~𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝙱𝙾𝙽𝙽𝙸𝙴 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙲𝙻𝚈𝙳𝙴~

chapter thirty-seven

The early morning sun filtered through the dense trees lining the highway as Bellatrix leaned forward on her bike, her grip tight on the handlebars. The wind whipped through her hair as she followed the convoy of SAMCRO riders down the deserted stretch of road. The sound of roaring engines surrounded her, but something else was drowning it out—the growing nausea that had been plaguing her for the last several miles.

She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to focus on the road, but a wave of dizziness hit her, nearly knocking her off balance. She cursed under her breath, pulling her bike to the side of the road as the others continued ahead. Bellatrix could feel her stomach lurching, and the bitter taste of bile rose in her throat.

"Shit... not now," she muttered, her vision swimming slightly as she cut the engine and dismounted, bending over and gripping her knees for support. The nausea was relentless, and within moments, she was heaving by the side of the road, her stomach twisting violently.

A few of the club members up front noticed her pulling off and circled back. Tig was the first to arrive, his bike skidding to a stop next to hers. He jumped off, a look of concern washing over his face as he rushed to her side.

"Bellie, what the hell?" he said, his voice rough with worry as he placed a hand on her back, gently rubbing circles as she tried to catch her breath.

Bellatrix wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and straightened up, her face pale. "I'm fine," she rasped, though she didn't feel fine at all. "Just—fuck—I don't know. Something I ate."

Tig narrowed his eyes, not buying it for a second. "You don't look fine. You've been off all morning. What's going on?"

She hesitated, feeling another wave of nausea rising but managing to swallow it down. "It's just a bug," she lied, though the gnawing thought in the back of her mind was starting to take hold. Her periods had been irregular lately, and now this... nausea. Morning sickness, maybe?

No. It couldn't be.

"I'm telling you, I'm good," she insisted, though her voice lacked conviction.

Tig's expression softened, but he kept his hand on her back, steadying her. "Bellie, we're not moving until you tell me what's going on. Something's not right."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair and looking away from him, her mind racing. This wasn't the time or place for this conversation, but she couldn't keep it to herself anymore. "I think... I think I might be pregnant," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tig's eyes widened, and for a moment, he was silent, processing her words. "Pregnant?" he repeated, his voice incredulous. "When the hell were you going to tell me that?"

"I don't know if I am," Bellatrix snapped, the frustration in her voice masking her fear. "It's just—I've been late, and now this morning sickness bullshit. I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure."

Tig stared at her for a long moment before letting out a low breath, his hand moving from her back to gently cup her face. "Jesus, Bellie... pregnant."

She looked at him, her eyes conflicted. "I'm not even sure yet, okay? It could be nothing."

He shook his head, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "You've never been nothing to me, Bellie. Whatever's happening, we'll deal with it. Together."

Bellatrix's heart softened at his words, the weight of the situation hitting her fully. The road ahead felt more uncertain than ever, but Tig was right—they'd face it together, just like they always had.

"Yeah," she said, her voice steadier now. "Together."

Just then, Jax and Happy pulled up beside them, engines rumbling as they glanced between Tig and Bellatrix, sensing the tension.