As usual, Cassandra woke up alone and disappointed. He was gone.
Every muscle she knew ached brutally while the tender spot between her buns was on fire and she wondered how much it would hurt when she would go to relieve herself.
Siroos had covered her with a thin sheet, though, but underneath, she was stark naked.
The side where he had laid down and held her was already cold. She wistfully placed her hand and rubbed the place where he had been.
Sigh!
Why couldn’t they wake up in the morning like a normal couple? He always disappeared somewhere during the night.
She contemplated his words which still had her in a chokehold. He said he loved her and she wondered how long he had felt that way about her.
His words proved that he cared, he cared deeply for her. Not only words but he had proved that with his actions too.
Her heart was slowly opening up to him and he had already occupied a very large space in it.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door and she quickly pulled the sheet up to her chin. Her heart skipped a beat.
The died-out candles and streaming of golden light through the natural vents told her that a new day had dawned.
"Who is there?"
"Nissa! It’s me, Lana." Her beta’s sound had her relaxing her grip on the sheet.
"Come in!" Cassandra slowly sat up pulling the sheet to her breasts and groaned from the pressure caused between her hips. She wondered how she was going to walk and train. As flicked her hair away, Lana entered.
One look at her Nissa and the room and she quickly bolted the door. Turning around there was a naughty grin on her face when she caught Cassandra’s eyes. Before she could say anything Lana teased.
"I would assume my advice worked?"
Cassandra let out a huge huff and her shoulders sagged.
"I think I bit more than I could chew. Fix me a bath with some relaxing and healing oils, there is a fire....," she couldn’t complete her sentence as embarrassment flushed her cheeks and she buried her face in her knees.
Lana chuckled.
"I know Nissa, I have just the thing. It will heal and you can go on with your day. Let me fetch you everything."
Soon Cassandra was in the bath, relaxing while Lana scrubbed her clean.
"I would leave you this balm, apply it after every time. It will take the pain away and will heal instantly. Healer Fownso is a miracle worker."
"You are a lifesaver. For the love of anything, this is embarrassing." Cassandra’s face was still red as she clutched the sides of the bathtub and tried to relax.
"It was only embarrassing when Alpha almost caught us discussing." Lana’s words made Cassandra stifle a laugh.
After her bath and changing into fresh attire, Lana and Cassandra went downstairs for the morning meal.
Just as they entered the cookery, the smell of eggs hit Lana full force, making her nauseated. Her head spun and she almost slumped on the ground from the nausea that washed over her.
Cassandra instantly reached out and stabled her.
"What’s wrong?" Cassandra’s forehead creased in concern.
"I don’t know, I don’t feel so good." Lana placed her hand on her chest and rubbed but the feeling didn’t dissipate.
Bending over she began to retch and spilled out the contents of her stomach.
Cassandra’s concern deepened as she held onto Lana’s shoulders and pushed her braided hair out of the way.
Several other concerned women gathered around and murmuring began.
"Get some water and call healer Fownso," Cassandra ordered and Ara, being one of the women, rushed out to get Fownso.
Cassandra gently rubbed Lana’s back and gestured to one of the women to grab a chair so she could seat Lana.
"Are you alright?" She guided her away from the mess on the ground and settled her in a chair.
Lana had paled slightly and she shook her head. The nausea wouldn’t subside.
Water was brought in an earthen pot and Cassandra helped her gargle her mouth and take a few sips.
Before Fownso could arrive, Cassandra observed a panicked Ranon making his way towards them.
"Lana!" Concerns so deep, like an endless gorge, were reflected in his eyes for his mate. He took long strides and had her scooped up in his arms, "What happened?"
She leaned into him, resting her head on his broad shoulder and closed her eyes.
"I don’t feel so good," she barely murmured.
"Take her to the chamber. Will call Fownso there," Cassandra instructed, seeing a curious crowd was gathering, and Lana was losing more colour in her cheeks.
Ranon nodded in approval and off he went carrying his mate.
"Tell Ara to bring Fownso to Lana and Ranon’s chamber. Resume your daily work," Cassandra instructed, to nip the gossip in case it started.
Everyone reverently bowed and scooted away. Cassandra took hurried steps and headed behind Ranon to their chamber. She wanted to ensure that Lana was not severely ill.
Reaching their door, Cassandra knocked softly and, with Ranon’s permission, entered their sanctuary.
Unlike Cassandra and Siroos, they shared their chamber. It had that earthly feeling to it with many clay decoration pieces. It was simple but peaceful.
Their bedding was pushed into a corner, and Ranon had gently laid down Lana on it, which was covered with a thin cotton sheet in an orange hue.
Cassandra approached her and settled down beside Lana, she gently brushed away her braided locks from her forehead and checked her temperature. Her body was cold, not warm.
Ranon held his mate’s hand, his concerned eyes wouldn’t waver from her.
"I felt her feeling sick through our bond and instantly knew something was wrong," Ranon said to Cassandra and then asked his mate.
"Did you eat something foul?" Lana had her eyes closed, trying to overcome the uneasy feelings which were making her heart sink.
Before she could answer, there was a knock and Healer Fownso entered along with Ara.
Cassandra felt relief seeing the healer, as he trotted inside.
"What happened?" He asked, holding onto his satchel while Ara bowed and left, giving them privacy.
Cassandra stood up to give space to the healer but Ranon stayed close, gently holding the hand of his tigress.
"I felt extremely sick when I reached the cookery and vomited," Lana said, opening her eyes but her expression remained pained.
"Cramps in legs?" Fownso asked, extending his hand and taking her wrist from Ranon. He placed his thumb on her vein and felt it racing underneath.
"Yes, for a few days," she answered.
"You bled this moon cycle? If not, when was the last time you did?" Fownso asked and Cassandra wondered why he was asking that.
This threw Lana into a deep thought and she finally spoke.
"I haven’t bled one and a half moon cycles."
Healer Fownso slowly nodded his big head, his owl-wise eyes had an understanding passing in them while Ranon blankly stared from Lana to Fownso.
"According to your symptoms and what your pulse tells me, I think you have been blessed. Both of you are going to become parents soon."