Luminous

by Noelle Marie

  That was an accurate summation of events. Somehow she’d gone from a ferocious werewolf to some sort of pathetic whale-penguin hybrid.

  That’s how she felt anyway.

  The baby kicked her in the ribs, and Katherine winced.

  There was that too.

  “Stop it, Muhammad,” she scolded lightly, rubbing her sore stomach.

  The tiny movements she’d been so amazed at a short time ago had turned into forceful elbows poking her in the ribs and violent kicks to the bladder.

  Like she didn’t already pee enough.

  The baby’s movement had definitely become strong enough to be felt from outside of the body, and everyone in the pack had gotten the opportunity to feel the baby move – everyone that was, except for Bastian. For some reason, the baby seemed intent on teasing his or her father, steadfastly refusing to move whenever he palmed Katherine’s belly. Even if the stubborn, little thing had been moving mere seconds before.

  Katherine thought Bastian would knock Markus’s head clean off his shoulders when he’d been the first to feel the baby move three or so weeks ago. The beta had prodded at her stomach, making fun of her for the pouch she’d seemingly grown over night when he’d felt the baby shift and loudly declared that fact to the room.

  Since then, the others in the pack had been all over her, often crowding her on the coach or at the kitchen table as they clamored for a chance to feel the baby inside of her move. Katherine couldn’t even bring herself to be properly annoyed, their enthusiasm for the baby to join the pack was just too endearing.

  She just wished the baby would cooperate and jab, kick, or twist for his or her father as well.

  Besides that, however, and the fact that she had yet to work up the courage to tell her parents about the fact she’d managed to get knocked up, her pregnancy was going surprisingly well.

  At least, it had been until Sophie had to go and bring up throwing her a baby shower.

  It was precisely why Katherine was looking at her reflection in the mirror with mild horror at that very moment. Her belly looked particularly massive in a floral print monstrosity of a maternity dress, and Katherine was regretting letting Sophie pick out her outfit for the shower so very, very much.

  “Do I really have to do this?” she whined, toying with the tacky bow Sophie had insisted upon wrapping around her stomach with ribbon.

  She didn’t even care that she sounded like a petulant brat.

  Sophie rolled her eyes, taking hold of Katherine’s elbow and forcibly leading her out of the bathroom. “Honestly, you’d think I was leading you to the gallows to be hanged instead of a room full of presents waiting to be unwrapped.”

  “Yeah, but there’s people down there with the presents – people that I’ll have to talk to.”

  Sophie shot her an unimpressed look. “So you’ll have to make nice with a few women. Honestly, you and my brother really are made for each other – two standoffish peas in the pod.”

  “I am not standoffish,” Katherine protested as Sophie continued to drag her along, “just... shy.” She grimaced at the blatantly inaccurate description of her personality.

  Sophie’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline. “Really? You weren’t sounding very shy last night when-”

  Katherine hastily slapped a hand over the blonde’s mouth, a mortified blush exploding across her cheeks. “Okay, fine,” she conceded. “Maybe antisocial is a better word than shy.” She paused, removing her hand from Sophie’s mouth. “You didn’t really hear us last night, did you?”

  Sophie grinned. “No,” she admitted, “but that reaction told me all I needed to know about your love life.”

  Katherine groaned. “Sophie.”

  “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Now get your self-admittedly antisocial butt out there.”

  Without further ado, Sophie thrust Katherine into the crowded living room, stepping in after her.

  Katherine couldn’t help but be impressed with how many people Sophie had managed to fit into the Prince household. The weather had made it impossible to host the party outside so fifty or sixty-odd women had crammed themselves into the living and dining areas of the house. She spotted Gabriela, Agnes, and Penelope. She even saw Priscilla, who’d been surprisingly amicable with her ever since their run-in at the Tattered Dignity concert months ago. There were also many women present who Katherine only vaguely recognized, including the two old birds who’d cornered her in The Closet over a month ago. She wished that Mack and Nathaniel could have come to the shower instead of the near-strangers, but Sophie had been clear that no boys were allowed.

