Chapter 29 Cathy

Chapter 29 Cathy

It was two days before the wedding, and the symptoms had not gone away. Eric said it was due to the news we had received from the council, but deep down, I knew it was something else.

I gained weight, my hips got a little wider, and the cravings for sushi were more persistent. To get rid of my doubts, I asked Dr. Dawn to test my blood, but this time not for aconite.

As I waited for the results, I was impatient. Eric was finalizing the details of our trip to my father’s former territory to reclaim all that belonged to us and establish a base of operations run by Sebastian.

"Here are the results." Dr. Dawn handed me a small folded sheet of paper.

The doctor was hard to read. He always had a neutral expression which made me more desperate in a situation like that.

"Thank you very much," I said and went across the hall in search of Eric to read the results together.

I found him alone in his father’s office, and when he saw me, he hung up his cell phone.

"Is it ready?" he asked.

I nodded and handed him the folded paper.

"Let’s do this," I said, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.

He sighed and opened it without further hesitation. We both looked at each other’s faces after reading the paper, and he carried me in his arms and started to spin around.

"Yes, we’re having another baby," he shouted so loud it echoed throughout the mansion.

Lydia and Patric ran into the office and watched us silently grimacing with their faces.

"What’s going on here?" asked Patric. "You gave me the creeps with those screams."

Eric handed them the tests, and Lydia put her hands over her mouth.

"Another one?" she said with wide eyes.

"Yes," I answered them as Eric put me down. "I had my suspicions…"

"Oh, my goodness," Lydia hugged me lovingly and put her hand on my belly, trying to feel something.

"It’s still too small," I said.

Patric patted Eric on the back and gave me his blessing. "It will be a healthy baby and bring pride to the pack," he said.

"Now they won’t be able to get rid of me at their house," Lydia commented.

Eric and I had moved to a house closer to town so I could run my business and he could keep an eye on the pack, but we spent weekends at the mansion so Lydia and Patric could spend quality time with Elliot.

"You are always welcome in our home," I said.

Since the wedding was close, we stayed at the mansion to help with the details.

Elliot came out of the hallway and ran into his grandfather’s arms. "You’re going to have a baby brother or sister... and if you’re lucky, it might be two," Patric joked.

"Really?" my son asked, thinking it was another joke from his grandfather.

"Yes, my love, I’m pregnant," I let him know.

Elliot let go of his grandfather’s arms and came over to me, made a circle with his hands, clasped them to my stomach, and whispered something.

"What did you tell the baby?" I asked him.

"That I was expecting it and that when it is born, we will play together," said my little boy.

I looked at him tenderly and sighed.

"You must rest and not strain yourself," Eric remarked. "We’ll do everything for you, right, son?"

Elliot furrowed his brow, trying to look serious. "Yes, we will take care of you," he said, faking a thick voice, imitating his father.

We all laughed and spent the rest of the afternoon together in the gardens admiring the clouds and watching Lydia show off her flowers.

***

Eric was serious about not letting me do anything. Both he and Elliot took care of everything. They brought me breakfast in bed, water, juice, desserts, and even some books to distract me. At first, I wanted to stop them, but seeing them so engaged, I decided to relax and enjoy the attention.

"Are you ready?" Lydia came to find me in the room and shook her head when she saw Eric next to me. "You should be getting ready. It’s your wedding," she said.

"Mother, it will be at midnight. There is still time," Eric replied.

"Believe me, time is flying by, and we don’t want to keep the guests waiting," she stated.

Lydia waited impatiently for me to get up and led me to her car.

"Good afternoon, ladies," Lucas greeted, opening the Roll Royce door.

"Straight to the ceremony room," Lydia commanded.

Lucas drove slowly to a white dome on the edge of town.

"Is this it?" I asked. "I’ve never seen this place before in my life, and I’ve driven by it hundreds of times."

"People usually focus on the skyscrapers and forget about the little things," Lydia said as we got out of the car.

Two human girls dressed entirely in white were waiting for us at the entrance and pulled open the double door. At first glance, it looked like a plain, ordinary dome, but inside, it was adorned with stained glass windows that illuminated the place with sunlight. Before I could go further into the room to observe it better, Lydia pulled me by the hand towards the designated room to get ready.

"It’s only a few hours away. I can’t handle the nerves," Lydia said, playing with her fingers.

She looked more anxious than me, but it was because she had organized everything and wanted everything to be perfect for her son and me. Lydia was obsessed with perfection, and I don’t blame her because we had that in common.

Inside was a spacious room, painted white, with a pedestal in one corner, huge mirrors, a bed, and a station for hair, makeup, and grooming.

I marveled at the place and looked in the mirror to see if my belly had grown much, but it still looked normal.

The doorbell rang, and Lydia hurried to open it.

Six girls came in with briefcases full of personal care products, hair dryers, combs, and make-up. The first of them asked me to lie on the bed and gave me the best massage in the world. When I was about to fall asleep between all of them, they helped me put on the bridal dress that did not have a corselet because Lydia asked for it not to be there, but it still molded to my figure, and the fabric had details with lace and silk that made it look like a princess dress.

