The sound of my doorbell ringing woke up me early the next morning; I moaned as I looked over at the bedside clock to see it was only five in the morning. Who would be at my door at five A.M.? I rolled out of bed and wrapped my robe around me as I headed to the door still half asleep. The person waiting for me to answer obviously got impatient as the ringing turned to pounding on the door.

“I’m coming hold your horses.” I mumbled mostly to myself as I took the last few steps to the door. I cracked open the door slightly to find Mikko waiting impatiently to get inside; crap, how could I forget that he was coming?

“Come in.” I said moving out from in front of the door to let him through. As soon as the door was open he looked over my body stopping when his eyes landed on my overgrown tummy.

“It’s not polite to stare.” I said rudely as I waited for him to enter; he reluctantly took his gaze off my stomach and walked in the house.

“Where’s your furniture? He asked looking around the room; the only furniture I had time to purchase since I arrived was a small leather chair, an end table, and a TV with a stand.

“I’ve been busy. Why are you even here?” I asked.

“Isn’t that obvious?” He answered motioning to my stomach.

“So what you wanted proof; you wanted to see for yourself?” I asked placing my hands on my hips.

“No, I came to take you back home with me. There is a lot we need to talk about. Did you pack your things?” He asked looking around the house for something.

“Like I said before I am not going anywhere; this is my home now. I don’t know what makes you think that you can just come here and force me to leave with you. If you think that just because I am carrying your child you have some type of claim or power over me your wrong!” I stated being as firm as I could with my words.

“Don’t make this difficult Elena.” Mikko replied as he sat down in my leather chair and ran his hand through his hair.

“I’m not making anything difficult; you’re the one making things difficult. Who shows up at someone’s doorstep at five in the morning and demands that they leave their home and job without an explanation to go with their ex-boyfriend who cheated on them? That sir is what I call making things difficult.” I said back leaning against the wall seeing that my only chair was already taken.

“You don’t understand this isn’t a… normal… pregnancy. I need to take you to see our pa…our specialist.” Mikko replied stumbling on his own words.

“What do you mean it’s not a normal pregnancy?” I asked curiously; I had a clue that it wasn’t normal seeing that the baby was growing at a faster rate than normal but I still had no idea why.

“Go pack your things and I will explain when I get you back home.” He said standing up from the chair to pace the room.

“Explain now.” I demanded.

“This is not the time or place Elena! Now please go and get your things or I will pack for you.” He said as he looked around the house most likely trying to find my room.

“What the hell am I supposed to tell work? What about my landlord; I have a lease agreement! I can’t just up and pack up my life and leave with you Mikko; how do you not see that?” I said my voice getting angrier with each sentence.

“I will take care of everything; all you need to worry about is getting your things so that we can get back home as soon as possible.” He stated as he started walking in the direction of my room.

“Agh, you think that money can just solve everything don’t you? I have worked my whole life for this career and I am not going to give it up because you are being some overpowering, obsessive jerk!” I yelled back as I followed him into my room.

“I don’t think that you understand Elena; not only is the life of the child you are carrying in danger but so is yours. I will be damned if I sit by and watch something happen to you that could have been avoided if you just would have listened to me.” He shouted back as he turned to face me; his anger was clearly etched across his face.

“What do you mean in danger?” I asked my anger faded and was quickly replaced by fear.

“I will explain everything once I get you back home. What do you need to pack?” He said looking around the room before grabbing a suitcase that was sitting in front of my closet door.

“Fine.” I said quietly as I made my way around the room throwing the necessities in the suitcase.

          Once I was finished packing Mikko led me outside to his waiting rental car and we made our way to the airport in silence. Instead of going into the airport like I expected he pulled the car around to the back of the airport and stopped a few feet away from a small personal jet. He got out of the car and opened my door for me before grabbing my suitcase from the trunk. A man came and took the suitcase from him before leading us up the stairs and into the jet. There were only about six seats in the jet and Mikko motioned to one for me to sit in while he took his seat in the chair across from me.

