Chapter 149

Aria

“You’re...pregnant?”

Bella sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Yeah. About eight weeks, I think.”

My mind raced. I couldn’t figure out if this was good news or not. We were both still young, and Bella had never shown an interest in being a mother before.

“Is this... wanted?” I asked softly. “I mean, are you okay with this?”

Bella’s expression shifted, her eyes softening as she placed a hand protectively over her still-flat stomach. “It’s Liam’s baby,” she said, as if that explained everything. And in a way, it did. “Of course I want it.”

Relief flooded through me.

“I just haven’t told him yet,” she admitted, looking down at the ground. “With everything going on right now, I didn’t want to add to his stress. He’s been running himself ragged helping Darren with the refugees and the security patrols.”

“You need to tell him,” I urged. “He deserves to know that he’s going to be a father. And you shouldn’t have to go through this alone.”

Bella’s face crumpled slightly. “I know, I know. It’s just... I’m scared, Aria.”

“Scared of what? Liam adores you.”

“Not of telling him, exactly. More about... everything else.” She gestured vaguely at her stomach. “The baby is half-werewolf. What if the pregnancy is different? What if it’s dangerous? What if... what if I give birth to a puppy instead of a baby?” She shuddered visibly at that last part.

I couldn’t help it—I let out a small laugh, which earned me a well-deserved glare from Bella.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “It’s just... I don't think that’s how it works, Bella.”

“How do you know?” she challenged. “Do you know anything about human/werewolf pregnancies? What if the pregnancy progresses differently? What if it hurts me? What if—”

“Okay, first of all, you need to breathe,” I interrupted her spiral of what-ifs. I bit my lip. “But truthfully… I don’t know much about it. I might not be the right person to ask.”

“But I’m not ready for Liam to know yet,” Bella sighed. “Not until I understand what I’m dealing with.”

I thought for a moment, then reached for her hand. “I know exactly who to talk to.”

Bella glanced at me warily, but followed me to the pack house. We found Wendy sitting in the den inside, running an ivory comb through her long, silver hair—still damp from a bath, it seemed—as Lucas played on the floor in front of her.

“Wendy, we need your help,” I said by way of greeting, glancing at Bella and then at Lucas. “And your discretion.”

As if reading our minds, Wendy expertly sent Lucas off to play outside. Once we were alone, she turned to us, patting the couch beside her. “Now, what’s all this about?” she asked.

Bella and I exchanged glances, and I nodded encouragingly. Bella took a deep breath and sat beside Wendy.

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out. “With Liam’s baby.”

Wendy’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful!” she said. But then, noting Bella’s anxious expression, she tilted her head. “But you don’t seem entirely happy. Do you need the herbs to terminate the pregnancy? I can get some for you discreetly—”

“No, I am happy,” Bella cut her off, shaking her head. “I’m just... worried. The baby is half-werewolf, and I’m human. I don’t know what to expect.” She looked down at her hands. “Will I give birth to a puppy?”

Wendy stared at her for a moment, blinking. Then, suddenly and raucously, she threw her head back, silver hair flying, and guffawed loudly. Bella’s face flushed red and she glared up at me. I had to hide my smirk behind my hand.

“Oh, my dear girl,” Wendy finally said, wiping at her eyes. “No, you won’t be giving birth to a puppy. Half-werewolves are born as human babies. After birth, depending on the baby’s genetics, it may shift into its pup form until the age of five. That’s what happened with Lucas.”

Relief washed over Bella’s face, but she also looked extremely confused. “So… I’ll have to take care of a puppy for five years?”

“Potentially, yes,” Wendy said. “Typically, werewolf babies are born in whatever form the mother is in during labor. Many werewolf women choose to give birth in wolf form because it’s easier, and it saves the pup the effort of shifting from human to pup. However, half-werewolves might not receive a pup form at all. You won’t know until it happens.”

“Why do they shift to their pup forms?” Bella asked, rubbing her temples as if this whole thing was racking her brain. Frankly, it was racking mine, too. I took a seat, listening intently.

Wendy waved her hand. “It’s just an evolutionary advantage. Wolf pups require less attention and coddling than human babies, after all.”

Bella frowned, not looking entirely convinced. “Sounds fun, but I’d rather be able to hold my baby and see them progress through all the stages.”

Wendy simply shrugged. “It’s part and parcel to falling for a werewolf, girl.”

