Not Yet

~ Elsa ~

I still could not fully comprehend how everything had happened so quickly. It felt impossible.

Pregnant?

Even thinking about it terrified me. I did not know why the fear of telling Dad weighed so heavily on my chest. Maybe I was afraid of disappointing him. Maybe I feared he would look at me differently afterward. Or worse, disown me entirely.

And with the strained relationship between the Vance Pack and the powerful Draegors, confessing the truth became even more frightening.

Convincing Cooper to remain silent had not been easy either.

At first, he insisted I tell someone for the sake of my peace of mind. He believed carrying such a burden alone would only worsen my condition. But I remained adamant. No one could know. Not yet.

Eventually, after seeing the desperation in my eyes, Cooper reluctantly agreed.

Still, I could tell the situation deeply disturbed him.

He had also asked who was responsible for the unborn pup.

That question frightened me because I knew I could not lie directly. So I admitted I knew who the father was, but I never revealed Jacob belonged to the Draegor Pack. If I ever allowed that truth to escape, the complications afterward would become impossible to control.

Meanwhile, Jacob never returned. And days passed... then weeks. And still, there was no sign of him.

Sometimes I wondered if he had simply forgotten everything that happened between us. Forgotten his promises. Forgotten the intimacy we shared as though it meant nothing at all.

How could he possibly forget something so dangerous?

Did he not understand we had crossed a line that should never have been crossed so carelessly?

The questions never stopped tormenting me.

Every day became another battle to hide what was happening inside me. I struggled constantly beneath the weight of fear and uncertainty. Seth noticed my distant behavior. My cousins noticed too. Even I questioned myself endlessly.

I was becoming impatient because I truly had no idea how to reach Jacob Draegor.

Eventually, Seth grew tired of watching my absent-mindedness and summoned Cooper himself to examine me.

The moment Cooper entered the room, his eyes narrowed toward me immediately as if silently asking:

Have you told them yet?

I subtly shook my head in return. The secret still remained between us.

To ease Seth’s worries, Cooper prescribed several medications and claimed I was simply exhausted from work stress. But every time he visited afterward, I noticed the growing weariness on his face.

One evening, he returned with another set of medicine while the house remained empty except for the two of us.

“I’ve been wondering why you continue hiding this truth, Elsa,” Cooper said carefully while placing the drugs down. “We can tell Seth and begin preparing for the next step.”

“I know, Cooper. I’m just not ready yet,” I answered quietly.

His lips curved slightly, though the expression lacked humor.

“You’re making me suspect something I truly don’t want to suspect,” he admitted while rubbing his jaw thoughtfully.

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

Cooper hesitated briefly. “I don’t know,” he muttered. “Maybe… you don’t want the child.”

For a moment, I genuinely failed to understand him.

“What?”

His eyes met mine carefully. “It feels like you want the baby gone - ”

“Enough!”

The anger in my own voice shocked even me.

“How could you think something so awful, Cooper?” I snapped. “This is my child. My blood. I could never kill my own baby. Never. I would do anything to protect this child, alright?”

Cooper immediately realized he had crossed a line.

He began apologizing almost instantly, nodding repeatedly.

Only afterward did I realize I had raised my voice far too harshly at him.

The tension lingering in the room afterward felt uncomfortable for both of us. Not long later, Cooper quietly left.

Months gradually passed after that. Thankfully, I learned how to hide the pregnancy beneath larger clothing.

Surprisingly, my stomach was not as obvious as I initially feared, and no one around me seemed suspicious. I slowly adapted to the burden, even while preparing myself mentally for the possibility that Jacob might never return.

If that happened, then I would simply carry this responsibility alone.

One evening during dinner, the sound of a vehicle entering the courtyard suddenly interrupted us.

Everyone immediately rose and stepped outside.

The moment I saw the familiar red car, my heart nearly stopped.

Jacob had returned. He stepped out wearing a black shirt while two emotionless guards followed behind him dressed similarly. The sight of him alone made my chest tighten painfully.

Jacob walked directly toward Father and greeted him warmly with a brief embrace.

“Blissful evening, Alpha Seth. I came because I need to discuss something important.”

His eyes shifted toward me afterward.

Immediately, I shook my head, desperately. It was my silent plea begging him not to reveal anything yet.

I had an overwhelming feeling disaster would follow if the truth emerged too soon. Jacob seemed confused by my gestures, but every time he glanced toward me, I continued shaking my head subtly.

“Then come inside, Alpha Jacob,” Seth welcomed warmly. “It is always an honor having you within our home.”

As everyone moved inside together, my anxiety only worsened. Jacob kept stealing glances at me while I silently mouthed for him not to say anything. I carefully kept the gestures subtle enough to avoid attracting attention from Seth or my cousins.

Still, Jacob continued walking calmly with us.

If he truly understood what I was trying to say, he would have abandoned the conversation immediately.

Once seated, Percy disappeared briefly to prepare food for Jacob. The guards politely declined every offer given to them and remained standing silently near the entrance instead.

Dinner began quietly. But throughout the meal, Jacob kept smiling at me while I nervously continued shaking my head. Honestly, it felt unbearable.

“Is something wrong, Elsa?” Seth suddenly asked, his spoon suspended halfway in the air. I immediately looked toward him.

“No,” I answered quickly.

“Then why do you keep shaking your head like that?” he pressed suspiciously.

“My head aches a little,” I lied carefully. “Shaking it helps somehow.”

Seth studied me silently for a moment before nodding slowly. Thankfully, he did not question further.

After dinner, my cousins gathered the plates as they always did while Father turned his attention fully toward Jacob again. His expression brightened politely.

“So, Alpha Jacob,” Seth began warmly, “what brings you to our humble little pack tonight?”

Jacob looked toward me once more. I gave him one final desperate shake of my head.

Then he rolled his eyes subtly before facing Father again.

My heartbeat pounded so violently I could barely breathe properly anymore.

“I came to tell you something,” Jacob said.

I coughed loudly on purpose, hoping to interrupt whatever terrifying confession was about to leave his mouth.

“About what, Alpha Jacob?” Seth asked curiously.

Fear gripped my entire body. If Father discovered the truth now, I had no idea how he would react. Everything felt too sudden and way too dangerous.

“I would like to offer you a business deal,” Jacob finished calmly.

Relief crashed through me instantly. I nearly collapsed from it.

Quietly, I prayed Jacob continued steering the conversation away from the secret buried inside my chest.

I barely listened afterward. My thoughts remained trapped in fear the entire time.

Eventually, after the discussion ended, we escorted Jacob and his guards back outside.

While walking toward the vehicle, Jacob moved close enough to discreetly press something into my palm.

A folded piece of paper.

Then he left. The moment the car disappeared beyond the courtyard gates, I quickly unfolded the note beneath the moonlight.

Inside were several digits alongside two simple words written beneath them.

Call me.