  She’d even convinced Bastian to keep his distance for the event, although with all the people in the house, he refused to be any further away from his pregnant mate than up the stairs.

  Even more impressive than the crowd was the mountains of finger food that lined the kitchen counters – mostly meat stuffed sandwiches – that had been generously prepared by Caleb. There was punch available, too, both berry-flavored blue and cherry pink since they didn’t know the baby’s gender. Gabriela had performed an ultrasound on Katherine a few weeks before the shower, and she had offered to tell her, but Katherine had declined.

  She hadn’t done it specifically to spite Sophie, but could admit that the sulky frown she’d worn for days afterwards had been a satisfying side effect of the decision. Katherine loved the woman like a sister, but the blonde was driving her crazy with her zest over her pregnancy.

  As the women who’d dutifully gathered at the Prince household caught sight of Katherine and immediately began to flock towards her, she couldn’t help but think that all the females of Haven Falls were a bit too enthused by it.

  She didn’t know if they reacted similarly to all new life or if her baby was just special because it was the head alpha’s first born. Either way, she had to mentally trample down her panic-induced fight-or-flight response when the women swarmed her. If she didn’t, she was liable to either run away to her room, or worse – and probably more likely – punch some well-meaning lady in the face.

  Katherine attempted to focus as the women yapped at her.

  “Why, look at you! What a healthy flush. You’re positively glowing! Luminous, even.”

  “Uh...” Katherine hated compliments, especially when they were just creative ways of calling her fat.

  “My goodness, the last time I saw you, you were practically skin and bones. Now look at you and that round belly. It almost looks like you’ve swallowed a melon whole!”

  “Er...” She hated blatant insults, too.

  “Do you recall what position you were in when you conceived? I hear it can influence the child’s gender.”

  Prying questions inspired her wrath, as well. “I don’t think...”

  “Alright, everyone, alright. Let’s give Katherine some space,” Sophie said, finally having mercy on the shell shocked brunette. “There will be plenty of time for socializing later. First, let’s eat some food and open some gifts. Then when everyone is ready we’ll end the party as tradition dictates and play the scenting game.”

  As everyone reluctantly backed away and headed towards the kitchen, Katherine leaned over and hissed in Sophie’s ear, “A game?” she demanded. “You never said anything about games.”

  “Don’t worry, it’s only the one,” she assured with a condescending pat on Katherine’s head. “And I promise, it’s as easy as can be.” Then Sophie flounced away before she could protest.

  Katherine sighed, but dutifully wandered over to the food. Glancing over the generous spread, she was warmed to see that the peanut butter cookies Caleb had taken to baking her once a week – and she wondered how her belly had ballooned so fast – were amongst the array of goodies.

  After filling a plate, Katherine glanced around the room in an effort to relocate Agnes and Penelope. She was successful in her endeavor and spotted them near the coach. She walked over to them.

  “Hey, guys,” she greeted.

  Agnes offe
red her a grin. “Hey, yourself.” She looked Katherine up and down. “Look at you, making fertility look so ridiculously adorable.”

  Penelope snorted. “What I think Agnes means is that you sure have packed on the pounds since we last saw you.”

  Katherine stiffened, the peanut butter cookie she’d grabbed half-way to her mouth. “Excuse me?” she demanded before deciding to shovel the cookie into her mouth despite the rude comment. For good measure, she stuffed one of the ham sandwiches she’d snatched up into the black abyss as well.

  Penelope grimace at the animal-like display. “Oh, don’t get me wrong,” she attempted to backtrack. “You look cute and all now, but what happens when that baby pops out of you and you’re left with a saggy stomach full of purple stretch marks? It’s not worth the hassle of bearing a child if you ask me. Especially when you consider the shape your va-jay-jay will be in postpartum.”

  Katherine blinked. Va-jay-jay? Really? “Gee, thanks, Penelope,” she offered dryly.

  Agnes glared at the human girl before returning her attention to Katherine. “Don’t mind her,” she said, making sure to speak loudly enough to ensure Penelope heard. “She just jealous that you’re all the town can talk about. I mean, you’re carrying the head alpha’s firstborn. Nothing she can ever do will compete in importance.”

