Chapter 0004

I continued to stare at my phone's screen when another text from Nick dropped.

"Meet me at Remus cafe in an hour," it said.

The fact that he was asking me to meet him at a public place was confusing. But then, our secret apartment was now compromised. Also, that cafe was far from campus and his family mansion.

If he'd sent this text a week ago, I would've been over the moon. Meeting and talking to me in public would've meant he wasn't ashamed of me. However, all I felt now was dread mingled with trepidation and sadness.

I looked at the pregnancy test again and decided it was better to deal with everything head-on and at once. At least, I know the full moon wasn't for another week. Besides, it was daytime. He wasn't calling to reject me.

I already knew what he'd say when he found out that I'm pregnant. Not that I am. These kits weren't 100% accurate.

Glancing at my watch, I decided to see the doctor to request an actual test. I had to confirm what was on the stick before I let myself go into panic mode.

Twenty minutes later, the nurse had taken my blood and asked me to come back in forty-eight hours for the results. I immediately left for Remus cafe after checking briefly on my dad.

Across the street from the cafe, Nick's intense grey eyes locked on mine from near the door. Jake was with him and out of habit, I looked away and proceeded to enter the cafe.

As I expected, he didn't make any move to rise from his seat. But he also didn't take his eyes off me. Jake nodded in silent greeting. That was his best friend and future beta who knew all about our secret relationship. I couldn't never tell how he felt about the future alpha sleeping with a lowlife like me.

Distracted, I bumped into someone at the door. It was Richard, Nick's other friend.

"What're you doing here? Shouldn't you be in class," he asked in a friendly tone.

This one had always been somewhat close to nice, but he had no idea about me and Nick, I was dead sure.

"I'm here to grab a bite," I replied.

"Aww, you're exactly two minutes late. I would've let you joined me," he joked.

"Oh, how kind. Thanks, Rich. It's the thought that counts," I returned.

I should've fallen for this gamma instead. I wondered what he would've done if I was fated to him and not Nick.

Though Nick still isn't leaving his seat outside the cafe, I could feel his eyes on me. I stole a glance his way, hoping to guess what he's thinking. His face is without expression as his eyes stay fixed on me.

"See you around, Sara."

Rich held the door, stepping aside for me to go in. To avoid suspicion, I went straight to the counter to order a glass of apple juice. Hopefully, I'll be able to drink it without throwing up soon after. I found the most reserved seat by the corner and walked casually to go wait for Nick.

As I started to sit down, I catch sight of him walking through the cafe's glass door. His eyes swept the place and within a few seconds, they settled on me.

He walked straight to my table and took the seat facing me.

"Should I say it first or will you?" he asked.

"I think you said everything last night. Aren't you worried that your wolves will see us together?" I avoid his eyes as I spoke. My heart was physically breaking.

"Don't act like that's not what you want, Sara. Isn't that what your little confession was about?" His eyes were hard with anger as he said this.

I'm the one in deep shit right now. I'm the one whose heart was falling to pieces. What right did he have to be angry?

"Why did you want to see me?" I asked.

"My family may know about us now but that non-disclosure still stands," he replied. "I just wanted you to know. So if you have any more of those photos, you might wanna burn them. Or keep them as souvenirs if you like, I don't care. As long as no one else sees them."

I was momentarily confused by his words. Then it occured to me.

"You think I told your mother about us?"

"Don't insult my intelligence!" He snapped.

His tone had grown scary. I held back from telling him that he had zero intelligence if he thought I was the snitch.

"You're in trouble if you've mentioned us to anyone other than family. I won't be able to save you," he adds.

Did Megan sign one of those stupid things, too? Or maybe he doesn't know that she knows about us. Instead of mentioning my roommate, I simply said,

"It wasn't me, Nick. My father lost-"

"Don't say I didn't warn you," he cut me off and started to rise.

Summoning a moment of courage, I quickly blurted,

"I might be pregnant."

His face transformed into a look that I would never forget. He lowered himself back to the chair before gasping,

"What?"

I kept my eyes on the drink in front of me.

"Are you trying to be funny?" His voice grew hard and low.

"Do you see me laughing?" I fired back.

He gave a short sigh and spoke through clenched teeth, "I'd be able to tell, Sara!"

"Not if it's less than eight weeks. Also I said 'might.' I wouldn't know for sure till another forty-eight hours," I replied.

"Are you this desperate... and horrible?" He spat. His eyes were filled with so much revulsion that I couldn't help but lower my gaze. It was difficult to have him look at me this way.

It seemed like he was waiting for my answer to his rhetorical question and when none was forthcoming, he spoke again.

"We used protection every damn time. You always took the pill when we didn't!"

My gaze dropped lower and I heard his angry intake of breath before he repeated, "You always took the pill when we didn't, RIGHT?"

When I stole a quick look at his face, the anger I saw sent a chill through me and I quickly replied, "I do."

He waited, knowing that I had more to add.

I went on, "Except for one that time when-"

"Goddess! Fuck! Sara!" He cut me off, rising from the chair.

My heart lurched. I half-expected him to lift the table and hurl it to the glass wall. His eyes burned with terror as he regarded me.

Wow! Me bearing his child was such a horrible thing, huh? Goddess, how could I have been such an idiot.

"You did this on purpose." He pointed accusingly at me.

I got defensive. "It was just ONCE. You got a call and left for home earlier than you used to. I forgot."

"So you're saying it's my fault?" He barked under his breath.

"I'm saying it was a mistake," I replied. We were starting to get an audience.

"I can't believe I trusted you," he said. "That was THE mistake and a very bad one!" Running his hand through his hair, he sat back down.

This reaction was expected. Yet why was it so painful? I chewed my lower lips and forcefully swallowed the tears that were gathering in my eyes.

"It was a mistake, but it's reversible," he said.

My heart sank into my stomach as the meaning of those words dawned on me.

"I don't need to explain why undoing this 'mistake," he used air quotes. "is your only option, do I? I mean you've got school. Your scholarship. I'm sure you're not thinking of letting that go for..." he trailed off as an odd look crept into his features.

I told myself to be relieved over the fact that he didn't expect his mother to cancel my scholarship. As he stared at me, his eyes were full of disgust and disappointment.

"Meg warned me. Of course, bearing a potential heir to Reign Corporations is far better than a measly scholarship in an Ivy league." It sounded like he was thinking out loud as he said this.

He nodded like he'd only just realized an important truth.

"This was the plan all along. Isn't that right, Sara?"