Chapter 3 Chapter 3 I'm Not Sick, I'm Pregnant

Caroline's POV

When I met Eleanor for Monday lunch, she handed me an elegantly wrapped bag.

"My mother heard you love this perfume she made," Eleanor said. "She said it suits you perfectly."

I opened the bag, and my heart skipped a beat. Inside was the perfume I wore on the masquerade night. The scent brought back everything-his violet eyes, his touch, and how wildly Rory had reacted to him.

"Thank Luna Marla for me," I said, hoping that magical night had left me with sweet memories rather than an STD. "I'll stop by later to thank her personally. But first, I need to schedule those tests we talked about."

After lunch, I called the laboratory. They needed a doctor's prescription for insurance coverage.

Thankfully, BuildRight Corp, our pack's company, had excellent health benefits.

Our finances were comfortable as a Beta family. My father handled pack logistics and security with Alpha Gerald, while Mother assisted Luna Marla with territory matters.

We lived well, but as a college student, I wanted to manage my own expenses and be independent.

The earliest appointment I could get was two weeks out. Each passing day made me more anxious, though Eleanor did everything she could to keep me calm. When the day arrived, she accompanied me to the doctor's office, arranged my lab work, and insisted on staying by my side through all of it.

Three weeks had passed since the masquerade ball when I finally completed the tests. Five days later, the results came in, and I returned to the doctor with Eleanor beside me, her hand squeezing mine for support.

The doctor looked over my results, then met my eyes.

"Miss Bennett, you're healthy. Everything looks good."

I let out a relieved breath. Then she added, "But you'll need to take better care of yourself from now on."

I nodded, already expecting the talk about unprotected sex I deserved. Not using protection was stupid-I could have caught something serious.

But then she smiled warmly. "Congratulations, you're pregnant! I'm sending you to our pack's OB-GYN for prenatal care..."

Her words blurred as my heart pounded. Pregnant? Me? The responsible Beta's daughter who always thought things through? The one who always considered the consequences? The first time I gave in to impulse, and now I'm carrying a pup from a stranger I don't even know?

Rory whined in my mind, equally shocked. "A pup... we're having a pup, Caroline. What are we going to do?"

I swallowed hard, struggling to find words to comfort her. How could I, when I could barely breathe myself?

Eleanor gripped my hand tighter, repeating over and over, "Don't freak out, Carrie. Everything's going to be okay. I'm right here. We'll get through this together."

How could anything be okay? I didn't know who the father was. I would have to tell my parents. As a daughter of the Beta, pregnant without a mate. Not only would it bring shame to my father in the pack, but it would break my parents' hearts. I was already looked down on for being a scentless wolf. Then my boyfriend cheated on me... and now this? Moon Goddess, how much worse can this get? My parents would be devastated, disappointed-maybe even banish me from the pack. How could I explain that I didn't even know what my pup's father looked like beneath his mask?

My breathing became shallow and rapid.

The doctor took my hand. "Easy now, dear. From what I can see, the situation isn't ideal, but getting this upset will harm your pup. From this moment forward, you must think of the little one. I'm sure your pack and family will support you, but you need to calm yourself because only you can ensure this pup develops properly and is born strong. Do you understand?"

I looked at the kindly older woman with her glasses and nodded. Something in her eyes sparkled with an understanding that soothed both me and Rory.

She called for her assistant to bring me some chamomile tea infused with calming herbs specific to pregnant she-wolves, and while I sipped it, she provided Eleanor with all the necessary information about wolf pregnancies and prenatal care.

After leaving her office, Eleanor took me to a quiet diner at the edge of our territory, insisting I needed to eat something. The moment we sat down, tears started flowing. Eleanor wrapped her arms around me.

"The only thing I'm certain of right now," I spoke between sobs, "is that I want you and Nate to be my pup's godparents. I know you'll support them and shower them with love when I can't be enough."

Her eyes lit up, and she began crying too. "I'll be the most devoted godmother in the entire Blood Moon Pack," she promised. "And our pup will always know they're loved! Nate will be thrilled too-he already treats you like a pack sister."

Eleanor assured me she would stand by my side through everything and made it clear that I wouldn't face any of this alone. She promised to accompany me when I spoke with my parents. My parents... the thought made my stomach clench. I decided I wouldn't hide this from them for even a day; I would tell them that very night. I would skip my evening training and go straight home.

"Let's go then," Eleanor said without hesitation. "We will face it together."

When we arrived at my house, my parents were startled to see us.

My mother came over, her eyes showing worry.

"Girls, didn't you have evening training today? Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Not really, Mom. I need to speak with both of you."

We sat in the living room. My hands trembled as I twisted them in my lap.

"What is it, dear?" Mom asked.

I took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant."

The silence that followed was deafening. Mom's face drained of color while Dad's jaw clenched tight.

"Is it... is it Marcus's?" Mom's voice quivered.

Dad's fists clenched. "That bastard got you pregnant and then married your cousin? I'll kill him-"

"No!" I cut in quickly. "It's not Marcus. I... I don't know who the father is."

