Impregnated By The Two Alphas

"You're pregnant!"

Those two words ring in my ears, bringing the whole world to a halt. For a moment, I can't hear the whir of the small electric fan at the end of the doctor's desk, I can't hear the small noises that had been coming filtered through his thin carbon-fiber door. At that moment, I cannot feel the relatively cool air of the hospital room on my skin. My heart skips a beat and my eyes lock on the doctor's kind face.

"No," I breathe, "no, it cannot be."

The smile on the doctor's face falls, replaced by one of careful understanding.

"You and your partner had not been planning for this?" he asks, his voice low as he takes a seat on the doctor's chair.

I shake my head, "no, we weren't. We always used protection. He always wore a...a condom, and I took birth control. Neither of us slipped since we began this."

And oh, did I remember the beginning so clearly. It had been him that approached me, smiling at me when I thought had been invisible to the likes of him. I knew that I was not bad to look at, in fact, I know that I had a certain reputation amongst my designation, but until then I did not realize that my image could make men like him take a second look at me as well.

And he had done more than take a second look.

"Are you sure?" I ask the doctor again, just to be certain "I mean, there could have been a mistake in the test, right?"

The doctor shakes his head, "Arielle, you did a pregnancy test at home as well and it gave you a positive result. Now, we had done one here in the hospital too. Now, I could do another, just to alleviate your suspicions, but let me tell you now, it's just going to be a waste of money. It will render the same result. You are pregnant, coming along for 5 weeks. We need to do a scan to see the situation of the fetus, but so far, it all looks like a wealthy healthy pregnancy."

Then he asks me, "did you and your partner not want kids?"

"It's not that," I reply, "It's just that we never talked about it. We aren't married or anything and..." I gulp, "it was only meant to be a monogamous partnership. We can't marry, even if we wanted to."

The doctor's eyes widen, "Oh, it's like that, huh."

I nod.

"Well, in that case, I believe you are due to have a long and meaningful talk with this partner of yours," says the doctor, his tone one of finality, "and I wish you the best of luck, but in case that you don't find the option of keeping the child...unavailable, then know that we can help you. With adoption after the baby is born, or even abortion."

The very words send a jolt of shock through my being, and it's all I could do not to flinch. I nod mutely, thank him for his assistance, and stand to leave the hospital room.

"One more thing," the doctor chirps, and I turn back to him, feeling like I'm underwater.

"Yes?"

"The father," the doctor almost looks flustered to ask, "he is a Beta, right?"

I bite my lower lip and tamp down on the urge to nod. That would be a lie.

"No," I answer, and watch his eyes widen to the size of saucers.

I do not wait to witness more of his disbelief.

***

It's laughable how nice today is. The sun shines high up in the sky, there are barely any clouds dotting the cerulean blue. The pack town of Sataria is brimming with activity. It's the end of a school day for the kindergartners, hence there are mothers and fathers hand in hand with toddlers and young children, walking towards their homes or workplaces. I let my eyes linger on the children more than usual, and unknowingly, my hand migrates to my own stomach.

I can't believe this. There is a baby growing within me. A baby that was fathered by David.

It is an old-fashioned name, I have to admit, but it was a publicly known fact that our pack's former Alpha, David's father, is a very traditional man. That was why he'd kept the rules of his great-grandfather's time valid even in the present day, especially regarding the rules of matin and marriage. In the Sataria pack, free mating is not allowed unless it was within designations. One must only marry within one's designation. This meant that Alphas were only allowed to marry other Alphas, Betas were allowed to marry only Betas, and Omegas should marry only other omegas. No cross-designation relationships would be recognized within the pack, especially ones with omegas. Omegas are physically weak, both in human and wolf forms. In the case of battle, Omegas were practically useless unless they were being used as cannon fodder. Betas are more desirable, with their greater strength and endurance.

Of course, none of us could top an Alpha. Superior stretch, superior senses, and superior speed, the ability to use their voice and their growl to command legions of wolves, and the ability to stand tall and strong in the wake of violence or tragedy, are the qualities of an Alpha. Alphas are leaders, and each pack only had one family of Alphas. The Alpha's spouse, also known as the Luna, the Alpha, and then the Alpha heir. Once the Alpha heir marries, the previous Alpha will step down to relinquish their mantle to their heir. Designation was hereditary, the higher designation always passing to the children no matter what the mother's designation is.

The Alpha heir could marry another Alpha. And in our pack, mating was not necessary for such bonding.

My name is Arielle Starr, and I am an Omega. Years ago, when I reached the majority age, David the Alpha heir approached me. One thing led to another, and I found myself falling head over heels in love with him. And I am certain that he loves me as well.

