Howling Hearts

Scarlett:

I sat in my office staring at the boards containing the themes of the gender reveal. I wanted everything to be perfect.

I looked over the boards to three anticipating and exciting faces awaiting my answer. Each one of them drew up a board with games and themes.

Layla, my mom and Freya all sat with big smiles plastered on their faces and their hands tucked into their laps.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Like three little girls awaiting a sweet or a toy.

I giggle a little at the sight before me. I shifted my eyes back to the boards, looking carefully over each one. One had a theme of pink or blue.

We still love you and all though the idea was cute it felt like something was missing.

I placed the board down making the decision not to have that theme.

I looked between my two options and stood stuck between the two. Buck or doe? It was cute.

It kind of played on our animalistic nature. Then we had a boy or girl can't wait to sea. With an ocean theme.

Little pirates and mermaids and it was absolutely too cute. Eventually, I came to a decision and placed the other board down. A sudden screech of celebration went off as Layla stood up and jumped around the room like she had just won a marathon or the Olympics.

I just stared at her and saw my mom and Freya sigh before digging in their handbags.

"Gimme the money", she said in a way too eager voice. I raised my eyebrows at the three of them and my mom just shrugged. "We had a bet on whose theme would be chosen", Freya said, informing me of the betting that went on behind my back. I cleared my throat and gestured for Layla to take her seat with my eyes. "I promise that there was no unfair advantage..." "Don't stress Hun, we know you were fair and truly picked something you liked the most. No need to explain your decision to us" My mom said, leaning back into her chair.

I looked over to Freya and she nodded her head, confirming my mom's words. I sighed out of relief. The last thing I wanted was a fight with the in-laws.

"so if you don't mind me asking, Who's themes were whose?"

"Well, mine was the first to go" Freya said, making me feel so guilty.

"don't worry, I didn't take it personal. Besides, I know you, the least between the three of us. It just reminded me to get to know you a little better." She said and I giggled nervously at her reply.

"So Buck or doe. I was thinking we do two deer. One is obviously a buck and the other a doe.

And then when you catch them they will disintegrate into a shimmery dust of blue or pink revealing the gender."

I raised my brow and started rethinking my decision. Maybe Layla was far out of her league, she surely wouldn't be able to make that happen.

"Scarlet, I already know what you're thinking "how are we going to do that?" I nodded my head slowly, unsure of how else to

answer.

"Well I'm just about to tell you. I have a witch who owes me a favor. This will be that favor the dear will look real and they will run together until you and Lucian catch them.

Then they will splatter into a shimmery smoke because they will be like holograms controlled by the witch" I smiled at her idea as it was brilliant. Making me happier about my choice.

"As for the game, we will have a guess about the baby's face where there will be cutouts of both you and Lucian's facial features

and the guests can assemble the pieces between the two of you to create what they think the baby will look like.

Then we will photograph them and play them on the big screen for all of us to enjoy.

This will obviously be for the family and closer friends, as for the pack members,

we will have them vote for what they think the gender might be and those who are right will have bragging rights as well as a gift set awaiting them at home." She explained with eagerness.

I turned my head to the side and bit down at my bottom lip.

"What is it?" she asked out of nowhere and I whipped my head up straight.

"What do you mean?" I asked in an innocent tone.

"Scarlet I know your "I don't agree" face. So tell me what is wrong?"

She said in an irritated tone, placing her hand on her hip. Awaiting my answer, I sighed.

She knew me all too well, maybe too well.

"It's just unfair"

"How?"

"Well I don't want pack members to feel excluded. Maybe we will still send them a gift but with a card saying something like... Better luck next time" "Scarlet, do you want to have a next time?" I sat back in my chair thinking about it a while.

Would I want another pup?

"Yes" I said in all honesty.

I wanted more pups, more love, more little us's runnin around.

"OK then we will do that" She said and continued to explain the baby shower plans and the seating arrangements.

Everything would be done in a rustic way so as to not give away any ideas or lean to one gender slightly more than the other.

It would all be in a gender-neutral tone. I loved this idea. Suddenly, my office doors burst open.

My head shot into the direction of the doors and I couldn't believe who had stood there looking better than ever.

"I think there's something missing "she said with her bright red lipstick and latex body suit, standing with her hand on her hip and the other on her chin in a thinking position. "Saige?" My mom asked in worry.

"And what would that be?" Layla said eyes her up and down with disgust prominent in her eyes.

"Me" She said with confidence smirking in my direction and I couldn't help but wonder how she could've made it all the way up here alive.

"Oh o don't think someone like you has enough taste to deliver and opinion" Layla retorted.

"Saige how did you get here and what are you doing here"

"Oh my dear sister always wanting to jump right to the point." She walked up to my table running her finger along the desk. "You're no fun" She said pouting. I just glared at her, awaiting her reply. Suddenly, Layla tried to slash her from the back and her hand went right through Saige. Saige turned to face Layla with a smug look plastered on her face.

"Don't shoot the messenger", she said, mocking Layla. Layla growled and I lifted my hand up, gesturing for her to stop.

Layla nodded her head and stepped back. Saige then walked around the desk standing right in front of me.

We were face to face and the silence was deafening within the room.

I could hear that life was carrying on like normal outside of the office, making me feel a little more at ease since there wasn't an attack happening right now.

"I like your office", She said and I continued to just stare at her.

"I was supposed to have one of my own but you made sure to rip that from my grasp along with everything else." She continued.

Her eyes dropped down to my belly that was starting to swell slightly but not enough to be completely visible.

I instinctively placed a hand on my belly as a measure to reassure myself and to somehow protect the pup that was growing within me. "And now I have the chance to do the same" She continued.

I took a step back to try to create some distance between us. She giggled at my action and I just continued to glare at her. "Well, that's only if you don't listen to his commands" She spoke once more. "And honestly I hope you don't, but either way, I win"

"What commands and from who" I said in a poise tone.

"Who do you think? Zeus and Aiden, of course.

They want you to leave Lucian and you can still raise your child or they will kill him and your child and force you to marry Aiden anyway. The choice is yours."

"Saige". My mother reprimanded her.

"Shut up Celeste." My mother's eyes grew in shock at her words.

""I am your mother"

"Oh please you threw our relationship away.. Your own daughter for this..." She looked me up and down "Abomination.

In all honesty, I have no idea why everyone wants you so badly, but I just know you're in a situation where you will be in hell either way and, for me your hell is my heaven".

She strutted out the room before vanishing into thin air. I took a deep breath, realizing that I had been holding it the entire time.

I was hyperventilating and Layla's eyes went grey, letting me know she was mind linking someone. My mother rushed over to my side, telling me to take deep breaths. And Freya brought me a glass of water. Soon I was engulfed in darkness.