Talons

Chapter 66: The Guess

Rhea’s POV

I get to my grandparent's cabin, and I swear something is wrong. Everyone looks depressed, but I’m not sure if it's because I’m in a bad mood or something else. Raven is around somewhere, but she doesn’t come see me, and only Robin and Lark have greeted me so far.

I ask after Ducky, and they tell me that he is at a doctors’ appointment with his mother. I then ask after Luke, and my sister makes an expression that makes my heart constrict because I can see the pain behind it. She tells me that he has gone away on pack business, but my mind is telling me that something else is going on.

I ask Robin to show me where I will be sleeping and she takes me to a different guest room, knowing that I cannot stay in the room that I once occupied. I use the opportunity to press her about Luke, and she tells me that they had another fight.

I know that the first was over her wanting to protect Raven, but I’m shocked that the second was also over her. 

My sisters made this dumb pregnancy pact when they were too young to even understand what they were doing, but it seems like they have taken it seriously. Robin genuinely wants to wait for Raven’s mate to return before trying for pups, but that means Luke will be twenty-four. Fated wolves that age usually have at least two children.

“What about you? Why do you look as sad as me?” I flash a smirk at my sister, and tell her the truth, asking her to keep it between us, unless Luke asks; I don’t want to be an added burden on their relationship.

I start unpacking my things, and my sister picks up a small container of the anti-inflammatory balm I made and sniffs it, her expression goes sour, and I find myself wondering if it stinks. 

No one has commented on it smelling bad, in fact I’ve only gotten compliments on it, so I’m confused by her reaction.

“Neglect sickness,” she says, but I’m not so sure. 

I stare at my sister, looking for something to confirm my suspicion, but I find nothing. A part of me wants to push her breasts, but she might beat the crap out of me if I do, so I drop the matter.

My phone rings, and I’m shocked to see Mike calling, but I don’t answer. Robin knows why, so she takes my phone and blocks his number for me, something I should have done myself.

“Luke returns today, but I can stay here if you want?” My sister appears to be asking me, but I can tell she just doesn’t want to be alone. It's early, but she and I settle into the bed, chatting about important things that happened while I was gone.

Lark is at odds with our parents and grandparents, who found out what really happened with the omega who attacked me from his friend. He had run to my mother to beg for forgiveness after he saw the punishment his friends faced.

The aftermath was ugly for Lark, who lost the trust of the omegas, mostly those who actually liked me. My father had to step in to mediate, and now it's almost as if there are two packs in one. The omegas feel like my brother put them at risk by not disclosing the violent nature of the omega who attacked me, which is true.

“That boy was already sick before his mother died. He tried to force himself on three other omegas and we found out that he had a tendency for not respecting refusals, so once he got his wolf; his behavior worsened.”

I shudder, once again thinking back to the rogue who saved me. If it were not for him, I would have had to kill that boy, the truth would be a mystery, and the girls who he had previously violated would not have gotten their due justice.

Time passes, and my sister's grip on my hand loosens. I can tell she’s asleep, and I use the opportunity to rest a hand on her belly. I don’t know how I know, but I’m certain she’s already carrying Luke’s pup.

I check my phone and send a text to Luke, who tells me that he is already in his office. I ask him to meet me in our old spot, and he does.

“What is going on between you and Robin?” I ask, not understanding how he didn’t notice my sister's change in disposition and her obvious smell aversion. My ointment has an orange smell, and though it took a while, I clearly remember Robin loving the smell of the fruit so much that she would save the peels.

“She and I haven’t been getting along since Raven came back. We don’t even sleep in the same room anymore.” Luke looks just as hurt as Robin, and it puts my mind at ease. They are clearly misreading one another, and my other sister is at the root of it. 

I stay silent for a long time, and Luke starts to get agitated, telling me he has to work, but I tell him we are waiting for someone. He sits in the grass, and after a few more minutes Raven finally shows up.