But the question I have now is, does he love me enough to claim the child growing within me as his?

David came to me when I just reached eighteen years of age when I was still attending high school.

I was sitting on the bleachers, down in the Omega section, studying for a quiz that was due the next day when I saw a shadow fall over me, blocking the light. I raised my head from my book, confused as to who had come to me.

And felt my breath catch when I was the frickin Alpha's son.

David Aspen is still the pack's celebrity. He is the golden boy, the prom king at high school, the captain of the football thing, and the one person who commands the respect of the pack who is only second to his father. He is the heir to the pack. He is handsome and charismatic, brave and authoritative. Wolves hang on to every word he utters, and half the student body used to think that the sun rose and set on him.

He was all these things back then as well, perhaps mixed with a bit of obnoxiousness and narcissism. Of course, I couldn't blame him for feeling good about being who he was. Heavens knows that had I been the firstborn of the Alpha, I'd have been the same. Being Alpha meant you could have everything.

So, when the Alpha heir came seeking me, I was honoured, even before I knew what he was there for.

And when I learned that I was over the moon. Because he thought I was beautiful, he thought I was a sweet girl who was better than others, even though I was just a lowly Omega, and he wanted to be friends with me. I admit now, I pinched myself when he finished complimenting me. I was pretty sure I was dreaming because things like that did not happen to wolves like me. No matter how pretty you were, Alphas did not consort with Omegas in any way, other than giving orders or punishments.

For the first few days of our acquaintance, I existed as if I was floating in the sky like a cloud, feeling like I'd won the lottery. Of course, he did not associate with me in public, that would be absurd. He had a reputation to manage. But he would always join me when I sat on the bleachers, he would come around to my house and sneak into my room to do homework, he'd drop treats into a bag at school when he passed me in the hallway, and when no one was looking, he'd give me the sweetest smile in the world and with each flash of his perfect teeth, I fell more and more in love with him.

And in turn, he loved me.

I nearly fainted the first time he told me that, after sex no less. I thought it was a friends-with-benefits arrangement because Alphas did not date Omegas, but as usual, David was proving me wrong. He treated me like a girlfriend, albeit secretly. He made love to me, whispering sweet words in my ear, he would hold me while I slept afterward and look at me with adoration when I woke the next morning. For my birthday he would get me an expensive gift. It would be anonymous, left on my bed for me to see when I retire to my room after the day, some designer handbag or a pair of shoes, or a bottle of some really nice perfume, and once a golden necklace with a pendant of a wolf which I still cherish with all I have.

He's the best boyfriend ever, and the only thing that was blocking our happiness was the archaic laws of our pack. I've heard that the other packs weren't like that, anyone could get married to anyone, and mated pairs are cherished no matter what their designation is. Maybe it's just wishful thinking they exist because we will never know if they do. Sataria is one of the most isolated packs there are because of our insistence on following the old customs.

So, if I tell him that I'm pregnant, there is a chance he will be happy about it. After all, werewolves love their young. The idea of his child growing inside the woman he loves...I mean, I adore that idea. I can just imagine his face when I relay this information to him. At first, he will be shocked, because neither of us expected this. And then that full smile will burst through his face, rendering him ten times more handsome, and he would take me in his arms, and he will kiss me...

Of course, we have to figure out what to do with the baby. We could not marry; we could not acknowledge our relationship. But maybe with his grandchild growing in an Omega, the Alpha will see it fit to change the rules. Or maybe give his own son leniency to marry me.

The thought of being David's Luna...it's an impossible dream. I don't even care if I'm not the Luna, of course. I just want to be with David. I just want him to be the father of my child. I just want his love and affection for both me and my child.

That's not too much to ask, is it?

And so, instead of going home, I make my way towards the spot on the edge of the pack where we usually meet. It's pretty secluded from other areas of the pack, mostly with trees. There's an abandoned cabin there that no one had gotten rid of yet, half-demolished and in the process of being reclaimed by nature. We met there and shared kisses a number of times during these years, and it was a safe place.

And so, I sit on a rock near the cabin and wait for my lover to arrive, my hand rubbing over my belly.

A baby. I am going to have a baby. I am going to be a mother.

And finally, through the woods, he arrives.

"Arielle," he smiles at me, although his expression is one of concern, taking my face in his hands to bestow a kiss on my forehead, "how are you? I heard from the pack grapevine you visited the hospital today. Is anything wrong? Are you sick?"

"Um, no," I reply, and give him my own smile, "I thought I was. But no. In fact, I've got news."

