Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 54:
The morning after the wedding, I wake to birds chirping outside the window. I go to roll over, only for a serious wave of nausea to catch me by surprise. I run naked to the toilet, and soon feel Taha's comforting heat behind me, making sure I don’t get anything in my hair. I can hear him cooing into my neck as his free hand soothes gentle circles on my stomach, “Breathe slowly, my love. This will pass. Can I get you anything?”
When the worst of it is over, I cough and shake my head, then choke out, “Your heat. It’s soothing. Just stay… please.”
Taha immediately wraps himself further around me, causing me to sigh as some of the queasiness settles. After a few moments just resting there, I feel stable enough to whisper, “I think I’m okay to get up now. Can you have whoever is in the kitchen this morning start the water for tea, please, then come join me in the shower?”
I brush my teeth as he pulls on a pair of shorts and leaves the bedroom. Just as I step under the water, I feel Taha’s hands settle low on my stomach as he wraps himself snuggly around me. I groan, “Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten that last cupcake at 2:30 this morning.”
Taha chuckles into my shoulder, then says, “Our little wolf or coyote making a home inside you is messing with your hormonal balance. I’m sure he or she loved the cupcakes as much as you did after we made love last night. Leah was in the kitchen when I went out. She eyed me when I pulled out the pregnancy tea blend, but didn’t say anything.”
I nod as I turn in his arms, then place a kiss over his heart, “I’ll tell her myself when I reach the kitchen. She probably won’t ask, but I’d rather her find out from me than by hearing it in the pack mind. I also need to speak to Will, to find out who he would suggest for a midwife. Maybe I should ask the girls. Lily or Sinopa might know of someone. I know we haven’t had the chance to talk about it yet, but last night during the celebration, I just kept thinking that I wanted to have our little one here… at home. I even mentioned the possibility to Lily. If nothing happens, and it’s not medically necessary for us to go to the hospital, I want to give birth here.”
Taha looks deep into my eyes and smiles, “That would make me very happy. That means less commotion around you and our child, especially since we don’t know where we will be with the Volturi situation around the time of his or her birth.”
Ten minutes later, I walk into the kitchen as Taha talks to a few of the shifters eating at the table. Walking right up to Leah, who is openly watching my every move, I take her hand and place it against my stomach while saying softly, “Meet the newest addition to both the wolf and coyote packs.”
Her eyes fill with tears, but she hugs me tight as she laughs, “You never fail to surprise me, Swan! Crap, I can’t call you that anymore!”
I grin as she pulls back and holds me at arm’s length, noting that her own smile is lighting up her whole face. “You’re okay? When did you find out? Does anyone else know?”
I chuckle, hug her once more, and explain, “I just found out right before walking down the aisle last night. Dad knows because he walked in while I was reading the tests. He, of course, told Billy. Taha knew seconds after Ahanu introduced us as husband and wife. Lily and Zander know because Lily was the one to bring me the tests when Zander told her it was a possibility. My hunt yesterday clued him in, I guess. And now you know. We’re keeping it to the packs, Ahanu, and Will for right now. I haven’t told either of them yet, but they will be informed soon. If more of the packs know, they haven’t said anything to me yet.”
She shakes her head, looks down at her hand resting on my flat stomach, then says surely, “Your cub is here this soon for a reason. I’m usually not that person; you know I hate that predestined shit, but seriously, Bella. This isn’t just a bunch of coincidences. Taha getting hurt led to you turning coyote and killing your ex to protect him, which led to your dream state and imprinting. Which is where, by the way, you and Taha started talking about the true threat of those Italian bastards, and where the thought of calling all the tribes came from. Then the timing of all of this just happened to line up perfectly so you’d become pregnant practically right away? Nope. I don’t buy it. This… all of this… is the ancestors making this happen for a reason.”
I feel Taha sliding his hand along my ribs as he hugs me from behind, so I smile as he offers, “Bella believes the same thing… that the ancestors have a reason for allowing this pregnancy to happen now. We will only know what that reason is when the time is right. Until then, Bella just needs to be cautious and take it easy.”
Theo comes into the kitchen to rinse off his finished plate, but as he passes me, the smell of smoky bbq pork and sweet cinnamon frosting overwhelms me. With a whimper of, “Oh, God…” I’m holding my stomach as I slap my hand over my mouth.
I hear Theo asking if everything is okay as I rush to the powder room, then Taha answering, “Morning sickness. Leah, will you fill him in and fix her tea while I check on her?”
I drop to my knees as I hear the door close and Taha gathering my hair in his hands. His free hand gently rests on my stomach, but he stays silent as I throw up. It takes several minutes before I can sit back, but when I do, Taha asks, “What can I do?”
I shake my head, “I think I need to not smell anything, or move at all, first thing in the morning. I know this is part of the whole creating a tiny human thing, but I seriously don’t know how Sinopa put up with it as long as she did.”
I flush the toilet and stand but hear chuckling from both inside and outside the bathroom. I give Taha an evil glare before washing my face and rinsing my mouth in the sink.
I open the door, seeing Leah with a cup of tea in her hand. She looks at me seriously as she holds the tea under my nose, “Don’t think. Just smell.”
