-Josie -


    I''m quiet as I move out of my bedroom not wanting to alert the household that I was heading out.


    It was still early and being a Sunday, no training was scheduled.


    There was no reason for anyone to be up early on a pack-wide rest day. Unless you were on border patrol.


    As long as I tip toe down the stairs, avoiding the creaking steps...I should make it out without being


    heard.


    But as I make it half way down the stairs, a sigh escapes me...both Mum and Dad are at the bottom waiting for me. "Can wee?"


    "How did you find out?" I stop a few steps from them, unable to hide the bite in my tone. They didn''t deserve it, but I was irritated that they had found out.


    "I told you, the hospital has policies to follow." Which is code for, Sophia told Dad.


    I sigh internally, there was no point hiding any of my prenatal appointments with them, Sophia was going to tell them each time now anyway.


    "It''s just a check up, just to get me on the system as it were. Not a lot will happen." I try to brush it off.


    "We don''t care, we want to be there to support you."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, of course."


    Warmth spreads throughout my chest, yes...yes I would like that. I want them to be with me. This is their first grandchild after all.


    "Okay." I smile out, my emotions once again flipping over. I was like a yoyo at the moment, still reeling from Jaxon''s intrusion, from the hole in my wall. But I needed to push my anger with him aside, this was a special moment, one my parents want to be included on. "You mean that?" Mum takes a step towards me, her hand cing out to help me down the stairs. I was pregnant not incapable of walking thest few steps but her gesture is sweet and I make noment.


    "Yes, I would like you both to be there with me."


    It feels peculiar, to be sitting in the doctor''s office with my parents. I wasn''t a child anymore, I was an adult growing my own child. Yet, I needed them...I didn''t want to be alone. No matter what I might say, no matter how strong I try to y...I was scared.


    I was worried about the unknown path I had now entered on...scared about my future as a single mother.


    I don''t know why, many women rock it and this isn''t the Middle Ages. I can do this I know I can, so what is holding me back. Mum and Dad sit in silence, behaving as they just watch Sophia take the typical readings of blood pressure and temperature.


    She hands me a bottle of pregnancy vitamins that I need to take daily as well as ask questions about my wolf''s energy levels.


    There''s a slight growl from Dad, which causes a bead of sweat to form upon her brow...she was more nervous than me as she draws blood out of


    my arm.


    She doesn''t need to use silver, which I think she was more grateful for than me, Dad was already almost lunging out of his chair.


    Sophia works quietly, not giving anything away as she continues to give me a full health check and write down the results on a document.


    She calls my parents over when I am finallyying back on the bed, my rtively t stomach covered in some kind of jelly substance prior to the ulstrasound.


    Nerves creep back in...self doubt, I don''t think I am actually ready for this.


    He should be here, he should be a part of this.


    Guilt of keeping him out of this washes over me, it''s harshness not lost on me.


    I have a sneaky suspicion that it is my wolf sending me these emotions, her constant pining for me to tell him, when I was trying to protect her, protect me from his rejection. He has another.


    Deep down I know I will regret this that I I


    differwish I had handled things


    differently but my wolf is so weak as it is growing this baby, I can''t give her a broken heart as well.


    At least I can carry that burden for her.


    She had hope, whereas I had to be realistic now.


    So what if we were a fluid family, so what if I was in love with him...it didn''t mean he was in love with me.