Katya
Squeezing into my tights I have barely pulled them up getting ready to meet my brother, when the coldest feeling runs over me, filling me with dread.
All the energy in me is being sucked out, making me clutch the dresser for support. I shake the feeling away and gasp.
My energy levels drop so low that I might faint after taking only one step forward. Even my hand, which is clutching the dresser, doesn’t feel like mine but like rubber. I can’t fully feel it and am close to losing control over the movement.
“Kat?” Mateo calls my name, rushing into the room.
He radiates fear and worry, but as soon as he stands next to me, the strange sensation vanishes as quickly as it came.
“I’m fine, I must have stood up too quickly,” I tell him. Deep down, I know that won’t work, but I still try to smile to reassure my mate that I’m fine and that there’s nothing wrong with me.
However, in true Mateo fashion, he still insists on checking every piece of me. He reaches for my arms and moves them, even going as far as pinching me here and there to check if I can feel it. Overreacting much?
While Mateo is examining me, Ezra’s voice flits through my head. “Is everything ok at home, you feel-?” He doesn’t finish, just goes quiet through the mind-link.
“Yes, I stood up too quickly. I am fine,” I mindlink back. I barely hold myself back from rolling my eyes.
“Mateo, stop it. I am fine,” I protest, shoving his hands away as he tries to lift my shirt to look at my belly.
His eyes glaze over, and I have no doubt he is talking to Ezra. I roll my eyes, not caring about Mateo’s reaction. I swear, they overreact and panic at the stupidest things.
Grabbing my phone, I pocket it, and head for the door.
“Kat, maybe we should take you to see Mathias,” Mateo calls after me, but I shake my head and continue waddling down the stairs ready to leave.
“I told you, I stood up too quickly,” I yell back.
I still fail to see why they are so darn concerned. Mateo growls and shakes his head, grabbing my hand. I spin around to glare at my mate. If he refuses to listen and understand how his behavior is pushing me, perhaps he will see it in my death glare.
“Kat, Ezra felt it too. I didn’t imagine it.” He stresses each word. And here it is, the insane need to roll my eyes again is back. I am perfectly fine, I’m pregnant, and weird shit happens when I move too quickly.
“Imagine what?” I ask him, pulling my hand from his and grabbing his car keys from the hall stand. He stares at me as if I have grown another head, or possibly two extras. Still visibly irritated, I pass the keys to him.
“It felt like you died or were dying again,” Mateo whispers, grabbing a hold of my hand. He brings my hand to his lips and kisses the knuckles, and his eyes close. A loud sigh leaves Mateo’s lips as he shakes his head. “Believe me, that feeling, that emptiness sits with you, and you don’t forget it. I know what it feels like to lose you.”
“Not dead, right here, Mateo.” I giggle. Well, I didn’t expect them to feel it too, so that’s shit. “I was trying to get my tights on and stood back up too quickly.”
He shakes his head, clearly over and done with my insistence that it’s no big deal. Mateo tilts his head, in an attempt to make me speak. He has this ‘stop bullshitting me’ look on his face, which might work on others, but is completely useless to use against me.
I wave off his concerns and grin. “Let’s go to Andrei’s, and if it makes you feel better, we can stop and see Mathias on the way home.” I go for the compromise.
I know Mateo, he wouldn’t give in without something. He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a groan. “Fine, but let’s be quick,” he says, opening the door for me. Would you look at that, even as irritated as Mateo clearly is, my mate still can be a gentleman and open the door for his very pregnant lady. Chivalry isn’t dead. To be honest, it never is with these two with the way they fuss over me.
We drive to Andrei’s Pack, and the entire time Mateo keeps sending me nervous glances while I keep telling him to watch the road. I get it, he’s worried, he told me that much, but at this point, he is the one putting us in danger.
When he finally pulls up out front of Andrei’s house, I hop out of the car faster than ever before.
I scan the surroundings, and a shiver runs down my spine. This place always makes me so distressed. It is like a small ghost town, barely anyone about because there is hardly anyone left.
I still wonder how Andrei does this. How does he have it in him to keep the pack above water with little to no people living under him? I can’t help, but feel sorry for my brother.
He deserves so much more, so much better. He is an amazing person and a great Alpha, but sometimes, grief brings out the worst in everyone.
Making my way to the door, I frown at it. Andrei is talking on the other side. I can barely make out his voice, but as I get closer to the door, I catch some of his words.
“Stay. I am just letting my sister in, so sit and behave,” he instructs, and I raise an eyebrow at his words. He sounds like he is talking to a disobedient pet in need of training, not a person and definitely not a mate.