Chapter 9– Morning Sickness

Lori's POV 

Today's training session started earlier than usual, and I was doing my usual organisation of supplies when I felt the first wave of nausea hit me. The morning sickness was getting unbearable these days, and it came at the worst possible moments, sometimes whenever I was actively stitching a wound or trying to rush a player to the sick bay.

Today's own came just as inconvenient as before and I found myself rushing to the bathroom in time, ignoring the pointed looks by the player's girlfriends and wives. The door was barely closed before I was on my knees, heaving into the toilet bowl, my body rebelling against everything I had eaten last night—which wasn't much, just that piece of chocolate cake and a few sips of soup, but apparently my babies had decided that even that was too much to keep down. I stayed there for a long time, breathing through my mouth, sweat beading on my forehead, and when I finally stood up and rinsed my mouth at the sink, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

I looked extremely pale with my eyes still red from crying last night. I sighed heavily and splashed cold water on my face before walking back to my station, watching the players on the rink.

The players played so well that I didn't think there would be any need of my medical services today, but I still stuck around because that's what I was paid to do. It wasn't long before something happened.

Janie's face had gone white and she lurched forward, her hand flying to her mouth, and Michelle jumped up with a shriek that echoed through the entire arena. "Someone help! Janie's sick! She's pregnant, someone help her!"

The players stopped and Silas came running towards her, abandoning the game with fear in his eyes. Janie doubled over with her face buried in her hands, and I knew exactly what was happening... the same thing I had just dealt with, but apparently hers was more of an emergency and mine was something to handle alone. 

"Get the medic!" Michelle screamed, and her eyes found me across the rink. "You! You're the medic, aren't you? Do your job!"

I didn't move for a second. Then I grabbed my bag and walked toward the stands, my feet heavy and my heart heavier, because this was the woman who had destroyed my life and I was supposed to take care of her like nothing had happened.

"What seems to be the problem?" I asked when I reached her, keeping my voice neutral.

Janie looked up at me, and for a moment I saw something flash across her face, and I was certain it was triumph. "I'm just... I'm so nauseous," she said, her voice small and fragile. "I think it's the baby. Alpha babies come with so much sickness, you know."

The emphasis on it being Silas's wasn't lost on me.

"Morning sickness is normal in the first trimester," I said, kneeling down to check her pulse. "Drink some water, eat small crackers throughout the day, and avoid..."

"Are you sure you're qualified for this?" Michelle interrupted, her arms crossed. "I mean, you're pregnant too, aren't you? But you're not always sick like Janie is. That's suspicious, don't you think?"

I stopped what I was doing. What was she doing? Wasn't she the one who even called my attention? Left for me, I would have ignored them and focused on the team. "Excuse me?"

"Michelle, don't." Janie tugged on her sleeve, but her eyes were watching me carefully. "My pregnancy symptoms is because I'm carrying an Alpha heir, that's why it's... different." She said it as if she were whispering, but it was loud enough for the women and some of the teammates to hear. "I'm sure Lori is doing her best."

Everyone gave me their judgy looks once more. The woman who had cheated on Alpha Silas and claimed her pregnancy belonged to him.

"Oh, I see that." Michelle nodded, but her lips were pulled up slightly into a smirk.

"Her best?" Another woman laughed from behind me. "Please, don't indulge her or she'll be pretending to make herself look sick so everyone pays attention to her instead of Janie. That's what women like her do... they can't stand not being the center of attention." She spat out acidly.

My hands started to shake. "I'm not trying to—"

"Look at her face," Michelle said, stepping closer. "She's not even denying it. You know what I think? I think she faked being sick this morning so she could make a scene, and then when Janie actually got sick, she got jealous because the attention wasn't on her anymore."

"That's not true." My voice came out weaker than I wanted it to. "I wasn't pretending. I threw up in the bathroom before practice started."

"Convenient." Michelle smirked. "Very convenient."

Janie placed a hand on my arm, and I flinched at her touch. "Lori, I'm sure you don't mean any harm, and you're trying to help. But maybe... maybe it would be better if someone else took care of me? Given our history?"

Our history? Why was she saying it as if I had been the one to betray her.

"Janie is right," Michelle announced, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Lori shouldn't be the one treating her. She's biased. She's jealous. And honestly, she's probably dangerous."

What? Did I even want to do this in the first place? They were making it look like a witch hunt, and I wasn't ready to entertain any of them any longer.

"I'm not dangerous," I said, standing up. "I'm a healer, and I took an oath. I don't let personal feelings interfere with—"

"Then prove it." Michelle's eyes glittered. "Take care of Janie for the rest of the day. Make sure she has water, make sure she eats, make sure she doesn't get stressed. That's your job, isn't it? Being a medic?"

"No, that is being a maid, and she can get one back at the pack where she is highly honoured." I spat back instantly, watching with satisfaction as they pulled back in shock, obviously not expecting me to lash out at them. "She isn't the first to be pregnant, and I'm certain she can take care of herself. My job is to take care of injured players, and I came over here to help Janie because you asked me to, and because I am supposed to help anyone who is in need. If you're trying to turn this into a witch hunt to bully me, then you're highly mistaken to think I will let it slide today."

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Michelle gathered the courage to step in front of me, thinking I would back down, but I took a step forward, also ignoring Silas' cold eyes (I guess he had gone quiet because of Dante's warnings since I started working here).

"I'm talking to every single one of you here. Is there a problem?" I cocked my head to the side and folded my arms, and from the corner of my eyes, I found Dante leaning against the wall with a cigarette in his mouth and a little nod of approval.

I couldn't help the pride that had begun to swell inside me with the adrenaline coursing through my blood. I made Dante proud by standing up for myself, and I didn't care if my smile looked ridiculous right now.