JUNIPER’S POV:
Hiram didn’t mince words when he said we are leaving. As soon as it is afternoon, he makes me dress up, then we go downstairs to meet the family and inform them we are leaving.
Holly isn’t happy seeing us dressed to leave. She doesn’t speak to Hiram; instead, she comes to me.
“I really wish I could keep you here, but it is probably for the best. You have come far in your education, and you deserve to finish,” she says, and I mutter a thank you.
“I’ll make sure to keep in touch with you, and to check on the baby too. I don’t need to tell you to take care of this one.” She cocks her head toward Hiram. “You already do it perfectly, and I cannot thank you enough.”
With this, she walks back to the couch in the room, sinking into it and lighting her cigar. Hana and Hera come downstairs at once.
Hana rushes toward us, and Hiram opens his arms, but she ignores him, throwing her arms around me.
“I know we only spent one actual day together, but I loved it, and I’m going to miss you. I cannot wait to see you again, and Mum says you’ll come live here when you graduate,” she says, and I force a smile onto my lips.
She pulls away, then Hera hugs me.
“I’ll miss you too,” she says, and I pat her back gently before she pulls away.
“I see you all prefer Juniper to me,” Hiram says, and Hana shrugs at him.
“She’s more fun, and she doesn’t play with us, and scold us weirdly with us out of the blue,” she says, and I chuckle.
“I’m just doing my duty as a big brother,” he says, then we hear footsteps approaching, and everyone looks up to see Hu.
Hana rolls her eyes at him, and he ignores her. He gives Hiram a brief hug, then exchanges handshakes with me.
“I hope to see more of you, Hu,” I say to him, and he raises the corner of his lips slightly.
Everyone is all smiles, but then Hollis is missing, and I can tell it’s getting to Hiram. After a while, his smile falls, then he faces his mother.
“We’ll be leaving now since Hollis won’t make it,” he says, and his mother waves at him without looking.
“Goodbye, Juniper,” she says to me, and Hiram scoffs.
“Being petty will not solve your problems, Mother,” he says to her, then grabs my hand, attempting to leave when we hear Hollis’ voice.
“Attempting to leave without saying goodbye to your brother, are you?” Hollis asks, and we turn around at once.
Hollis walks up to us, then he takes my hand and kisses the back of my palm.
“Congratulations, and I wish you a safe delivery,” he says to me.
“Thank you,” I reply, then he turns to face Hiram.
“Congrats, bro!” He pulls him into a brief hug, and they talk a bit before he bids us goodbye.
**
Hiram and I return to his house in Las Vegas. For the first time, I feel totally relieved. There are no secrets between us, just a clean slate, and I know who my boyfriend is.
“It’s good to be home, where I can have you all to myself,” Hiram says, pulling me into a hug.
Network reception comes onto my phone at once, and it begins to buzz with messages. I take it out of my bag to see a lot of texts from Rhea.
“Oh my God, Rhea!” I exclaim, pulling away from Hiram.
“It’s been two weeks, and I haven’t heard anything from her. I need to go to her house,” I say, and Hiram’s face contorts slightly. “I’m not about to let you use the fact I’m pregnant to keep me back,” I say to him, and he lets out a groan.
“I won’t be too long,” I say, then kiss his cheek, dashing out of the house. I board the first taxi I can find, and it takes me to Rhea’s apartment.
As soon as I get there, I rush up the stairs and knock on her door.
“The door’s open!” she yells in a sluggish tone, then I push the door open to a very disorganized room with Rhea lying on the couch like a slob.
“Rhea?” I call out in shock because I know her as a clean freak, and it’s unlike her to leave her apartment this way.
“June,” she calls out lazily, then I make my way through the pile of trash to where she is lying on the couch.
“What happened?” I ask, reaching for her hand, attempting to pull her up, but she yanks her hand away, then breaks into a sob.
“Lyon and I broke up,” she says, and I crash onto the couch at once, lifting her head and placing it on my lap while she continues to sob.
“I’m sorry, love. He doesn’t deserve you.” I try to console her, but she shakes her head.
“It’s my fault,” she sniffs, then tilts her head to face me. “He’s going away for a year for a transfer study, but I don’t want long-distance, so I called it off. But I miss him now. I shouldn’t have done it, and I don’t think he loves me.”
“That’s not true. I’m sure he still loves you, and this is just a phase you both will get through.” I pat her head gently, and her sobs begin to die down slowly.
After a while, she stops crying, then sits up, looking at me weirdly.
“You look happier and different,” she says, and a smile spreads across my cheeks.
“Well, I’m happier with Hiram. Our problems have been sorted out, but we found more problems,” I say, and her brows crease slightly. “Yep,” I nod.
“His brother’s wife died giving birth because, apparently, alpha babies kill weaker vessels carrying them, and now I’m pregnant.” Her mouth falls ajar when I say this.
“But…”
“Yes, my belly is flat because mine is cryptic, and I also think it has to do with my body type, but either way, I might die.”
“Stop it!” She smacks my elbow gently, then I lean into the couch for a moment.
“How about you spend the night over at Hiram’s? I mean, this place isn’t conducive at the moment, and I need you.”
“You sure he won’t mind?” she asks, and I wave my fingers dismissively.
“Please, he would buy the earth at this point for me, or I’ll throw a tantrum.” I wink at her.