Tish POV
I try to keep my eyes on the TV, but they keep wandering over to Raven and Oliver. His head is resting on her stomach and he is speaking quietly to their babies. The sight is both adorable and sickening.
''I've got to get out of here," I mutter.
Raven gives me an odd look. I have been staying with them since I left the hospital. I know Kai is still hospitalized, but I just don't feel safe around Kaden.
The memories are hazy from the night of the attack, but I do remember Kaden pausing. He didn't jump in to save me right away. He let Kai attack me.
"Where do you want to go?" Oliver asks.
"To the bar," I spit out the first place that comes to mind.
"Do you think that is the best idea?" Raven frowns. "We don't know who is on our side."
"Those people needed Cedric, and they need me," I say. "Isn't this what a Luna is supposed to do? Take care of those less fortunate?"
"Usually, they care for those within their pack only," Raven replies.
"That's stupid," I snap. "Everyone deserves love and compassion."
I get to my feet, and Oliver jumps to his. Raven has had one or both of her mates trailing me since the latest attack. I do not get a moment's peace. They wait for me outside of the bathroom, for fuck's sake.
"This is something I need to do alone," I say firmly.
"Tish," Raven sighs, but I don't give her a chance to argue.
"If something happens to me, you can say I told you so," I groan.
Oliver glances at Raven before he tosses me his keys. "Be safe."
I don't want to give them a chance to change their minds. I bolt from the guest suite and run down the halls of the pack house. My side is aching, and I am sure I might vomit, but this is my chance at a small taste of freedom.
I open the pack house door and see Kaden standing on the other side. He looks like shit. Dark circles line his eyes, and his hair is long and messy. His shirt is covered in sweat. I assume he just got back from the gym.
"Tish," he whispers my name.
"Kaden," I respond curtly.
"I thought you were still in the hospital," he says.
I'm not," I say through gritted teeth. His eyes are full of hurt, and it pulls at my heartstrings until the ache in my side returns. I keep my hardened gaze and try to push past him.
"Where are you going?" He demands to know.
"You are in no position to be asking questions," I spit at him.
He steps back, attempting to give me some space, but he makes just enough room for me to slip by him. His hand darts out and grabs my wrist. Tingles spread all over my skin, and I have to work hard to keep my rough exterior.
I calmly look down at his hand and let out a breath. "Let go of my arm."
Kaden immediately releases me, mumbling an apology. I keep walking until I reach the shiny sports car. I climb inside, dropping my purse on the seat beside me, when there is a knock on my window.
I look up and see him peering in, just like the day I first met him.
"Are you coming back?" He whimpers.
"I promised I wouldn't run," I remind him.
That seems to be enough of an answer, and he steps away from the car. I pull away before I have time to think about him. Focusing my mind on the bar, I weave in and out of traffic, trying to decide how I will run things there and be Luna to the South Pack. I will simply have to make time for both.
When I turn into the parking lot, I am shocked to see the number of people waiting outside. So many look hungry and desperate. My heart aches.
Rolling down my window, I shout at the crowd. "I will be back soon."
Peeling out of the parking lot I head to the closest grocery store. Running inside, I grab all the bread, lunch meat, sliced cheese, and bottles of water they have. I feel a tinge of grit when I hand the cashier the pack's credit card. In my mind, I promise to pay it all back.
When I return to the bar, everyone is still waiting. As I unload the bags, many come to help me.
As I open the bar's door and flick on the lights, I notice everything is covered in a thin layer of dust. I should have come back sooner, but there is no time to feel guilty. I turn to the crowd and smile.
"I know it's not a hot meal," I tell them. "I will be better prepared next time. I cleared out the grocery store. Hopefully, there will be enough to go around."
Silently, I pull all the items out of the bags and set them on the bar. I disappear into the back looking for dishes, and when I return, the bar is full of laughter. They have helped themselves and are all chatting like old times. There is a sadness hanging in the air, though. Everyone is missing Cedric.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. There is a number I don't recognize on the screen. This same number has been trying to reach me for days, but I don't answer calls I don't know.
"Hello," I answer after a moment of consideration.
"Luna Tish," a man's voice shouts. "I have been trying to get a hold of you for days."
"Who is this?" I ask.
"Doctor Jones, from the hospital," he replies.
''Oh," I reply. "There is no need to check on me. I am healing fine."
"That is not what this call is about. We misread some of your blood work," he sounds nervous.
A wave of nausea washes over me, and I stumble backward. One of the bar patrons helps me into a chair. Sweat is running down my temples, and I think I might be having a panic attack.
"What is wrong with my bloodwork?" I manage to ask.
"Luna," the doctor's voice lowers to a whisper. "You are pregnant."
My eyebrows knit together, "That is just not possible."
"We checked it twice," he sighs. " Since you are a human, you will need to be more careful than the Luna Queen. Regular check-ups are necessary. Would you like me to notify the Alpha?"
"No!" I shout. "I would like to tell him myself."
"Very well," he grumbles. "I expect to see you in the clinic tomorrow morning."
I hang up the call, and all eyes in the bar are on me. I am aware that most of them have werewolf hearing and likely heard my whole conversation. A woman with a kind face approaches me with a sandwich in her hands, but just the sight makes me sick.
"I'm sorry," I mutter with my hand over my mouth.
Jumping from my seat, I dart to the back room and vomit into the large sink. It feels never-ending, and I grip the edge until my knuckles turn white.
The door creeps open, and everyone looks at me. I wipe the vomit on the back of my sleeve and try to regain some of my dignity.
"No one utters a word of this to anyone," I threaten them. "Or no more lunches."
Everyone quickly agrees, and they go back to their lunch. I stay in the back and pull out my phone. There is only one person I can call at a time like this.
The phone rings a few times before Mae's sleepy voice answers. "This better be good," she groans. "I was taking a nap."
The words fly from my mouth, "I'm pregnant!"