Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 51:
Less than 10 minutes later, Lily knocks on the bathroom door, asking if she can come in. I’m seconds from jumping out of the tub and hugging her to death when I see she’s bringing me a snack and tea.
She has that look in her eyes again, so I finally ask, “What? You had that look when Taha and I first got back, and then just now. What’s the look for? Plus, I know you enough to know that you normally would have given me shit for getting back here late on my own wedding day.”
She places the tray at the end of the tub within my reach, then says seriously, “Bella, I don’t want you to freak out. I know today is a big day, but I think it’s about to get bigger.”
She pulls something from her back pocket. When she shows it to me, I see it’s 2 foil-wrapped pregnancy tests, “Now hear me out. Remember how we told you about our appetites? How they spiked and we were constantly eating while pregnant? How Sinopa always has food near her, even just after eating? You just devoured a massive bear and 2 elk, Bella, when your normal hunt is one animal. Then, just a second ago, you looked ready to tackle me in a hug because I brought you a snack… which you are already eating, by the way.”
My eyes widen as I look between the cut-up fruit in the bowl and Lily’s face. My eyes must be the size of saucers when I frantically snap my fingers and point to the cabinet under the sink, “Open that.”
Lily does, and though she’s confused, my eyes land on the unopened box of tampons that was bought when I first moved in, in preparation for the period I should have gotten during my dream state. I remember Will telling me after I woke and hunted that my period would be off by those 9 days I was in the dream state, so that means instead of the 5th or 6th, I should have gotten it the 14th or 15th.
My period’s late. A week late.“Shit.”
My period’s never late. “Double shit.”
Lily looks into the cupboard. Understanding dawns on her face, then she smiles at me, again holding out the pregnancy tests. I shake my head, saying in explanation, “Not yet. I won’t be able to keep this from him if I take them now. If I tell him, he’ll be here in an instant.”
She quickly turns and sets them on the counter, “Good point. Wait until the last time you need to pee before you dress.”
She bites her lip for a second, then asks, “Are you okay if you are? Your whole ‘shit, double shit’ made it sound like, well…”
I shake my head quickly, “Oh, no. I'm not upset, I’m just…” I let out a heavy breath, then admit, “Scared. We were leaving it up to the spirits of the ancestors, but I was kind of hoping they wouldn’t deem it the right time until after this whole Volturi mess was dealt with. I have to face them, Lil. I have to face human-drinking vampires that want me dead, now potentially putting an unborn child at risk.”
I shake my head again, then slip down into the water until it reaches my neck, “There’s no sense in worrying. I’m either not, and there’s nothing to worry about… or the ancestors have a reason for it happening now, and I have to trust in their wisdom.”
With that, I slip completely under the water, forcing myself to stay calm before Taha feels my nerves through our bond. I don’t want him to think I’m having second thoughts about the wedding.
Soon, I’m wrapping my hair in the towel and tying my robe. Avory knocks on the bedroom door, then saunters in while saying, “Ready or not, I’m here! Time to get you ready to meet your wolf at the altar, Darling.”
He hugs both Lily and me, then hands Lily a picture, offering, “I found the solution to our bride’s hair dilemma. Simple but perfect, and her mate mark will be on full display.”
I peek before agreeing, “Oh, I like that. It won’t look overdone or fussy when paired with my dress.” The loose french braid would look really pretty.
I finish the last of my fruit and tea, then sit at my vanity. Lily quickly takes the tray out, so I ask Avory softly while taking one of his hands in both of mine, “How are you and Nova? Any news from your parents?”
He lets out a heavy breath, telling me all I need to know, but he decides to elaborate, “My father now blames me for his problems with my mother. Apparently, once we left after he officially disowned me that night, my mother went off on him… finally stood up to him. She told him he could do whatever the hell he wanted, but she wasn’t going to turn her back on someone she brought into this world.”
I gently squeeze his hands in silent support, but he continues, “They argued more that night, and again the next morning. She put a deposit on a small apartment near my shop yesterday, and asked if Nova and I would come to dinner once she settles in.”
Lily comes back into the room with more food, which I’m internally thankful for. I snag some trail mix out of the bowl before she even places it on the counter, which has Avory looking confused. He looks between me and the tray, then Lily and the bathroom door, then back to the tray again. His eyes widen as he gasps, looking at me, so I offer as I take the bottle of water from the tray, “It’s not official, but Lily thinks so. My hunt with Taha earlier? I devoured 2 large elk and a massive grizzly.”