“Why this area of all places? Look at my shoes,” she complains. “And why is he here?” I raise my hand, and Raven rolls her eyes at me. She hates that gesture, which is why I used it.

“Robin is pregnant,” I say and both Luke and Raven gasp. 

“What?” Luke asks? “How do you know?” 

“Doesn’t matter,” I reply, hoping I’m not wrong.

“Why didn’t she tell me?” Raven follows up. “I'm her twin, I’m going to kill her,” she says, and Luke growls. “Relax, I’m not actually going to kill my best friend.” Luke turns to face me, and I continue speaking.

“Raven, do you know that Luke and Robin have been fighting because of you?” Raven makes a face that tells both Luke and I that she has no idea.

“They never fight,” she says, and I have to agree with that statement. Unlike Emma and Lark, or even our own parents, who bicker every now and then, Luke and Robin have a calm relationship. They move in sync with one another without even realizing it.

“She thinks you don’t want her to have pups,” Luke adds, and Raven’s mouth falls open.

“I don’t want her to have pups without me, but I don't expect her to… Wait, does she think I actually want her to wait for Dolton to come back?” Luke growls in irritation and I raise my hand at him too. He hates that gesture as well, but he is better at controlling his expression.

“Luke, this is your fault too. You know that Robin has the mate bond and the twin bond. She is a beta female, and she is loyal by nature. You also know that Raven has literally gone crazy. You can’t take anything she says seriously.” My sister shrugs because she is no longer in denial of her sickness. She is only home now because she almost shifted in a human supermarket when someone cut her in the line. “I’m keeping Robin for the night; you better make this up to her in the morning.”

With those words I leave, and I hear Raven and Luke start bickering behind me. I somewhat worry that they might get into a physical altercation, but then I hear Luke order my sister to help him fix things, and I hear her agree, with an attitude of course.

I slide back into bed with Robin who hasn't even stirred, which is unlike her. She must be exhausted trying to keep both bonds in balance with one another, and I wonder which one I would choose to focus on if I were in her position.

Luke’s POV

I knew something was wrong with my mate, but I was so angered by her reluctance to have children that I didn’t think about what kind of pressure she was under. 

I’ve heard from others that the twin bond can affect the mate bond, and some sets of twins have a bond so strong that they share a mate. Fortunately, that is not the case for Robin and me, but I feel terrible that I’ve been so distracted by pack work to notice how much stress my mate was taking on.

On one end, I was pressuring her to have a baby, and on the other, her sister was asking her to wait. She must have felt torn, and it explains why I have been so down. I was taking on her emotions without even realizing that they weren’t my own.

Raven has helped me set up what she says was my mates dream date, and I hope this isn’t one of her wolf’s comedy stunts. Raven’s madness has made her impulsive, and if she isn’t careful, she will sever her mate bond before she even feels it. 

We’re taught that wolves with illnesses of the brain are never fated, and while I hope for B’s sake that the teaching is wrong, there have been no exceptions. 

My mate enters the field with a blindfold on and both of her sisters guiding her along. As suggested, I used some scent blocker I had laying around, so she doesn’t know that I’m here.

“You guys know that I can take you both if you try something,” my mate says, and I smile at her words, realizing, yet again, that she is perfect for me in every way.

Raven and B are laughing with every word she speaks because each time she takes a step, she drops another threat. 

“Count to thirty,” B says, and she and Raven slowly retreat before running away. My mate isn’t even scared. She just crosses her arms and counts before slowly removing her blindfold.

She looks around the area and her eyes snap to mine, tears brimming in them before I even get to say anything, but then she crosses her arms and starts to walk away from me.

I dash forward and pull her back toward my chest, begging her to forgive me for not understanding her pain. She then turns to hug me back, and she apologizes for making me wait.

“How could you tell B before me?” I ask, and Robin looks up at me in confusion.

“Tell B what?”

“Aren’t you pregnant?” I question.

“I’m not,” she replies, and it makes me wonder if B and her wolf have gone crazy too.

“Let’s confirm,” I say, not sure if I want to.