7

Chapter 7

Elena tried to focus on the clothes in front of her—rows of folded jeans and plain t-shirts—but her mind was a storm she couldn’t calm. The mall wasn’t much, just a modest one on the edge of the city, but it was more than her family could usually afford. They were average people. Not poor, but not rich either. Just enough to get by, to keep food on the table, and send her to school.

Lisa, her aunt, watched her closely as they browsed. “Elena,” she said quietly, her voice low but firm. “I know something’s wrong.”

Elena looked away, pretending to examine a jacket.

“You may have lied to your father, but you can’t lie to me,” Lisa pressed. “Give me anything, Elena. Anything and everything. What happened during your stay with the Alpha?”

Elena’s breath hitched. She felt like the air had suddenly turned too heavy to breathe. “Nothing happened,” she said, forcing a shrug. “I just… I need to get away. I want to be alone.”

Lisa didn’t buy it. She tried again and again to pull the truth out of her, but Elena wouldn’t budge. Not because she didn’t trust Lisa—but because she was the problem.

The next day, Elena stood at the train station, her backpack slung over her shoulder, tears threatening to fall as her father, her mother, and Lisa came to say goodbye. She kept her smile steady, kept her hands from shaking as she waved.

The moment she boarded the train and it started to pull away, Elena exhaled shakily and turned to the window. Her heart ached, but this was the best thing for her.

I have to be strong for myself, she thought. This is the best thing I could do. I need to stay away—from everything. From him.

She clutched her chest, silently repeating a promise to herself.

No more love. No more pain. No more men. My mate rejected me. If he could, then anyone can. I hate them all…

She didn’t realize she had whispered that last part aloud. A few passengers looked her way, but she didn’t care.

When the train finally reached the city, she stepped down to find her best friend, Elizabeth, waving excitedly. They hugged tightly.

“I’m so happy to see you, girl,” Elizabeth said, brushing Elena’s hair back with a sisterly smile. “But you look like hell. What’s wrong?”

Elena gave her a small smile. “Maybe later. I just need rest.”

“Fair. You told me you were coming, so I made your favorite—jollof rice. Come on, let’s get home.”

Elizabeth’s house was beautiful, even though she lived alone. A two-bedroom apartment with polished tile floors and neat little curtains dancing with the breeze. Her family was wealthier than Elena’s by far, but she never made her feel lesser.

Later that night, over dinner, Elena finally opened up. She told Elizabeth everything. About the Alpha. About the rejection. The betrayal. Her broken heart. Her decision to leave.

When she was done, Elizabeth looked at her, stunned and sympathetic. “Elena… I don’t even know what to say.”

“Just don’t tell my parents. I only told you because… I needed someone to know why I’m really here.”

Elizabeth nodded and reached out, squeezing her hand. “Tomorrow, we go to school together. You’ll register, get your uniform. Start fresh.”

The next morning, Elena woke up to the loud clang of a pot hitting the floor.

“Elena!” Elizabeth shouted from the kitchen. “It’s seven a.m.! Get up! We’re late!”

Elena groaned and sat up. Her body felt heavy. Her head pounded. And her stomach—her stomach churned.

She brushed her teeth, swallowed down her breakfast, and tried to hide the way she was holding herself together with sheer will. But just as she was packing her bag, she felt the bile rise and rushed into the bathroom.

She threw up.

Again.

Elizabeth stood in the doorway, arms folded. “You’ve been feeling off for days. Girl, you’re going to the hospital after school.”

“I’ll be fine,” Elena muttered, wiping her mouth.

“No. You’re going.” Elizabeth insisted.

……

1 week later

That afternoon after school, they went straight to the clinic. Elena still couldn’t stop thinking about the boy she’d met earlier in school—Rick. Calm. Sweet smile. A distraction she didn’t ask for.

He had walked up to her during break. “Mind if I sit here?” he’d asked.

She said yes. He was friendly, a little curious.

“I’m Rick,” he introduced himself.

“Elena,” she said simply.

“Are you new here?”

“Just transferred, 1 week ago. My uniform’s on the way.”

He pointed at Elizabeth, who was returning from the canteen. “She your friend?”

“Yeah.”

He smiled again, but when he saw Elizabeth coming, he stood. “See you around.”

When Elizabeth sat down, she smirked. “You two looked cozy.”

Elena scoffed. “It was just a conversation.”

But Elizabeth had followed her gaze. A girl with piercing red eyes was glaring at them from across the cafeteria. “Ah. Of course. That’s Amelia. She’s Rick’s… friend. Kind of. Sometimes girlfriend. Don’t worry—she always looks like that.”

Elena frowned. “She looks like she wants to kill me.”

“That’s because she probably does. She’s not just a girl. She’s a hybrid—Wendigo and vampire. Be careful in this school, Elena. It’s not just werewolves here. It’s all kinds—witches, demons, shapeshifters. Some are kind. Some… not so much.”

Elena swallowed hard. “What kind am I?”

Elizabeth looked at her for a long time. “We’ll figure it out.”

Back at the clinic, Elena sat nervously. The doctor called her in, took samples, asked a few questions.

When he returned, he was smiling. “Congratulations, Elena,” he said warmly.

Elena blinked. “For… what?”

“You’re one week pregnant.”

Her heart stopped. “I’m… what?”

The doctor chuckled. “You can go ahead and tell your husband. He’ll be thrilled.”

Elena’s lips parted to say he’s not my husband, to scream that this couldn’t be happening. But nothing came out.

Instead, she nodded. “Thank you.”

Outside the clinic, Elizabeth grabbed her arm. “Elena…”

She shook her head, eyes wide, voice barely a whisper. “I’m pregnant, Elizabeth. And it’s not just anyone’s child. It’s Alpha Jaxon’s.”