Chapter 16

Sophie P.O.V

It had been almost a month since Eric's Mother had found us in the kitchen. Gary and Mary had been given a small cottage within the centre of the territory. There wasn't enough room for them to stay in the pack house.

Gary and Dr Sven had left the territory almost three weeks ago. Up until their departure they had been very secretive and distant. A week later Gavin had joined them at Eric's request apparently. Eric was also avoiding me at all costs. It didn't take a scientist to figure out that his Mother was royally pissed at finding us the way she did, hence his decision to keep his distance. In fact, I'd seen more of Eric's Mother glaring at me then I saw Eric.

By week three I was beginning to feel very isolated. I spent most of my time with Mary. She loved being back in the pack. She even found some of her old friends and was able to reconnect with them. I was happy for her.

I normally spent my nights sleeping at Mary and Gary's but one night Mary had organised a dinner party for her friends and I didn't want to get in the way. I opted to go back to my room on the Alpha's floor for the night.

With my backpack slung over my shoulder, I reluctantly climbed the stairs of the pack house to my very empty living quarters. As I reached the landing on the fourth floor I stopped and heard giggling coming from a room in the opposite direction. I shuddered knowing that the high-pitched trills of laughter that came from behind the door were nonother than Tatiana. I walked away in the opposite direction. Sadly, I heard the door open and I froze when I heard Eric's Mother.

"Oh, it's you." She sneered, closing Tatiana's bedroom door behind her. "If you're looking for Eric, he's busy with his fiancée." Her words cut deep into me as if a thousand razor blades sliced me all at once. I clutched my chest but pushed the pain away, so I didn't give her the satisfaction of getting to me.

"I'm not here to see the Alpha." It was the truth. I went to walk away but she had quickly walked up behind me. She pushed me against the wall, her hand clutching firmly at my throat.

"You think your so privileged coming here with your sop story. I don't buy it for one minute. To me you're a rouge, nothing but filth. I can't wait to see the back of you." She growled in my ear squeezing my throat some more. I placed my hand on hers trying to get some air. When my hand made contact with hers, I instantly saw her crying, lying next to someone who had just died. A younger Eric standing in the corner.

She released me from the shock of the memory that played between us. "What did you do?" Her expression was one of horror. I didn't know what to say and before I could answer she raced off down the stairs.

My throat burned and I desperately needed a drink. I headed to the kitchenette and grabbed out a bottle of water. My body was shaking, what had just happened?

"Well, that was intense."

I spun around to find Gamma Luke sitting at the communal dining table.

"I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." I spluttered.

"No need to apologise. Her on the other hand…" He gestured to where Eric's Mother had been.

"I don't know why she doesn't like me." I lied, turning away.

"She probably sees you as a threat to her protégée." He sneered. Was he talking about Tatiana?

"Why are you here all alone?" I asked changing the subject.

"Cos, I don't want to be in there with them." This time he pointed to Tatiana's door. I nodded in understanding. I walked over at sat down next to him at the table.

"Don't worry about Luna Bianca. I don't think your any of those things she said." He smiled a little.

Suddenly, loud giggles and some repulsive moaning came from Tatiana's room. I closed my eyes as I felt bile rise in my throat. I slowly opened my eyes to see Luke doing the same thing. He looked at me and smiled nervously.

"Do you like Tatiana?" I asked.

His face went bright red. His whole body tensed up before letting out a sigh. "Can I tell you a secret?" He looked around us before leaning in close to me. "I'm actually in love with her. Stupid I know."

I raised my eyebrows at his confession. "It's not stupid. You can't help the way you feel for someone." I smiled and patted his arm. He seemed like a decent person. Shame he was in love with such a bitch.

Tatiana's door flung open and out came a smiling Eric and a giggling Tatiana, hand in hand. She looked radiant. Pregnancy definitely suited her. Her breasts had filled out a little more and her little bump jutted out perfectly rounded accentuated by the tight blue and white striped dress she wore.

They both stopped when they saw us sitting at the table. Tatiana rested a hand on her belly before patting it gently. My heart raced at a million miles. Eric's eyes were locked on mine, but I couldn't read his expression. His eyes glanced down at where my hand rested and his eyebrows knitted together. I didn't move my hand and I finally saw rage take over his face. Tatiana smirked at me having also seen our little intimate moment together and she tugged at Eric's arm. He looked at her before turning back to me.

"Come on baby." He pulled Tatiana into his side and the pair of them walked off down the stairs.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I ran to the sink and expelled the water I just drunk along with the bile that threatened to come up before.

"Hey, are you ok?" Luke was behind me patting my back and holding back my hair. "Should I get a doctor?"

I shook my head. "No. I'm fine." I lied. "Haven't eaten all day. The water must have been too cold for my stomach." I slid down to the floor. In all honesty I hadn't been feeling well since I woke in the morning. I put it down to nerves but maybe it was something I had eaten the day before. Luke knelt down next to me.

