Katy's eyelids fluttered. Her eyes, still a little clouded, slowly opened, finding his. Before either of them could speak, the door opened, and Dr. Lang entered, a warm smile on her face.
"Good morning, Katy," Dr. Lang said cheerfully, pulling a portable ultrasound machine into the room. "I'm going to do a quick ultrasound to check on the baby. If all is well, you'll be able to go home, with a ton of restrictions, of course."
Dave's heart gave a hopeful lurch. Home. It was a lifeline.
Dr. Lang wheeled the machine closer, gently moving Katy's blanket down to expose her abdomen. The cold, gel-covered probe went under her hospital gown, feeling all gooey and intrusive against her skin. Katy stared blankly at the ceiling, feeling detached, the miracle of life being assessed within her, yet feeling utterly out of control.
It seemed like only moments later that Dr. Lang straightened up, wiping the gel from the probe. "Well, Katy," she announced, her smile widening. "The baby is doing well, so I think you are ready to head home."
"That is wonderful news!" Dave chimed in, his voice thick with relief, a genuine smile finally breaking through his exhaustion.
"Yeah, it's great..." Katy mumbled, almost a grumble, her voice flat. The relief of survival was there, but it was overshadowed by the impossible reality of her pregnancy and the bewildering revelations from the twins.
Dr. Lang, seemingly oblivious to Katy's subdued reaction, continued, "Now, you will be on bed rest for a bit, and you'll be having a checkup again soon to make sure everything is still going good. If it is, then you'll be able to return to most activities."
All Katy could manage was a quiet, defeated "Okay." The word felt hollow, echoing the emptiness she felt about a future that was no longer her own.
Dave's heart gave a hopeful lurch. Home. It was a lifeline. Dr. Lang wheeled the machine closer, gently moving Katy's blanket down to expose her abdomen. The cold, gel-covered probe went under her hospital gown, feeling all gooey and intrusive against her skin. Katy stared blankly at the ceiling, feeling detached, the miracle of life being assessed within her, yet feeling utterly out of control. It seemed like only moments later that Dr. Lang straightened up, wiping the gel from the probe. "Well, Katy," she announced, her smile widening. "The baby is doing well, so I think you are ready to head home." "That is wonderful news!" Dave chimed in, his voice thick with relief, a genuine smile finally breaking through his exhaustion. "Yeah, it's great..." Katy mumbled, almost a grumble, her voice flat. The relief of survival was there, but it was overshadowed by the impossible reality of her
pregnancy and the bewildering revelations from the twins. Dr. Lang, seemingly oblivious to Katy's subdued reaction.
A nurse came in a moment later, her movements gentle and efficient, to remove the wires and I.V lines from Katy's body. The small tugs as the tape came off, and the needles were withdrawn were minor discomforts compared to the profound ache in Katy's soul. Once she was unhooked, her dad went to go fetch a wheelchair, returning a moment later, pushing it into the room with a renewed, if tired, determination.
They helped Katy settle into the wheelchair, her limbs still feeling weak and unfamiliar. From the wheelchair to the car was a short, slow journey. The car ride was quiet, stretched taut with unspoken anxieties. Neither Dave nor Katy had anything to say. Dave, still reeling from the shock of the pregnancy, was lost in his own bewildered thoughts about his daughter's future. Katy, on the other hand, just wanted to get home, into the sanctuary of her own bed, and continue her desperate attempt to shut out the world that had suddenly become so incomprehensibly strange.
Katy and Dave pulled up to the familiar house. Dave, his movements still filled with anxious energy, quickly got out of the car and rushed to open Katy's door, helping her carefully out onto the driveway.
"Where do you want to go, honey?" he asked, his voice gentle.
"I want to go to my room, Dad," Katy mumbled, her gaze already fixed on the daunting flight of stairs.
Dave's eyes followed hers. "Umm, are you sure you can do these stairs, kiddo?" he asked, a crease of worry forming between his brows.
She looked at the stairs with dread, knowing this was about to fucking suck. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, especially her tender side. But she looked at her dad and lied, saying, "Yeah, I'll be okay." She just needed to be alone.
Ever so slowly, one painstaking step after another, they made their way up the steps. Dave offered his arm, steadying her when she swayed, his concern palpable. Finally, they reached the door of her room. "I'm good from here, Dad," she said, managing a small, tired smile.
"Are you sure, honey?" he pressed, still looking hesitant.
"Yes," she affirmed, already reaching for her doorknob.
"Okay," he said, and off he went, heading back downstairs, undoubtedly to make calls or fret in the living room.
Wincing in pain, Katy walked into her room and sank onto her bed. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a shaky breath. Her hand instinctively went to her belly, resting there for a moment before she sighed, a deep, weary sound. She propped some pillows up behind her, carefully maneuvering until she was laid back against them.
As soon as she did, her phone, lying on her nightstand, started to ring. She glanced at the screen. Jayden.
Ignoring the call, she just laid there, consumed in her thoughts. They have to be messing with me... there's no way they are wolves... and it's a horrible time to joke. Her mind desperately clung to the familiar, the logical. But then the insidious "what if" crept in. But what if it was real? The thought was terrifying. If it was real, if this mate bond was real, if they were truly part-wolf, then they had truly taken her life from her without a single shred of her conscious consent. The anger, the fear, the utter bewilderment swirled around her, trapped within the quiet walls of her room.