Not how I’d feel about it. Not how my mates would feel about it. And definitely not why I was dreaming about babies in the first place.
A soft knock on the door had me glancing up as Moira peeked in with a mug of tea in her hands. She offered it with a gentle smile.
“Anything?”
I winced. “I haven’t looked.”
“Want me to?”
Nodding, I brought the cup to my lips and inhaled the soothing chamomile scent.
Moira carefully picked up the test, holding it between her fingers. I stared at her face, trying to read the answer through her expression alone. After a second, she set the test back down.
“Well?”
She beamed at me. “Not pregnant.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks without my permission. I couldn’t tell if I was relieved or sad. A torrent of emotions hit me all at once. “It was so real. She was real.”
“Hold up. Do youwantto be pregnant?”
“No. Not yet. It’s not the right time. But eventually, yes.”
“Then why are you so upset? This is good news.”
“I know. It’s just... I saw my daughter, Moira. She was right there and she was crying for me, and there was nothing I could do to save her. My mother had her, was keeping her from me—” The words came faster and faster until I was hyperventilating and she took the mug from me.
“Sit down. Slow your breathing. You’re going to pass out.”
I did, working to calm myself as she rubbed my temples. A loud banging on the front door had us both jerking our attention out into the hall.
“Who the fuck is that?” Moira grumbled.
I knew. It was one of them. Maybe all of them. I’d lost control of myself and was sure I’d dropped my walls.
“Let me in, Sunday. I’ll stand here all night if I have to,” Alek’s voice boomed.
Moira glanced at me. “I’ll send him away.”
“No, don’t. It’s okay.” The thought of his strong arms around me sounded pretty perfect right about now. I always felt safe with Alek around.
She eyed the test she’d set back on the counter. “You going to mention that?”
“No.”
She picked it up and tossed it into the trash, then unrolled some toilet paper, crumpled it, and added that to the top. “There. No one will know.”
I stood on shaky legs and walked to the front door.
“Sunny, please,” Alek said, his voice softer this time.
Opening the door, my gaze found his piercing blues, and the relief that filled his face made my heart lighter. He didn’t give me an inch. He simply strode inside, wrapped me in his embrace, and held me close.
“I felt your fear,” he mumbled, his cheek pressed against the top of my head. “I had to see for myself that you were okay. What happened?”
“Nightmare.”
I couldn’t trust myself to say more than that. Thankfully, Alek didn’t seem to require further explanation. With a slight nod to Moira, he hefted me up in his arms and carried me back to my bed, laying me down with a reverence that made my belly flip.
“Then I’ll lay here and watch over you until the sun rises. Monsters won’t dare to disturb you while I’m here.”
And fuck if I didn’t believe him.