Daryn continued to stare at Dawn. How could this be possible? A pure blood couldn't have babies with a neotide. This was against nature. His lips quivered. He shook his head. "No, it isn't possible."

Dawn murmured something. Mrs. Rozero continued to put wet towels on her forehead. "She will be fine soon," she assured Daryn who wasn't leaving his wife's hand being a bundle of emotions. If she were pregnant, he would bring heaven and earth together for her safety. His wolf growled in agreement.

​​

Eventually when Dawn woke up fifteen minutes later, Daryn asked, "How are you baby?"

She gave a faint smile and said, "I'll survive." Then she turned to look at the caretaker and understood that she had helped her. "Thanks Mrs. Rozero."

"You are very welcome, Madam," she replied and then furtively looked at Daryn, who was only gazing at his wife with stars in his eyes like a lovesick fool.

She blurted, "Madam, I think… I think you are pregnant. My daughter is also pregnant and she showed similar symptoms."

Dawn raised an eyebrow. Shocked to hear Mrs. Rozero's conclusion, her eyes fixated on her.

A thin line of sweat appeared on Mrs. Rozero's forehead. Her gaze darted to her husband as if in panic. "Or, you could be poisoned?" However, if that were the case, then obviously the blame would go on her cooking. "But I maintain the highest levels of cleanliness," she said in a weak voice, terrorized that if even an iota of that was true, Daryn would murder her. In order to save herself, she added, "If you like I can give you a pharmacy paper bag that contains the pregnancy kit."

Mr. Rozero was equally tense. He nodded vehemently and suggested, "Yes, bring it here. Our daughter left it last month. You must be having extra ones."

Dawn shook her head. "Don't overreact Mrs. Rozero!" This wasn't possible and she didn't want to give any false hope to Daryn. "I won't take the test," she replied. "I know it can't be positive." She closed her eyes as tears stung her eyes. "I am only stressed out. All I need is rest."

"But baby, what's the harm?" Daryn understood her pain, yet he really wanted to know if she was pregnant or not. He was hoping against hope.

She lashed at him. "You know it very well that this cannot happen, then why are you pestering me?" Her eyes were red with tears, which she was suppressing. "It is simple stress."

Daryn jerked his head back at her outburst. "Okay Dawn," he said. "Just relax. Please don't get angry." He caressed her hair. He was sure so that she smelled different. His gut feeling said that there was a possibility. And he really wanted to know. His wolf wanted to know.

Mrs. Rozero pushed. "Sir, if you like I can give you the pregnancy kit and you can test it on your own accord. It is a very simple test, really."

"We won't be needing it," Dawn retorted. It was such a touchy subject and yet they were bringing it up repeatedly. Then she turned to Daryn and said, "I want to go to bed."

"Yes, sure darling," he replied and scooped her up. At least she was conscious. While they headed upstairs, he asked, "Would you like to go back to Bainsburgh?"

She had wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder. She smelled him and said, "My home is here."

He kissed her and said, "Then sleep baby." He placed her on the bed, took off his shirt and lay beside her with his hand enveloping her. The warmth, which came off his body, relaxed her.

She placed her hand on his arm and said, "I am so sorry Daryn, but I don't want to give you false expectations. It would only lead to heartbreaks if it isn't true." A tear rolled off her eyes.

Daryn wiped her tears and cupped her cheeks. "Don't worry Dawn. I don't have hopes on that front." He pulled up the blanket. "And now you should sleep. Do you want to eat anything?"

She scrunched her nose up. "No," she said and nuzzled in his chest. Soon she was asleep.

When he woke up early next morning, Daryn ran his fingers on the side to feel Dawn, but she wasn't there. Immediately he sat up. Retching sound was coming from the bathroom. He ran and opened the door to find her holding the sides of the toilet and her head bent over it. Aghast, he went to help her. The same smell hit his nose. When she stopped vomiting, he said, "Dawn, we are going back. You need serious medical attention."

She scrambled back and leaned against the tub looking paler. "Am I poisoned?" she asked. "I thought that I would recover within a few hours, but I feel worse."

"Or maybe you are pregnant?" he said in a low voice.

She shot a glare at him. "Why are you keeping that hope, Daryn? It unsettles me!"

He put his hands in the air in defense, "Okay! Don't get angry." Then he murmured, "Just suggesting that you can take a test."

"Stop it!" she breathed.

By the time it was afternoon, Daryn told her that he had arranged for them to go back by the evening.

She felt guilty that their perfect vacation was going to get cut short because of her condition.

"It's no biggy, wife!" said Daryn as he sat beside her in the living room. "I will feel horrible if your health dips any further."

She leaned on him. "Thanks dear." Her perfect mate.

"I am going to check the perimeter again. I got a report that Azura is actually pretty close to us. They spotted his vacation place two miles from here."

The muscles in Dawn's neck corded with tension. "What is he trying to do?"

"Nothing," he said. "I will go on a routine check and will be back in less than an hour. Okay?"

She nodded.

"Stay inside and don't venture out. The caretakers are going to remain here with you," he said.

"I won't," she gave him a smile. In her heart she knew that as soon as she would reach home, she would have a meeting with Azura and end this nonsense.

Daryn left. "Call me anytime you like."

"I will."

He blew a kiss and left.

Dawn's gaze went to the coffee table on the side. Two pregnancy kits were kept on it. She shook her head at last night's conclusions of Mrs. Rozero and then went up to the bedroom to pack.

An hour later she puked. "Not again!" she mumbled. Perhaps it was the seafood. She rushed downstairs to have some more orange juice because that was the only thing she liked. Her eyes went to the pregnancy kits.

It was over three hours and Daryn wasn't back.

"Baby this place is huge and we are few, so it's going to take some time," he replied when she called him.

"When are we leaving?"

"In the next two hours," he said and disconnected.

The pregnancy kits stared at her. She could feel them burning holes in her. "Ohhh! Stop beckoning me!" she chided them. On an impulse, she grabbed one of the kits and rushed to the bathroom.

She studied the instructions, took out the stick from the kit and peed on it.

And waited…