"We should get you something to eat." He stood up and held out his hand.

***

For a week now Luke and I had spent a lot of time together. Whenever he wasn't working, we'd go for walks around the woods and groves, talking about anything and everything. He had become my friend and we enjoyed spending time together.

I wasn't attracted to him. He was still pining for Tatiana. When he went off on one of his rants about how beautiful she was and how he could make her happy, I tuned out. I didn't want to bring him down or let him lose hope. I didn't want to lose hope. But every day I didn't see Eric a bit more of me hurt.

In the last week I've felt Dove's presence growing. I couldn't hear her, but I could sense her. I called out to her every now and then and I know she can hear me because my sense for her grows stronger. I sometimes talked to her before I fall asleep, it soothed me.

I texted Gavin to let Gary and Dr Sven know my wolf presence was slowly returning. However, lately, all I've been getting is one-word responses and I hated it. I hated being left in the dark. I also wanted Dr Sven back because my nausea and vomiting hadn't gone away. I had asked Gavin and Gary to ask Dr Sven, but I never got a proper response other than it could be to do with my wolf returning.

This morning I had woken with a bad headache. Luke had texted letting me know he had the morning off and asked if I would like to hang out. I replied letting him know I wasn't feeling well. Putting my phone on the pillow next to me I pulled my covers over my head and tried to relax.

Thirty minutes later, I was awoken by yelling outside my room door. Pushing the covers back I groaned as my stomach somersaulted. I waited for it to calm down before padding my way to the door.

"…You can't help her." Came Luke's voice through the door.

"Neither can you!" Eric roared.

"I'm helping her better than you ever could. Now let go of the tray so I can give her some tea and pain killers!" I heard a clink sound of cup and saucer being pushed around.

I opened the door to find both men standing at my door glaring at each other. They looked at me and my stomach somersaulted again. This time it wasn't going to stop, and I raced towards the bathroom, leaving both men staring after me.

When I came out, I found Luke sitting on my sofa and a shot of disappointment ran through me.

"I think its time you saw a doctor." Luke said patting the seat next to him.

I walked over and crashed next to him pulling my knees up under my chin. "I've already spoken to Dr Sven. He said it's the effects of my wolf resurfacing."

Luke nodded and poured me some tea. He placed the cup in my hands before pouring himself a cup.

"How is Dove?" He asked jokingly.

I rolled my eyes. "You know I can't hear her...yet" I took a sip of tea and let the warmth calm my body.

We sat in silence lost in our own thoughts before Luke looked at me shyly.

"Can I ask, why is Eric so protective of you?"

I swallowed hard "I hadn't noticed. He barely speaks to me." I stared into my cup pretending it was the most captivating sight I'd ever seen.

"Ok I get it." He leaned back on the sofa. "Can I ask another personal question?"

I looked up and saw he looked serious. "As long as it's nothing to do with Eric, sure." Had I just given to much away?

He smirked knowingly and I silently cursed myself. "Have you had sex?"

I nearly choked on my tea. "W-what?!" I sat up as he patted my back. "That's kinda personal. Why do you want to know?"

I looked at him. He was grinning at my response. "Just interested." He shrugged. "Ok. Do you have a mate?"

"You know I don't because my wolf vanished." I rolled my eyes. He knew all this why was he asking? "What's with all the questions Luke?"

He sat up and put his tea back on the tray. He patted the top of his thighs as if he were battling internally about what he should say next.

"Ok hear me out." He grabbed my tea and put it down next to his and gripped my hand in his. "I've been doing some research about reasons for throwing up and I found two possibilities."

I was touched that he wanted to help. I really appreciated a friend like him. He was so kind and caring. I smiled at him. "Go on."

"Well, the first is that maybe your pregnant. The second…." I pulled my hand away.

"Pregnant? What gave you that idea?!" I yelled.

"Sophie, hear me out please." He grabbed my hand again and I relaxed a little. "The second reason is to do with your mate. If you are near him and not know it, or you one of you refuses to acknowledge each other your body can suffer from adverse effects."

I started at him. Could that be the reason I was feeling sick all the time because Eric was refusing to acknowledge me as his mate? Or was it because a month ago we made love twice, without protection? A tear ran down my cheek. Both possibilities sucked because both might very well be true. Another tear escaped and Luke's hand cupped my cheek brushing the tear away with his thumb.

"Hey. I didn't mean to make you cry." He said softly.

"Why did you have to tell me those things?" My tears spilled from my eyes and I closed them trying to prevent more from falling.

"Is one or both of them true?" I nodded. "Oh Sophie. I'm so sorry." He wrapped his arms around me, and I cried into his shoulder. What was I going to do now?