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    Chapter 0632


    Nina


    I woke up the next morning with another wave of morning sickness. It took almost all of my strength to stumble to the bathroom before the contents of my stomach emptied, and when I was finished, I sank down onto the floor with a heavy sigh.


    "Stupid morning sickness," I muttered as I rubbed my belly. "Maybe I should ask the Moon Goddess to stop me from throwing up so much."


    "Be careful what you wish for," my wolf teased.


    "You''re right." With some effort, I rose to my feet and walked over to the sink, where sshed some cool water onto my face. At the very least, I could rest easy knowing that Enzo wasing home after two days of being back in Mountainview; and he was bringing our friends with him.


    I hoped that they would enjoy the party. After all, it wasn''t entirely about introducing our hodgepodge little pack to the werewolf realm, but it was also about seeing them. And considering the fact that Lon had been in a hospital bed thest time I saw her, I was dying to see how she had recovered.


    Later, as I stood by the spot where the portal would open, I waited patiently for them to arrive. And, just like clockwork, it happened: the swirling purple and blue vortex opened, causing a gust of wind to blow into the room.


    And then, they started toe through the portal one by one.


    First came Lori. She stepped out of the portal, looking windswept with her mouth agape. "Lori!" I eximed, rushing over to her.


    "I''ll never get used to that," Lori said, clutching her stomach, her face pale.


    "Here, sit," I said, gesturing to a chair. Lori thanked me and sat down, putting her head between her knees. Next came another fizzling sound from the portal, followed by Jessica, who was, thankfully, standing on both feet.


    "Jessica," I breathed, rushing forward.


    Jessica threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly. "I know it''s only been a week," she said, "but I hate when you''re gone."


    "You look so good, though, "I said, taking a step back to admire her recovery. "What did the doctors say?"


    "Oh, we left before they could realize what was going on," Lori said, her head still between her legs. "I took Jessica''s casts off at home with a handsaw. It was.."


    "Treacherous," Jessica said with a shudder.


    For a moment, I just took her in, admiring how she was glowing. I had so many questions to ask; how she was feeling as a werewolf, whether her wolf had emerged yet, whether or not she wanted the cure.


    But for now, the portal was fizzling again, and two more figures stepped through: Matt and, a few momentster, Enzo.


    "Nina," Enzo said without preamble, dropping his bag as he came over to me. His eyes immediatelynded on my belly, and he ced his hands there, leveling me with a stern gaze. "Everything okay? Did I miss anything?"


    "Enzo," I said with augh, "it''s only been two days."


    "I don''t care," Enzo said as he pulled me into a hug. "I worry about you. You know that."


    Next, my gaze fell on Mall, who was looking around curiously, I realized that they hadn''t been here since the wedding, and so this realm was still foreign to them.


    "How about a tour?" I asked.


    For the next few hours, Enzo and I showed our friends around the mansion, refamiliarizing them with theyout. We showed them to their rooms, as well as where the kitchen was, the rec room, and all of the gardens.


    At some point, Enzo and Matt wandered off into the library. Jessica, Lori and I made our way back out into the gardens to talk alone; I needed to speak with them about Jessica''s new... state.


    Since she was healed now, she could change back if she wanted to; all it would take was a good dose of the antidote, something that we kept in stock in our headquarters just in case we needed to use it. We had learned our lesson with the Crescent outbreak, and we wanted to always be prepared.


    *So," I said as we made our way out to the garden with a pic nket in hand, "Jessica-" "I know what you''re going to ask," Jessica said, "and my answer is no. I don''t want the antidote."


    I stopped, genuinely taken aback. "So soon?" I asked.


    Jessica and Lori exchanged nces, their hands intertwined. "Listen," Jessica said, "I... I like feeling this way. I''d like to see where it goes for a while. With a history of werewolves in my family, it just feels... right."


    My eyes widened, and I nced over at Lori, who just nodded. "She''s made up her mind," she said. "And I support her."


    I was still a bit in shock, but not necessarily in a bad way. It was just unexpected. "Well, um..." I began, swallowing, "...go for it, Jessica. If that''s what you want, I have no qualms about it. Wee to the life of a werewolf. Has your woll emerged yet?"


    Jessica sighed as we kept walking. "Not yet, I don''t think," she said. "I feel as if I can feel her presence there, though. I think it''ll be soon."


    "That makes sense," I said with a nod as Iid the nket out on the ground once we had found a sunny spot toy. "It could take a while."


    The three of us sat down on the pic nket and sprawled out, books and various snacks in hand. I had prepared some fruits and cheeses earlier so the three of us could rx. Lori


    leaned forward, picking up a strawberry, but paused when she saw the amulet hanging around my neck.


    "What''s that?" she asked, pointing, as she took a bite of her strawberry. "Is that new?"


    I touched the amulet, my fingers trembling slightly as I did. For a moment, I almost considered not telling them what it really was, but I knew that I couldn''t keep a secret from my friends. They deserved to know what I was warding off.


    "It''s... a long story," I said quietly. "But I saw a witchst week about the pregnancy, and she gave me this amulet to ward off a dark spirit that has somehow attached itself to me."


    Lori raised an eyebrow. "A dark spirit? Seriously?"


    I nodded. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but she said it might be why I was having those visions," I said. "And I feel better wearing it than not, so I figure what''s the harm?"


    Jessica reached out and touched the amulet gently. "It''s really been helping you feel better?"


    I nodded. "A little, yeah. I haven''t seen anything weirdtely, and aside from some hormones and morning sickness, I actually feel... safe."


    "Well, that''s all that matters, then," Lori said, flipping her book open. "As long as you two and the baby are happy and healthy, that''s all I care about."


    Jessica nodded in agreement. "Same," she said. "And Nina, if you need anything, you know Lori and I are here for you. Always."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "Always and forever," Lori said with a grin.


    I couldn''t help but smile as I reached forward and took my friends'' hands. "Always and


    forever."


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