My eyes fluttered open to an entirely new world, and I inhaled deeply as the morning rays washed over me.

Another day already?

Rolling over, I eyed the clock on the wall and grunted at the hour. Looks like I would not be falling back asleep anytime soon.

I sat upright, eyeing the empty spot beside me. Being it was already half-eight, Asra would've left around an hour ago. I often wondered what he even did at such an ungodly hour, but he claims this time of year had a lot of paperwork.

Whatever that meant.

It was nearly the end of July. What did July have to do with paperwork?

Heaving myself from the bed, I dragged my naked ass to the bathroom. My hand scratched at my hair, an uncomfortable stickiness still between my thighs. Despite Asra's best efforts to clean me, it seemed more had... appeared.

Gross.

I changed direction and climbed into the shower, forcing my hair into a bun. The water was cool, and it was the perfect thing to wake me up for the day ahead. My mind reeled with remembrance of a strange dream, but I couldn't pinpoint what I saw. I remember being home, and my mother hitting me for the first time.

It was a memory I would never forget. There was nothing but malice in her gaze, and from that day on, things grew worse. Arabella, however, had stuck to her word and pushed herself into her education. She did well, sticking to her promises. I realised it was her way of avoiding coming home, as I can't forget her expression after our mother hit me.

Her wide doe eyes were just as scared as mine were.

I often dreamt of that day. It had become a recurring nightmare of mine, alongside the first time I unwillingly lost my virginity. It usually only came when I had something heavy on my mind, so it was understandable why. I was just glad it was that dream and not the one of Darius, because I usually woke up screaming when that one came.

Once clean, dry, and dressed for the day, I made my way downstairs. The death box rattled slightly on its way down and I practically ran out of it when the doors opened. My heart raced as I struggled to exhale, staring at the glinting mirrored wall as the doors slowly shut behind me.

It was teasing me.

Stupid death box.

Today was Friday, so breakfast would be a free for all. One thing I hated the most about the pack house was the availability of snacks and breakfast space. I see why Piper loved weekend breakfasts more; they already cooked everything for you!

My eyes scanned the various wolves still around until I found someone familiar. Her back was to me, but the dark braids of her hair swished violently as she shook with laughter. I haven't seen her in a while, not since she got me shit-faced. We had spoken little.

I eyed Mya's back as I helped myself to some cereal. Various wolves in passing greeted me softly, and I smiled politely at them before I entered the dining area as quietly as I could. Instead of tapping the warrior on the shoulder, I stood beside her, intent on listening to her conversation. But alas, the moment I even got near, she had shut up and was already looking at me.

"Ailia, good morning." She raised an eyebrow.

"Damn wolf's ears." I huffed, raising my spoon to my mouth.

Mya excused herself from the man she was speaking to before taking my elbow and leading me to a table. I was mid-spoonful; the milk dribbling down my chin as she dragged me to a seat. Complaining through a mouthful of Cheerios, I glared at her.

"What's that look for?" She huffed. "Oh wait, it's that time of the month, isn't it?"

I shook my head. "You made me spill my cereal."

She rolled her eyes, sitting beside me. "Yeah, yeah. You're up early today."

"I am?" I wondered, glancing at the clock that blared nine am. "This is normal?"

"When your time of the month is here, you always sleep late."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Is your nose working? I'm not on my period."

She blanched, blinking at me. "Oh? But..."

"But what?" I asked, spooning more cereal into my mouth.

I barely heard her through the crunching of oats in my teeth, but she seemed deeply confused.

"What?" I asked, swallowing.

"I said it's been a month since your period. I keep track of it to avoid you."

"Well, that's rude." I snorted, unbothered.

"You are grouchy when you bleed." She huffed. "That's why I was still around here. I expected you to sleep in!"

"Well, your calculations are wrong because there is no grouchiness here." I teased.

She raised an eyebrow. "So are congratulations in order?"

"What for?" I wondered, milk dribbling down my chin.

Her eyes watched it fall onto the table, that expectant look on her face. "The nearly a week late period?"

"It's not a week late." I shook my head, still crunching.

"Are you sure?" She frowned. "My maths is pretty good."

I vigorously shook my head. "I know my period."

"Okay..." she sang, turning to face ahead of her.

I hummed, wondering why she was so adamant about avoiding my 'grouchy' ass today. I think going out with me had messed with her brain, because my period was only...

Frowning, I set down my spoon. "Mya, what's the date?"

"The twentieth."

Shit.

"Mya..."

"Luna?" She turned back to face me, smirking. "Realised I am right?"

"My period is three days late." I whispered.

"Congrats?" She beamed.

I placed my hand over her mouth, glancing around the room. "Shush!"

Mya nibbled my palm, and I pulled it away with a grimace. Her nose twitched as she stared at me, her head cocking as she scanned my face. I took her hand, abandoning my cereal as I dragged her outside. She followed me quietly, her hand looped in mine as I dragged her to the middle of the gardens.

"What's wrong?" She asked when we came to a stop.

"My period is three days late, that's what!" I screeched.

"I think we have acknowledged that." She nodded.

"Mya!"

"Ailia!"

"What does this mean?" I wailed.

"A baby?"

"No! It can't be!"

"Well, do you use protection?"

I blanched, staring at her with wide eyes.

"No protection? You raw dogging that hound?"

I groaned, my forehead smacking into her chest as I squeezed my eyes shut. She laughed softly, her hand coming to rub along my shoulders since I used her as a wall.

"What does this mean?" I whispered.

"Only one way to test our theory?" She suggested. "We go to the pharmacy."

"I can't go there! They'll know!"

"So I'll get it." She rolled her eyes.

