him//i.

the surprise inside.

"There's no way you can know all that by what I've just told you mom!"

"You're a female were, I am a female were who's had children. Honey, I know the symptoms of being pregnant as a werewolf and it's completely different than humans."

"Elaborate."

"Well for one, we don't have morning sickness. No vomiting, not nausea. What we get are excruciating headaches. They'll worsen over the next few months and no amount of medicine will relieve you. If your special, like I was, y0u'll develop a temporary gift. This gift will most likely be the gift your child will have. Blackouts are another symptom. When I was five months, I woke up covered in blood head to toe. Till this day, I have no idea what happened or who I may have killed. Our pregnancies are also quicker than humans. We are only pregnant six to the usual nine."

"I'll just take a test. Problem solved."

"Human test won't work."

"So what? I wait until my stomach enlarges?!?"

"Don't be silly. You have to take a moon test."

"A moon test? That sounds dumb."

"She laughs, it's the only way to find out fast. You're in luck, there's a full moon tonight."

"How does the moon tell me I'm pregnant? Will my stomach glow in the dark?"

She laughs even harder, "You get your humor from me. No, you simply won't be able to change."

"At all?"

She shakes her head, "We can't change while our child is in the womb. That's how you'll know."

I stand quickly finishing my lemonade, "I have to go home and process this. I can't be pregnant, I'm barely an adult."

"Good thing you'll have something I didn't."

"What's that?"

"Your werewolf mother."

I smiled.

"I don't know if I've ever told you this, but both my parents died when I was a kid. This alpha from another pack kidnapped my mother and tried to force her to bear his children. My father died trying to save her and my mom killed herself so her body couldn't be used as a vessel. I was left with my aunt. I know you've always had a hard time understanding why I kept your brother and you to your father, but please know, I was only trying to protect you. If you are pregnant, pray to God you have a boy. I don't ever want you to go through what I went through."

We both had tears falling down to our cheeks.

I've never felt more closer to my mother than I did today.

"Babe. Babe. Babe wake up!"

I jumped up and looked around in shock.

Carian eyed me, "You okay? You have a nightmare?"

"Umm, what time is it?"

"Seven?"

"PM?!"

"Are you okay?"

I don't remember leaving my mother's, or driving home, or going to bed. Six hours ago.

"Yeah. Fine."

"Moon will be out soon. Let's go for a run."

I nod still feeling disoriented and followed him outside. We got undressed in the woods as the moon shined in its fullest.

"Race you to our spot." Carian winked at me and started shifting. When he was on all fours, he took off running. I took a deep breathe and waited for my body to react.

Nothing.

Come on damn it! Change!

I wonder can I force a change? I've done it before by accident and even managed to stop it.

I focused on my arm and singled it from my body. When it twitched I doubled over in pain.

I quickly put my clothes back on in tears and ran back into the house.

"I couldn't do it!"

"Calm down I can barely understand you."

"I couldn't change! Then when I tried to force it."

"You should never force a change."

I shook my head, "I can't do this."

"Honey you'll be fine. I'll be there for you and—

"No. I won't do it."

"Astrid."

I hung up before she could say anything else, grabbed my keys, and took off in my car.

I let myself into Peter and Piper's home with my old key. Piper's in college and I haven't spoken to her much lately, but Peter stayed in St. Helena and has been going to school locally. So I see him from time to time. And I really need his help with this situation. I need a friend to talk to.

"Peter I need you—
I screeched immediately shielding my eyes as I ran back downstairs. Eww, eww, eww, eww! What the fuck did I just walk into!

"Astrid! Astrid wait!"

"No, no, no, no." I mumble to myself as I raced to my car. I can't deal with this right now, I don't want to discuss it.

I drove off as a half naked Peter and DACEY stood in my rear view.

Well looks like Dacey and Peter have some explaining to do, but will Astrid's secret top it all. Find out on the next chapter of him//i.