I want to roll my eyes, but she has an unspoken point. There’s no sense in me going anywhere if the scent of the tea is going to make me sick.
I close my eyes and take a small breath in through my nose, then immediately sigh in relief as my churning stomach calms some. I inhale a deep breath the next time, then smile as I open my eyes. “I think we’re good. Thanks, Leah.”
She nods, then notes, “Lily tried texting you, but you didn’t answer, so she texted me. Since you said she knows, I told her you were currently getting sick. She’ll be here once Kai is awake. I guess you mentioned something about hospital versus home when you were whispering to each other last night, and she promised to help weigh the pros and cons. She also talked to Will, who has birthed over 400 babies in the tribe. He will be here for breakfast, I guess.”
I tell her that shouldn’t be a problem, take another sip of tea, then say, “We’re going to sit outside for a bit. The tea is helping, but there are too many conflicting food smells right now, and it’s not making the little one happy. When it calms down, can you please fix me some scrambled eggs and toast? The eggs are the only thing that smells decent right now.”
She offers right away, “I’ll give you about 15 minutes to finish that, fix your breakfast, then bring out that and a fresh cup of tea.”
My stomach does calm some once I’m able to distance myself from all the different smells. Taha’s heat helps, too, but it’s his natural scent surrounding me -as he holds me from behind while sitting sideways on the picnic table bench- than helps the most.
I’m leaning back against Taha with my eyes closed when I feel a pat on my knee. My eyes open and meet my father’s. He asks softly, “Rough morning?”
I smile slightly, “Not anymore. I’m thinking of changing my morning routine. I’m not getting out of bed until after having tea. First, it was trying to roll over. Then it was 50 million competing food smells in the kitchen. Yeah, definitely staying in bed until after tea from now on.”
Dad hums, then says, “And with your senses already being heightened from your coyote… have you asked if any of the other women have gone through this? Taha, were there any other women coyotes through the years that became pregnant while phasing?”
Taha nodded, then said, “Sarah. Bella, do you remember meeting her last night?”
I hum and offer, “Yes. She’s the jeweler, right? I remember thanking her for the beautiful craftsmanship of our rings, then complimenting her on her charm bracelet. I want to do something like that for the imprints for Christmas… maybe a slightly more masculine version for Avory.”
Dad suggests maybe talking to her about her experience, but my gut feeling is to wait… to talk to Will first. I tell my dad that, and he wastes no time in telling me, “Go with your gut, Bells. I didn’t get to be Chief of Police by ignoring my gut feelings.”
The morning after the wedding, I wake to birds chirping outside the window. I go to roll over, only for a serious wave of nausea to catch me by surprise. I run naked to the toilet, and soon feel Taha's comforting heat behind me, making sure I don’t get anything in my hair. I can hear him cooing into my neck as his free hand soothes gentle circles on my stomach, “Breathe slowly, my love. This will pass. Can I get you anything?”
When the worst of it is over, I cough and shake my head, then choke out, “Your heat. It’s soothing. Just stay… please.”
Taha immediately wraps himself further around me, causing me to sigh as some of the queasiness settles. After a few moments just resting there, I feel stable enough to whisper, “I think I’m okay to get up now. Can you have whoever is in the kitchen this morning start the water for tea, please, then come join me in the shower?”
I brush my teeth as he pulls on a pair of shorts and leaves the bedroom. Just as I step under the water, I feel Taha’s hands settle low on my stomach as he wraps himself snuggly around me. I groan, “Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten that last cupcake at 2:30 this morning.”
Taha chuckles into my shoulder, then says, “Our little wolf or coyote making a home inside you is messing with your hormonal balance. I’m sure he or she loved the cupcakes as much as you did after we made love last night. Leah was in the kitchen when I went out. She eyed me when I pulled out the pregnancy tea blend, but didn’t say anything.”
I nod as I turn in his arms, then place a kiss over his heart, “I’ll tell her myself when I reach the kitchen. She probably won’t ask, but I’d rather her find out from me than by hearing it in the pack mind. I also need to speak to Will, to find out who he would suggest for a midwife. Maybe I should ask the girls. Lily or Sinopa might know of someone. I know we haven’t had the chance to talk about it yet, but last night during the celebration, I just kept thinking that I wanted to have our little one here… at home. I even mentioned the possibility to Lily. If nothing happens, and it’s not medically necessary for us to go to the hospital, I want to give birth here.”
Taha looks deep into my eyes and smiles, “That would make me very happy. That means less commotion around you and our child, especially since we don’t know where we will be with the Volturi situation around the time of his or her birth.”
Ten minutes later, I walk into the kitchen as Taha talks to a few of the shifters eating at the table. Walking right up to Leah, who is openly watching my every move, I take her hand and place it against my stomach while saying softly, “Meet the newest addition to both the wolf and coyote packs.”
Her eyes fill with tears, but she hugs me tight as she laughs, “You never fail to surprise me, Swan! Crap, I can’t call you that anymore!”
I grin as she pulls back and holds me at arm’s length, noting that her own smile is lighting up her whole face. “You’re okay? When did you find out? Does anyone else know?”