“So you have your own jet; how surprising.” I said sarcastically looking out the window at the other planes taking off next to us on the runway.

“It’s a company jet.” He stated sounding annoyed with my snide comment.

“Well then we can just add misuse of company property to your long list of transgressions. Did you file this one under business meeting too?” I replied rudely.

“I already told you that was a misunderstanding.” He said back his anger clear in his voice.

“Oh right, I’m sorry I must have misunderstood! Tell me again what was it that I missed about you making out with your little girlfriend in the bathroom?” I replied raising my eyebrows at him.

“Look Tara was making a big deal about me not wanting to be with her anymore; I didn’t want to make a scene in the middle of the restaurant so I pulled her in the bathroom to shut her up. Someone came in and I panicked; I pulled her into the stall and kissed her so that she would keep her mouth shut until we were alone again. Nothing else happened Elena; other than that day I never touched her while we were together.”  He confessed running his hand through his messy hair.

“I came in; I’m the one who had to listen to you two making out in the stall next to me while I washed my hands! I’m the one who watched you walk out of the bathroom hand in hand! I’m the one who got hurt by your actions!” I growled back at him; if he thought that his little confession was enough for me to forgive him he had another thing coming.

“Elena I’m sorry; I don’t know what else to say. I realize that I made a mistake and I’m sorry that I hurt you; I never meant to hurt you. I have never wanted to be with anymore more than I want to be with you; I will never forgive myself for hurting you like that.” He said reaching over for my hand but I quickly pulled away from his touch.

“If you think that you can win me back with an apology and confession of your feelings for me then your wrong. Maybe one day I will learn to trust you again but I can assure you that it is not going to happen any time soon and especially not while we are on this plane.” I replied as the seatbelt alert dinged; reaching over I fumbled to adjust the seatbelt to fit over my extended abdomen.

“I understand that; I wasn’t expecting you to forgive me I just hope that we can at least get along with each other. Can I help you with that?” He asked noticing the trouble I was having with the belt.

          I reluctantly allowed him to help me adjust the belt and minutes later the jet took off. The ride was short and peaceful; much better than being stuck in a plane surrounded by strangers. When we arrived back in California John was waiting for us next to his normal black SUV. He took the suitcase from Mikko and placed it in the back while Mikko and I got in the back seat. Once we were seated he closed the door and made his was back to the drivers seat.

“Good afternoon Ms. Benton, It’s nice to see you again.” John said as he started the car.

“Please John it’s still just Elena, It’s nice to see you too.” I said offering him a smile; he returned one of his own in the rearview mirror before taking off.

“Where are we going?” I asked Mikko once we were driving.

“We are going to my fathers place.” He said back looking out the tinted window.

“Why are we going there?” I asked confused.

“I have arranged for Dr. Phillips to meet us there to examine you.” He replied still not turning his gaze form the window.

“Why wouldn’t we just go to his office; don’t you think it’s a little extreme to make him meet us at your fathers house? Wait, Kane knows about this?” I asked surprised at my new realization. Crap, when did he tell his father? This day just keeps getting better for me, doesn’t it?

“Yes I had to tell him to see if it was even possible.” Mikko said finally looking over at me.

“To see if it was possible; what the hell is that supposed to mean? Of coarse it is possible, or did you still think I was lying to you?” I asked getting a little upset.

“You don’t understand Elena; I’m not supposed to be able to get you pregnant.” He replied.

“You keep saying that; you keep saying I don’t understand! How am I supposed to understand anything when you wont tell me what’s going on?” I asked even more irritated that he kept being so vague with his responses.

“I said I will explain everything to you once we see the doctor. Please try and get some rest, we will be there soon.” He replied once again turning his attention to the passing scenery.

          Realizing that it was pointless to keep asking questions that I wasn’t going to get the answers to I leaned my seat back and tried to go to sleep. There was so much going through my mind that sleep was the last thing that I felt like doing but it was obvious that I wasn’t going to be able to fall into easy conversation with Mikko; hell I would be surprised if we could say three sentences to each other without one of us getting upset about something.

