Raised Among Alphas

50 - New Experiences

Alora POV

The night was cold. I guess it is the winter breeze.

Ithax was sound asleep, hugging me when I first smelled it. Blood.

A hint of panic rushed through me, and then I realized it was mine—my blood. My mind was still foggy from my sleep, and my body was all sore from... well, from earlier. I sat up, trying to get my thoughts together, and then it hit me. Pain.

Not like those pain waves that yearn for Ithax. No. This was cramps. My insides were collapsing. Then panic kicked in. The bed, my thighs, my lower half were all covered in blood. I couldn't see the crimson red, the moonlight was our only light in here, but I could see the darkness underneath me and the smell of rust. And then pain again.

Ohhh no... what do I do? What is this?

"Here, come here," Ithax's voice returned me to reality. I didn't even notice when he woke up.

I stared at him in shock. I don't think I have ever felt this vulnerable before. There's blood coming out of me and all over the bed. How is he not panicking like I am?

Another striking pain forced me to hug my legs, and tears rolled down my face. I don't know where they came from, but here I was—crying my eyes out. Ithax jumped behind me, hugging me close to his chest as he rubbed my belly, warming me up.

"Shh...shh...It's okay, baby." I know he was trying hard to soothe me. It might have even worked if I wasn't all shocked and confused by this whole thing.

His hands around me did help a little with the pain. His body covered me from the cold I felt in my soul. But deep inside, I still felt like rolling into a ball and dying. As for my wolf, she was of absolutely no help. If anything, she was making things worse. Thana was whimpering and crying over not carrying a pup, as if the bitch hadn't agreed with me when we decided to take the shot because we weren't ready.

I braced myself for yet another striking cramp, this time hugging my mate's arms, sobbing from all the chaos inside me.

"Baby, I am going to pick you up and bring you to the tub. A warm bath will help. Okay?"

I nodded against his arm, trying to contain the tears that just kept coming.

"I am sorry," I confessed, not knowing why I was sorry but feeling sorry very deep down in my soul.

"Hey, don't say that. It's going to be okay, it will only last for a couple of days, and I will be with you all the time." Ithax hugged me tight to his chest, picking me up bridal style and carrying me to my bathroom.

Looking back at the bed, I couldn't ignore the huge stain. How could I if it was a staggering sight?

Ithax left me on my feet in the shower as I rinsed the blood of myself while he was running the hot water in the tub. Blood ran down the drain, and it was just so much to wrap my head around that I couldn't hold back my tears. At this point, I was just crying out of confusion.

"The bath is ready, baby." Ithax walked into the shower, and I guess the look on my face was sad enough for him to pull me in for an embrace.

"Talk to me, Alora. What is going on through that pretty head of yours?" He lifted my chin up with two fingers to face him. His eyes were so full of wonder and a hint of pain.

"I don't know... there's so much blood. And... I... well, Thana feels so guilty. I just don't know what's wrong with me... and I am in pain." I was sobbing out my words, fully aware that some of them didn't make sense.

He just stood there holding me tight for a long minute, just letting me cry out my feelings before he leaned down to trap my legs with his hands. A second later, I had my legs wrapped around him as I held onto his shoulders.