JUNIPER’S POV:
I know Holly doesn’t like me, so I try to make myself scarce. I have spent two nights in the pack, and Hope has been in labor for those nights. There is tension in the air around the house. Hollis hasn’t had rest seeing his wife in pain, and Hiram has been running some errands while I do nothing but sit in his room, text Rhea, eat, and try to distract myself from the excruciating pain Hope is going through.
This morning, I began to feel sick, and I cannot tell if it is from hearing Hope groan in pain daily or because I have been indoors. I prayed Hiram would return early, but it’s afternoon, and I am the only one in the room.
Shortly, a knock comes on his door, and I stand to open it. Then I stand
face to face with his sisters, Hera and Hana.
“Hiram isn’t around, but you can come in,” I say to them, opening the door.
Hiram didn’t mince words when he said Hana was taller than me, and as I stand close to Hera, I cannot believe I was seven years older than her.
“You must be June,” Hana speaks first, and I nod at her as I shut the door.
“Hana,” she waves slightly.
“Hera.” Her sister joins, then they walk into the room. I expect them to be shy, but before I can open my mouth to speak, Hera beats me to it.
“Hiram’s mate is a child?” She asks, and Hana smacks her gently, causing me to chuckle.
“I am not a child, Hera, and I am twenty,” I say to her, and her brows crease. “I am petite, and this is my height.”
“Oh,” she says, and then Hana rolls her eyes.
“Do not mind my sister. She really doesn’t know how to speak to strangers,” Hana says, and I wave my fingers slightly, signaling that I am okay with her.
Hana walks to Hiram’s bed, throwing herself on it.
“We have heard quite a lot about you, and I cannot believe a woman makes my brother this happy,” she says, then she lies on her back, throwing her head out of the bed.
Her lively spirit makes me feel at home, and I sit on the bed.
“So, tell me, what is it you’ve heard?” I question, and she turns towards me, supporting her jaw with her chin.
“Mum and Hiram were arguing, and he was like ‘She makes me happy, mum, so I am not going to leave her. Besides, we are mated already, and I am going to marry her someday!'” Her mimicking Hiram makes me laugh, holding my belly, but then it strikes me, the talk about marrying me.
Thinking of it makes a certain feeling rise in my belly. The feeling is way too familiar. I feel like throwing up. I get to my feet at once, rushing into the bathroom, and everything in my guts comes rushing down the toilet.
“Are you okay?” Hana calls out, and I remain there until I have exhausted everything in my system. Then I stand straight, taking a deep breath.
I flush the toilet and walk to the sink. Hana helps me turn on the faucet. Then I rinse my mouth and face before she turns it off. My body temperature begins to rise at once.
“I do not think I feel so good,” I say to her, then I walk back to the room to see Hera, who looks at me with concern on her face.
“Maybe we should call Hiram,” Hera says, and Hana shakes her head.
“Come on, I can take you to the hospital. I just got my license and my new car,” Hana says, and Hera groans.
“Just an excuse to drive.”
“Keep talking, and you’ll never ride in my car,” Hana shoots back at her, and Hera keeps mute. Then Hana faces me. “Give me five minutes, and I’ll be ready.” With this, she dashes out of the room.
Hera goes after her, and in the twinkle of an eye, they return dressed. I have Hiram’s sweatpants and shirt on, too. So, I follow them out the door, hoping not to meet their mother.
Successfully, we make it downstairs without meeting Holly, but before we can reach the door handle, someone beats us to it, causing my heart to skip a beat. The door opens to Hu. He looks almost like Hiram, but less bulky, and shorter.
“You!” Hana grits her teeth.
“Get over it, Hana,” he says flatly, then he turns to me. “Hey, June.” I wave at him, and he walks away.
I wonder what the tension between the both of them is about, but before I can ask, Hera whispers in my ear,
“One of Hana’s best friends is seeing Hu, and she hates it so much.”
“You really want to stay home,” Hana says as she marches angrily to her car.
When she gets there, she holds the door for me, and I get into the front seat.
“Thanks,” I say to her with a smile as she shuts the door.
Hera gets in the back seat, and Hana gets into the car, driving out of the compound at once.
The drive to the hospital is smooth, except for Hana, who spends the entire time ranting about her friend Ruby, who broke some pact about not dating each other’s brothers.
“What if Ruby is Hu’s mate?” I question, and she scoffs.
“That is far from impossible,” she says, glancing at me with a chuckle escaping her lips. “Hu was said to be cursed at birth. On the day he was born, there was an eclipse, and that is a bad omen in our pack. The sun goddess and moon goddess probably had a fight, and any child born during such circumstances will find it difficult to find their mates. It only takes true love to break the spell, and news flash, Hu doesn’t look like someone who will find true love.”
Her words were a bit harsh, but I couldn’t help but laugh at her mannerisms as she spoke.
Soon, we are at the hospital, and Hana pulls up in the parking lot. Then we all get out of the car, making our way to the front door.