          The ride took a few more hours before we were driving down the familiar winding drive of the mansion where Kane lived. Even though I had been there once before I was still stunned by the massive size of the house that stood in front of me when John helped me out of the car. We made our way up the cobblestone walkway and in through the massive hand carved wooden front doors. I was immediately met by Kane standing in the entryway with a loving smile plastered on his face; I could help but notice how his gaze stopped when it landed on my stomach before returning to my face.

“Ms. Benton it is nice to see you again; though I didn’t quite expect it to be under these circumstances.” He said offering me his hand.

“Mr. Stronghold; I could say the same to you.” I said offering him a smile before taking his hand.

          He slowly led me up the massive staircase with Mikko following close behind. We walked down a long hallway with random doors along each side. I wondered to myself how they could remember what door led to what; they all looked the same to me. He stopped at the last door at the end of the hall and opened it motioning for me to go in. I was surprised to find the whole room was set up like a hospital room; fully equipment with all the machines and gadgets you would expect to see in a normal doctor’s office.

“All this just for me?” I joked as I wiggled my way onto the end of the little hospital bed in the center of the room.

“Nothing but the best for my daughter in-law and grandbaby.” Kane said offering me another genuine smile; I could see the joy in his eyes when he mentioned the baby.

“Daughter in-law is going a little far.” I corrected him; Mikko and I were hardly speaking to each other, getting married wasn’t anywhere in my future plans.

“I’m sure that you two will work things out.” Kane replied sounding hopeful; I was about to object when the door opened and another man looking like he was in his late forties walked in.

“You must be Ms. Benton.” The man said offing me his hand.

“Elena.” I said shaking his outreached hand.

“My name is Dr. Phillips, but if you prefer you can call me Joseph.  He said grabbing a clipboard off a table next to the bed.

          Mikko and Kane made themselves comfortable in the leather chairs across the room from me as Dr. Phillips took my temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and some measurements; he jotted notes down on his clipboard as he went. He then pulled an ultrasound machine next to the bed and had me pull up my shirt before squirting the cold jelly on my tummy. He pressed the small wand around my tummy clicking the mouse as he went.

“How far along are you Elena?” He asked not stopping his movements on my belly.

“Well I am supposed to be about three months but according to my other doctor I am about four months.” I said not knowing if that wouldn’t make any sense to him at all; he nodded as he wrote something else down on his clipboard.

          He wiped off the excess gel from my tummy before helping me to sit back up and pull my shirt back down. He made a few more notes on his clipboard as we all waited in silence for him to say something. I thought he was about to tell us something but instead reached in his bag to pull out an old looking book with a tattered binding; I was surprise the thing was still holding itself together. He flipped through a few pages and it looked like he was comparing his notes to something in the book.

“Well honestly I am just amazed that this is even happening but from what I can tell both the mother and child are in good health.” He said looking only at Mikko and Kane. What the hell; I’m still in the room!

“Do you think that she will make it full term and if she does will she be able to survive the delivery? Mikko asked.

“What are the chances that the baby will be like us?” Kane added.

“I think the chances are good that she will make it full term and survive the birth; she is carrying the baby just like a normal pregnancy would go for us. As far as if the baby will be like us…” Dr. Phillip started but I cut him off. They were talking like I wasn’t even in the room with them; and the questions they were asking frankly freaked me out. Why wouldn’t I survive the birth and what do they mean when they say ‘like us’?

“I’m still in the room if anyone cares!” I stated effectively getting them all to look at me. “Would anyone mind translating for me what the hell you are talking about? Why wouldn’t the baby survive; why wouldn’t I survive? And what do you mean turn out like you; is there something different about you that I should know about?” I asked wanting answers to the confusion they were causing me.

“I think I should leave you to talk about this; I will have a full report for you in a few hours.” Dr. Phillip said before giving me a polite smile and making his way out of the room.