  “I hardly see what’s so important about acting as a breeding mare,” Penelope snapped, before remembering she was in said “breeding mare’s” presence. She winced. “Sorry,” she offered, her voice just this side of snide. “Seriously, though, not everyone is as obsessed with you as you think they are.” Katherine wasn’t aware that she thought people were obsessed with her. “Oh, that reminds me,” the girl said, abruptly shoving her hand in the small tote that hung off one of her shoulders and pulling out a crumpled looking envelope. “Here,” she said, holding it out for Katherine, “I’m supposed to give this to you.”

  Katherine frowned, hesitantly reaching forward with her free hand to take the thing. “What is it?”

  Penelope shrugged. “A card of some sort, I suppose. Melanie asked me to give it to you since, you know, she wasn’t invited to your shower.”

  Agnes bristled at Penelope’s tone. “And why would she be? She did almost get Katherine killed, you know.”

  “Yeah, due to an honest mistake. Melanie used to be your friend, too, in case you don’t remember.”

  “Yeah, used to be. Before she was proven to be in cahoots with a traitorous Cain.”

  “Oh, come on-”

  Growing tired of their debate – especially considering she wasn’t completely sure where she stood on the issue – Katherine tuned Agnes and Penelope out. Instead of paying their argument any mind, she set down her plate, and carefully sliding her thumb under the envelope’s seal, she opened it.

  Penelope was right. It was a homemade card of sorts.

  The folded piece of cardboard paper had the words “Congratulations, Katherine” written on the front. When she opened the card, however, she saw that a more substantial note was scrawled on the inside.

  Katherine,

  I never got the opportunity to congratulate you on your pregnancy in person that day in town, so I guess this is my way of doing so. Way to shove it to those prejudice harpies.

  Despite the front I put up, I also want you to know that I really am sorry for what happened with Cain last year. I have a present for the baby I’d like to give you if you can bring yourself to stop by. I’ve been thinking about what you said regarding talking to Bastian about lifting my restrictions, too. I was curious if that offer was still on the table.

  Melanie

  Before Katherine had time to properly react to the note, Sophie popped up out of nowhere. “What’s that?”

  Katherine blinked at the woman’s sudden appearance. “Nothing,” she hastily assured, fighting the urge to tuck the paper back into the envelope and hide it behind her back before Sophie could make a grab for it. “Just a card.”

  Sophie frowned, likely picking up on her strange defensiveness, before apparently deciding not to question it. “Okay. Well, if you’re that eager to open gifts, I guess we could get started.”

  Katherine’s eyes widened in dismay, but Sophie merely offered her a toothy grin and forced her to take a seat on the nearby couch before she could protest.

  “Attention, everyone!” she hollered. “Katherine’s ready to open presents, so if you could all gather around, that’d be great. Agnes, honey, why don’t you start bringing over the pile of presents in the entryway so we can get started.”

  Agnes looked a bit taken off guard by the order, but after shooting Katherine an apologetic glance, nodded her assertion. Within minutes, all the guests who Sophie had invited to the shower managed to pack themselves into the living room, and Katherine had a mound of gifts stacked in front of her.

  “Here goes nothing,” she muttered.

  As fifty-plus pairs of eyes bore into her, Katherine carefully began to unwrap present after present. Gift wrap wasn’t readily available in Haven Falls so many of the items she received were wrapped in newspaper or stuffed in decorated paper bags. She made sure to smile and offer as sincere a thanks as she could manage after each gift was revealed.

  She truly did appreciate most of them, especially the stash of cloth diapers she received from Priscilla’s mom, Julianna, of all people, and a basketful of lotions and creams brewed specifically for the baby by the local apothecary owner. She was also gifted well over a dozen handmade outfits for the baby. They were absolutely adorable with all sorts of frills, collars, and buttons. The craftsmanship that had gone into making them put the rather pathetic-looking quilt she’d finally finished sewing a few days ago to shame. Someone had even used their immaculate skills to make the baby a pair of booties.

