As Hope and Promise Fade

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Ariana didn’t want to worry Jax. She remembered how scared he had been last night when he found her feeling sick. She tried to ignore the spinning sensation rolling around her stomach now and focused on something else.

The problem with that was everything she thought of made her feel worse. Her father was still out there planning to hurt the pack, the mess with Jax and Marc was very heavy in the air. She blamed herself.

That morning he had driven her home and explained it’d be easier for everyone involved if she stayed away from the cabin. She asked no questions because she knew Jax was worried about her bond with Marc winning again. She wanted to swear to him with all her might that’d nothing would ever happen with Marc again but those were words she didn’t have faith in. The true mate bond was bigger than all of them.

She sat in her bedroom breathing slowly in hopes to stop the pain and sickness around her body. It was normal to feel like this when a child was growing inside of you but she couldn’t help fearing that maybe it was something else. Just because she had managed to conceive with a werewolf while being human didn’t mean it was going to be easy.

Ariana vowed to suffer through it all wearing a smile as long as she and Jax’s child could live a healthy happy life.

“Hey.” Julie greeted as she came into the bedroom. “I heard you were back in town, what’s going on?”

“I couldn’t stand being away anymore. I got used to be home here with all of you and when I went back it was hell.” Ariana explained. “I can do all my classes right here in town.”

“That’s amazing; I didn’t like you being so far anyway.” Julie came over and sat next to her on the bed. “You look green.” 

“I feel green.” Her smile was weak. “It’s nothing major.” She wanted to confide in someone about her pregnancy except the timing wasn’t right. She and Jax agreed to keep it to themselves for the time being and when they did start telling people her mother had to know first.

“If you don’t mind I could use some help with my homework.” Julie wasn’t comfortable asking after noting she was sick.

“It’s fine, I promise. School work always helps me forget about other things so you’d be helping me.” Ariana got up and followed Julie to her bedroom where her books and computer were set up.

Ariana got comfortable in the swivel chair while Julie explained her chemistry and math homework. “It’s so good having you back. Jax sucks at tutoring.” The young girl explained with a harmless smile.

“I’ll try the best I can.”

“I love him to pieces but if you could help Charlie than I should be a walk in the park.” Julie’s blush was faint but as always there at the mention of Charlie Lowell.

They shared a laugh before getting to Julie’s homework which was actually a pretty big science project that was going to need a lot of attention if Julie wanted it entered into the science fair, and she did.

It was some time later while the girls were working on the project outline when their mother stepped into the room. “Are you girls hungry? I’m thinking pizza unless you all want to help me cook something.”

Ariana and Julie shared a look and shook their heads no. “It’d be better if we keep working on this.” Julie added as she motioned to the supplies spread out across her bed and desk.

Mary nodded. “Pizza it is. I’ll let you know when it gets here.”

Ariana was relieved as the day went on that her morning sickness faded away and she could enjoy her time with Julie and being back home where she belonged. She thought about Jax and what he could be up to, he hadn’t called since he dropped her off and said a quick hello to their parents.

She knew deep in her heart the pack was trying to track down her father before he could make a move against them. It worried her about what would happen when that time came. She didn’t want to pick sides, she loved her father with all her heart but she loved the pack too. The pack had never done one wrong thing to harm another person.

She shook her head and tried not to think about all those things she couldn’t control or fix. She wanted her sole focus for the day to be about spending time with her family.

“Pizza’s here!” Mitch called out from downstairs.

Julie dropped the notepad she had been writing in and dashed out of the room. Someone was starving.

Ariana moved at a much slower pace. Her hand moved across her stomach and she hoped the baby wouldn’t get restless if she had some pizza. She hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast to avoid the nausea.

The three of them sat together at the dinging room table to eat as a family. It didn’t matter how much time had passed, Ariana continued to feel weird about family dinners without Jax there. He wasn’t around everyday, he had moved out years ago, but the ache for his presence was still raw when she glanced at the empty seat across from her.

Julie noticed it and offered her best smile of reassurance.

Ariana wished it could be that easy with her just missing him, there was more. Try as hard as she might she couldn’t stop thinking about what came next, not just with her father and the pack but with her and Jax.

He was an amazing man but no one was going to forgive easily for what she had done and how she had lied to his face when he suspected something was bothering her. She feared he was going to wise up and decide it’d be better if they broke up again, permanently this time.

She and Julie finished with dinner around the same time and excused themselves to head back up to work on the project and Julie’s other homework.

Julie frowned as they took up their places again in the room. “I smell something.” She turned her head side to side looking for the cause when her brown eyes focused on Ariana. “You’re bleeding.”

“Bleeding.” Ariana stupidly glanced at the most obvious places before remembering what could be wrong. She lifted her skirt past her knees and saw the dark red streaks running down her legs. “Oh god.”

Julie jumped from her bed. “That looks like too much to be your period.”

Ariana cried as she stood from the chair, “I’m pregnant.”

“Holy shit, what should I do?” Julie was frantic as she tried to help.

“I don’t know. I can’t go to the hospital.” There wouldn’t be a doctor there that would understand what her body was going through being pregnant with a werewolf baby but maybe there was a doctor out there that could. “I need to call Jax.”

“I’ll do it. You get to the bathroom to clean up and try to relax. Maybe it’s nothing serious.” Julie’s shaking hands and worried eyes dampened her optimistic approach.

Bone gripping fear over took Ariana’s body as she carefully left the room and headed Julie’s advice. It wouldn’t help if she stood there and got blood all over the place. After cleaning up Ariana breathed a little easier to see the bleeding wasn’t as heavy. If she had miscarried it’d be much worse. She held on to that bit of information as she changed into fresh clothing and made her way to her bedroom.

Julie was there pacing. “Does mom or dad know?”

“No. Me and Jax just found out and wanted to wait before we told them.” As scared as Ariana was now she didn’t want them to find out yet. “It’s a lot to take in.”

“Yeah.” Julie agreed with a big deep breath. “I know you don’t want to answer a million questions but it’s amazing you and Jax can have a baby without you being turned.” She smiled to express her happiness.

“Thanks. Did you reach him?” Ariana wanted more than to see his face and have him hold her.

“No, he didn’t answer his cell so I called Uncle Marc. He’ll know of a were doctor that can help. He’s on his way.”