Della's phone rang, and she cursed as she rolled over, only picking it up to make it stop. It was her mother, who hadn't called her much over the last several weeks. Della hoped everything was okay with the pack, she hadn't heard from Jared either, and he had called her almost every day at first.
"Hello, mother," she said, yawning. She realized she had to pee, which she was doing often these last few weeks. Sherry assured her that it was normal, that it was the result of her small body growing a large pup. The latest ultrasound confirmed that the pup was, indeed, a boy. She was now three months in to her pregnancy, and she felt like she was going to tip over every time she stood up. "Mom, hold on, I have to waddle to the bathroom." She heard laughter as she dropped the phone on the bed, needing her hands for balance as she went to do her business. Finally, she reached the bed again and flopped on her side, picking up the phone. "Glad you find my suffering so amusing," she snapped. Her hormones were making her emotional, and she had been grouchy with everyone. She always apologized, but she felt bad about taking her frustration out on those who were there to help her. She had been keeping to herself, spending time on her patio reading, or watching movies and eating insane amounts of ice cream from the comfort of her bed.
"I'm sorry for laughing, dear. I just remember those days well. I had twins, you know. Both Alphas." Della smiled at the thought of her mother waddling like a duck while she and Jared took turns stomping on her bladder.
"Good thing I was a runt," she said, which wasn't exactly true. Della had been within the normal size range when she was born. Her brother had been a lot bigger. Having Alpha blood, everyone had expected her to be taller, and stronger. Her size actually worked in her favor, when it came to fighting. She was also a lot stronger than she looked. Her brother could vouch for that, although in her current state, she doubted she could win a fight with a possum.
"He's great. Likes to kick me a lot, I think he wants out." She smiled, as he kicked her again, apparently agreeing with what she had said.
"I have some news," her mother said, "Jared found his mate. You won't believe this- she's the Alpha King's sister, Eva. She's nothing like him, quite the opposite. It's hard to believe they came from the same parents." Della could hear the pride in her mother's voice, and she tried not to let it bother her. She was happy for Jared, he deserved the best, and from what she had heard Eva was beautiful and kind, and would make a perfect Luna for her brother.
"That explains why he hasn't called, I suppose," she said, trying to keep the sadness and anger out of her voice. "I guess you have all been busy with the Alpha transition and the Luna ceremony." A pain gripped her heart as she realized she would miss the most important day of her twin brother's life. "I wish I could be there to see it."
"The ceremony was last week," her mother said, "he is now officially the Alpha of Snow Moon."
Della was flabbergasted! They hadn't even thought to tell her? They could have at least told her, live streamed it, but they had left her completely in the dark! "You didn't even tell me?" She didn't bother trying to hide her feelings, she was furious!
"Honey, we didn't want you to feel left out, Jared wanted to tell you, and Eva did too. Your father and I were afraid it would upset you, please understand," her mother pleaded.
"You mean you were afraid I would do something crazy like show up in all my knocked up glory and ruin everything? Afraid his royal mate would reject him if she knew he had a sister with an illegitimate child on the way?" Tears flowed down her cheeks, soaking the top of her belly. The pup kicked harder than usual, and she felt bad that he might be responding to her rage. "Great, you even pissed off my pup! It's okay, Jax, mommy's not mad at you, don't be scared," she said, rubbing her belly.
"Jax? Is that what you are going to name him?" Her mother asked. "I like it." Della sighed. Was she overreacting? She didn't think so! As much as she was excited to bring Jax into the world, she hadn't done anything to deserve being cut off from her family, her home, her pack.
"Yes. Jackson Jared Draven." She told her mother. "But he will be Jax. I like the sound of it. Spelled with an x. J A X." She put the phone on speaker, and headed for her mini freezer she kept stocked at all times with ice cream. Chocolate and peanut butter, she quickly decided, pulling a small container out and grabbing a spoon.
Her mother was going on and on about the Luna ceremony, how hard they had worked to prepare for such a large number of guests. Della ate her ice cream and listened, wondering how her mother could be so insensitive. Finally she had heard enough. "Mom, I'm tired. I have to go."
"Oh, Della, I'm sorry. I didn't think. I've been so caught up in all of this I didn't think. Please forgive me," her mother begged.
"It's okay, I am glad I found out my fated mate was an asshole before the bond had a chance to really form. I'm glad Jared found his, as long as she really isn't anything like her brother. That guy is a royal douche bag." Della chuckled. "Literally, a royal one."
"She's nothing like him. You will love her. And Della, she knows. Jared told her. She is the last one who would ever judge you, she was angry that you felt like you had to leave the pack. She's a bit of what humans would call a feminist. That's why she isn't seen much at the royal events. She reminds me a lot of you. You are about the same size." Her mother laughed. "Small, but mighty."
For some reason, those words put Della on edge. A strange unease settled in her mind. They were about the same size. Why did she feel like she had heard those words before? Something had slipped out of a locked box hidden in her mind somewhere, but she couldn't make any sense of it. She hoped the feeling would go away soon. Deja vu? Was that it? She didn't like it. Not one bit.
"Tell Jared to call me. Goodnight Mom. Tell Dad I love him too." She ended the call, and pulled the covers around her, feeling more lonely than she had ever felt in her life.
You aren't alone, Della, Mila tried to comfort her. Her wolf was so sweet, so kind.
Thank you, Mila, I needed to hear that.
So Jared had found his mate. She would never know what that felt like, and she couldn't help the part of her that felt jealous. She wondered if she would ever fall in love, or if she even wanted to, knowing it would never compare to finding her other half. Why had her other half been such an asshole?
Don't give up, second chance mates are rare but it does happen, Della. Don't give up. I, for one, think there is someone out there for us. Someone who will love us unconditionally. Someone who will love Jax, too. Mila reassured her. Poor Mila, Della thought. She was probably lonely too, more stuck in Della's head than Della herself.
She hoped her wolf was right. If not, the road ahead looked long and lonely. That feeling still haunted her, like a word on the tip of her tongue, a name she had forgotten. She drifted off to sleep, hoping that whatever had been awakened in her mind would not follow her in to the next day.