"So it's true then? She's indeed pregnant?" I ask for further confirmation
"Of course she is. Her palm is so pale like she has been drained of all her blood and judging by how rapid her pulse is beating, I'll say she's about two months gone or thereabout... Wait, you already know she's pregnant!?" He exclaims, picking up the IV bag Millicent left on the cabinet as if he's just seeing it for the first time.
"This is used for..." He's about to start explaining when I interrupt him.
"The Yard's doctor already checked on her so I know what it's used for. I called you here because I wanted to be sure about her diagnosis...
You said her pregnancy is about two months but is there a chance that you might be wrong? I mean, how can she be two months pregnant when the first time they mate was three days ago?" I ask, frowning at him in concentration.
"Three days ago?" He scoffs and mockingly laughs like he has never heard anyone speak such rubbish before in his life.
"Did Thor tell you that?" He asks again, a disbelieving look on his face before shaking his head in disagreement.
"I kid you not Eric, three days ago was not the first time they mate because there's no way you can tell if a human or shifter has conceived three days after having sex. Normally, for the most accurate result, she can take a pregnancy test the week after she misses her monthly flow.
If she doesn't want to wait until then, then she can take the test at least one to two weeks after they had sex. If you doubt me though, we can arrange for a pregnancy test to be done so you'll be sure."
He picks up the IV bag again when he finishes speaking
"Should I set this for her?"
"Yes please..." I reply, nodding for him to go ahead.
"You've heard about the story of the originals and how they were betrayed by House Denton?'' He asks as he holds Ash's hand to search for her vein...
"Of course. Who hasn't, it's general knowledge"
"Okay..." He says with a nod "What about the prophecy? Have you heard about that?... You know, a prophecy that says some chosen offspring will restore the glory of their various houses?... Although it's not something folks discuss since it's not common knowledge. I don't know if you've heard about it?"
"Prophesy? No, I've not heard about it. What is the prophecy about?" I lied. Since I don't know what he's driving at, I don't want to unknowingly start a guessing game about whether Thor is an original or not.
"My grandfather once told me that, after House Denton's betrayal, a prophecy came out that some offspring of the first generation original would be the ones to avenge what House Denton did to their Ultimas and Supremas. He said these chosen ones will be so powerful, their powers will rival the gods and goddesses." He says and laughs derisively
"Oh, you don't believe what your grandfather told you?" I ask with surprise. I mean, who should believe in prophecy stories if not an herbalist?
"Of course, I believe in what he told me back then– but not anymore"
"Not anymore?"
"Yes, not anymore. I've lost faith in that prophecy. I mean, it's been many, many decades after the prophecy was foretold. Before my grandfather and his father before him was born and they are all dead now. I'm sure that by now, all the offspring of the first generation original will either be too old to fight for their various Houses or they all would have died."
He finished setting the line and came to stand beside me by the picture window
"So if it was during the era of the original where babies develop faster in their mothers' womb that you tell me they mate three days ago then I'll agree it's possible but...
"Wait!... I don't understand what you're saying. If it was during the era of the original?..." I ask with my head cocked aside
"Yeah. What I'm saying is; let's assume Thor and his mate are originals then it's possible for Thor to mate with her three days ago and their fetus would develop within that space of time and be as old as a two-three month old fetus today, you get what I'm saying? If an original male and original female mate with each other, their babies develop faster than us non-originals."
"Oh, really?..." I ask, genuinely surprised by what he is telling me.
"Yeah. My grandpa told me his grandpa told him if two originals, especially first and second-generation originals mate with each other, instead of nine months their fetus usually spends about six to seven months inside the mother's womb, and by the time they're ready to come out of the womb, they came to the world with their full set of teeth. And also, they are strong as hell."
***
Long after Anders has left for the pack, I'm still sitting beside Ash's bed wondering about what he told me. I wouldn't have believed all he said if I hadn't found out Thor is a second-generation original. He's also the strongest werewolf I've ever seen. The only shifter I know who went to war, fighting off numerous wolves in his human form.
'What about Ash? Is she also an original?' I wonder to myself.
I mean I know she's very strong too, just that I thought her being strong is because her wolf is a goddess. Could she be a second-generation original herself? If that's the case then who are her parents?
"Eric?..." A soft voice calls my name and I immediately snap out of my thoughts"
I stand up from where I'm sitting and immediately move closer to her bed. The IV has since finished and I can see she looks much better than before
"Hey, you!" I say with a smile. "How are you? How are you feeling?" I ask, praying deep down within me for her to tell me she feels great
"I'm okay. Although it feels as if I've been drained of all my energy, I'm okay. I'll live."
"That's great then. Can you stand? Are you strong enough to stand by yourself?"
There's only one way to find out..." She replies with a weak smile before pulling herself to a sitting position. Then she places her feet on the floor and slowly stands up
"The answer is yes..." She happily says, making me smile too
"Ella sends clothes and stuff to you. Uhmm, the bathroom is over there..." I point toward another door inside the room. "I'll wait outside. Is twenty minutes okay?"
"Yeah..." She says and nods
"Okay..." I reply and turn to leave but her voice stops me mid-strides.
"Thank you, Eric. I really appreciate you being here." She says and I nod back at her.
There are no chairs outside the ward so l lean on the wall, wondering what's happening in the pack. It's been more than four hours since I left the pack and Thor hasn't called me yet which is so unlike him. Now I'm certain he suspects something and just giving me the space to do whatever I feel is right
Twenty minutes later, she's still in the bathroom when I return to the ward. I decided to give her ten more minutes. I'm about to step out again when she comes out of the bathroom, fully dressed.
"I'm sorry I kept you... It was difficult getting the blood and stench off my skin." She says while looking down at her fingers as if she can still see blood on them.
"I understand, don't worry about it. Uhmm, you want something to eat?" I ask and she vigorously shakes her head.
"I don't think I can eat anything. My stomach feels a bit queasy. I think it's because of the stench."
'No. It's because you're pregnant.' I thought to myself as I opened Ella's care package. I've decided not to tell her she's pregnant until I can tell Thor. I just pray she doesn't start showing before then. I've also decided I won't tell her about Martha's missing corpse. I'll tell her when she's mentally and emotionally stronger. Certainly not now.