“I will leave you two to discuss a few things; please excuse me.” Kane said as he followed Dr. Phillips out of the room.

“Let’s go to your room so that you can be more comfortable; we have a lot to talk about.” Mikko said offering me his hand to help me off the bed.

“My room?” I asked as I made my way off the bed.

“We have set up a room for you here; it is best that you stay close incase anything goes wrong.” He said as he led me down the hallway.

“What would go wrong?” I asked walking behind him.

“We will discuss everything Elena; let’s just get to the room first.” He said as he opened one of the wooden doors and motioned for me to enter.

          I walked in to find a large room with plush dark brown carpet and sand colored walls. There was a king sized bed set in the middle of the wall opposite the door covered in a chocolate brown down comforter with sandy brown silk sheets. All the furniture appeared to be made from ornate hand carved wood. There was a large dresser with a matching mirror mounted on top of it to the left of the door and a large flat screen hanging from the wall on the right of the door. There were also two more doors on the far right wall that were closed; I would assume they led to a bathroom and closet. Each side of the bed had its own matching end table and the wall on the left side of the room showcased an oriental carved armoire with two dark brown leather chairs on each side.

“We should sit down.” Mikko said motioning toward one of the leather chairs; once I was seated he moved the other to face me before sitting down in it.

“Ok I am going to tell you something that will probably shock you and I’m sure that you are going to have a lot of questions for me. I only ask that you let me finish with what I have to say before you freak out on me or start firing off questions. Can you do that?” He asked looking up at me before nervously running his hand through his hair.

“I don’t know why you would think I would freak out but I will do my best to listen to what you have to say without interruption.” I said prompting him to continue.

“Ok well there is no real easy way to say this but I am different from you; I’m not really human.” My mouth dropped open about to ask what he was talking about but he quickly continued so I wasn’t able to interrupt. “Well I am human; sort of.” He continued before letting out a frustrated sigh and put his head in his hands. “Agh, I am making a mess out of all this; I should have just had my father explain.” He said rubbing his head in frustration.

“Well I suggest that you find a way to explain before I start freaking out.” I stated feeling myself on the verge of a scream; what the hell did he mean he wasn’t human? He looked up at me nervously before continuing.

“Elena I am a werewolf.” He stated.

“What?” I asked not believing what he was telling me.

“I am a werewolf and so is my father; chance are so is the baby that you are carrying right now.” He continued; as if that explained everything.

“What?” I asked again; maybe I had just heard him wrong. Did he just say that he was a werewolf and my baby could be one too?

“Were not supposed to be able to get a human pregnant; that’s why I wasn’t worried about using protection with you. This was never supposed to happen; you were never supposed to have to go through this.” He said looking down at my stomach.

“What the hell are you talking about Mikko? Is this some type of joke? What the hell; a werewolf, are you serious?” I said shaking my head; there is no way that this could all be real. I had to be dreaming or something.

“Elena I know its a lot to take in but please understand that we have to keep our identity a secret; I couldn’t tell you what I was before but now that you are having my child you deserve to know.” He replied.

“A lot to take in? No Mikko telling me that you had some type of medical issue that would be passed down to our baby would be a lot to take in! You just told me that you are some type of supernatural creature; that’s way more than a lot to take in!” I hadn’t even noticed how loud my voice had gotten or that I had stood up from the chair and was standing in front of him now until I finished my last sentence.

“Elena calm down; it’s not good for the baby or for you to be this stressed out.” He said standing and placing a hand on my shoulder; as soon as it touched me I brushed it off.

“Calm down! You want me to calm down! You just told me that I have a… I don’t even know what to call it… werewolf I guess, growing inside of me and you want me to calm down! You don’t just break news like that to someone and expect them to be ok with it! I mean what the hell? This can’t be real; I must be dreaming! This is some type of fucked up dream, right?” I asked looking back up at him praying that he would say yes and I would wake back up in my bed and have a somewhat normal life again.

“Elena this is not a dream; what I have told you is the truth.” He said taking a step towards me.