Bella flushed. “I guess you’re right,” she sighed. “But I’ve been so sick, too. Much sicker than any pregnant human woman I’ve seen. Is that normal?”

Wendy nodded knowingly. “Yes. Human women carrying werewolf babies often experience more intense morning sickness. The werewolf genes are strong, and they can be quite demanding on a human body.”

Suddenly, Wendy stood, crossing to the kitchen door. “Actually, I may have something that will help with that.”

Bella and I followed her to the kitchen, watching as she rifled through the cupboards. After putting on a kettle to boil, she pulled out a few jars of various loose herbs, then tossed a pinch of each into a mortar and pestle and ground them all together.

“What else does Bella need to know?” I asked.

Wendy hummed as she worked. “Let’s see… You’ll need to eat more protein than usual—werewolf babies need it for proper development. Oh, and if you intend to keep the baby, you’ll have to visit the clinic here. They’ll give you all the vitamins you need.”

Once the kettle began to whistle, Wendy took it off the stove and added the ground powder into a small tea strainer. She mixed the tea in a dainty kettle, then poured it into a cup for Bella. The resulting liquid was deep green and slightly murky in appearance. Bella wrinkled her nose.

“No offense, but this smells like shit.”

Wendy laughed. “Yes, it does. But it will settle your stomach and help with the nausea.”

Bella sniffed the tea cautiously, grimacing, then took a small sip. Her eyes widened in surprise. “It actually tastes good.”

As Bella continued to sip her tea, Wendy continued to explain various things about what to expect. Bella’s tension slowly eased, color returning to her face thanks to the tea and a large stack of buttery toast that Wendy made for her.

By the time we were finished, Bella seemed a lot more like her old self.

“Thank you, Wendy,” she said, setting aside her cup and plate. “I feel so much better now.”

“Does Liam know yet?” Wendy asked gently.

Bella shook her head. “Not yet. But I think I’m going to tell him.”

“Good.” Wendy nodded approvingly. “He’ll be over the moon. He’s always been good with the pack pups. And he’s a good man, you know. He’ll take good care of you. You’ll never have to worry.”

My friend blushed. “Trust me, I know.”

With that, Bella stood. “Actually, I should go find him now. I don’t want to put this off any longer.” She hugged Wendy tightly, then me. “Thank you so much.”

After Bella departed, I turned back to Wendy. She glanced at me with a knowing smile.

“You know, your face lit up when we were talking about babies,” she observed casually. “Have you and Darren discussed starting a family of your own?”

I felt heat rise to my cheeks. “Not really. I mean, we have Lucas, and with everything going on…”

“Of course, of course. Just curious.”

My throat bobbed. “I never really saw myself as mother material, to be honest. Lucas is... different. He came into my life already half-grown.” I paused, biting the inside of my cheek. “The idea of having a baby of my own is... I don’t know. It both excites me and terrifies me at the same time.”

“To be expected,” Wendy chuckled. “When I first found out I was pregnant with Darren’s father, I got so mad at the man who got me pregnant. I said, ‘This is all your fault, you know!’ And then I promptly kicked his ass.”

I smiled, picturing Wendy doing something exactly like that. “I just... I’m not sure if pregnancy is something I truly want for myself,” I admitted. “Does that make me a bad Luna? Will it disappoint the pack? Or Darren?” I twisted my engagement ring nervously. “Now that we’re engaged, I know there are expectations…”

Wendy suddenly reached across the table and placed her hand over mine, stilling my fidgeting. “Aria, Darren loves you exactly as you are. The pack respects you for your heart and your strength, not your ability to produce heirs.”

I swallowed hard against the lump forming in my throat. “But—”

“No buts,” she interrupted firmly. “You and Darren already have a beautiful little family with Lucas. If that’s enough for you, then it’s enough, period.” Her expression softened. “Besides, you’re young. You have plenty of time to decide what you want. Don’t let anyone—not the pack, not tradition, not even your own expectations of what women are meant for—pressure you into something your heart isn’t ready for.”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “Thank you, Wendy. I needed to hear that.”

She just smirked and leaned back in her chair. “It’s what I’m here for.”

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the late afternoon sun streaming through the windows. But the quiet was quickly broken by the sound of the door opening, followed by footsteps. Alfira appeared in the kitchen doorway, looking tired but excited.

“The documentary is complete,” she said, holding up her laptop.