His brows furrow, and I can't hold it in any longer.

"I'm pregnant!" I confess with barely concealed glee.

David's mouth falls open, and he blinks.

I anticipate his next words.

He says, "no."

It's like a bucket of icy water had been upended on me. For a moment I think that I've heard him wrong. There's a smile frozen on my lips, my fingers laying on his forearms, the last rays of the sun shining over the trees, giving way to the night. It had only been a moment.

He could not have said what I think he did.

"David?" I say, my voice shivering from disbelief, "It's true. You know I won't lie to you about something like this. It's true, you can ask Dr. Lensher about it. He was the one who administered the test."

David steps away from me, his hands falling away. He's shaking his head. He looks like he's seen a ghost. His features are stony, and I think, why does he look like that?

"Are you sure?" he asks, "I mean, it could be a mistake. Did you recheck?"

"Two times," I reply, "David, I know we didn't talk about it, and we both are still too young to have children..."

"You're lying, aren't you?" suddenly, he asks, and then huffs a laugh, "Is it April first today? Is this your idea of a prank? Because I have to tell you, it's not funny. It's really not, in fact, you should stop this nonsense right now."

The last word is said in a growl, and I can't help my eyes widen.

"Why would I do that? David, you know I'd never lie about something this serious," I say softly, soothingly, knowing that he is starting to panic. I can't blame him for it. This is something big to just dump on a person. But as it is, I can't help but feel a little bit disappointed, because I expected him to at least act serious about it. This is our baby we're talking about. The result of our love.

"You can't be pregnant!" David, honest to the Goddess, shrieks, "You...you were on birth control! We used a condom all the time!"

"Please stop panicking," I tell him, sadness and fear bubbling within me, "I don't know what happened, honest. Maybe a condom broke, or maybe the birth control failed. I've read that happening. The chance is small, but not impossible."

"No, no, no, no!" he chants, each 'no' more aggressive than the other. He turns away from me and stomps, his fingers shoved into his hair, pulling the short strands. I want to hug him and soothe him like a good Omega would and make him calm with my love. But I'm afraid that he might lash out at me in his anger if I try to go near him. I'd seen him do that before, to people who'd pissed him off. At those times, his actions felt justified. No one should anger the son of the Alpha, he should be respected, not scorned. I admit, my thoughts had been biased.

"I'm sorry, David," I remark in a voice that sounds small to my ears, "I didn't know this was going to happen. I'm sorry."

Suddenly, he whips towards me, hand outstretched and clenched with all except for his pointer finger, which he thrust in my face.

"You've been cheating on me, haven't you?" he demands, and I feel like I've been drenched in a lake full of ice now. I cannot believe those words just came out of his mouth. "You...you whore! You took everything I gave you, and you shacked up with someone else, and now you're trying to convince me that the child is mine because whoever the real father is doesn't want responsibility!"

"What? Are you insane? I would never do that to you," tears fall from my eyes, hot as blood, uncontrollable. It's like a dam had been broken over my eyes and my heart hurts. Why is he telling me these hurtful things?! I love him, and only him. He's the only one who I'd loved that way, the only one who I gave myself, body and soul. He's the only person who I trusted myself with.

He's the only person I made love with.

And I tell him so, at least, I try to. Because to me, he's important, even when he's telling me all of this, and I want him to do is believe me because I'm not lying.

"You're lying," he denies my claim again and again.

"You're the only one I've ever slept with, David! You know I spend almost all my time with you. Whenever I'm not working or at home with my parents, I'm with you, and I would never ever cheat on you. I love you too much to do that. You're the only one for me, there's no one else. You can even do a DNA test if you're so unsure of me. I'm innocent of everything you're accusing me of." I protest, openly crying.

"Then you let yourself get pregnant," he starts on a new line of accusations, "you know that I would never marry you because you're an Omega. You can never be the mother of my child, or my Luna. So, you tampered with your birth control and the condom, and you're trying to trap me with a child! That's what you're trying to do. You're vying to be the Luna of the pack by using a kid against me."

"Why," I don't have enough strength for this, all I want to do is sink to the ground because this was not supposed to be like this, he was supposed to be happy..."Why can't you see that I love you, and this was an accident?"

My whole world is falling apart around me. I feel alone on the edge of this forest, with the man I thought loved me hurling damning accusations at me as if he had not promised me the world just hours before.

He sneers, "Because someone like you can never ever be the mother of my child, Omega. I am an Alpha. This was only meant to be a little bit of fun until I find my soulmate or another Alpha to marry. You were not meant to be permanent. I will never be the father of a child you'd birth."