EPISODE ONE.
Albina's Pov.
"Elio!" I screamed at the top of my voice as we both came together. He held my shaky hands carefully, and I collapsed beside him immediately. We both gave ourselves enough time to catch our breath and regain our energy.
"You good?" Elio asked, breaking the deafening silence between us.
I nodded weakly and crept into his arms. He wrapped them around me warmly. Elio grabbed the towel behind me. He stuffed it in between my laps to stop me from getting sweaty.
"Thank you," I muttered under my breath. After four years of our mated marriage, we still find ourselves falling in love again. The bond is getting stronger. Elio is the sweetest mate one could ever wish for. He never gets mad or unbearable, even though he's the Alpha who deals with lots of sh*t every passing day. He's still the best husband and companion I've ever seen, which makes me love him so much.
"Your appointment!" I gasped, shredding myself away from his grasp immediately. I can't believe that I totally forgot about the meeting he's having with the elders.
"Oh, that can wait." He huffed nonchalantly and planted some kisses on my forehead.
I smiled back at him, but the smile got replaced with a crumpled look as my throat made a violent lurch, pushing the ugly bile into my throat.
"That,again?" Elio asked in a familiar tone. I've been experiencing this ugly feeling and constant vomiting for the past few days, and I had no idea what caused it.
I ran to the toilet as fast as my leg could carry me. I emptied all the contents of my stomach, including the food I just ate a few hours ago.
"I told you to let us call the pack's doctor's attention to it. Why are you so stubborn?" Elio asked in a concerned tone the moment I came out of the bathroom.
"I thought it wasn't serious."
"Even at that, we shouldn't take our health issues lightly. You know how sensitive this is to me."
"I'm sorry,Elio. I will send my beta to call him in the room."I assured him.
Elio's eyes look restless and anxious. I know we won't be expecting the common and normal news for couples, but he looks so worried and unsettled.
"Elio." I called in a more firm tone. He stared at me and sighed emptily.
"I sent mine to call her already. Don't worry."
I know the order coming from Alpha will be faster and more effective to execute, which I don't want. I don't want to meet the doctor. I don't have the fear of the prickly pain caused by the thick metal syringe, but I do. Elio's Mom. Lucia. The former Luna.
"I know you hate her presence. But he was rest assured,I curb her already."Elio assured me as we settled on the softly cushioned bed.
"It's fine." I mumbled, resting my head on his lap as we awaited her arrival.
Lucia's presence was made known by her heavy wooden perfume and the daring sounds coming from her heels. I raised my head from Elio's lap to pay my respects to her.
"Hey,son." Lucia greeted me sweetly. I greeted her also, but only answered with a snort.
"Mom." Elio warned in a strict tone.
"Guess you let me on the shores of your pack house just to ridicule me in the presence of your Luna?"She complained, throwing daggers at me with her dangerous eyes.
"And I will kick you out without hesitation if you keep staring at her that day."Elio threatened. He was already raising his voice, but I held him back.
"How do you feel?" Lucia diverted her attention back to me, ignoring her son.
I feel guilty a little bit because if Elio didn't go against his mother's orders and chose me as his Luna, therefore rendering her abilities useless, they would not be having this feud between them.
"A little bit dizzy. I have a change of appetite, tiredness and I vomit a lot." I explained distinctly. She creases her brows in confusion, staring at me like I didn't just explain in plain words.
"Are you sure that's what you feel?" She asked.
"Mom, she's not a baby." Elio defends.
"Yes, I've never felt this way before. It's new and not that pleasant." I answered. I thought my answer would relieve her expression, but it didn't.
She took a deep breath before proceeding with the test.
They did lots of activities, some of which included checking my private part with a poking object.
Minutes elapsed, which turned into an hour, and finally, Lucia got the result. She checked the last object, which will determine the status of my health. She checked and checked. Her workers, who accompanied her, whispered amongst themselves discreetly, which got me confused.
"Mom." Elio called her attention back to us, but she didn't respond. Her eyes were fixated on the object.
What's happening to me?
Am I dying?
Did I commit a great offense?
"Mother!" Elio called again, sternly this time around.
"My mouth is heavy. My tongue refuses to move. My lips gave up on me. I don't think I can."
"What are you talking about?" I jabbed in immediately, looking restless.
What's happening to me?
"Then, fucking communicate with me!" He roared in anger, flaring the duvet that covered the both of us in her face.
"Elio!" I yelled, putting him at bay, but he was already calm.
My words aren't what calmed him down. They didn't. But the things Lucia said to him did.
He slowly let the clothes in his fists slide down on the floor, as if he were in a trance. Elio stood in that static position for minutes; no one tried forcing him out of his reverie. I let him be. I didn't know what they talked about. But it was all about me.
And judging from Lucia's expression, it's not a good thing.
"Elio, what's going on? Let me have an idea about this. What's wrong with me?" I nudged him desperately, but he reared away from me, raising his left hand, indicating a barrier between us.
What?
This is the first time Elio has reacted like this. Not even when he lost his sister did he evade my touch. Not even when
"El-"
"Why did you choose to smear our name in the mud?You ruined us with your infidelity!" Lucia yelled at me, grabbing the hem of my dress.
"Infidelity?" What are you?"
"You're pregnant,Albina! You're carrying a baby!"
