Chapter 198

Hannah

5 months later.

I stare at myself in the mirror, and I don’t like what I’m seeing. I’m so round; I wobble like a penguin. My entire back is sore, and my legs hardly hold up my weight. My hair has gone completely flat and lifeless, my complexion is too fair, and I don’t look decent unless I wear a bunch of makeup.

I’m wearing a loose-fitting light pink dress with a pair of flats that look like ballet slippers because that’s the only thing that’ll fit my swollen feet.

“I’m so fat…” I whine as tears fill my eyes. My hormones were getting the best of me; I don’t remember feeling like this the first time I was pregnant.

“You’re not fat,” Sebastian says from behind me, wrapping his arms around me and peering at me through the mirror as well. “You’re pregnant and you’re beautiful.”

“I look like an ogre,” I complain as tears wash over my features. I was trying really hard not to cry because it was going to ruin my makeup. But my hormones wouldn’t allow me to not cry. Today out of all days was not the day to lose my shit.

“A beautiful ogre,” Sebastian teases, kissing my cheek. I roll my eyes at him, but I can’t help but smile as well. “Just think about how worth it’ll be once we have our little girl back and safely in our arms.”

He was right; it was all going to be worth it soon enough. I couldn’t wait to see Wren again. I wondered if she was still going to be the chosen daughter of the moon goddess even when the portal to the underworld has been sealed. I guess somebody is going to need to make sure it remains sealed. What better person to do that other than the one who sealed it in the first place? I placed the palms of my hands on my stomach, feeling her kicking inside of me.

It almost felt like butterfly wings fluttering around my stomach. I smile at the sensation, knowing that she is safe inside of me. My heart is so filled with joy and love for her. Sebastian is also feeling her kicking as well and I can feel his contentment as we stayed like that for a moment longer.

There was a knock on the door, causing us to pull apart.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Caroline says as she pokes her head in the door. “But Raya is requesting to see you. I think something is wrong.”

My heart feels frozen in my chest at Caroline’s words. What could possibly be wrong? Today out of all days? We were just about to leave soon; she can’t be having a crisis right now.

I race as fast as my large body will allow to her room on the second floor of the palace. As I get to the room, I can hear her muttering something to herself. She sounds like she’s having a panic attack and trying to talk herself off the ledge. I open the door slightly and see that she’s pacing back and forth.

Her hair and makeup are already beautifully done. She has her dark hair pulled up and clipped with a silver diamond barrette. She also has some white flowers entwined in her curly locks and some strands of hair falling over her features.

She wore a white robe with her gown laid out over her bed.

“Raya?” I ask as I step into her room. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t think I can do this,” she says, her entire body trembling. “What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? What if everything falls apart?”

“It’s not going to fall apart, Raya,” I say to her, shaking my head with dismay written all over my face. “You are not going to fail. You need to breathe and remember why you’re here. This is what you’ve been waiting months for, maybe even longer. This is supposed to be the best day of your life. You aren’t supposed to be stressing or thinking too much about it.”

She stops pacing so she can steady her heartbeat and catch her breath.

“Raya… look at me,” I say again, stepping toward her. She meets my eyes, and I can see the fear inside of them. I place my hands on her shoulders and give her a small smile. “If you want to run, we can run. If you want to sit for a little while, we can do that too. Whatever you need, I’m here. But just know that I have so much faith in you and you’re capable of so much more than you know. I won’t let you fall, and I certainly won’t let you fail.”

She gives me a small smile and nods.

“Thanks, Hannah,” she says as she hugs me. I can feel her body relaxing.

I pull away from her just as I feel a fresh wave of tears forming in my eyes. These hormones were seriously getting to me.

“Okay,” I say giving her my best smile. “Now, get dressed. You have a wedding to get to.”

…

Raya and Arnold’s wedding was held in the chapel in the king’s pack. Everybody important to us attended, even some onlookers from around the kingdom showed up to give their support to the betas.

Raya looked absolutely stunning in her dress of white that flowed effortlessly to the floor in its silky fabric. The dress hugged her body perfectly, revealing every one of her perfect curves. I stood at the front of the chapel with Caroline who was Raya’s bridesmaid and Nancy who also agreed to be Raya’s bridesmaid, despite not knowing Raya that well. We all wore matching pink dresses, except Caroline and Nancy were able to wear heels.

Sebastian stood on the other side of Arnold as the best man. The groomsmen, who stood next to Sebastian, were the head gamma and Scott.

The music began and tears began welling up in my eyes again.

Oh, goddess. Not here.

Not now.

Don’t start blubbering like a baby.

I felt my stomach weighing down slightly and it gave me a sense of discomfort. Wrenley was sitting on top of my bladder, causing me to need to pee. But it’s not like I could escape at that moment to find a bathroom. Not while Raya was seconds away from walking down the aisle.

I just had to suck it up until the reception.

Raya began walking down the aisle and everybody stood from their seats to gawk at her. I can tell just how in awe everybody was, including Arnold.

I can hear the whispers from around the chapel.

“She’s so beautiful!”

“How stunning! Beta Arnold is so lucky!”

“What a gorgeous bride!”

I can’t help but smile for my friend, despite my personal discomfort. Raya finally reaches Arnold who takes her hands into his and he gazes down at her. I can see the love in his eyes, and it makes my heart so happy.

I start to tear up again.

As they say their vows to one another, I can’t help but cry. It was so beautiful and sweet. I can really feel their love for one another. I feel Caroline’s hand on my shoulder, and she gives me a reassuring squeeze, indicating that it was okay for my emotions to get the best of me.

Then, just as they kiss, I felt a warm liquid oozing down my leg and splattering on the ground. For a second, I thought my bladder finally gave way and I peed myself. I heard the gasps from everyone around the chapel and the silence that followed afterward.

Raya looked at me with wide eyes, and then her eyes traveled to the floor, and she gasps loudly.

“Oh, my goddess Hannah!” She gasps. “I think your water just broke?”