"You look beautiful," Lydia voiced. "Eric will lose his breath when he sees you."

The girls did my makeup and fixed the details of my hair.

I stood in front of the mirror and didn’t recognize myself. I looked like a supermodel.

"I’ll go take the girls out and take care of the banquet. You relax and get some rest, but don’t wrinkle the dress," Lydia added before leaving the room.

My stomach was churning, and while contemplating my reflection, I couldn’t believe it was finally happening. I was marrying my destined mate, and we had a beautiful family, just like I had always dreamed of.

As I was lost in my memories, remembering all the moments I had spent with Eric, the door opened, and he walked in with a bouquet of roses.

"What are you..."

"Shhh," he interrupted me, "If my mother finds me here, she’ll kill me. She’s very superstitious."

"What are you doing here?" I whispered.

Eric handed me the bouquet of freshly cut red roses, and I couldn’t help but sigh at the sight of him in his tailored crimson suit that highlighted all his features. He had a close-shaved beard, and his hair was combed to the right side. He looked more handsome than ever.

"I remembered something, and that is that for all the hectic that has been the last few months, I didn’t get engaged properly." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a red suede-lined box, and knelt in front of me. "Cathy Sith, will you honor me by becoming my wife?" He opened the box using both hands, and inside was a gold ring with the largest diamond I had ever seen.

Eric and I were about to be married, but still, my heart was startled, and I felt the blood rush to my face. "Yes, I will."

He slipped the ring on my finger and kissed me subtly on the lips so as not to ruin my makeup.

"I want to wrap you in my arms," he shared.

"There’s nothing I want more," I told him with my cheeks numb from the huge smile he had.

We heard her mother’s footsteps, and Eric sneaked out of the room so she wouldn’t see him.

"It’s time," Lydia came in.

She led me to the front entrance and left me with Andrew, who would walk me down the aisle, Elliot, who would carry the rings; and other children from the pack, who would hold the train of my dress and others who would shower petals along the way.

I took a deep breath. Lydia opened the doors for me, and all the guests rose. The room was filled with pack members, representatives of some others, and elder members of the council. Lydia walked first, leading the children. I walked holding on to Andrew’s arm, squeezing it so tightly I felt like I could break it at any moment, and Elliot was behind me carrying a box with the rings.

As I walked, I felt everyone’s eyes on me, and Eric had his back turned with his arms linked behind him.

Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you, Eric said and gave me the strength I needed to walk towards him.

"You look beautiful," he said to me.

"You look very handsome, Mr. Night," I whispered.

Everyone fell silent so Patric could speak.

"Today, with the blessing of the blue moon, I reaffirm before the Goddess the bond that unites you so that a prosperous relationship may flourish," he began.

Patric signaled, and the dome began to move, opening and leaving the sky clear with the full moon just above us. Elliot approached with the rings, which reacted to the moonlight and emanated a pale, whitish light as if they were absorbing its splendor.

Lydia took the rings and handed them to each of us.

I looked at Eric, and he didn’t seem to be as shocked as I was, but to me, that was something new. I always heard about it when the Goddess blesses the bond, it manifests in the form of light, but I always thought it was a myth.

"Cathy Sith, I promise to take care of you and our bond until my body wears out, and I will still take care of you in the next life for all eternity," Eric said, slipping the ring on my finger.

"Eric Night, I vow to always be by your side, to give you love, and to always support you in every moment, and I will stand by you in this life and the ones to follow," I said, sliding the ring on his finger as my hand trembled.

I was no longer affected by people’s stares and felt no fear. Instead, I felt like I was walking on clouds as a cool breeze caressed my face. I was experiencing sensations I had never felt before, and I was no longer disavowing my identity as a shapeshifter. I had embraced it and had become stronger.

"You may kiss the bride," Patric proclaimed.

Eric ran his hand down my back, tracing the fabric with his fingers, and pulled me to him. "I love you," he said and sealed it with a slow kiss that made me lose track of everything around us. I just wanted to lose myself in my husband’s arms.

All the guests applauded and rose from their chairs.

"Just a moment," Patric vociferated after our kiss ended. "Before we start with the feast, I would like to announce something in front of the rest of the packs and the council. Today under the presence of the Goddess, I give my position as Alpha of the Night Pack to my son. Therefore, Cathy becomes the new Luna. Receive my blessing, and I wish you a long life together."

I knew there was much to do. Unite the territories, expand my business, devote myself to my children, and be the Luna of the pack. But at that moment, none of that mattered, and all I wanted was to lose myself in Eric’s arms and have him kiss me until our lips melted together.

Eric led me to the dance floor, hugged me, and clung so close that I felt his warmth, and heard his pulse and breathing. A soft song started to play, we danced surrounded by the guests, and I felt happy to start a new life, being rewarded by fate with a wonderful and loving husband, a beautiful son, and another baby on the way.