listening. He was listing every injury I’d sustained since arriving at Shadow Ridge, his voice getting tighter with each one. The silver claws during his challenge. The Luna energy I’d used at the sanctuary. Every little thing that had gone wrong, he was cataloging and blaming himself for.
"Christian." I cupped his face with my free hand. "Breathe. You’re spiraling."
"I should’ve protected you better."
"You’re literally the reason I’m still alive." I made him look at me. "Stop it."
Diana cleared her throat. "If you two are done being dramatic, I’d like to run some tests."
The blood pressure cuff felt tight around my arm. Diana took my temperature, checked my heart rate, and asked a million questions about my symptoms. Everything came back normal, which should’ve been reassuring but somehow made me more nervous.
"I need to draw blood," Diana said, preparing several vials. "We’ll test for anemia, thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies, lingering silver poisoning—"
"Silver poisoning?" Christian’s voice went sharp.
"It’s standard procedure." Diana’s tone was calm and professional. "We’re checking everything."
I watched her draw blood, feeling Christian’s thumb rubbing circles on my hand. It was such a simple gesture, but it kept me grounded. Kept me from spiraling into worst-case scenarios.
"I’ll have the results in about an hour." Diana labeled the vials carefully. "Wait here. Try not to catastrophize."
She left, and the silence in the examination room felt heavy enough to crush me. I leaned against Christian’s chest, and his arms wrapped around me immediately.
"What if something’s really wrong?" I whispered.
"Then we’ll handle it." His voice was steady, but I could hear his heart racing under my ear. "Together."
"What if being your mate is too much for my body? What if the Luna energy is incompatible with—" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Stop." Christian pulled back to look at me, his eyes fierce. "Being my mate is not hurting you. You’re the strongest person I know, Sophie. Human or werewolf, it doesn’t matter."
"But what if—"
"No what-ifs." He cupped my face, his thumbs brushing my cheekbones. "We wait for Diana’s results, and then we deal with whatever comes. But I need you to know something." He pressed his forehead to mine. "You are not weak. You are not broken. And being with you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me."
My eyes burned with tears. I refused to let fall. "I’m scared."
"I know. Me too."
We sat there for what felt like hours, holding each other in the quiet medical office. Christian kept pressing kisses to my temple, whispering reassurances that I tried desperately to believe. My mind kept spinning through possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last.
When Diana finally came back, I almost couldn’t breathe. She was carrying a tablet and wearing an expression I couldn’t quite read—serious but with something softer underneath.
"I have your results," she said, closing the door behind her and sitting down across from us.
Christian’s hand was crushing mine now. I felt light-headed, bracing for the worst news possible.
"I’ve identified what’s causing your symptoms." Diana looked between us, her professional healer mask firmly in place.
"Just tell us," Christian said, his voice rough. "Please."
Diana’s serious expression cracked into a warm smile that completely transformed her face. She looked directly at me, then at Christian, clearly savoring the moment before she spoke.
"Sophie," she said, her smile growing wider, "you’re pregnant."
The world stopped.
