The Healing Heart

Breaking Even

A few weeks go by and now it is winter. The trees are bare with outstretched claws, telling a story with the shadows they cast. Looking past the limbs of the trees as I go by, I can see a pale blue sky. I'm hit by a cold breeze, whipping past with gusto, pushing me down the walking trail. I look at Alex and bump into her on purpose as we walk. She took me on a walk because I've been training, I still can't change at will.

Alex is walking with me holding my hand, in human form she is smaller. "So how is it that you are taller in Were-form, but not as a human?"

Alex smiles. "Genetics, I get it from my parents, not my spirit. I suppose our spirits decide our form's size." We stop, looking over a cliff seeing the orange and yellows that slowly become the rising sun. She rests her head against my shoulder. "I like being shorter then you, it means you can pick me up," Alex says as she blushes.

"How did you become a were?" I wrap my arm around her waist.

She stiffens a bit at first, then relaxes some. "Brandon, my mate. He changed me. We went to the same college, he was walking back from a frat party when he noticed me. He changed right before my eyes and attacked me." She tries to laugh, but it's a dry sound. "It took me a year to warm up to him, but I loved him before his claws or bite... before I even knew him." Her voice takes on a gloomy tone. "He died before I could bear any children. He was attacked in our home, our alpha ordered it. I felt it in the classroom during final exams, the heavy breathing, his last breath... I felt that."

"Alex, I'm so sorry. I did not mean to make you relive that." I pull her into a proper hug and hold her.

I can't imagine feeling Sarah's last breath. We were asleep when she passed, holding me. I remember waking up and knowing without having to move. I laid there for a whole day before my mother came to the house because I did not answer the phone. Mom got Randy and made all the calls. It took Randy pulling me off Sarah so that the officials could take her body away.

I take in a deep breath leaving a ragged sigh. "I wish to go home."

We make our way to the farm and enter the house. It takes a moment to heat the house up after i get the wood burning stove going. Alex's pager goes off. "You are probably the only person in the world that uses those anymore."

"It keeps me from unwanted calls and Interruptions. More use pagers then you would think." She smiles at me. "I've got to go, but if you need anything-"

"I know, call." I stand up dusting my hands off and then hug her. something is off I can feel something within Alex's body, I touch her stomach instinctively.

Alex looks at me concerned. "What is it?"

I look into her eyes then shake my head. "Nothing, I am still getting used to the changes I think. I just feel something that I have not noticed before."

She kisses me softly. "I got to go. I'll see you later, Dart."

I open the door letting her leave. After a while, a pain hits my chest and all I can think about is Alex. I keep myself busy with chores that are way overdue. "Thank you, Randy, for feeding my animals." I start shifting hay from the loft to the main level so I can get the stalls ready before the first snow.

I'm finishing the chicken coop when I hear my name being yelled loudly. "Dart!!!" It is Alex, I start running out of the small building and feel like I'm catching a fastball with my body. "Dart!! I'm pregnant!!" She has tears of joy in her eyes and all I do is holding unable to make a proper sentence. Tears start falling down my face and Alex wipes one side of my face. "Dart? Please say something."

My mouth opens to speak, but I'm still silent. I pick up Alex bridal style and take her into the house. "How did you find out?"

"A pregnancy test, duh." She teases me and then blushes. "When you said you felt something, I had to check."