  Her absolute favorite present, however, had been a hand-carved cradle for the baby to sleep in. Bastian had apparently been working on it in secret for weeks and had asked Sophie to sneak it in with the gifts.

  That being said, there were a few gifts that were a bit more... well, out there. One woman – she had to have been in her seventies, at least – had given her a sheer lingerie set that was supposed to emphasize her distended belly.

  “A woman is never more beautiful or alluring than when she’s round with child,” she’d said sagely when Katherine had shot her an incredulous look.

  Then there was Gabriela who’d gifted her a nursing bra and a small tub of what was apparently cream for her nipples.

  “Trust me, if you’re breastfeeding, those things are going to get sore.”

  All in all, by the time Katherine had finished opening presents, she was feeling more than a little overwhelmed. The mountain of gifts before her – the cradle, diapers, clothes, and even the nipple cream – had her feeling suddenly nervous about the whole... well, parenting thing, for lack of better term, that lay before her. After all, growing and expelling a child from her uterus was one thing. But actually keeping the baby alive... raising it to be a decent person... well, that was another thing altogether.

  And she had no idea how to go about doing it.

  “Thank you, ladies, for all the wonderful gifts. Your generosity truly knows no bounds.” Sophie’s polite soprano infiltrated her worry-laden thoughts. “That being said, I think we can all agree that it’s time to play the much anticipated scenting game.”

  An excited murmur swept through the crowd at the announcement.

  If Sophie had known how overwhelmed Katherine was feeling at that moment, perhaps she wouldn’t have sounded quite so gleeful when she added, “Katherine, if you could please stand.”

  Katherine sighed, but obeyed, trying her hardest not to look entirely reluctant about it.

  “Now, just in case no one’s played this before,” Sophie said, her eyes subtly glancing in Katherine’s direction, “it’s really very simple. The concept behind the scenting game is that a women’s sense of smell becomes so enhanced when she’s pregnant that she can actually scent w
hen other women’s bodies are gearing up for pregnancy as well.” Katherine did not like the sound of this. “The game is played by all the women of child bearing age forming a line – ladies, if you could please report to the center of the room and do just that – and the shower recipient, Katherine in this instance, picking who she thinks will be the next to be blessed with a child.” She turned to Katherine. “Ready to do your thing?” she teased as the eligible ladies moved to do as she instructed.

  “Do my thing?” Katherine demanded incredulously, loud enough for only the blonde to hear.

  The entire tradition sounded like some ridiculous version of throwing a bouquet at a wedding. Instead of the results predicting who was next in line to get married, however, supposedly they’d somehow designate who was next to get knocked up. It was completely nonsensical. And judging by the dozens of eager eyes staring her down, widely believed.

  “That’s what I said,” Sophie reiterated before taking Katherine by surprise and pulling a blindfold from seemingly out of nowhere. She wrapped it around her eyes before beginning to tie it behind her head.

  Katherine froze. “What are you doing?” she asked out of the corner of her mouth.

  “Relax, it’s part of the game. Taking away your sight is supposed to help you better concentrate on scent.”

  Katherine changed her mind. This “game” wasn’t like throwing a bouquet at all. It was much more similar to a demented version of pin the tail on the donkey, except, of course, it was pin down the future pregosaurus.

  “And what exactly am I supposed to smell?” she demanded.

  “How should I know? I’m not the pregnant one,” Sophie teased.

  Katherine snorted. “You’re so helpful,” she grumbled.

  Sophie laughed. “Just follow your nose,” she suggested, bestowing an affectionate flick on said nose before stepping away, presumably to join the line of women who were of childbearing age. “Whenever you’re ready, Katherine,” she called a moment later.

  Feeling incredibly foolish, Katherine shifted nervously before delicately sniffing air. As silly as the notion behind the game was, she felt a lot of pressure to somehow get her “prediction” right. After all, despite her surprise pregnancy, there was still a town full of people who were anxiously awaiting more babies to maintain their tiny population.