Mom's eyes widened. "What do you mean you don't know?"

"It was at the masquerade ball," I whispered, unable to meet their eyes. "It was just one night... he wore a mask..."

Mom burst into tears, sobbing on the couch. Dad opened his mouth several times, but no words came out. Seeing my parents' distress, Eleanor hurried to the kitchen and returned with a special herbal tea that would help calm a wolf's nerves.

Finally, my father spoke. "You've made a grave error, and there's no reversing this path now."

My parents were respected members of our pack. My father was tall and commanding, while my mother resembled an older version of me, both carrying themselves with the dignity expected of Beta wolves. Hearing my father emphasize my mistake made my heart ache even more intensely. Rory whimpered within me as I started crying.

"I know, Dad. I was irresponsible. But there's nothing I can do now except face the consequences. I'll drop out of college to raise my pup. And I'm going to pack my things..."

"Pack your things? You're mistaken if you believe you're leaving this house," he interrupted. "You made a mistake, and yes, you've disappointed us, but we love you. We'll handle this together and help you. You are not alone, my daughter! And neither is this pup!"

My heart swelled with hope as Rory finally settled inside me, soothed by my father's words.

"But Dad... I've brought shame to our family," I whispered, "To your position in the pack."

He looked at me. "You're not the first single mother in this pack, and you won't be the last. Yes, we hoped you'd have a mate by your side. You've always been so careful, so responsible. But if this is the Moon Goddess's path for you, then we walk it with you. As a family. As your pack. You're not giving up your education. Now more than ever, you need to push forward, for your pup. Being a lone mother means your duty to the pack doubles. But you won't carry it alone. We'll be here. It won't be easy, but we endure. That's what we do."

Eleanor was already crying. "Beta Robert, Linda, you can count on me and my family. I'll help with everything! As this pup's godmother and Carrie's best friend, I'll always be present. The Blood Moon Pack protects its own."

My parents thanked her for helping. Looking at these three people who promised to support me, I felt so lucky to have them in my life. I loved them so much, and I was starting to feel love for my pup too-a special connection I never knew about before.

Even though being a single mom would be hard, I didn't regret that night at the ball. Those violet eyes looking at me with desire during our passionate encounter and everything my body had experienced-I would cherish those memories always.

The next few months were hard. I kept everything from that night-the dress, shoes, mask, and the perfume from Eleanor's mother-in a special box. When I had bad days, I would open the box and think about that night. Remembering it made me feel stronger.

Everything was fine with my pregnancy. The pack's whispers and judgment were harder to bear than any physical discomfort. Worse still, after their mating ceremony, Marcus and Selina moved in with her parents, who happened to live on the same block as my family. They loved passing by just to sneer.

"Oh look, it's the single mother," Selina mocked, loud enough for others to hear.

But the worst was Aunt Diana, my mother's own sister.

One afternoon, she walked in without knocking. "Well, I just dropped by to see how you're holding up. Must be hard, raising a pup without knowing who the father is."

My mother stiffened beside me but said nothing.

Diana kept going, "Thank the Moon Goddess Selina turned out better. She found a real mate. A strong, respectable wolf. Not like you. You sleep around. No wonder Marcus rejected you."

I clenched my fists. She conveniently ignored the truth that her daughter had stolen my mate. I tried to stay calm and not get angry. Fighting with people wasn't good for my pup, so I ignored the mean comments. I didn't want my stress to affect my pup.

As time went by, I loved my pup more and more-more than I ever thought I could. Everything I did was for my pup now. I would do anything to protect and keep my pup safe.

Even though some people were unkind, other things in my life were going well during my pregnancy.

Alpha Gerald, as the CEO of BuildRight Corp, was surprisingly understanding about my situation. He even gave me a small raise, which honestly helped a lot!

Eleanor and Nate spoiled me with attention, completely in love with their godchild even before we knew if it was a boy or a girl. They insisted on setting up the nursery themselves, turning a room in my parents' house into something out of a dream.

Eleanor came with me to every pack doctor visit and test. She never missed a single moment. She even planned two celebrations. One was with my work friends, and the other was with our family.

My pup would be born into a world full of love, from both sides of my life.

When I learned I was having a boy, I decided to name him Liam. And so it was that Liam Bennett was born healthy, with a pair of striking violet eyes that would forever remind me of the night that changed my life-the best night I'd ever experienced! I would never forget that mysterious man with the violet eyes, though his identity remained unknown to me.

From his first breath, my son was surrounded by love. My parents, once disappointed, now doted fiercely on their grandson. Eleanor and Nate visited daily, always there to help. Even Alpha Gerald and Luna Marla became like family, calling me their daughter and showering Liam with gifts, including the finest stroller. On Liam's birthday, they brought moonflowers and balloons.

After maternity leave, Liam stayed with my mother while I balanced work and college study. Thanks to my parents and godparents, I never missed a semester and graduated alongside Eleanor.

With my diploma, I was ready to build my career and succeed. I was determined to give Liam everything he needed.