Wildfire

Chapter 28

Tobias

I wake up to a shuffling noise outside the cave. I pull the quilts off my body, taking tentative steps towards the doggy door.

I always got nervous when I unlocked the hatch. Even though I knew it would be either Sage or Rue on the other side.

Sage had told Rue where I was a few months ago after overhearing a conversation with him and Kalen. It was nice, being able to see Rue again.

Rue was more than surprised to find out I was pregnant. He told me about him and Shiloh, how they'd been getting along great. He told me about his surgery, and that he and Shiloh might finally be able to have children too.

I was now a little over twenty weeks pregnant. Which meant I'd been living in my cave for five months. My pregnancy would last only two more months.

I felt happy that I was going to be a parent, but scared at the same time. I didn't want to be a bad parent. And I also don't want to raise him or her in a terrible and dangerous environment. I wish that I hadn't betrayed my mates' trust. Betrayed the entire pack. Maybe I would have been able to raise my baby in the pack. Raise him alongside Harper and Kalen.

Sage only brought bad news about my mates whenever he came. Telling me that Kalen was always stressed or angry and Harper didn't talk anymore. Harper has lost a lot of weight. He was almost as skinny as I was before I was pregnant. Which is very thin. But an unhealthy type of thin.

All I wanted was to be with my mates. I feel awful, knowing that they're suffering like this all because of me. All because of my error of judgment. Perhaps they'd be happier if I gave them my baby. Then all three of them can have the life they deserve...

Speaking of babies, I hadn't felt my baby move yet. Only able to feel their strong presence from within my womb. It was strange, looking down to see my swollen stomach. I'd never been this big in my life. I love to rub my belly as I fall asleep. It made me feel less alone most nights.

It brought me comfort, knowing that I was carrying such precious cargo in my body. Maybe it was a motherly instinct that has something to do with me being stuck as a 'fawn' forever. But I loved being pregnant in general. This baby has already brought me so much joy.

I could feel my baby's pain. I tried to take away most of their discomfort while giving them my happiness. I knew they were suffering from the lack of their father figure. As the months passed, the strength was slowly sucked out of me as I transferred it to my baby.

Sage continued to bring me vitamins for my pregnancy, foods, and other things I need. He wanted to try and get my strength up but it never seemed to work. I wasn't that worried about myself though. I was more concerned about the health of my child. Me being so stressed couldn't possibly be good for them.

Sage had successfully taught me how to speak. My words are not pronounced quite right most of the time, but I was getting better. I was proud of myself and I knew Sage was proud of me too.

But even with his support, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed with my warped speech. It sounded dreadful. Sage assured me that he could understand what I was saying to him, but I saw the confusion on his face whenever I tried to speak more than one sentence at a time.

"Toby," Sage greets me as he enters through the small door, shifting into his human form. I smile and wave at him, making him give me a pointed look. "Use your words, Toby. Like I taught you."