He grins from ear to ear, his fingertips touching his lips as he whispers, “Oh, Lovey! Should I head to the store?”
I shake my head, then point to the two tests waiting on my sink. “I’m only waiting because I wouldn’t be able to keep it from Taha. I’ll take them right before you help me dress.”
One would think that a simple-looking loose braid would be quick and easy, right? Apparently, the words quick and easy are not in beauty vocabulary, because it takes almost 2 hours -and a run to the garden by Melody- for my hair to look like the picture on the paper. Thankfully, in that time, Angie arrives and is able to get my makeup looking light and fresh, Avory is able to do a final steam treatment to my dress, and Melody is able to make me up a beautiful little bouquet.
Deemed perfect by the ladies, I make my way into the bedroom, then pull out the lacey tape-sided bra and matching cheeky panties. I look at Avory and tell him I’ll be ready to dress in just a minute, then retreat to the bathroom once more.
The girls are just finishing cleanup when I walk back in, so I say, “Thanks again, ladies. Go catch up with your mates, and I’ll see you out there. Lily, can you find Dad first and send him my way? Tell him Avory will let him in once I’m dressed.”
She hugs me tightly, then whispers, “Breathe. Use both tests, replace the caps, place them face up on the counter, and walk away. Don’t look until you are dressed.”
I quickly nod as I watch them walk out and close the door behind them.
It only takes a quick few minutes before Avory is checking the placement of my dress on my body, and tying the tie at my neck. He smiles at me as he whispers, “You look incredibly beautiful, Lovey. Turn around and look. I’ll go grab the tests and bring them to you.”
I nod silently, then turn to look in the mirror. Taking stock of how I look and feel, I find I look like and feel like me, and I’m so relieved. I wanted Taha and I to tie ourselves together as our true selves, not some glamorous made-up versions of who we are.
I smile at my reflection in the mirror, but I’m broken from my thoughts as I feel Avory kiss my temple. He whispers, “I placed them on your dresser, my darling. I’ll give you a moment of privacy and send your dad in.”
I look at him through the mirror and offer a choked-up, “Thanks, Avory… for everything.”
He winks at me before leaving the room, and my sole focus becomes the two sticks laying on the top of my dresser.
The soft clack of my sandals is the only sound in the room as I slowly approach. I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a second, then look down.
Less than 10 minutes later, Lily knocks on the bathroom door, asking if she can come in. I’m seconds from jumping out of the tub and hugging her to death when I see she’s bringing me a snack and tea.
She has that look in her eyes again, so I finally ask, “What? You had that look when Taha and I first got back, and then just now. What’s the look for? Plus, I know you enough to know that you normally would have given me shit for getting back here late on my own wedding day.”
She places the tray at the end of the tub within my reach, then says seriously, “Bella, I don’t want you to freak out. I know today is a big day, but I think it’s about to get bigger.”
She pulls something from her back pocket. When she shows it to me, I see it’s 2 foil-wrapped pregnancy tests, “Now hear me out. Remember how we told you about our appetites? How they spiked and we were constantly eating while pregnant? How Sinopa always has food near her, even just after eating? You just devoured a massive bear and 2 elk, Bella, when your normal hunt is one animal. Then, just a second ago, you looked ready to tackle me in a hug because I brought you a snack… which you are already eating, by the way.”
My eyes widen as I look between the cut-up fruit in the bowl and Lily’s face. My eyes must be the size of saucers when I frantically snap my fingers and point to the cabinet under the sink, “Open that.”
Lily does, and though she’s confused, my eyes land on the unopened box of tampons that was bought when I first moved in, in preparation for the period I should have gotten during my dream state. I remember Will telling me after I woke and hunted that my period would be off by those 9 days I was in the dream state, so that means instead of the 5th or 6th, I should have gotten it the 14th or 15th.
My period’s late. A week late.“Shit.”
My period’s never late. “Double shit.”
Lily looks into the cupboard. Understanding dawns on her face, then she smiles at me, again holding out the pregnancy tests. I shake my head, saying in explanation, “Not yet. I won’t be able to keep this from him if I take them now. If I tell him, he’ll be here in an instant.”
She quickly turns and sets them on the counter, “Good point. Wait until the last time you need to pee before you dress.”
She bites her lip for a second, then asks, “Are you okay if you are? Your whole ‘shit, double shit’ made it sound like, well…”
I shake my head quickly, “Oh, no. I'm not upset, I’m just…” I let out a heavy breath, then admit, “Scared. We were leaving it up to the spirits of the ancestors, but I was kind of hoping they wouldn’t deem it the right time until after this whole Volturi mess was dealt with. I have to face them, Lil. I have to face human-drinking vampires that want me dead, now potentially putting an unborn child at risk.”
