Grabbing everything and tossing it back in my bag, I wet the back of my neck, trying to cool down, suddenly feeling extremely hot. This can’t be happening, right? I was in heat not long ago so I can’t be pregnant, werewolves only fall pregnant when in heat. Then, the sarcastic voice in my head starts taunting me that I’m not a werewolf, so it doesn’t work that way for me. No, I’m human, so vampire and werewolf shit doesn’t affect me. Looking at the clock, I still have time. I can duck down to the convenience store and grab a test, but will they let me leave? I have to try. Dumping everything back in my bag, I regain my bearings and walk out. Theo is leaning against my desk, a worried look on his face as I come out.
“You okay, hun?”
“Yep, never better. Can I go to the shop down on the corner? I’m starving” I lie. My appetite is completely gone with worry. I hate that I have to ask permission but if I just leave, they will panic and send out a search party.
Theo thinks for a second. “I will come with you.”
“No, I won’t be long. Promise.” My voice comes out as nearly a squeak.
He seems taken aback before he moves closer. I can feel him looking through the bond, wondering why I suddenly want to leave. I make sure to clear my head and start rambling about seeing Tom, so he won’t catch on to what is actually on my mind. He cocks his head to the side. “You’re only going to the shop to see Tom?” He asks.
“Yep, that’s all, I will come back,” I say, my voice is off even I can tell but he must have given me the benefit of the doubt, because he pulls out his wallet and hands me his card.
“Here, Tobias took your cards when you did a runner. Remind me when we get home to put them back in your wallet for you,” he says, passing me his and giving me the pin number, which funnily enough is the month and day of my birthday, 0815.
I grab the card and walk to the elevator. I step in and I can see Theo watching me like he is deciding whether or not he actually did the right thing by letting me go. I hit the button to the lobby. As soon as the doors close, I let out the breath I have been holding. When I get to the bottom, Merida is at the front counter, calling me over when she sees me.
“You still stuck here?” I ask as soon as I approach her.
“Yes, I think Theo is punishing me over the other night. They have had quite a few apply for the position and he keeps turning them away, forcing me to play secretary. It’s driving me nuts, the phone never stops, and the emails just keep coming.” She huffs, annoyed.
I chuckled slightly. “I will ask Theo to hire someone so you can go back to your normal position. If he won’t, I’ll ask Tobias, he will sort it for you.”
She nods, looking thankful. “Where are you off to without your bodyguards?” She asks.
“To the shop, want anything?”
“Oh, yes can you grab me a cappuccino.” I nod.
“Sure, I will be back in a minute.” I tell her before walking out and towards the convenient store. On the way past, I stop at the Starbucks and order everyone a cappuccino, remembering to get Josiah a black coffee, like his soul. I don’t actually mind their parents, they aren’t so bad, we all just started off on the wrong foot because of Tobias. I chuckle slightly before paying and heading next door.
I walk down the aisle towards the feminine products. As I stand in the aisle, a young girl comes over to me. Her hair is in dreadlocks and a friendly smile is plastered on her face.
“Can I help you?” She asks when she sees me staring at the pregnancy test section for too long, trying to decide which one is the better one.
“Um, yes actually, which one is better? The most accurate?”
She picks up a box and hands it to me. “This one can be done from the date of your missed cycle and it tells you in the window roughly how far along. It seems to be the most popular choice,” she says, handing me the box.
I nod and thank her before following her to the counter. Realizing I’m meant to be buying food, I also grab a muffin and pay before walking out.
I walk to the coffee shop and wait for my name to be called. While I wait, I jam the test into a secret hidden hole in the side of my bag and zip it up. As long as no one goes into my bag, they shouldn’t notice, but the box is pretty bulky.
When my name is called, I grab the two little trays before walking back to the office. When I walk in, I give Merida hers and she takes a sip before moaning loudly.
“I can feel it in my soul.” She says, making me chuckle.
I head toward the elevator and press the button to the top floor. Waiting, I start to become anxious. Then, I feel it’s not me, it is actually Tobias and Theo. I feel Tobias getting angry, then the elevator doors open. Everyone is standing next to my desk, staring at me like I just grew two heads.
“See, I told you she would be back,” says Theo to Tobias, pointing at me.
I step out with coffees and my muffin. “Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yes, Tobias is being a dick, thinking I let you run away,” Theo says, walking over and kissing my temple before picking up a coffee.
He takes a sip and nearly spits it out when he realizes he grabbed mine, which has more sugar than he likes. I place the cardboard trays on the desk and grab my coffee off him before handing him his and shake my head. I give Josiah his, “Black, like your soul,” I tell him. His lips turn up slightly and he thanks me while I give everyone their coffees.
“We will be leaving soon, so make sure you are ready, dear,” Caroline tells me. I nod suddenly feeling nervous.
“Nothing will happen, not today anyway. Josiah is just taking you to meet them, and the council has ordered some tests, you may also have to meet the oracle.”
“Oracle?”
“Just a fancy word for, I suppose… a fortune teller, nothing to worry about. She will just look into your past and maybe your future, it’s just precautionary to make sure you won’t speak of what you see when we arrive.”
I nod my head and take a bite of my muffin.
“Well, your father and I are going to head off, we will meet you there,” she says softly to Theo, before touching my shoulder and rubbing her thumb over my cheek. “Nothing to worry about dear, I promise,” she says, before walking to the elevator with Josiah.