After setting the towel aside, I put my black shirt on. “My wolf was the one impregnated.”
Milly stared at my stomach. “Believe it or not, I’ve heard of that happening. Usually the wolf will shift and go into immediate hibernation so the mother can carry, but the fetus is always human. Generally speaking, most women can’t get pregnant in animal form.”
“What will happen when it’s born?”
“Hard to say, but you’ll be the first to find out!”
That was hardly comforting.
“Everything looks hunky-dory. I’ll run the blood work and check if you’re mineral or vitamin deficient. You’re a wolf, so make sure to eat plenty of protein. In the meantime, avoid stress. I don’t know if shifting in the womb is good or bad for the baby, but your priority needs to be relaxation. Whatever you feel, that baby and its wolf feels.”
The baby had undoubtedly sensed my anxiety since conception. I’d been stressing over the birth, when to tell Tak, whether to keep it, and how my packmates would react. Maybe now that everyone knew, I could finally enjoy the pregnancy—get used to the idea. Decide if I was able to mother a child with obvious special needs.
Milly patted my knee. “Are you sure you don’t want to know the gender?”
I shook my head.
“Suit yourself. In the meantime, I don’t have any advice out of the ordinary. Eat healthy, avoid stress, don’t shift, and most importantly, don’t tell a damn soul about this.”
I cradled my belly. “I didn’t plan to.”
“Good. You won’t be able to hide the truth once the baby’s born, but by then everyone will know about it, including the Council, who can give your baby protection. You can never be too careful when it comes to anomalies in the Breed world. People are awful. Just awful.” She switched off her machine. “I’llcall you with the test results and schedule another appointment. I want to see you once a week until the delivery.”
“Which one will I give birth to?”
“I suppose that’s up to the fates. But I’ll be honest—I’ve never delivered a pup before.”
We chuckled nervously at the joke, but in the back of my mind, a whole new box of fear opened up.
Milly removed her rubber gloves and pitched them into the trash. “Avoid manual labor, alcohol, cigarettes, and sensory magic. The usual. Stay active and sleep whenever you feel like it. Go out and have fun. You won’t have much of that after the baby’s born. My guess is sitting around that house is stressing you out for some reason. Ifyou’renot happy, your inner wolf’s not happy. And believe me, you don’t want an unhappy wolf. Find a way to unwind. Doctor’s orders. Now, how about that gingerbread cake?”
Chapter 5
Following my private exam with the Relic, I assured Mercy everything went fine, avoiding any questions. To divert her interest, I mentioned the Relic’s suggestion about reducing my stress.
“We’ll have to do something about that,” Mercy said decidedly. “I knowjustthe medicine you need.”
During a quick call to the house, Mercy passed along the news that she and I would be dining out this evening. I had spent my entire life as a socialite, and although I didn’t miss being onstage, I missed dancing and dining. Not being able to drink wasn’t a big deal even though I loved a glass of chardonnay. I’d been going out less to the Rabbit Lounge because of the smoky atmosphere, especially in the evening. But if I had to be honest, I preferred upscale establishments. I was accustomed to exemplary service and celebrity treatment, and even after my fame diminished, those small luxuries made me feel special. Maybe spoiling myself compensated for the fact that my family had banished me from their home.
Dragonfly’s was the closest to upscale dining and service in this town. Thankfully, Mercy chose to go there instead of theRabbit Lounge, likely because Calvin would put her to work if we showed up at the bar.
When we arrived, one of the staff recognized me straight away. Mercy was impressed that she even greeted me by name. The worker escorted us down the stairs and offered to seat us wherever we wanted. Admittedly, the special attention flattered me. They must have recognized me from the time Cecilia and I were harassed by a customer.
Though most people dined in the gold room, we opted to head to the green room in the back.
I admired the sconces, which cast a golden glow on the walls. “Isn’t this breathtaking?”
Tastefully decorated with green furniture, flowers, and a curved bar, the room’s classy atmosphere appealed to me. It reminded me of a bygone era when people dressed up for a night out.
Mercy touched one of the gardenias as we strolled to the bar and sat on plush barstools. “I bet he spends a fortune on flowers. Why doesn’t he buy the fake ones?”
“Because those little touches matter. And you can’t replicate that lush smell.” After setting my purse down, I signaled the bartender we were ready to order. “I’ll drive home, so order whatever you want.”
She winked. “That’s what I like to hear. Barkeep, I’ll have one of those delicious peach cocktails. Please and thank you.”
“And for the lady?” he asked, meeting my eyes.
I wiggled on my stool to get comfortable. “Sweet tea with a slice of lemon. No alcohol.”
