"Again." Jeremiah growled out as i sluggishly got up from the floor. "Everything is sloppy with you today, if this was a real fight you would be dead already."

"I'm not feeling great." I snapped at him. That drink made my stomach want to die. I had a piece of toast for breakfast and almost immediately vomited.

"You're sick?" He asked walking up to me and putting a hand on my forehead.

"I just feel a little nauseous today." I told him, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Let's stop for today, but I'm staying with you, Ryland is probably busy preparing for the ball." I looked up at him with a puzzled look. Ball? Ryland told me nothing about
it. He instantly paled when he noticed my expression.

"Jeremiah, what ball?" I asked turning to face him completely. His eyes panicking as if he was searching for an answer to give me in his head.

"How about we just forget I said that." He laughed nervously.

"What ball?" I asked again. "Please."

"If Ryland didn't tell you, that means he probably has something else planned." He sighed. "Just pretend I said nothing, I don't feel like spending a night in the dungeons for fucking up a surprise for you." I just shook my head at him.

"I'll keep it a secret..." I told him. "...and Ryland would never put you in the pack dungeons, you guys are like his best friends."

"He's still a moron sometimes." He laughed. I just rolled my eyes and went to pick up my bag when the smell of bacon filled my nose. Instead of enjoying the smell my stomach began churning. Oh come on.

I don't think it's the wine anymore. She sighed. 

I caught a glimpse of Kolton walking in hand in hand with Lydia both of them were holding a plate of bacon and eggs. I turned to Jeremiah about to warn him but it was too late. I vomited on the floor in front of us. 

"That is fucking disgusting." Jeremiah cringed but he pulled my hair out of my face. I could sense Lydia and Kolton kneeling next to me on the floor as my stomach heaved.

"Just go, I'm fine." I coughed.

"Right." Jeremiah said sarcastically. A few minutes passed and Ryland slammed the doors open, stalking towards us.

"Can the two of you not train, at the house." He growled. His eyes softened when they connected with mine.

"Did you push her too hard?" He growled ready to attack Jeremiah.

"I barely touched her dumbass, she waited thirty fucking minutes to tell me she was nauseous." He spoke. Ryland kneeled down in front of me taking my face in his hands and examining me for any injuries.

"Let's get you back to the house, okay?" He asked. I immediately shook my head. He gave me a look that made me want to show him my neck, but I refused. He carefully helped me to my feet, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Let me check her, if somethings wrong I can heal her." Lydia spoke handing Kolton her plate.

"I feel alright, I swear." I told them.

"Did you eat anything, today?" Jeremiah asked worriedly.

"I'm my defense when I left to come here it was still dark out, it was too early to eat." I sighed.

"We have been doing intense training, how are you even still standing?" He asked flabbergasted. I just gave him a look and walked with Ryland hand in hand back to the pack house. I couldn't help the shiver that passed through my body as the cold wind connected with my skin. Ryland quickly shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.

"We need to get some food into you." He sighed as we walked through the front door. I could smell something being made, was it soup? Immediately I felt my stomach do what felt like a hundred flips as I rushed towards the garbage in the kitchen. Ryland was cursing behind me. He held my hair back as I continued vomiting.

"I'm getting Mae." He growled despite the shaking of my head. A few minutes passed and Dr. Mae rushing in holding a bag in her hand.

"Alpha, Luna." She bowed before getting to work.

"Im fine." I snapped taking them both aback. "I'm so sorry." I immediately said confused at my sudden outburst. Suddenly Rylands phone began ringing and he let out a string of curses.

"Alpha, why don't you go take that. I'll mind-link you when we're finished." Mae said. Ryland looked at me for confirmation and I nodded giving him a reassuring smile.

She watched as Ryland walked away and was out of earshot.

"Have you two mated?" She asked right away. I gave her a confused look but slowly nodded. "Did you use protection?"

We never did. Oh goddess.

The second she saw the look in my eyes she had her answer.

"When I was pregnant with my first child, something that helped me was pickles and honey." she laughed softly.

"I'm pregnant?" I asked quietly.

