2. A rejection.

Lily's POV:

Seven weeks later after the most embarrassing moment in my life, I stumbled into my office on a perfect Friday morning, but something didn't feel right.

The crushing headache that had plagued me for days had intensified, making it nearly impossible to focus on my work. I struggled through the morning, but eventually, my boss noticed my distress.

"Lily, you look terrible. Are you feeling alright?" my boss, Mr. Anderson, asked with concern etched on his face. He stood by the open door to my office wearing an expensive Armani suit.

I looked up from the computer screen I had buried my head and rubbed my tempos for the hundredth time, "I'm not sure, sir. I've been feeling unwell for a while now," I replied, my voice wavering while I leaned into my chair.

Mr Anderson stepped into my office while maintaining eye contact with me, "Maybe you should go home and rest, Lily. Take the day off, get some rest, and come back on Monday when you're feeling better," he suggested.

Grateful for the day off, I accepted his offer and left the office. Exhaustion overwhelmed me, and as soon as I reached home, I collapsed onto my bed, desperate for some much-needed sleep… who knows maybe I caught something from that stranger in that godforsaken town…

Oh God forbid!

I swallowed nervously and yawned.

My body and mind were tired, I just needed one thing and that was sleep… I coiled myself into a fetal position and dozed off in my comfortable bed.

The hours drifted away, and evening enveloped me when I finally woke up in a dark apartment. I stretched still feeling fatigued even after sleeping the whole morning till sunset.

Suddenly my stomach grumbled loudly, I was hungry and wanted to eat something.

I switched on the lights in my apartment and strolled to the kitchen to make a sandwich when the doorbell rang.

Who the hell could it be? I sighed heavily and dragged myself to the door.

When I opened it, Sue walked in.

"Hey," I closed the door and walked back to the kitchen to continue making my sandwich.

"Hey? Is that all you can say to me after leaving work sick…," she snapped while crossing her arms.

I frowned. "I don't understand what you mean," I stopped making my sandwich and looked at her deep frowned face.

"Lily I'm your best friend and the least you could do is call me if you are not well but no, I had to find out from Mr Anderson that he sent you home," she narrowed her gaze at me, I licked my finger because some mayo had splattered on it.

"I'm sorry," I said to calm her nerves and she raised her brow at me.

"Sorry," she scoffed.

"Yes, I am," I said and continued making my sandwich.

Sue and I had been best friends since college, and when we moved to the big city to make our lives better, she came with me hence we considered each other to be the only family in the city.

"Anyway what are you even making over there," she walked closer to me with arched brows.

"A sandwich," I murmured.

"No, you are sick and this won't cut it… here I brought you something better," Worried about my well-being, she brought a lunchbox of warm mushroom soup from her handbag, believing it would comfort me. However, as soon as the aroma reached my nostrils, inexplicable nausea overcame me, and I stopped what I was doing, ran to the bathroom, and ended up throwing up uncontrollably.

"Lily, are you okay," Sue towered over me in the toilet.

"Yes, the smell of the food you brought just didn't sit well with my stomach," I got up and rinsed my mouth by the faucet before facing her.

"Lily, you look pale," Concern laced her face as she witnessed my sudden illness. Wide-eyed, she had an inkling of what might be causing my distress.

"Do I?" I looked at myself in the mirror and she was right. My face was drained of its color.

"Lily, have you considered the possibility that you might be pregnant after what happened in Blood Moon?" she cautiously questioned with shifty eyes.

"What!" I knitted my brows in disbelief.

Me pregnant, after a one-night stand…

The mere suggestion sent shockwaves through me. My mind reeled, trying to comprehend the implications of those words.

In disbelief, I walked to my living room and plopped onto the sofa with slumped shoulders.

"I can't be pregnant from a one-night stand," I murmured while I evaded her sight because I felt embarrassed once again.

Like who the fuck gets pregnant from a one-night stand in this modern society??? I tried to swallow but a lump filled my throat.

Sue came and sat next to me and clasped both my hands. "It is possible if he didn't use any protection," she said and I sighed heavily.

"But I went to the hospital and they swabbed me down there and they said everything was good," I stuttered nervously.

"Girlfriend, a swab can't tell you that you are pregnant, have you had your period this month?" she asked and my heart sank into my guts.

I hadn't seen it for two months since that incident…

Oh crap. My stomach knotted uncontrollably.

How could I have been so careless not to ask for an emergency pill at the hospital…

"I haven't seen my period in two months… so what do I do?" I stuttered faintly.

"I think we need to rule out pregnancy before we make a decision," she said and my heartbeat increased.

A pregnancy test! Me? Oh God, what have I done? I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.

"Okay, let's do that," I said, and Sue immediately got up from the sofa.

"I will be back shortly," she swiftly walked out of my apartment and left me alone with my thoughts.

How did I lose track of my perfect life and get pregnant with a stranger's child… my mind raced back to that night I still had no memory of.

Oh god, please help me out of this one and I promise never to have immoral sex… I cringed my eyes while I said a little prayer.

Suddenly, Sue walked into the apartment.

"I'm back," she held up a plastic bag with the pregnancy test kit.

My stomach churned while I dreaded peeing on the stick.

"Okay, give them to me," I snatched the bag away from her and looked inside, there were five pregnancy test kits.

I pulled a face," I'm sure one is enough," I grimaced.

"No, we need to be extra sure… now do you know how to use them, or maybe I show you?" She questioned and I smirked.

"I'm sure I can pee on the stick alone just fine," I got up from the sofa and went to the bathroom.

Okay, how hard can this be?

With hesitant hands, I took each test, peed on all five, and anxiously awaited the results.

Oh please God, don't let it be positive, I paced back and forth when suddenly, Sue peeked into the bathroom unannounced.

"Are you done?" She asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Not yet but feel free to come in and wait with me," I said, my voice laced with sarcasm. Sue stepped into the bathroom and her eyes stayed glued on the sticks laid on the edge of the faucet... The two minutes to wait seemed to go by in a blur.

One by one, they all displayed those two fateful lines that confirmed my suspicions. I was pregnant for a man I barely knew.

My stomach flipped with endless somersaults while my vision blurred. I stumbled backward and Sue got hold of me.

"Lily," she helped me back to the living room, I plopped into the sofa.

I'm pregnant!

The revelation hit me like a ton of bricks, overwhelming me with disbelief and confusion. How could this happen? I had only shared a one-night stand with a stranger during a drunken escapade at my previous working site. I never expected this consequence.

Sue sat down next to me and looked at me, her eyes filled with empathy. "Lily, I know this is a lot to take in, but we'll figure this out together. It's important to know who the father is. Do you have any idea?"

My voice trembled as I responded, "I barely remember his face, Sue. He was just a stranger I met that night in Blood Moon."

Determination filled Sue's eyes, unwavering in her loyalty and support. "Well, then let's find him and tell him the good news ourselves," she declared and I frowned at her idea.

Like which man would accept a pregnancy from a one-night stand he probably didn't even enjoy or remember.

"No, that's not a good idea," I stuttered faintly as I thought of another plan.

"Not a good idea??? Lily, what will you tell your parents of who is the father of your child?" She questioned with narrowed eyes.

"I don't know but I will figure that out when the time comes,"

"Okay fine and work, what will you tell our HR who reminds us every day that being pregnant without being married in the company is prohibited by the boss?" She tilted her head to one side with a What-will-you-do-then look…

I heaved a sigh while tears welled up in my eyes.

I didn't plan this part of my life.

"Okay fine, I will go with you only because he deserves to know because he is the father," I said and Sue clapped her hands.

"Great, now let go, where are your car keys?" She asked while picking up her handbag.

"On the kitchen counter," I pointed and she hastily grabbed them.

"Hurry, change into something sexy for your baby daddy," she teased and I sneered internally.

"Very funny," I grabbed my coat, and out we both left…

We embarked on a lengthy drive to reach the obscure and unwelcoming town where my supposed baby daddy resided. Our spirits were high, fueled by the need to confront him and inform him about the situation he unknowingly contributed to.

Upon arriving in Blood Moon we were faced with unwelcoming forces once again, but Sue insisted we see the guy who lived in the mansion hence we were escorted to the said address.

"This is so strange," I said in a low tone.

"Yeah, maybe he is some kind of mayor of their town," Sue suggested… and soon enough, we arrived at the mansion I lost all my virtue as a woman.

I swallowed nervously and followed Sue behind her… This place brought me bad memories I had forgotten.

