Jess sits in the sunlit room with Tanner's mother, the warm air thick with the fragrance of blooming roses and honeysuckle wafting in from the garden just beyond the open window.
Golden light spills across the polished floor, bathing everything in a soft glow that contrasts sharply with the subtle tension twisting in his stomach.
Tanner's mother lounges elegantly on a cushioned chair, her posture relaxed, a porcelain teacup resting delicately between her fingers.
She looks every bit the image of graceful authority, a woman who has seen much, spoken little, and commanded with a mere glance.
Her keen eyes, however, never stray far from Jess.
He shifts awkwardly on the edge of his seat, the delicate lace of the borrowed dress brushing against his knees.
The wig itches against his scalp, unusually snug today, making him more self-conscious than usual.
"You look pale," she remarks suddenly, her tone laced with quiet concern as she sets her cup down with a soft clink. Her gaze sharpens, eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you alright? Are you having a hard time sitting with me?"
Jess forces a small smile, one he hopes passes as reassuring. "No, no, I'm fine. Thank you for asking."
She studies him a moment longer before nodding, then her eyes soften. "That dress looks perfect on you. If you like, we can go shopping later, get a few more in that style."
"Actually... I already have a few like this, but thank you," Jess replies quietly, his fingers twitching as he smooths the fabric nervously.
Tanner's mother hums thoughtfully, reaching out to brush away some imaginary lint from his skirt, the gesture oddly maternal. "You're such a quiet Luna," she muses, her lips curving into a fond smile. "But I like that. The council needs a soft voice with a sharp mind. Help your Alpha make sound decisions. They get overwhelmed, especially at the top. You have to help ground them, calm the storms in their minds."
Jess listens in silence.
"And you'll be expected to show up here every day eventually. Right now, you're practically the mother of the entire pack. Try to listen. Learn. Find out the silent troubles our women face. If you do that, if you understand them, then you'll be a Luna worthy of your position."
He nods slowly, absorbing her words. "Thank you… for the advice."
"And of course give us heirs, our bloodline is bound to rule, we cannot break that chain, so bring us the next ruler." She adds making Jess really Punic, he knows he can never give a heir. What is going to happen to him and Tanner.
What if Tanner was right? That being together is a losing game...
She waves it off with a graceful flick of her wrist. "So," she continues, tone shifting casually, "we didn't get a proper chance to talk about your family. My son whisked you away so quickly, married you without giving any of us time to catch our breath. But I suppose, given how elegant you are, your family must be just as refined."
Jess blinks. That question catches him off guard, sharp and sudden like a thorn snagging silk.
"I… uh…" He hesitates, buying time. He hadn't planned for this question, hadn't practiced the lies. But then he finds his footing. "I didn't really have a family. I lived with a man for as long as I can remember. He passed away the day before I met my mate. Said he found me near the edge of a forest when I was a child."
He lowers his gaze, adding a touch of sadness to the fabricated tale.
"I'm so sorry to hear that," she says softly, reaching to pat his hand. "But this is your home now. Your family."
Relieved when she doesn't press further, Jess relaxes marginally, but then she changes the subject again, unknowingly diving straight into murky waters.
"Anyway... As the Luna of Moonvale," she begins, tone dipping slightly, "what do you make of this… trend? This sick behavior that's spreading among men lately? I'm just thankful Tanner has sense. He would never entertain something so twisted. You..."
Jess's stomach flips violently, cutting off her words.
His heart races.
And his stomach that has been bothering him from yesterday gets worse, nausea spikes sharply, like something twisting inside him. A cold sweat breaks across his brow.
"You okay, darling?" she asks, brow furrowing.
"I'm fine. Just a little… off," Jess mutters, pressing a trembling hand to his stomach. "Probably something I ate."
He pushes himself to his feet, hoping to excuse himself before it worsens, but the room tilts alarmingly, and he stumbles, grabbing the back of the chair for balance.
His stomach lurches again and, before he can stop it, he doubles over and throws up into the waste bin beside the dresser.
He groans softly, wiping at his mouth with the back of his hand, frustration knotting in his chest. What did I eat?!
A soft gasp escapes Tanner's mother.
She rises slowly, eyes wide and gleaming, not with worry, but with something akin to joy. "That was fast," she murmurs under her breath, and then smiles brightly, stepping toward him with excitement.
"I knew it," she says with a proud nod. "I just knew you'd take after me, your body is stubborn too, I see. Took me three months to stop vomiting with Tanner. I'm going to be a grandmother soon, aren't I?"
Jess freezes. His eyes go wide. "No! No, it's not that," he says quickly, heart pounding. "I just… I think I ate something that didn't sit right. My stomach's been acting up since yesterday."
But she only narrows her eyes knowingly, folding her arms. "Mmm. That's exactly what I said when I was pregnant. The signs are all there, Luna."
He opens his mouth to object again, panic creeping into his voice but she's already pulling her phone from her pocket.
"I'm calling the doctor. Just to confirm. No fuss. I need to start preparing."
Jess stares at her, stunned, as she walks off with purpose. Around him, the room still tilts slightly, his pulse ringing in his ears. He groans inwardly.
"This can't be happening," he mutters under his breath, sinking back into the chair.