9: THE GOOD NEWS

The day of the ball arrived, but Jessica was feeling a bit under the weather. She was having fainting spells and an upset stomach. She kept vomitting out all the meals she had ingested.

Yes, she wasn't a stranger to illnesses, but she thought since the beatings had stopped, and she had access to a little more food she would be getting stronger instead of feeling like complete crap, so she took a trip to the pack hospital to do a routine checkup.

She entered the hospital, trying to ignore the pain in her body. This wasn't like her. She had been sick before but not like this. She couldn't pinpoint the cause of it. The white corridors and smell of ammonia were driving her insane.

"Let's just get this over with," she said to herself.

********

Half an hour later, the doctor was giving her the news of her test results.

"Well Miss Thornton, I believe I have identified the reason for your illness," the doctor stated.

"And?" Jessica asked, shaking her legs, waiting for the answer.

"Congratulations, you're a little over a month pregnant."

"What? Doctor, are you sure?" She demanded. Her period was only a few days late which was normal for her.

"Yes, I'm positive. It showed in your urinalysis and also your blood work. You'll be having a little pup in six months," the physician beamed, then she saw the worried look on Jessica's face, so her eyes fell to her neck. "Oh my," the doctor gasped. "You are not marked."

This was frowned upon in the pack, to get pregnant by a wolf that wasn't your mate. Jessica quickly tried to explain herself.

"No I'm not, but the baby belongs to my true mate, we just haven't marked each other as yet. He's waiting to tell his parents about me first."

The doctor gave her a pitied look. “Miss Thornton, I've worked as a doctor here for twenty years, and I've encountered many young she-wolves like you who arrive unmarked and pregnant, and they provided me with the same explanation you just shared.”

"And so?" Jessica got defensive.

"And so, none of their mates ever claimed them," the doctor explained sadly.

"Well my mate loves me, and he would never do that," Jessica said with an angry tone. "I'm not like the other girls."

"Is your mate of a high rank?" The doctor asked.

"Yes," Jessica responded. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Then you and those other girls are quite similar,” the doctor sighed. "Miss Thornton, just like you, they were low ranks and their mates were of high bloodline," the doctor continued. "Just like you, they slept with their mates without being properly marked and just like you, they got pregnant, then were rejected by their mates."

"You're just trying to scare me. I know you're friends with the Luna,” Jessica scoffed. “And I’m nothing like them, my mate will never reject me and his baby.”

"Believe what you want to believe, Jessica. But the truth is, no high ranked wolf in this pack wishes to be mated to an omega," she added. "I've yet to see that happen." She handed Jessica her vitamins.

Hurt and frustrated, Jessica couldn't take what this doctor was saying any more. She stuffed the pills in her bag and bolted out of there.

"Who the hell she think she is? Cory loves me and when I tell him I'm carrying his pup, he won't wait another day to mark me," she said to herself, with tears streaming down her face.

She hurried to the pack house, excited to tell Cory the news of her carrying their first pup. They had conversations about having four pups when they got married, even though this wasn't expected so soon, he'd have to mark her now, right?

Jessica was so far gone in her thoughts and happiness that she didn't see the Luna coming in the opposite direction. She ran into the she-wolf, whose scornful gaze could turn you to stone.

"Watch where you're going, you mutt," she extended her palm and slapped Jessica over her face. It had been so long since Jessica was hit, she almost didn’t remember how painful the Luna’s slaps were. "How many times have I told you not to be seen in the main house? You're not married to my husband yet."

"I'm so-sorry, Luna, I was just —"

"Save it," the Luna cut her off. "I was on my way to get you anyhow. We are having hundreds of Alphas and Lunas as guests at tonight's ball, so we'll need all the abled hands in the kitchen to prepare the food," she said. "And when you are finished, go wash up and get dressed in something less filthy. I don't want them to think we are running a sty here." The Luna spat.

"Yes Luna."

"And if I ever see you using the front doors again before you marry Conroy, I will whip you until my arms fall off. You got that?"

"Yes ma'am," Jessica nodded, smiling inside. This would be the last time the Luna would speak to her like this. Cory will soon claim her before his father can marry her, and Alpha Conroy will have to pass the pack down to his son since he has found his true mate.

"Now get out of my sight before I feed you to the rogues," she snarled, and Jessica scurried away to the kitchen.

Having spent four hours helping the other omegas prepare the meals, she quickly left for the barn when they no longer needed her help. After a swift bath, she changed into the blue dress that Cory was dying to see her wear.

"I can't wait to tell Cory the good news,” Jessica beamed with joy and happiness.