I chuckle, hug her once more, and explain, “I just found out right before walking down the aisle last night. Dad knows because he walked in while I was reading the tests. He, of course, told Billy. Taha knew seconds after Ahanu introduced us as husband and wife. Lily and Zander know because Lily was the one to bring me the tests when Zander told her it was a possibility. My hunt yesterday clued him in, I guess. And now you know. We’re keeping it to the packs, Ahanu, and Will for right now. I haven’t told either of them yet, but they will be informed soon. If more of the packs know, they haven’t said anything to me yet.”
She shakes her head, looks down at her hand resting on my flat stomach, then says surely, “Your cub is here this soon for a reason. I’m usually not that person; you know I hate that predestined shit, but seriously, Bella. This isn’t just a bunch of coincidences. Taha getting hurt led to you turning coyote and killing your ex to protect him, which led to your dream state and imprinting. Which is where, by the way, you and Taha started talking about the true threat of those Italian bastards, and where the thought of calling all the tribes came from. Then the timing of all of this just happened to line up perfectly so you’d become pregnant practically right away? Nope. I don’t buy it. This… all of this… is the ancestors making this happen for a reason.”
I feel Taha sliding his hand along my ribs as he hugs me from behind, so I smile as he offers, “Bella believes the same thing… that the ancestors have a reason for allowing this pregnancy to happen now. We will only know what that reason is when the time is right. Until then, Bella just needs to be cautious and take it easy.”
Theo comes into the kitchen to rinse off his finished plate, but as he passes me, the smell of smoky bbq pork and sweet cinnamon frosting overwhelms me. With a whimper of, “Oh, God…” I’m holding my stomach as I slap my hand over my mouth.
I hear Theo asking if everything is okay as I rush to the powder room, then Taha answering, “Morning sickness. Leah, will you fill him in and fix her tea while I check on her?”
I drop to my knees as I hear the door close and Taha gathering my hair in his hands. His free hand gently rests on my stomach, but he stays silent as I throw up. It takes several minutes before I can sit back, but when I do, Taha asks, “What can I do?”
I shake my head, “I think I need to not smell anything, or move at all, first thing in the morning. I know this is part of the whole creating a tiny human thing, but I seriously don’t know how Sinopa put up with it as long as she did.”
I flush the toilet and stand but hear chuckling from both inside and outside the bathroom. I give Taha an evil glare before washing my face and rinsing my mouth in the sink.
I open the door, seeing Leah with a cup of tea in her hand. She looks at me seriously as she holds the tea under my nose, “Don’t think. Just smell.”
I want to roll my eyes, but she has an unspoken point. There’s no sense in me going anywhere if the scent of the tea is going to make me sick.
I close my eyes and take a small breath in through my nose, then immediately sigh in relief as my churning stomach calms some. I inhale a deep breath the next time, then smile as I open my eyes. “I think we’re good. Thanks, Leah.”
She nods, then notes, “Lily tried texting you, but you didn’t answer, so she texted me. Since you said she knows, I told her you were currently getting sick. She’ll be here once Kai is awake. I guess you mentioned something about hospital versus home when you were whispering to each other last night, and she promised to help weigh the pros and cons. She also talked to Will, who has birthed over 400 babies in the tribe. He will be here for breakfast, I guess.”
I tell her that shouldn’t be a problem, take another sip of tea, then say, “We’re going to sit outside for a bit. The tea is helping, but there are too many conflicting food smells right now, and it’s not making the little one happy. When it calms down, can you please fix me some scrambled eggs and toast? The eggs are the only thing that smells decent right now.”
She offers right away, “I’ll give you about 15 minutes to finish that, fix your breakfast, then bring out that and a fresh cup of tea.”
My stomach does calm some once I’m able to distance myself from all the different smells. Taha’s heat helps, too, but it’s his natural scent surrounding me -as he holds me from behind while sitting sideways on the picnic table bench- than helps the most.
I’m leaning back against Taha with my eyes closed when I feel a pat on my knee. My eyes open and meet my father’s. He asks softly, “Rough morning?”
I smile slightly, “Not anymore. I’m thinking of changing my morning routine. I’m not getting out of bed until after having tea. First, it was trying to roll over. Then it was 50 million competing food smells in the kitchen. Yeah, definitely staying in bed until after tea from now on.”
Dad hums, then says, “And with your senses already being heightened from your coyote… have you asked if any of the other women have gone through this? Taha, were there any other women coyotes through the years that became pregnant while phasing?”
Taha nodded, then said, “Sarah. Bella, do you remember meeting her last night?”
I hum and offer, “Yes. She’s the jeweler, right? I remember thanking her for the beautiful craftsmanship of our rings, then complimenting her on her charm bracelet. I want to do something like that for the imprints for Christmas… maybe a slightly more masculine version for Avory.”
Dad suggests maybe talking to her about her experience, but my gut feeling is to wait… to talk to Will first. I tell my dad that, and he wastes no time in telling me, “Go with your gut, Bells. I didn’t get to be Chief of Police by ignoring my gut feelings.”