Chapter 32: Episode 31: "An Unexpected Surprise"

Episode 31: "An Unexpected Surprise"

Briar's POV

College life had been exciting, exhausting, and overwhelming all at once. Between classes, assignments, and adjusting to being away from home, I barely had time to think. But every single night, without fail, I made time for Olivia. Our video calls were the best part of my day. Even if I was tired, hearing her voice made everything feel right.

It had been a month since I left home, and tonight was no different. I was sitting on my dorm bed, waiting for Olivia to answer my call. Tara and Ethan were busy bickering over some ridiculous argument in the background.

“I swear to the moon, Ethan, if you eat my last protein bar again, I’m going to—”

“Oh, please, Tara. You left it in my drawer. That’s basically an invitation.”

I rolled my eyes at their antics just as Olivia’s face appeared on my screen. My excitement instantly faded when I got a good look at her. She looked… tired. More than tired.

“Liv?” I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

She gave me a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Nothing, sweetheart. Just a little exhausted, that’s all.”

I narrowed my eyes. Olivia never admitted to feeling tired. She could be running on two hours of sleep, and she’d still say she was fine.

“Are you sick?” I asked, already on edge.

She hesitated. “I’ve been feeling a little off lately.”

“A little off? Olivia, you look like you’re about to pass out!” My voice rose in concern. Tara and Ethan immediately stopped arguing, their attention snapping to me.

“I’m fine, Briar,” Olivia insisted, but I wasn’t having it.

“No. You’re not. You’re going to see the pack doctor first thing tomorrow.”

She sighed. “Briar, it’s probably nothing.”

“I don’t care. Go. Get checked. Please.”

She looked at me for a long moment before finally nodding. “Alright, alright. I’ll go.”

I exhaled in relief. “Good. Because if I find out you’re ignoring your health, I will drop everything and come home.”

She chuckled softly. “I believe you.”

But even after we ended the call, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in my chest.

---

Olivia’s POV

I wasn’t expecting anything serious. Really, I wasn’t. I thought maybe I was just overworked, maybe my body was adjusting to Briar being gone.

I wasn’t expecting the pack doctor to look at me with that expression.

“Olivia…” she started carefully, as if she was worried I’d shift into my wolf and tear apart the clinic.

“What?” My voice was sharp. I didn’t like the way she was hesitating.

“You’re pregnant.”

The words hit me like a truck. My brain completely blanked.

“…What?” I blinked at her.

“You’re pregnant,” she repeated, a soft smile forming. “Congratulations, Alpha.”

Pregnant.

With Briar’s baby.

The realization settled in, and suddenly, a wave of emotions crashed over me.

Shock. Disbelief. Joy. Fear.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, my heart pounding. A baby. Our baby.

A laugh—half disbelieving, half exhilarated—escaped me. “I’m pregnant…”

The doctor nodded, smiling. “You are. You’re about six weeks along.”

Six weeks. That meant… I got pregnant right before Briar left for college.

The happiness in my chest was quickly joined by another emotion—worry.

How was I going to tell Briar? She had just started her new life, following her dreams. Would she feel trapped? Would she be upset?

My Briar was strong, but she was also young. Would she be ready for this?

The doctor squeezed my shoulder. “You’re going to be an amazing mother, Olivia.”

I swallowed hard. “I hope so.”

---

Briar's POV

The next night, Olivia called me like usual, but something about her felt… different. She looked nervous. And Olivia never looked nervous.

“What happened?” I asked immediately. “Did you go to the doctor?”

She took a deep breath. “I did.”

“And?”

She hesitated, and my heart clenched.

“Liv, just tell me. What’s wrong?”

Then she said the words that changed everything.

“I’m pregnant.”

My brain completely stopped working.

“…What?”

She exhaled shakily. “Briar, I’m pregnant.”

I stared at her. My heartbeat was so loud I could barely hear anything else.

Our baby. Olivia was carrying our baby.

A mixture of emotions hit me all at once—shock, excitement, terror.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Olivia immediately misinterpreted my silence, her expression dimming.

“I know this is a lot,” she said softly. “And I don’t expect you to—”

“Liv.” My voice was barely above a whisper. “Are you… Are you happy?”

She looked at me, really looked at me, and I saw the truth in her eyes before she even spoke. “Yes.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My lips curled into a small, wobbly smile. “Then I’m happy too.”

She let out a laugh, a little watery. “You sure?”

I swallowed hard, nodding. “It’s a lot to take in, but this is our baby. And I love you, Olivia. Nothing changes that.”

Her shoulders sagged in relief. “I love you too, Briar.”

I bit my lip. “But… what are we going to do? I’m here, and you’re there, and—”

“We’ll figure it out,” Olivia said firmly. “I don’t want you giving up your dreams. I won’t let you.”

Tears pricked at my eyes. “But I want to be there for you.”

“And you will be.” She smiled, placing a hand on her stomach. “We’ll do this together, no matter what.”

A knock sounded in my room, and Tara and Ethan peeked inside. “Hey, are you done—” Ethan stopped mid-sentence when he saw my face. “Uh… what’s wrong?”

I turned the phone so they could see Olivia.

“I’m pregnant,” Olivia said.

Tara and Ethan screamed.

“WHAT?!” Tara shrieked, practically tackling me onto the bed.

“You guys are having a baby?!” Ethan shouted, looking at the screen in pure disbelief.

Caleb’s voice suddenly chimed in from behind Olivia. “Took you long enough to tell them, Alpha.”

Olivia groaned. “You told him?”

Caleb smirked. “You think I wouldn’t notice my Alpha acting weird? Come on.”

Tara looked at me with wide, excited eyes. “Briar. Briar. You’re going to be a mom.”

I let out a breathless laugh, my heart pounding. “Yeah. I guess I am.”

Ethan clapped his hands together. “Okay, I don’t care what anyone says, we have to throw a party.”

Olivia groaned. “Let’s just get through the pregnancy first, you lunatics.”

I laughed, warmth blooming in my chest.

Our lives were changing, but one thing was certain.

No matter what, we would face it together.