Misery’s gaze remained fixed on Bella, her eyes narrowing as she processed what she had just heard. There was a certain weight to her words that made the air thick with tension, and Bella felt her heart race in her chest, a deep sense of unease settling in her gut.
“When was your last cycle?” Misery asked again, her voice quiet but sharp.
Bella’s lips trembled slightly as she recalled the question. She hadn’t paid attention to the passing days, let alone the signs her body was giving her. But now, as the truth slowly settled into her bones, she could feel her pulse quicken. Her fingers brushed against her stomach unconsciously, as if she were trying to protect something that had yet to be confirmed.
“I… I don’t know,” Bella admitted, her voice small. She could feel her breath growing shallow, the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air like a storm cloud waiting to break.
Misery’s expression hardened, her eyes softening with an emotion Bella couldn’t quite place—fear. The older woman’s lips parted, then snapped shut, a flicker of panic crossing her face before she swiftly masked it.
“Bella,” Misery said, her voice dropping into a near whisper. “We need to talk. There’s something you need to understand.”
Bella’s stomach twisted, her heartbeat quickening at the fear in Misery’s tone. She’d never seen Misery like this before. The older woman was usually the pillar of calm, the voice of reason when everything else seemed to be spiraling out of control. But now, there was a sharpness to her words that sent a chill down Bella’s spine.
“Misery, what is it?” Bella asked, her voice trembling slightly. “What’s going on?”
Misery inhaled deeply, as if steeling herself for what she was about to say. When she spoke again, it was with a quiet urgency. “You’re pregnant, Bella.”
The words hit Bella like a punch to the gut. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she couldn’t move, couldn’t think. A dizzying wave of emotions rushed through her—shock, fear, joy, confusion, all blending into a dizzying whirlpool of thoughts that made her head spin.
“I’m… pregnant?” Bella whispered, barely able to process the words coming from her lips. The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating, but the weight of Misery’s tone made her pause. There was something more to this—something that Bella didn’t yet understand.
Misery’s face softened, but the worry in her eyes was unmistakable. “Yes. But Bella, you have to listen to me. A hybrid pregnancy—especially one like yours—is dangerous. I almost died when I was pregnant with you. And the hybrid child inside you could destroy you from the inside out.”
Bella’s stomach turned at the thought. Her mind raced, but she couldn’t find the words to speak. A sense of dread settled deep within her. She’d always known there were risks to her existence, the hybrid nature of her bloodline both a blessing and a curse. But the idea that the very thing growing inside her could destroy her… it was a terrifying thought that she couldn’t shake.
“But… but I’m not like you, Misery,” Bella said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m stronger. I can handle this.”
Misery shook her head, her expression grim. “You don’t understand, Bella. The child inside you—it’s powerful, more powerful than you realize. Your hybrid blood is volatile, and when combined with the child’s energy, it could tear you apart.”
Bella’s hands trembled, and she placed them over her stomach, as if trying to protect the life that Misery was warning her about. But her heart was filled with something else—something that hadn’t been there before. It was joy, a small flicker of happiness that couldn’t be fully contained, despite the fear that gnawed at her from the inside.
“Misery,” Bella said, her voice quieter now, “I don’t care. I can’t just… ignore this. I’m going to have this child.”
Misery’s eyes darkened with concern, and she reached out to take Bella’s hands in hers. “You have to be careful, Bella. This is not just about you anymore. This child is unlike anything the world has ever seen. It will change everything.”
Before Bella could respond, the door to the room swung open, and Kael entered, his face lighting up with a mixture of concern and love when he saw Bella sitting there with Misery. But when he saw the look on Misery’s face—one of pure worry—his expression shifted to one of confusion.
“What’s going on?” Kael asked, his voice thick with concern. “Bella, are you alright?”
Bella opened her mouth to speak, to explain what was happening, but Misery was quicker. She turned toward Kael, her gaze sharp. “She’s pregnant, Kael,” she said, her voice laced with both urgency and frustration. “And you need to understand what that means.”
Kael froze, his entire body going still as the words registered. For a moment, there was nothing but silence, the weight of Misery’s words hanging heavy in the air. Then, slowly, a smile began to spread across his face—an instinctual reaction, a burst of joy that bubbled up from somewhere deep inside him.
“Pregnant?” Kael repeated, his voice filled with wonder. He moved toward Bella, his hands reaching for her, his eyes filled with a kind of raw emotion that Bella hadn’t seen in weeks. “Bella, that’s—” He stopped, his excitement and joy too overwhelming to contain. “That’s incredible.”
Bella felt a rush of warmth flood through her, her heart pounding in her chest. Kael’s reaction was everything she had hoped for, and in that moment, her fears seemed to lessen, replaced by a feeling of security in his love.
But Misery’s voice cut through the moment. “Kael,” she warned, her tone stern, “this isn’t just about you. The baby could destroy Bella from the inside. You need to understand the dangers.”
Kael’s joy faltered slightly, but he was quick to recover, his eyes never leaving Bella’s face. “I don’t care, Misery,” he said, his voice firm. “She’s my mate. And I will protect her, no matter what.”