ONE MONTH LATER.
Alora’S POV.
“You look sick.” Halle points out the moment I walk into the training arena and I groan in frustration as I stop in my tracks.
“Not you too!”
“It’s a good thing I’m not the only one who has noticed.” She comes to meet me, her eyes hovering all over body while shaking her head in disapproval.
“What?”
“You can’t train looking like this. You seem unwell. Have you been to the hospital?”
“No, I haven’t. I’m only like this because I’ve been throwing up all morning. It’s probably some mild food poisoning, so I’ll be fine. There’s no cause for alarm.” I try to explain, hoping she will here me out, but the look she’s giving me makes me understand that my explanation makes no sense to her.
What do I do with this girl?
“So you couldn’t wait to be fine before you come?” She asks with raised brows. I smile and frown.
“No, I couldn’t.” That earns me a sigh and a head shake from her. She murmurs incoherent words to herself as she heads back to the training spot and I follow her.
To be honest, I don’t feel too well. I’ve been nauseous and vomiting all morning and I have never felt this level of fatigue before. It took me all my willpower and determination to come for training today and now that I’ve finally made it here, I won’t live without learning something new.
I head over to the locker room where I lazily change into my sports attire and come out to meet Halle who’s already waiting for me. I’m literally dragging myself to go meet her.
“Are you sure you are okay to train today? You look really pale.” I quickly nod my head.
“I have an upset stomach, but it’s no big deal. Let’s get on with practice.” I urge and she reluctantly nods her head.
“If you say so then. Today, we’ll be doing something different.”
“That sounds thrilling!”
“Yeah. It sure does. For the past months, we’ve been doing random physical exercises and duels in human form, so today, we’ll be doing exercises and duels in wolf form.” A triumphant yelp escapes my mouth as a big smile stretches across my face.
I’ve been waiting for this day.
Right now, I can kick ass in human form, but not in wolf form. I’ve been waiting for the day this part of training will finally commence and now that it has, an upset stomach won’t stop me from learning what I need to know.
“I’ve been waiting for this for months. Please bring it on!” She chuckles at my excitement.
“First, we will have to shape-shift into our wolf forms and I want us to do this with our clothes on, because in times of danger, the enemy won’t wait for you to unclad yourself and shapeshift before he or she attacks you. It’s important that you hone your reflex to shapeshift with your clothes on so you don’t get into trouble with unsuspecting rogues.”
“Understood.” I say with a quick nod. She flashes me a smile.
“You go first.” She instructs. I part my legs slightly and stretch my arms out. My body is trembling with excitement. It’s been ages since I last shape-shifted to my wolf form. Lena would be happy to be finally let out after such a long time. With my arms stretched out sideways and my eyes closed, I call Lena and try to let her take over me, but she doesn’t respond to my call.
On a normal day, she would be up and sprinting about, ready to take this opportunity, but thats not the case today.
“Lena.” I call in my mind, worried. “I’m trying to let you take over me, why aren’t you responding?” She shakes her head.
“I can’t.” Her firm reply comes through. My brows crease in confusion.
“What do you mean you can’t? I’m sure you’ve been waiting for this day to come.”
“I have, but right now I can’t take over you. Its not safe.”
“Come on Lena, don’t be like this. Today is a very important training day.” I try to force her to take over me, but she gets upset and drains all of my energy. Before I know it, I’m on the floor and everything has turned black. The last thing I hear as I shut my eyes close is the faint sound of Halle screaming my name and shaking me hard in her arms.
If she keeps doing that, I’m going to puke on her body.
—————————–
Blink.
Blink again.
No chandelier above the ceiling. That can only mean one thing.
I’m not in my bedroom.
“Baby, you’re awake!” Jayce’s panicking voice fills my ears as he rushes over to meet me on the bed. I struggle to sit upright and he assists me. My entire body feels like I’ve been run over my trailer. I’m hurting all over. My mouth tastes like death. My head is spinning like a merry go round. I look down at my left hand and notice there’s an IV connected to it. “Baby, how are you feeling?” There’s this usual concerned look on his face that makes my heart swell with countless inexplicable emotions.
I’m sure he left everything just to come be with me the moment news of me passing out at the training center reached him.
He will put everything on the line for me.
“I’m… I…” I stutter weakly. “I’m fine. I’m just weak, that’s all. But I’m fine. I don’t feel sick.”
“Halle said you fainted during training.”
“Yes, I did. I tried to shape-shift, but my wolf, Lena, won’t let me. When I tried to force it, she drained all my energy in order to stop me. That’s why I fainted.” I tell him, hoping he has an explanation to give me regarding what happened.
I had no idea our wolves were capable of retaliating against us in such a severe manner.
He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it.
“Your wolf would not retaliate against you for nothing. She definitely had a good reason for doing so.”
“That’s what I wish to know. Do you know why she did it?”
“Maybe the doctor will be able to give us an explanation for that.” And just then, the doctor walks into the ward.
“Good morning Alpha, Luna.” He greets with a respectful bow. Alora and I reply to his greeting and he asks closer to Alora’s bed.
“Luna Alora, I can see you are awake.”
“Yes, I am a doctor. But I’m terrified about what caused me to faint. My wolf acted against me.”
“Your wolf had a good reason to do that, Luna.” Says the doctor with a smile on his face.
“What do you mean by that?”
“She was trying to protect you and uh…” He looks between Jayce and me and smiles.
“Doctor, is something wrong with her?” Jayce asks impatiently. The doctor quickly shakes his head in denial.
“No. Not at all.”
“So why did her wolf drain all her energy and make her faint when she tried to insist on shapeshifting?”
“Because that would have brought great harm upon both her and the pup she’s carrying. Luna Alora is pregnant.”
The world fades out.