I woke up, disoriented, feeling the soft fabric beneath me. This felt too soft to be my bed. Confused, I propped myself up and looked around, my heart racing. That's when I saw him—a man lying under me. My pulse quickened, and I slowly crept off, careful not to wake him. I glanced around the dimly lit room, searching for a mirror. When I finally spotted one, I approached it hesitantly, my breath catching in my throat. I gasped as my reflection came into view. There, on my shoulder, was a tattoo-shaped mark—a distinct design I recognized from the Midnight Lake werewolves I had studied.
Realization hit me like a bullet to the heart. I had gotten drunk during a one-night stand, but why did I have this mark? My mind raced with possibilities, and anxiety bubbled up inside me. What if we had gone too far? What if I was pregnant? The thought sent a chill down my spine. Panic washed over me as I felt my stomach turn, and suddenly, the remnants of my lunch rose into my throat. I sprinted to the bathroom, desperately trying to process everything. I needed to tell someone about this—about the mark, the wild night, and the fear of what might come next. As I caught my breath, I frantically tried to think of who I could confide in. My best friend? Maybe she could help me unravel this nightmare. But how could I even begin to explain?
A few weeks later, I sat across from my mom at the kitchen table, the weight of my confession hanging in the air. "Mom, I have to tell you something," I said, my voice trembling. "I'm pregnant."
She looked at me, eyes wide, and then glanced at my slightly rounded belly. "Pregnant? But how?"
I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar weight of the secret I had kept since that night. "You know how I got drunk and had that one-night stand? Well, I didn't just become a werewolf; I think I might be carrying the next generation of our kind."
Her expression shifted from shock to understanding. "You're sure about this? Can you feel it?"
I nodded, placing my hand on my stomach. "I can feel the bump, and there's this strange connection, like I can sense something inside me."
My mom leaned closer, her gaze intense. "You know our family has always been different. We need to ensure this baby is safe. Have you told your father?"
I shook my head. "Not yet. I was scared, wondering if we got deep enough for me to get pregnant. But I can't keep this from him."
She took my hands in hers. "You're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together, like we always have. Being a werewolf isn't easy, but our family has faced challenges before."
Just as I felt a flicker of hope, the front door slammed open. My dad rushed in, his face pale and frantic. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low and urgent. "It's about the pack. They've found out... about you. They're not happy."
My heart raced as I exchanged worried glances with my mom. "What do you mean?" I asked, the pit in my stomach deepening.
He took a deep breath, eyes darting to the window. "They believe you're carrying something dangerous. They want to take you... and the baby."
A cold shiver ran down my spine as the realization hit me. My world was shifting once again, and I wasn't just fighting for myself anymore. I was fighting for my child, and suddenly, everything felt like it was spiraling out of control.
Just then, a low growl echoed from outside, sending chills down my spine. I turned to the window, heart pounding, knowing that whatever lay ahead would change everything. The dark silhouette of a wolf emerged in the shadows, its eyes glinting with a fierce hunger. I knew this was just the beginning of a battle I never asked for, and I had to be ready.
