The next morning, I was up and dressed early, eagerly glancing toward the door every few minutes because I knew Cora was coming to see me. It was a social visit as well as a medical one—I ran my hand over my belly, eager to hear what she had to say about Rafe's growth and progress.

I heard someone at my bedroom door and gasped, spinning toward it. But I scowled when I saw Sinclair standing there, smiling, instead of my sister. He burst out laughing at my disappointment.

"Really?" he asked, feigning hurt as I picked up the television remote and flicked through the channels. "Days ago you were desperate to see me—have I fallen out of favor so fast?"

"No," I sighed, looking up at him apologetically. He gave me a warm smile, his eyes flicking over me to make sure I was okay. "I just can't wait to see her. And she was telling me some really weird things about her and Roger—actually, has he said anything—"

Sinclair held up a hand, stopping me and glancing down the hall toward someone climbing the stairs.

"Cora!" I cried, throwing my legs off the bed and hoisting myself up. Sinclair moved aside, and I saw Hank and Cora at the door.

"No, no—" Doctor Hank said, holding out a hand, palm out. "Stay in bed, Ella—no need to get up. We'll come to you."

I frowned at him (for more than one reason) but remained in bed. Luckily, Cora shrieked with joy and threw herself into my arms, where I hugged her tightly. I laughed, telling my sister how glad I was to see her while Hank, also smiling, placed his bag on my side table and began unpacking it.

"How are you feeling, Ella?" Cora asked, pulling back and placing a hand on my belly. "How is the baby?"

"Everything feels good," I responded, smiling and shrugging. I looked down at my stomach. "He's just swimming around in there, giving me a kick or two every once in a while."

"He should be too small to kick," Cora wondered, frowning and probing my belly. "You're only three months pregnant."

"Three months pregnant is more like five or six months pregnant in wolf biology," Hank informed us, putting his stethoscope around his neck and smiling. "It's easy to get the timeline mixed up, especially if you grew up human and are used to thinking about pregnancy in terms of human baby growth and development."

"Yes," I said, nodding. "I felt about five months pregnant a few weeks ago, in the desert, I would have sworn it. But now it feels like more? I don't know. It's confusing."

"He'll grow rapidly from here," Hank murmured, leaning forward and pressing the stethoscope to my back to listen to my heart and breathing. "If we can keep you healthy enough to maintain his rate of growth. Deep breath in, please."

I obeyed, smiling at Cora and then at Sinclair, still standing in the doorway. My checkup took a while, with Doctor Hank focusing on my general health and then Cora performing a check on the baby. She even used a small, portable ultrasound machine that Sinclair had ordered so we could do these checkups at home while I was still weak.

I held my breath throughout the process, desperately hoping for good news. I had been quite good lately, even if it was boring—no stairs, mostly bed rest, really just doing nothing but getting fat on all the snacks Rafe demanded and giving him the time and space he needed to grow strong.

"Well," Cora said, finishing the ultrasound and pressing "print" on the machine so we could have a picture. "From my end, everything looks great." She gave me a big smile.

"My end as well," Hank said, smiling and crossing his arms. "Overall, Ella, you're doing wonderfully, all things considered. But I have to remind you that you're still quite fragile, medically, even if you are feeling better. The orders still stand—complete bed rest, as much as possible."

Even as my heart lifted to hear that the baby and I were healthy, I scowled at the news of more bed rest. Deep down, I had hoped for a miraculous healing, allowing me to be up and about until the baby was born. There was so much I wanted to do.

Sinclair had been keeping me informed about the world, and I'd been following the news. The tentative ceasefire between the wolves and humans was holding, though some humans protested against giving in so easily, and Sinclair had initiated peace talks between our two peoples. Still, many on both sides were displaced—so many mothers and children living as refugees—I could do so much good if I could just—

"Are you all right, Ella?" Cora asked, looking at me closely.

"Yes," I said, embarrassed to have drifted off into my thoughts. "Just thinking I wish I could get out of bed." I took her hand and squeezed it, looking between her and Hank. "But thank you—I understand I can't. It's all for the best, and I can learn to be patient. Will you tell me, though?" I pleaded, looking at the doctor who had saved my life. "When I can get up, or do a little more?"

"The minute you're healthy enough for more activity, I'll let you know. I promise I won't hold you back." He gave me a nod and the beginning of a smile, which I returned brightly. I could tell he was warming up to me, and I was happy about it.

Doctor Hank surprised me, however, by reaching out to Cora. "Cora," he said, "I'll see you tonight?"

I watched Cora take his hand and give him a tentative smile, accompanied by a blush. A blush! My mouth fell open slightly. "Yes," she said, giving his hand a little squeeze before letting go. "I'll see you at 8."

The doctor nodded and headed toward the door, where Sinclair joined him to walk downstairs and further discuss my condition.

"Are you serious?" I hissed, leaning forward and staring at my sister the moment I thought they were out of earshot. "Are you dating Doctor Hank?!"

"Ella," she murmured, looking down and blushing again. "It's not like that—we're just having dinner—"

"What about Roger!?"

"What about Roger?" She snapped, glaring at me.

I sat back in shock. "I just thought…" I replied, hesitating. "You two were doing so well."

"Well," she shrugged. "He hasn't called me since…well, since after you got out of the hospital, Ella. Complete radio silence. And honestly, I'm not sure it's the worst possible outcome."

"But Cora," I breathed, my heart in my throat. "You two—you love him—"

"Do I?" she asked, her voice bitter. "Or do you just want me to love him, sis?"

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this story. I'll try my best to update as soon as possible. Please check out my other stories and follow my Facebook page [Facebook Page Name] to keep updated on my writing schedule.

Yours, Caroline

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