Pregnant

Reya’s POV 

I was in agony. 

My eyes were swollen and my body burned from the intense and unbearable pain I endured during the night. Maybe because Chloe mentioned it yesterday, I suffered all though the night from what she and Lycan Tristan spent the night doing. 

I felt the effects of every kiss, every touch and every thrust that my mate pleased her with all through the night. 

For some reason, the bond carried Lycan Tristan’s betrayal to me and by morning, I was almost lifeless. It felt as though a thousand knives were being plunged into my skin all at once.

“Let me die now,” I had pleaded. Hoping the moon goddess would be sympathetic enough to end my life. She wasn’t. 

I just wanted to die. 

If I died, everyone was going to get their happy ending. Except me of course. Unfortunately. I would never get the happy ending, whether in life or in death. I was meant to live miserably and perish miserably as well. 

Fate could be a bitch. 

I closed my eyes, praying one more time for the moon goddess to come and snatch my soul away. Today, Lycan Tristan was going to publicly ridicule me and also, publicly announce Chloe as his Luna. 

They were going to stab me in the pack and sell me off, ignoring everything I did for them. Ignoring the fact that I served them for two long years. 

I winced inwardly at the sound of the knock on the door. Was it time for my humiliation already? I had hoped they would give me a little more time to hang on to the only thread of dignity I had left, but that was asking too much. 

I kept my eyes closed and slowed my breathing. Maybe someone would take pity on me and decide not to humiliate me at least –

“Ray?” a familiar voice echoed. 

I froze because there was only one person who called me by that name and hearing that person so close shattered my already broken heart. Maybe now I was hallucinating. I was smelling and hearing someone I always found comfort in.

Maybe, this was my heart’s way of making me comfortable before the end.

“Ray, wake up!” Helen’s old, shaky voice called sternly. 

I whimpered. If she was really here, I would be happy. Maye she would have allowed me to hug her. I laughed because I knew she wasn’t into hugs. But if she knew I was dying – 

Helen was the only person in this entire pack who genuinely cared about me. While others didn’t hesitate to be hostile towards me, Helen always treated me with love and care. She was the oldest healer in the pack and after I came here two years ago, she took me as her own. 

“Open your eyes, stubborn child. We don’t have time.”

This time, my eyes snapped open, widening as I saw that she was really in the prison room with me. I recoiled as I realized I stank of agony and probably death. Could she smell it too?

“What are you doing here, Helen?” I hissed as I regained some of my composure. “Go away.”

She asked, giving me the stink eyes before lowering herself into the bed beside me. “I brought you food since no one here seems to care if you live or die.” 

“Leave, Helen.” I cried, wrapping my arms around myself as if that was going to shield me from her curious eyes. “I don’t want you seeing me like this.”

“I’m not leaving you in here to die while they feast out there.” Helen responded.

“But I want to die! I don’t want food and I don’t want you here!” I cried louder. “I just want to close my eyes and give up.”

I felt Heen’s warmth seeping into me in the next minute. She pulled me into a warm embrace and I allowed my body to soften even though she made my burning body even hotter.”

“I want to die, Helen…” I whispered, sniffling into her shoulders. 

“How can you say that? Death wasn’t what your father wanted for you in his dying moment. He asked for me to make sure you lived.” My eyes snapped up to meet hers and my mouth hung open.

“What?”

She winced. “Lycan Tristan didn’t tell you.” Her statement sounded more like a question that wasn’t directed at me. More like she was asking no one, not even herself. 

“Tell me what, Helen? What happened to my father?”

She shook her head and her eyes moistened. I could tell that it was taking all of her strength to hold it in and not become a crying mess like me. 

“Your father was found dead in your home a few days ago. He came to me about a week ago to talk about you. Someone must have mentioned what you were enduring with Lycan Tristan. He told me he did not want to be a burden to you anymore.”

“Why, what are you saying?” I choked. “My father did not kill himself.”

She pulled me in for another hug as a wave of fresh tears ricked my body. No, no, no, this couldn’t be happening. My father would never… but then I knew he had always felt guilty for selling me off to Lycan Tristan. 

He thought I was going to live a better life with him. The one he couldn’t afford for me. 

“Then why don’t you just let me die now, Helen? I have nothing more to live for.” I whimpered. After all, I would eventually die if Lycan Tristan kept sleeping with Chloe. How long could my weak body bear the pain?

Helen sighed, holding my hands as she stared into my eyes. “Then maybe you will be relieved to hear that you still have plenty to live for, Ray. You are a ray of sunshine that can never be dimmed.”

I rolled my eyes, about to tell her to give up and stop trying to change my mind when she dropped a bomb that rocked the foundation of my existence.

“You will live for the child you are carrying, Ray. Just like your father lived on for so long for you.”

I was happy as my heart racing against my ribcage. “I’m carrying a child?” I stuttered, shocked and unbelieving. 

“Yes, Ray.” She answered with a small smile on her face. “I smelt it on you the moment I stepped into this room. It’s a shame that your mate is too shallow-minded and deep up in the ass of that woman to sense his growing child.”

She hissed. “You are pregnant, Ray and you will live for the sake of that child.”

Warmth spread from the depth of my shattered heart and for a minute, I forgot I was supposed to be miserable and in pain. 

Helen nodded, smiling warmly at me. “Now, stop talking about death and honor the memory of your father who sacrificed his life so you could live.”

I smiled back at her as happiness and hope bloomed inside my dark, miserable soul. I could hardly recall the last time I was this happy. 

I glanced at Helen and smiled. “For my father.”