268 Vouchers
Hundred and Forty–Five
Isabella’s POV
“Another one?” I asked, in an incredulous tone as I looked up at Lisa.
“Yup.” She nodded with a smile. She seemed more excited than I was, smiling and excitedly rushing to show me a new present or item whenever it came in, at the rate she was going you’d think I was having her baby.
“Wow, thanks,” I said, not exactly sure who I should be thanking this
time.
It had been exactly a week since the party and the entire pack now knew about my pregnancy Ever since Alexander officially announced that we were expecting a baby. I had been bombarded with gifts from both members of the pack and even some pack elders. The
announcement was made just yesterday and I had to get a spare room to put all the boxes of presents in.
Just today, I had received a total of ten gift baskets and six wrapped presents and it wasn’t even noon yet.
“Is this normal?” I asked Alexander after Lisa presented me with the seventh box of gifts that day. It was barely 10 am and I had received more gifts between 6 am and now than I’d received my entire life.
“Is what normal?” Alexander asked after taking a swig of water.
We were both eating breakfast at the breakfast bar. Alexander was having pancakes and syrup with egg and some bacon while I was having fish, just fish. I wasn’t even four weeks in and I had already
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started craving weird food.
Alexander had been giving me side glances since I ordered for unseasoned fish but didn’t utter a word, probably afraid that I’d force him to eat with me.
“All these gifts,” I gestured at the boxes that were now stacked up on top of each other and the gift baskets that were arranged on top of the kitchen counter and the ground. “Not that I’m complaining but I thought gifts were after the baby was born.”
Alexander chuckled lightly.
“You seem to forget, my love, that you are the Luna of the pack sometimes.” He pointed out.
In my opinion, it was hard to forget, I had an entire staff of maids at my beck and call and had to be present in a lot of meetings where I had to be on my best behavior in the pack but I didn’t voice out my opinion.
“It’s just tradition. You might keep receiving gifts till after the baby is born.”
“Really?” I asked, my tone incredulous. That was one hell of a tradition.
“Yup.”
“Wow, that’s a lot.”
“Yeah, people believe by gifting the Luna and her unborn baby early on the moon goddess will smile upon them and give them their desires.
“I see…” I nodded in understanding. I couldn’t fault their logic. If one thought about it, it made sense for that to be a tradition.
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“While others want to be in your good graces.” Alexander shrugged.
“I think I might just like being pregnant a little bit more now,” I said with a cheeky smile.
Alexander chuckled.
“I think I might like it too. Don’t be surprised when someone gives you a house soon.”
“Wait what? That can happen?”
“Happened when my mother had…me.” I didn’t miss the little pause in between his words and the action alone brought back that night with
Antonio.
“Your mate is not telling you the truth about your parents‘ death. He’s a worse trickster than I am. You don’t want to believe the truth?”
The words on the paper read allowed in my mind against my will.
I stared at Alexander, studying his profile, trying to find the trickster in him but the longer I stared the faster I realized I was the only trickster here.
I was keeping secrets from the man I loved because some other man who had kidnapped and tortured me once to the brink of death said I shouldn’t trust him. I felt stupid but then again what if he was really keeping secrets from me? What if just like I was trying to protect him, he was trying to protect me too?
“What’s up, what’s s up,
what’s up Alpha Xander and our favorite Luna of all time!” Caleb strolled into the dining hall, distracting me from my thoughts.
“You are awfully chippy today,” Alexander commented, eyeing his
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friend.
“I believe I am always chippy,” Caleb corrected and I couldn’t disagree.
“True.
“But you are right I am in a good mood today.” He said and pulled out a chair to sit beside Alexander.
“Care to share what’s got you all happy?” I asked. “On second thought, I’m not sure I want to know,”
Caleb laughed. “I just am.” He said as he stole a bacon from Alexander‘ s plate.
“Can’t a guy wake up from the right side of the bed and just feel happy?” he asked as he stole another bacon.
“I guess so,” I said. Alexander responded to another of his bacon being stolen with a glare. His grin was mischievous as he bit into the stolen goods.
“What? If you want it back you’ll have to settle for the one in my stomach.” Caleb said to Alexander.
Alexander rolled his eyes but went back to eating. I shook my head at both of them. Sometimes Alexander and his friends behaved like old married couples. Bickering at the silliest of things.
“Take another bacon and I’ll stab your hand with my fork,” Alexander said, his fork inches from stabbing Caleb.
Caleb backed away from Alexander’s plate slowly.
“Damn, tough crowd.” He said with a small chuckle and I shook my head at both of them.
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“What the hell are you eating?” Caleb’s attention shifted to my plate. There was a disgusted look on his face too.
“Fish!” I felt a weird urge to suddenly defend my food. “What’s it to you?” I asked with a scowl etched on my face.
“It’s disgusting that’s what… how can you eat that?”
“Shut up, jackass. I like it, that’s how.
“It looks unseasoned…” Caleb said “…and very undercooked.
“It is.”
“What’s going on here? Mason strolled in just then. His hair was damp like he had just come out of the shower.
“Isabella is eating fish.” Caleb took the liberty of announcing.
“So?”
“So, look.”
Mason took one look at my fish and a look of regret too over his face. “That doesn’t look like it tastes very good.” Mason met my eyes.
“It does!” I defended.
“I’m sure it does, honey.” Alexander chirped in.
I rolled my eyes at him.
“You are supposed to defend me.” I pouted.
“I am defending you, my love.”
Mason told Alexander they had some business to attend to and
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Alexander left promising he’d be back soon for me. Almost as soon as Alexander left Sasha walked in holding a big wrapped box.
“Is that for me?” I asked when she got closer.
“Yes, it is. From Blake and I,” she said, placing the box on the dinner table. “Congratulations on your pregnancy.” She squealed with bubbly
enthusiasm.
“You didn’t have to, you know that right?” I told
“Don’t be silly. Of course, I did.”
“Open it.” She said.
“Right now?”
“Duh.” She said, placing her hands on her hips sassily.
I tore open the box and was completely dumbfounded at what was inside. Inside were about fifty different essential oils.
“Blake and I weren’t exactly sure what to get you at first, so we got you- a year’s supply of essential oils and your own personal maessue till the baby arrives,” Sasha explained.
“Sasha…” I got up and hugged her. I was beyond thankful.
“Thank you so much.” I
“You are welcome and there’s more where that came from.” She said and I grinned as I let go of her.
I covered the box and instructed Lisa to take it to my private quarters. I offered Sasha breakfast and she accepted.
“So, how are you feeling?” she asked.
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“I’m still feeling quite like myself, still early, although I did wake up craving unseasoned undercooked fish.” Sasha raised her eyebrows and scrunched her face.
“Your cravings came early.”
“I was also surprised, considering I am only three and a half weeks along.”
“It’s not abnormal, don’t worry, but it’s rare. I knew this lady in my former pack who was eating plants, just random plants and herbs she’d find and we didn’t discover she was pregnant until a week later and she was only three weeks along.”
“Plants? What in the moon goddess?” I asked. I did not want to crave for plants but then again, carvings couldn’t exactly be controlled. I remember when Chloe used to eat everything and did everything out of character. I knew if she could control it back then, she would have.
“I’ve seen worse. Pregnant women craving sand and stones too and in some cases raw meat.”
“You are fucking joking, Sasha. That’s not possible!”
“I’m not!” she laughed.
We were still talking when Lisa came back in to tell me Alexander’s mom was in the mansion and wanted to see me.
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