Chapter 206 – Denial
Ella
When I wake I’m in my nest, hooked up to about a dozen machines and wracking my brains for some explanation of how I got here. Of course… the moment my memory kicks in, I wish it hadn’t. My wolf howls in my head, but I shut out the tumultuous emotions threatening to consume me. It might not be healthy, but if there’s one thing I’m good at – it’s repressing feelings.
I clench my eyes shut. “It’s not real, it’s not real.” I insist to the empty room, reflexively tracing the outline of my womb. “Are you alright, little one?” I squeak, wondering if my pain is about to multiply by a million.
The baby flutters and sends feelings of sleepy confusion through our bond, and the tightness in my heart eases a bit. He’s okay. I tell my whining wolf, but we both know she’s not just worried for the baby’s sake.
They’re both okay. My wolf assures me, sounding surprisingly confident for all her nervous whimpering. I don’t care what anyone says. We would feel it if he was gone. I would feel it.
But what if he’s too far away? I ask, hating myself for the kernel of doubt currently sitting in my stomach like a boulder.
I would still know. She insists. Trust me, no amount of distance could fool me. Our bond is in tact, just out of reach.
Then why are you so worried, I can feel how feral you are. I remind her, praying she’s right and that this isn’t simply bravado.
Because he’s out there alone somewhere and someone just tried to kill him… they succeeded in killing all his men. She answers, and I can feel the truth in her words.
I don’t know how he managed it, but I will not rest until that bastard is six feet in the ground. Too late
me with the pitying expression of
he didn’t call us Your Highness. My wolf remarks dryly, noting the trend that far too many of the Vanarans
I ask, my hands still resting on my belly.
answers evenly. “At times of extreme stress, your blood pressure can skyrocket to very dangerous levels. In your case it triggered false labor and a dizzy spell which thankfully caused you to pass out before your
have to go back onto
being.” He confirms. “I’m very worried about you, Ella. High blood pressure is very dangerous during pregnancy and you’re under far too much stress. I know the doctors in Moon Valley diagnosed you with preeclampsia, and when you arrived here we thought that the condition had been mitigated by your wolf waking. But based on
I tell him that Sinclair isn’t dead he’ll just think I’m in denial, but I can’t bring myself to lie
sorry to hear about Alpha Dominic.” The doctor tells me sympathetically. “I know it’s
trying to be nice. I
sighs. “You need to rest, Ella. I can’t force you to take anything, but I must encourage you to follow my treatment plan for the sake of your child’s life and your own. Eclampsia kills mothers and babies… even these days with all the technology we
murmur, feeling
to tell me what worries you about
would mean admitting that I believe my mate is alive… and how terrified I am that he isn’t. The truth is that I’m afraid to go to sleep, because no amount of distance can keep us apart in dreams. My mate can even follow me into my deepest, darkest nightmares… so if I sleep and he isn’t there… it will mean he’s really gone. That possibility is just too
to rest.” The doctor answers, thankfully not seeming offended by my response. “But I hope you’ll reach out
he leaves. I’d just started to burrow deeper into my nest, seeking the lingering scent of my mate from the last time we lay here together, when Henry and Cora enter the room. They both
kissing her hair. “I’m
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