I shake my head again, then slip down into the water until it reaches my neck, “There’s no sense in worrying. I’m either not, and there’s nothing to worry about… or the ancestors have a reason for it happening now, and I have to trust in their wisdom.”
With that, I slip completely under the water, forcing myself to stay calm before Taha feels my nerves through our bond. I don’t want him to think I’m having second thoughts about the wedding.
Soon, I’m wrapping my hair in the towel and tying my robe. Avory knocks on the bedroom door, then saunters in while saying, “Ready or not, I’m here! Time to get you ready to meet your wolf at the altar, Darling.”
He hugs both Lily and me, then hands Lily a picture, offering, “I found the solution to our bride’s hair dilemma. Simple but perfect, and her mate mark will be on full display.”
I peek before agreeing, “Oh, I like that. It won’t look overdone or fussy when paired with my dress.” The loose french braid would look really pretty.
I finish the last of my fruit and tea, then sit at my vanity. Lily quickly takes the tray out, so I ask Avory softly while taking one of his hands in both of mine, “How are you and Nova? Any news from your parents?”
He lets out a heavy breath, telling me all I need to know, but he decides to elaborate, “My father now blames me for his problems with my mother. Apparently, once we left after he officially disowned me that night, my mother went off on him… finally stood up to him. She told him he could do whatever the hell he wanted, but she wasn’t going to turn her back on someone she brought into this world.”
I gently squeeze his hands in silent support, but he continues, “They argued more that night, and again the next morning. She put a deposit on a small apartment near my shop yesterday, and asked if Nova and I would come to dinner once she settles in.”
Lily comes back into the room with more food, which I’m internally thankful for. I snag some trail mix out of the bowl before she even places it on the counter, which has Avory looking confused. He looks between me and the tray, then Lily and the bathroom door, then back to the tray again. His eyes widen as he gasps, looking at me, so I offer as I take the bottle of water from the tray, “It’s not official, but Lily thinks so. My hunt with Taha earlier? I devoured 2 large elk and a massive grizzly.”
He grins from ear to ear, his fingertips touching his lips as he whispers, “Oh, Lovey! Should I head to the store?”
I shake my head, then point to the two tests waiting on my sink. “I’m only waiting because I wouldn’t be able to keep it from Taha. I’ll take them right before you help me dress.”
One would think that a simple-looking loose braid would be quick and easy, right? Apparently, the words quick and easy are not in beauty vocabulary, because it takes almost 2 hours -and a run to the garden by Melody- for my hair to look like the picture on the paper. Thankfully, in that time, Angie arrives and is able to get my makeup looking light and fresh, Avory is able to do a final steam treatment to my dress, and Melody is able to make me up a beautiful little bouquet.
Deemed perfect by the ladies, I make my way into the bedroom, then pull out the lacey tape-sided bra and matching cheeky panties. I look at Avory and tell him I’ll be ready to dress in just a minute, then retreat to the bathroom once more.
The girls are just finishing cleanup when I walk back in, so I say, “Thanks again, ladies. Go catch up with your mates, and I’ll see you out there. Lily, can you find Dad first and send him my way? Tell him Avory will let him in once I’m dressed.”
She hugs me tightly, then whispers, “Breathe. Use both tests, replace the caps, place them face up on the counter, and walk away. Don’t look until you are dressed.”
I quickly nod as I watch them walk out and close the door behind them.
It only takes a quick few minutes before Avory is checking the placement of my dress on my body, and tying the tie at my neck. He smiles at me as he whispers, “You look incredibly beautiful, Lovey. Turn around and look. I’ll go grab the tests and bring them to you.”
I nod silently, then turn to look in the mirror. Taking stock of how I look and feel, I find I look like and feel like me, and I’m so relieved. I wanted Taha and I to tie ourselves together as our true selves, not some glamorous made-up versions of who we are.
I smile at my reflection in the mirror, but I’m broken from my thoughts as I feel Avory kiss my temple. He whispers, “I placed them on your dresser, my darling. I’ll give you a moment of privacy and send your dad in.”
I look at him through the mirror and offer a choked-up, “Thanks, Avory… for everything.”
He winks at me before leaving the room, and my sole focus becomes the two sticks laying on the top of my dresser.
The soft clack of my sandals is the only sound in the room as I slowly approach. I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a second, then look down.