"I'll examine you to make sure, and have you use a pregnancy test. But I've seen this all before honey." I ran a shaky hand through my hair. I'm not ready to be a mom. We are about to be surrounded by war.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

I suddenly felt a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I looked up and she pulled me into a hug.

"It's going to be alright. These things happen." She reassured me. "Now let's get you to the medical room." I followed her through the house to a room next to Ryland's office. How did I never notice this was here. It was almost like a hospital room. She unpacked some things from her bag and handed me the pregnancy test. I went into the bathroom and peed on it, my hands shaking uncontrollably.

Calm down. She spoke. We will protect the fetus.

I took a shaky breath and finished taking the test. I gently placed it on the counter before heading back out to see Dr. Mae.

She pulled out a needle and tubing.

"Come take a seat, I'll just take some blood and run some tests today." I just nodded again still in shock and sat down. I didn't even feel the pinch in my arm. I was too lost fighting through my thoughts.

"All done. Let's go check the pregnancy test in the bathro—" She paused and quickly turned around. Ryland suddenly knocked on the door and my eyes widened. Do I tell him? Is this how I do it, or was it supposed to be different? I couldn't breathe as panic settled in deep within myself.

"One minute alpha!" Mae called out. I could hear his growl from outside.

"I can feel her panic, I'm coming in." He snapped. Suddenly the door flew open and he charged towards me. He lifted me up and and held me tight against his chest.

Oh goddess.

"Breathe, Octavia." He growled into my neck. "What happened? Was it a vision? What's going on?"

"I..I..I'm." Suddenly there was a knock on the now open door. Ryland snarled loudly.

"The guests are arriving, Alpha." He nodded and sent them away.

"I heard Jeremiah couldn't keep his mouth shut and told you about the ball. This is a yearly event for the pack, but with the ally's coming, I figured it could be a distraction for everyone before the chaos starts." He breathed into my neck.

"You could've told me about it, I would've helped." I whispered to him.

"Exactly. I just want you to show up and enjoy it. Besides I figured you would get bored with party planning." He chuckled quietly. "Now what were you saying before we were interrupted?"

"I'll just tell you later." I promised him. "We should get ready, what are even supposed to wear?" I spoke shocked. I didn't even have clothes to wear to this.

"I took care of all of that, don't worry." He kissed my cheek before leading me out of the room. I wanted to stop to go check the pregnancy test, but decided I would just come back later.

He ushered me up the stairs before opening our bedroom door. To my surprise there stood mom and Lydia with tons of dresses lining the bed. I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me at the sight. I rushed in and looked at all the elegant dresses.

Lydia turned to Ryland and started shooing him out.

"You ladies have thirty minutes, so hurry." He announced before turned on his heel and heading out the door.

"Where did you get all these dresses?" I asked in shock.

"Believe it or not, your mate." Mom laughed softly. "He has an absurd amount of connections, sweetheart."

I just shook my head at that and began feeling the fabric of one of the dresses that caught my eye.

"I picked that one for you." Lydia spoke. My mouth hung open causing her to laugh. This dress almost felt to mature, too pretty, too elegant for me. "You aren't the same as when you were at home, you know." She chuckled.

"Both my little girls are all grown up now." Mom sighed kissing us both on the cheek.

"Go try it on." She ushered me towards the closet. The dress was made up of a sparkling silver and white fabric. It hung loosely off my shoulders but still connected with sleeves. There was a slit in the side that revealed more than I was used to.

I felt like a Luna in this dress.

We look stunning. I just laughed to myself.

When I walked back out my mom and Lydia were staring at me with tears in their eyes.

"You look absolutely beautiful." Lydia smiled walking over to me and pulling me into a tight hug.

"Now go brush your hair while we change." I hurried to the bathroom and began untangling my knotted hair.

I decided to leave my wavy hair flowing down my back and decided against any make up.

When I walked out I smiled at the sight of mom and Lydia.

"You both look stunning." I smiled at them. Lydia too, picked a more mature dress for tonight. It was a strapless black dress, with black gloves that went passed her elbows. Her dress also had a slit that revealed most of her leg. Mom was wearing an elegant black dress that had sheer flowing sleeves descending past her hands.

A knock suddenly sounded at the door perfect timing.

Octavia's Dress:

Lydia's Dress:

Brielles Dress: