One

TESSA

“Are you feeling okay, baby?” Adrian asks for the umpteenth time, trailing soft kisses from my cheeks to my nape.

We are both cuddled on the bed, with our hands intertwined and my body fully resting on his. I feel another retch running up my throat but I try to suppress it.

Still, it pushes up to my mouth and I run hastily to the bathroom, kneeling in front of the toilet seat and throwing up my guts again. I feel so terrible and short of my breath but the retching won’t stop.

Strong hands caress my back as I feel Adrian behind me.

“And that’s the eighth time this morning. Where the fuck is Will?” He rasps, and I can hear the worry in his voice. No doubt he’s very much disturbed by my condition.

“I’m fine, Adrian. It’s just –“ I groan, as I try standing on my feet but my eyes twirl a bit and I’m almost falling to the floor.

Adrian catches me in his arms and carefully leads me back to the bedroom. He helps me lie on the bed, and cuddles next to me, holding me securely in his ripped arms.

“I don’t know what this is, but we’re gonna figure it out. I hate seeing you sick, you know that,” He whispered, kissing my cheek and running his hand through my hair.

I smile softly. No matter how sick I’m feeling, it will never stop the butterflies from letting loose in my stomach each time Adrian says heart-melting words.

Adrian Hearst is the Alpha of Silvermoon Pack and has been my mate for three years now. I’ve known him longer than that though because my late foster father was Beta Stefan and he was Adrian’s father’s Beta.

I never got to know my real parents but I received all the love a parent can give from Beta Stefan. The man loved me like his own, and losing him had been really traumatic.

Just at the same time, Adrian lost his father and had to take up the Alpha position. We found each other at the mating ceremony and confirmed we are fated mates.

It was the happiest day of my life because I’ve always had a huge crush on him. What are the odds that he will end up being my mate, right? I couldn’t believe it.

Most days, I wake up feeling like it’s all one happy dream and it will end soon but then he reminds me in more ways than one, that what we have is for real and it will last forever.

“I love you, Adrian. I can never say that enough,” I say softly, deeply inhaling his mesmerizing scent and letting it chill the chaos rumbling inside me.

“I love you more, Tessa. That’s why I feel like crap right now. I hate seeing you like this, it breaks my heart,”

“I’m fine…”

“No, you’re not. Don’t lie to me. That’s gonna hurt more,” Adrian sighs, resting his face on mine. “I already sent for Will. I don’t know what’s taking him so fucking long."

Will Greg is the Pack’s doctor and Adrian’s trusted friend. I can’t wait for him to get here and tell me what ailment is wrong with me. I just pray it's nothing serious. I don’t wanna make Adrian more anxious than he already is.

“I’m sure he’s on his way,” I mumble, feeling another retch in my throat. It starts closing up and I hurry down from the bed, dashing into the bathroom.

A knock resounds on our door but I’m more focused on emptying whatever lump had crept up my throat. It goes on for a whole minute before I return to the bedroom.

“Luna Tessa,” Will greets with his signatory weary smile, and I slightly bow my head in acknowledgment.

I may be his Luna but he’s old enough to be my father, so yeah, I still give him that respect.

“Run a million tests on her, Will. I gotta know what the fuck is wrong with my Luna.” Adrian says and comes over to me. He kisses my forehead, “I’ll be waiting outside. Call me if you need me.”

“Okay,” I nod and he leaves the room, and it’s just Will and me.

Half an hour later, Adrian is back, and we’re seated on the bed, waiting for Will to tell us what ailment had befallen me.

“Tell us, Will, please. I need to know. Is it serious? Does she have to undergo surgery?” Adrian quizzes him heatedly.

“No, Alpha. She doesn’t have to.” Will replies, but his face is squeezed. He looks worried. What could be wrong? Am I dying?

No, I can't die. I can't leave Adrian in this world all by himself. He needs me. He needs his Luna.

“Then what? C’mon, Will, please. You need to tell us something,” Adrian pleads, almost sounding croaky from the wetness in his voice.

“I can’t say it, Alpha. Do you mind if I write It down, please?” Will requests.

“Sure,” Adrian grabs his notepad and tears a sheet from it. He grabs a pen from the nightstand and hands it over to him. “Scribble it in there,”

Will pens down something I can’t see from where I’m sitting and hands it over to Adrian.

He takes a few seconds to read it and his expression darkens. His face contorts menacingly. Suddenly, he breaks into a dark, humorless laugh.

“You’re kidding, right?” Adrian asks, waving the paper slightly in the air. “This can’t be real.”

“I’m sorry, Alpha, but it’s real. I’m as shocked as you are, and I don’t have a valid explanation for it,” Will asks in an apprehensive tone.

“Adrian, what’s wrong?” I ask, trying to touch him but he evades my touch, standing to his feet and putting a good distance between us.

My heart shatters and I stare unbelievably at him. Adrian has never evaded my touch, no matter how pissed he gets. He never takes it out on me, I’m always the only person who can stick around him when he’s in his worst mood. The only person he has a real, soft spot for.

Why did he just evade my touch?

“Adrian, what’s wrong?” I ask, standing too but I don’t go close to him. I feel like he may snap my neck if I do, and I’m not even sure why.

His eyes hover around my frame and his jaw twitches like he’s suppressing a tsunami of rage. It makes my heart skip a beat.

“Adrian, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me,” I say, feeling nervous.

“Is there something you wanna tell me, Tessa? Something shitty you’ve been doing behind my back?” He asks in a cold tone.

“No, Adrian. What are you talking about?” I ask, growing more terrified.

“I’m talking about this, Tessa!” He yells angrily, raising the paper, “It tells you’re a few weeks pregnant!”