"Wait, here," the battler to the mansion led us to the foyer.

"Wow, this place isn't that bad Lily," Sue tried to encourage me to be more confident but the memories I had of this place couldn't allow it.

I forced a smile when suddenly a formidable familiar woman, radiating an air of authority and poise walked into the foyer.

"Yes, how may we help you?" She looked at us from head to toe, I felt my breathing increase.

"Hi, my name is Sue and this is my friend, Lily, we are looking for a young man who lives here," Sue blurted out without care, the poised woman shot her a disdainful look.

"You must be talking about my son, Blake. I'm his mother, Mrs Smith so whatever you want to say to him tell me and I will pass the message to him," She introduced herself as the mother of the man we were looking for as she continued to let out a sour expression on her face.

Sue's frustration grew, her determination unyielding. "We need to speak to him privately. It's crucial," she demanded firmly. I on the other hand cowered behind my friend.

I hated confrontations as they made me very uncomfortable.

"Fine, give me a few minutes," Sensing an unspoken tension, the mother left the room to call on her precious son who had a boom coming his way.

I swallowed nervously while I fidgeted.

"Not to worry Lily, I will tell him myself if I have to," Sue comforted me but that is not what I wanted. I wanted to be the bearer of the good news myself.

"Thanks, Sue, but it's best he hears it from me and not you," I stuttered faintly while I kept looking around the elegantly decorated room which had definitely changed from my last visit.

Suddenly the door swung open again, I locked eyes with the man from the portrait, the man responsible for my predicament.

Oh fuck! The guy was a great Greek god of perfection… I swallowed slowly while I gwaked at his eyes I suddenly recalled.

"Hey, I'm Blake Smith," he introduced himself while his gaze stayed glued on me the whole time, I blushed while I looked to the floor.

"I'm Sue and I'm sure you remember my friend Lily Conner here from two months ago," Sue crossed her arms across her chest.

"Yes," he responded in a husky voice, my core knotted while I tried to control my breathing.

This guy was like a Greek god standing at 6 feet tall, with beautiful blue eyes, a chiseled jawline, kissable lips, perfect dark hair, a toned body, and styled clothing…he had it all.

Maybe he can be a perfect partner and father to our baby.

I swallowed nervously while I sneaked secret glances at him.

"How many I help you?" His voice projected, and my mind came back from cloud nine.

"My friend has something to tell you," Sue nudged me forward, urging me to speak up, to explain why we had sought them out. However, standing in Blake's presence, I felt small and intimidated. My words stumbled out, barely coherent.

"Umh, I need to,"

The conflicting emotions in his gaze unsettled me. His mother's disapproving look lingered in the background, casting a shadow upon our meeting marking things even worse.

"Go on Lily tell him," Sue encouraged me but my tongue got tied up.

I could not bring myself to say the word pregnant to a man a barely knew…

"Enough, " he raised his hand to our faces, I frowned.

Why was he acting like an asshole before I could tell him what we came for???

"I, Alpha Blake Smith of Blood Moon reject you Lily Conner as my Luna and mate, "His response was quick and merciless even though I had no clue what he meant by rejecting me but it cut through me like a sharp blade, leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed. The disappointment in Sue's eyes mirrored my own pain.

"You can't do that you assho.." Sue tried to interrupt whatever just happened but I held her back.

I wasn't going to force anything on him.

"It's okay Sue, let's leave," Feeling dismissed and devalued like aways, I decided to leave before we were thrown out like stray dogs by Blake's mother, shattering any hope of finding support or understanding from that encounter.

"What, why Lily, that jerk deserves to know that you are carrying his child and not hide behind his stupid mother," Sue said in a high-pitched voice while we got back into the car.

I slumped into my seat while I held back tears from spewing out of my eyes.

"He doesn't deserve to know what is growing inside of me," I rubbed my flat belly protectively. A tear trickled down my face.

"Oh Lily, I'm so sorry for this," she rubbed the tear away, but more tears trickled down my face.

"How could I have been so stupid," I cried while my lips quivered.

"You are not stupid hun, it's him who is very stupid," she insisted and I let out a painful chuckle.

Sue was right. That Alpha Blake Smith or whatever he called himself was the stupid one in this case.

"So what will happen now?" Sue inquired and for the first time in my life, I had no idea or control of what was to happen next...