Sorry

twenty three

abia kamin

I woke up to extreme nausea. All my dinner had landed in the toilet. When I arrived downstairs, Damon's expression made it clear that Luna had informed him of my pregnancy. They both drove with me to Rowan's house. I hoped that they would stay in the car because this didn't need to be made bigger than it had to be.

Luna's words last night sunk in. I slept on everything that she had to say and I understood the danger that my baby would be in. My parents were already concerned with my siblings and I's safety due to us being werewolf and witch. My baby would be werewolf, witch and vampire. Not only would the witches want my baby, but so would other supernaturals. They would use it and the idea of that scared me. Everything scares me right now, and the fact that I don't have Mateo here to tell me that things will be okay is heart wrenching.

We arrived at the Ardon's house and my siblings stood beside me while I knocked on the door. After a few knocks, Isabelle came to the door. I was under the impression that she wasn't staying in town for long. Her eyes darted to Damon's and they had unspoken communication that I couldn't understand. I really need to ask him what's going on between them.

"Hey," Rowan came down the stairs into the foyer. I smiled at him as Isabelle opened the door wider for me to come in.

"Can we talk?" I asked him before his eyes scanned my siblings. He gestured for me to follow him. We walked through the house until we got to the backyard. My siblings were left behind and it was now just us. "I think you know why I'm here," I sat myself down on a lounger. He crossed his arms, pacing around in front of me.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I can guess."

"I need Mateo," I told him and he scoffed. I looked down to my lap. I've been texting and calling him since the moment that I woke up, but he hasn't bothered to respond.

"You and me both. I've been trying to contact him since the moment I realized you're pregnant," his voice cringed around the word pregnant and it made me the slightest bit self conscious.

"I don't understand."

He turned his back to me while he watched the horizon. "Mateo likes to be alone. This is normal for him. Prior to us living here, the last time I saw him was ten years ago. He likes to keep to himself," Rowan gave me the answer that I didn't need to hear. If Mateo isn't in contact with his own brother, there's no saying when he will be back.

"I'm scared, Rowan," I expressed aloud. Pregnancy is scary alone, let alone when you're carrying a tribrid child that people are going to want to steal from me or kill.

Taking in a deep breath, he turned around to look at me with eyes that I've never seen before. Rowan is a kind man. Much less colder than Mateo. But I'm not naive and I know that he's a killer.

"I won't let you suffer from my brother's actions. I'll help you, okay? You won't go through this alone," he assured me and I shook my head from the guilt. This isn't the life that he signed up for. It's not his baby and there's still a risk for anyone in his family having affairs with anyone in my family. That's exactly why Mateo had to leave. It's not fair to ask Rowan to endanger his life because of me.

"I can't ask you that," I muttered, feeling my eyes fill with tears. I thought about kids when I was younger. I thought about them for fun. This was not how I would've wanted things to go.

He knelt down in front of me. "You're not asking. I'm going to help you anyway you deem necessary and I promise I won't let anything happen to your baby," his thumb went up to wipe my tear away.

With a quick nod, I thanked him for his kindness. My arms went around his neck, pulling him into a hug that he didn't expect but I really needed one. I shut my eyes, hiding my head in his neck. A quick inhale of his scent told me that he really was nothing like Mateo.

"Let's go inside and figure out a plan, okay?" He whispered, softly running his hand up and down my back. After letting go of him, he held my hand to bring me back into the house. I never noticed until now how tall he is. Just like his brother, my head doesn't yet reach his shoulder. They have similar physiques. With Mateo around I had complete tunnel vision.

We got to his kitchen and my siblings along with Isabelle were standing. Things didn't look bad. They were all breathing fine and no one looked like they wanted to rip the others head off.

"Holy shit. So it's true," Isabelle's eyes went to my stomach then up to my face. It made me the slightest bit sad that everyone was able to hear my baby's heartbeat before me. And they all knew about the pregnancy before Mateo. This seems like something that I should have told him first. But it's not my fault. He isn't around and made it clear he's done with me. "Vampire and witch babies are a thing. And you're about to have my brother's baby."

Based on what Luna explained, these babies are not common. And if I'm unlucky enough for my baby to still come out as a witch, it'll be a heretic. A stupid term used for witches that are also vampires. But I would never let my baby be taken away by some coven and raised like them.

"Does Jemmy know?" Rowan asked while I took a seat on the bar stool. He would not let go of my hand and I was happy. He was the exact comfort that I needed. His thumb stroked the top of my hand and my stomach felt fuzzy.

"No. I think we can get away with her not finding out. She's leaving at the end of this week. We all were, but I'd rather not have to rely on vampires to help my sister through her pregnancy. So I'll be staying," Luna's hand went through her hair. She was agitated and not happy about this. My siblings all have their own lives that they are now forced to be put on pause because of me.

"You don't have to stay. She'll be fine without you," Rowan insisted and Damon looked at Isabelle who had the nastiest grin on her face. I really didn't like her.

"I have no interest in killing a pregnant woman. Especially not my brother's child. But what I will say is that it would make things a lot less difficult," she mumbled the last part but we all heard it loud and clear. She's been very vocal about wanting to kill me for the sake of protecting her family. "How do you plan on keeping this from your parents?" Isabelle questioned and that wasn't something I thought about right away. In the months to come, I'll be growing a child in me and gaining weight. There is no keeping that from them.

"Your graduation ceremony is at the end of the week. After that you'll be done school. When you start showing, I think you should move in here. Tell your parents you're at some internship in Utah or something," Rowan suggested which wasn't a bad idea at all.

"No. No. She's not moving in here. Are you forgetting that we are supposed to have no parts in this family? As in, let a witch catch us alone with them and we're killed on spot? No," Isabelle refused and had good reason. Rowan's jaw tightened like he was willing to argue with her about the matter but I stopped him.

"She's right. I think your family is already in enough danger."

"Why can't she live with you guys?" Isabelle asked both my siblings. They live in different states although not being more than a two hour drive away.

"I don't live on treaty land. It's already dangerous for me to live there. I don't think both of us being there is a good idea," Damon spoke up. He lives in a bigger town than this, but still small. He's gotten close with his community and I don't think they see him as a threat despite being werewolf and witch. But bringing me and my baby there wouldn't be seen as a friendly gesture. Same goes for Luna. They'd both be risking a lot by letting me live with them.

"There's treaty land in Maine. You'd be safe there. No one would have to find out about your baby," Rowan suggested and I remember Mateo mentioning Maine as well. I would live there and have my baby there quietly without anyone finding out. But my hesitancy must have been obvious before he squeezed my hand. "You won't be there alone. I told you, I'll help you." Rowan would be living there with me. Like some kind of family, except with his brother's baby.