Milady, you're are with child

"Thanks", Acantha said to the servant as she handed a tray of food to her.

Acantha poked absently at the food a servant had brought in moments before, then dropped the tray on the bedside table and stood up. She wasn't hungry; that much was clear.

But the reason for her continuous loss of appetite for days was something far trickier to decipher. She didn't feel sick either, except for the pinching pain she experienced whenever she thought of Ghod.

She had made good on her threat and avoided him for over a week. He had resorted to speaking to her through the closed door, begging and trying to reason with her.

She hadn't felt the slightest bit perturbed by his attempts then, but now that he had stopped, she suddenly found herself longing for his late-night and early-morning disturbances.

"Oh, I miss him!" she suddenly cried out, grateful she was alone. She moved closer to the window and drew the heavy curtains aside herself because she had told kara to leave them closed when she came in to check on her earlier.

A breath lodged in her throat as she saw him, seemingly involved in a deep conversation with Theo. His unfastened waistcoat, made of deep blue velvet, hung open at the sides, revealing a thin, light blue linen shirt underneath.

The small silver stud in his upper earlobe glittered as the sun struck it. Long, slender fingers adorned with two gold rings reached into his waistcoat pocket and drew out a piece of folded paper, which he handed to Theo.

He was speaking fast and gesticulating wildly when he suddenly stopped and glanced at the window in her direction.

"Oh, dear!" she exclaimed, flinging the curtains together and pressing a calming hand to her erratic heart. A knock sounded on the door, and she pushed herself away from the wall and moved to open it.

"Milady," kara started immediately as the door opened, "you haven't touched your food yet," she stated, her gaze straying to the tray.

"I touched it, but I couldn't eat even a piece," Acantha replied as she turned and headed towards the dressing table.

"Are you feeling poorly, milady?"

"No, not at all."

"Then what is the issue?" Kara queried worriedly. "Shall I bring you something else?"

"Yes, my husband's affection."

"Ah," the serving girl exclaimed softly, "your heart misses him."

Acantha purposely did not tell her that her heart wasn't the only part of her body missing Ghod.

"He must have gotten whatever message you were passing across by consistently avoiding him throughout the past week,"

Kara continued as she moved closer and picked up the hairbrush. "Shall I?"

"Please," Acantha replied, and Kara promptly began brushing her hair.

"I want to see him."

"Then do that, milady."

"I don't want him to think I'm easily swayed, though, and it's embarrassing to seek him out now that he doesn't want me."

Kara chuckled softly and brushed a gentle hand down the length of Acantha's thick, dark mane of hair. "I don't think there's anything you could do that would embarrass the alpha."

"I highly doubt that," came the bland reply.

Kara ran a final brush stroke through her hair before stepping back with a smile of admiration. "You have beautiful hair, milady."

Acantha silently agreed; it was one of her best qualities.

"Thank you, Kara," she muttered warmly, then made to push herself up from the seat when a wave of dizziness clouded her vision.

"Milady!" Kara called out worriedly as she stretched out a hand to steady her.

"I think the hunger strike is finally taking its toll on me," Acantha said weakly.

"Here," Kara said as she moved to grab the tray from the night table beside the bed.

"Have some of the bread and eggs first," she instructed, placing the food on Acantha's lap.

Acantha tore off a piece of the freshly baked bread and shoved it in her mouth, then picked up two green grapes and popped them in.

"Slower, milady. You wouldn't want to get sick."

She ignored Kara as she picked up half of the hard-boiled egg, shoved it into her mouth, and lifted the cup of water. "I am never starving myself again," she began, then paused.

"Are you alright?" Kara asked when she saw the confused frown on Acantha's face.

"I… I feel…" Her eyes flew shut as she retched loudly, then slapped a hand over her mouth and jumped up.

She barely made it into the bathroom when she lost her breakfast and nearly all her intestines. The gagging continued even after she had thrown up everything in her stomach.

"Milady," said, twisting Acantha's hair tighter so it wouldn't stick to her face as she splashed water from the basin onto Acantha's face. "I'm sorry I made you eat cold breakfast," the poor girl whispered, sounding distraught. "Forgive me…"

"It's not the food, and you didn't make me do anything, Kara," Acantha choked out as she straightened and faced her serving girl. "I think it might be something much different."

Her expression and tone gave it away, and Kara nodded slowly in understanding. "I'll lead you to the pack's physician."

"It appears that you, milady, are with child."

Acantha's heart constricted in her chest, and she swallowed hard. "How far along is it?" she asked.

"About eight weeks," the older lady replied as she studied Acantha's bland expression.

"You don't look too happy about it," the physician noted.

Acantha blinked and let out a soft sigh. "I am happy."

"If that's your happy face, then I'm afraid you'll have to work on it."

Acantha sighed again and glanced at Kara before returning her gaze to the woman before her. "I just don't think now's the right time to have a baby."

The physician held her gaze for what seemed like an eternity. "Pennyroyal," she said, "it'll hurt a little, but you won't be going to the midwives in nine months."

Acantha's eyes widened as she understood what the lady was saying. "No, I don't plan on getting rid of it," she stated, even though she knew she wouldn't tell Ghod about it anytime soon.

"Well, just in case," the physician replied with a shrug.