I lifted my head from her chest to stare, unimpressed. "You? The lesbian."

"Lesbians can have babies." She scoffed.

"With what man?"

"I don't need a man."

I blinked. "Okay, so we get the test. Then what?"

"Well, you piss?" She frowned. "Do you not know anything today? Did you leave your head up Asra's ass?"

"Fuck... Asra... I..." I cursed, unconsciously nibbling my fingernails.

"That got you into this mess." Mya snorted, taking my hand away.

"I can't have a baby." I told her with wide eyes.

"Well, you should've used protection." She pointed out.

"I was going to! We even said... We spoke about this." I shook my head in disbelief. "I told him I wanted protection, and he agreed after my period ended. A new cycle and all that."

"Looks like the beast got to you first." She snickered. "With a cock that big-

"Mya!" I frowned, and she smirked, shutting up. "It's not funny!"

"Well, you should've kept his big dick away!" She laughed. "You both agreed, you only had to wait... how long?"

I sighed, shoulders sagging. "I know nothing."

"It could just be late." She suggested. "Did you fuck two weeks ago?"

"Why would that matter?"

"That's when you would've ovulated." She raised an eyebrow. "If you didn't fuck, then it could just be a late period. If you did, then..."

"What was two weeks ago?" I wondered.

"The full moon, I think." Mya shrugged.

I cursed, remembering that night. That night was intense. The way he pinned me down in the lake and forced me to take him...

"The lake?" Mya's voice drifted through my haze.

"I spoke out loud?"

"Yes, and I am very intrigued by what happened in the lake." She grinned, her eyes sparkling.

"Not the time." I groaned.

She laughed, pulling me into her embrace. "See, you are still grouchy, even without a period!"

"Mya!" I complained, muffled by her chest.

"If you just liked girls, then this would never be a concern." She stated, releasing me.

I rolled my eyes. "I didn't expect this to happen."

"Let's just do the test, okay? We can worry and curse later."

I inhaled deeply, nodding with the exhale. "Okay, you go. I'll hide."

Mya laughed, shaking her head. "If that will make you comfortable."

"It will." I blushed.

"Okay." She soothed me, calmer now. "I will find you after. If it's any consolation, you smell the same to me."

My heart was still racing, but I gave her a wary smile. "I feel the same."

"That's a plus, yeah? Now, go eat your cereal before you get hangry."

I laughed, agreeing, and we parted ways. My mind raced as fast as my heart and upon re-entering the dining area, I found someone had taken my cereal. I made some toast instead, desiring the crunch of the bread to distract me. Plus, it was louder than cereal and meant I could avoid anyone's voice.

The kitchen was quieter than the dining room and I was grateful because it gave me a moment to calm my thoughts and ease the ache in my chest. Just as quickly as my nerves subsided, did it flare again when someone interrupted my attempt to distract myself.

"Luna, you're up early." Caleb chirped.

My eyes widened, shoving the last remnants of toast into my mouth. I made a loud noise of agreement, brushing my hands together to rid myself of the crumbs, before scurrying away from the kitchen cupboard. Caleb watched me go with confused concern and I patted his shoulder before hurrying from the room.

The sooner I was out of here, the better.

It seemed everyone could keep track of my damn cycle! I wasn't that bad, was I? Grouchy was better than mean, right?

Eying the death box, I contemplated the next few minutes of my life. A trillion flights of stairs and exercise, or ten seconds in a rattling death box of silence.

I chose the exercise.

Battling with my endurance was worth the distraction, and by the time I made it to mine and Asra's room, I was a hunched, panting mess. My forehead rested on the door, much like it did to Mya a mere ten minutes ago.

Before I could fully catch my breath, the door opened. From the inside.

I was doomed.

Asra stood on the other side, eyebrows raised, as he looked down at me. "Tulip? Did you run here?"

I exhaled loudly, taking a step into the room. "Me? Run? Hilarious."

He glanced out of the door before looking back at me. "You took the stairs?"

"Sure did!" I laughed loudly. "I figured I need to exercise again. Get fit, and all that."

He watched me with a frown, still holding the door. "I came to wake you, but I see you are already awake."

"Yep! Sure am!" I chimed.

"You are chirpier today." His fingers flexed on the wood.

"I am? Huh. Funny. Don't you have somewhere to be?"

His frown deepened, and I anxiously watched as his fingers released the door. "Is something wrong?"

Just as his nostrils expanded, I laughed nervously and darted to the bathroom door. "I just really need to poop."

He paused his movements, stopping the small advancement. "Oh? I see, I will, uh, leave you to it then."

"Thanks!" I chirped, making a show of crossing my legs. "Bye!"

Running into the bathroom, I heard him mutter something before the front door shut behind his retreating footsteps. I waited an extra couple of minutes before poking my head through the bathroom door.

Coast was clear.

I sighed loudly, only to startle when a knock came to the door. My spine tensed, a ripple of unease shooting down my spine. It relaxed when Mya's voice floated through the wood, and I stepped into the bedroom.

"Bitch, are you going to let me in?"

"Coming!" I chimed. "Coming!"

Opening the door, the broad grin of Mya blinded me, but I was quick to pull her inside. A crinkle of paper caught my attention, and I eyed the brown bag in her hands before locking the front door.

"Easy on the hands!" She complained before sniffing. "Is Asra here?"

"He was a couple of minutes ago." I shook my head. "Did you get it?"

"No, I just thought I'd carry a pharmacy bag to mess with you." She rolled her eyes.

I glared at her mocking but her cheesy grin was too relaxed to be angry at. She took me by the elbow, dragging me into the bathroom with an overly cheery grin.

"Come on, I hope you have some piss ready!"

Goddess, help me.

*******