“No, you stay back! You stay away from me! Get out! Get the hell out of my room!” I screamed at him; for the first time afraid of him touching me.

“Elena I would never hurt you; please I need you to trust me.” He replied.

“Trust you! You want me to trust you! Everything you have ever told me has been a lie and now you want me to trust you? Get out Mikko; I don’t want you anywhere near me right now. I need time to figure all this out.” I said walking over to the bed refusing to look back in his direction.

“Elena, please.” Mikko begged.

“Get out! Get out! How many fucking times do I have to tell you? Get the fuck out of my sight!” I screamed like a crazy person; I had to be going mental, I mean how else could I explain what I thought I just heard?

          The sound of the door opening and closing briefly caught my attention before I collapsed on the floor by the bed in a ball of tears; my body shook with sobs as I cried my eyes out and tried to get a grip on everything that just happened. When my sobs finally calmed down to a controllable amount I rubbed my hands over my swollen belly; a werewolf baby, was that even possible? Obviously it had to be possible, right? Why else would Mikko have told me that he was a werewolf if he really wasn’t one; someone didn’t just go around boasting that they were some supernatural being without really being one, did they?

          I guess it would explain why my baby was growing at such an alarming rate; it would answer all the questions I had about Mikko saying this wasn’t a ‘normal’ pregnancy, and why he ‘claimed’ he couldn’t get me pregnant. But a werewolf, really? I just couldn’t wrap my head around it; werewolves were suppose to be fictional creatures, things you read about or see in movies, not some normal person that you run into in an office building and they spill coffee on you! This just isn’t right; this type of shit doesn’t happen to people like me. I wasn’t prepared for something like this, I wasn’t strong enough for something like this; my head felt like it was stuck on some never ending carnival ride, just spinning in circles, never coming to a stop.

          What the hell was I supposed to do now? Surely they didn’t just expect to me except the fact that they were werewolves, that my baby is a werewolf and just move on with my life. Was there some ’how to cope with finding out your child is a werewolf’ book? If so I would like a copy immediately! This was just all too much, something wasn’t right; this had to all be just some really bad dream and I was going to wake up and forget all about it. I pinched my arm hoping it would wake me from my slumber but all it caused was a dull pain; shit, that just means I’m awake, I’m not dreaming and this is all real.

          As my mind took off on the wildest rollercoaster ride of its life my body just sat limply on the floor; with my mind in overdrive my body was spent and I didn’t have the energy to even move. How was one suppose to just come to terms with the fact that they are carrying a supernatural child; not to mention the fact that I was now living in a house that I could only assume was full of the same supernatural beings? How did the whole werewolf thing work? Did they only change on full moons or did they change at will? Were they like the scary half man half wolf creatures like in the underworld movie or like the massive wolves in twilight?

          Could they control themselves when they changed or did their minds turn over to the creature and they killed everything in sight; the though of a basement full of cages and chains flashed through my mind before I could stop it. How did they change into a wolf or wolf-man thing; was it like magic where poof one minute they are human and the next they’re a wolf, or was it a painful change where their bones had to crack and configure into the anatomy of a wolf? Every scenario that ran through my mind I always ended up picking the worst of the options; I had an imagine of a man with fur all over his body and a wolf like head with sharp teeth bared and dripping with blood chained up in a dark basement howling at the moon. Was I carrying a creature like that in my stomach? I couldn’t bear to think that my precious little baby could be something as hideous as that. 

          I shook my head and tried to clear out the gruesome images that had planted themselves there; I attempted to stand so that I could lie down on the bed but my body just felt too weak. I reached up and snatched a pillow off the bed and rested it behind my head as I leaned against the wall; I was sure that my body would be paying for this uncomfortable sleeping position in the morning but right now I couldn’t muster up the energy to even get off the floor. I tried to just think of my baby, a normal baby, growing in my belly as my eyes got heavy and sleep started to take over; I just wished I could fall asleep and wake up and everything go back to normal but I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to happen, who am I kidding, I knew that wasn’t going to happen.