Chapter 26

Pregnant After One Night With The Lycan By Kellie Brown Chapter 26 Marco’s Birthday Is Coming Tanya’s POV:

Once I’m fully recovered, I visit Lady Vivian’s home in the palace every few days to learn her craft. The days I get to work as her apprentice quickly become the highlight of my week.

Her wing of the palace is not as grand as the ballroom or the main hall, but I can tell from the moment I step through the doorway that Lady Vivian’s home is filled with love. She has a delicate woman’s touch and carries herself with admirable grace and dignity. She looks young for her age, but there are a few tiny wrinkles around her eyes when she smiles that make her look friendly and enchanting.

Title of the document “Careful when diluting the oils, dear,” she says, watching as I pour the contents of a dropper into a larger bottle. “Remember that the concentration of the extract will affect the intensity and duration of the fragrance.”

I follow her advice, carefully mixing the solutions. There’s something incredibly soothing about being around Vivian, and I can’t help but feel the need to make her proud.

“Well done, my dear,” she says brightly. She leans forward to smell the perfume I’ve just finished bottling with an approving glint in her eyes. “Absolutely perfect. Your talent does not cease to amaze me.”

I beam at her praise before jumping slightly at the sound of footsteps approaching.

Two handsome young men enter the room, both of them sharing a resemblance with Lady Viviane.

“Your latest creation smells divine, mother,” says one of them.

Viviane stands beside me, placing her hands on my shoulders as she greets the two men.

“Actually, what you’re currently smelling is a creation by my new apprentice. Isn’t she wonderful?

Tanya, I’d like for you to meet my sons. This is Philip,” she says, nodding towards the elder of the two.

Philip steps forward with a pleasant smile and shakes my hand.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I can see why our mother speaks so highly of you.”

I thank him with a curtsy before Vivian motions for the younger fellow.

“And this is Thomas.”

Thomas skips the formalities and goes right in for a hug. His friendly enthusiasm takes me by surprise, but I can’t help the laughter that escapes my lips at his charismatic energy.

“Lovely to meet you,” he says, stepping back with a grin. “Please, call me Tommy.”

As he pulls away to look at me, a curious expression passes over his eyes. He glances at his mother and then back at me with amusement.

“It is said that my mother was the loveliest lady of the court back in her day. I think perhaps that title has now been passed to you, Tanya the apprentice.”

My eyes widen slightly at his flattery. Thomas, or rather, Tommy, pinches my cheek playfully.

“You even look kind of like her, you know,” he adds, and his mother laughs lightly at his lively sincerity.

They’re all so open and jovial, even Philip’s calm and grounding presence. They’re so welcoming to me, and they seem so at ease with each other. This… this is what a happy, loving family must be like.

Lily’s POV:

I make a point of going on a promenade around the palace on one of the days that Tanya is working at my mother’s estate. I choose a route that allows me to walk right past her home and stop under the shadow of one of the trees near the window.

When I peer inside, I feel my blood boil at the sight of my mother’s hands on Tanya’s shoulders. They both smile and laugh, working together as if they’d known each other their entire lives. When my brothers arrive, my jealousy only doubles.

Philip, who’s always so stern and thoughtful, actually smiles at her! Thomas shamelessly hugs her with all the excitement of a puppy dog making a new friend, even pinching her cheek affectionately. It bothers me to see them act so familiar and merry without me… to see them act that way with her.

With every passing second, my envy intensifies, and I can’t help but get flustered. I’m caught up in the sight of them together, my hand unconsciously curling into a fist by my side until my nails dig into my palms.

Tanya’s POV:

By now, I should be used to Ayana’s angry staring, but the glare she shoots at me the next day at work is so incredibly vicious it chills me to my bones. The ruthless resentment in her eyes startles me so much I lose my footing slightly and drop some of the paperwork I was carrying.

One of my co-workers, a red-haired girl with freckles and a friendly smile called Ella, snickers. She knees beside me to help pick up the papers.

“Don’t pay too much attention to Ayana,” Ella says to me with a giggle. “She’s just bitter because she got stuck doing community service for two months!”

I thank Ella for her help as we finish gathering the documents I dropped.

“Really? Why?”

“Prince Marco a*s*signed it to her as punishment for nearly causing you to drown.”

I blink at Ella in surprise before making the mistake of glancing back at Ayana.

“What are you staring at?” Ayana snaps at me.

“Nothing, I just-”

“Oh shut up,” she cuts me off before I can even explain or apologize. “I wouldn’t be so content if I were you. You think you can be all happy and comfortable because you’re married to the second prince. But the truth is you barely know Marco. You don’t know anything about him, so it’s only a matter of time before the relationship falls apart.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Ayana,” I say with a soft frown. “But I don’t believe that.”

“Oh yeah?” she asks mockingly. “Then tell me something about Marco. Do you even know when his birthday is?”

Her question shocks me silent, and I bite my lower lip with embarra*s*sment as she laughs.

“How sad! The prince’s birthday is in five days, and his own wife doesn’t even know. That’s pathetic.”

Five days. Is his birthday really coming up so soon? I can’t believe I had no idea. But Ayana has lied to me in the past and set me up. Everything she’s said and done has been to hurt and humiliate me. What if this is just another cruel prank?

I wait until my shift is over and leave work to talk to Oliver on the way home. I must hurry so I can be back in the townhouse before the evening. I need enough time to prepare tonight’s dinner and light the doorway for Marco before he gets home, and if it really is his birthday in five days, there’s much to be done.

I wave at him from across a narrow street, and he smiles politely when he sees me.

“Hey, Tanya,” he calls out.

“Hi, Oliver! Sorry to bother you, but I’m in a bit of a rush, and I need to ask you something really quick.

Is it true that Marco’s birthday is in five days?”

“Yeah. Marco’s birthday is coming up, but….”

A clock chimes from somewhere down the street, and between the ringing and my own excitement, I barely register his unfinished words. I wave at him again gratefully before continuing on my way, rushing home.

Two days later, Marco sits in the dining room while I finish clearing away the table. He’s told me that he has servants to clean, but I don’t mind it. I like feeling useful.

Marco clears his throat awkwardly.

“Tanya… is everything okay?” he asks, surprising me. “What? Yes. Why?”

“You’ve just been acting kind of strange lately. You seem a bit stressed, and I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.”

“Oh. Thank you for checking on me, but everything is fine. Really,” I answer, perhaps a bit too quickly.

Once I’ve finished cleaning up, an idea pops into the back of my mind.

“I’m going to head out for a bit,” I say, reaching for my coat.

“Where are you going?” Marco asks before taking a long sip of water from his glass.

“I’m going to the Moon Temple to speak with the Messenger Mage,” I answer, and he ch*okes, spitting out his drink in surprise before coughing quickly.

I hand him a napkin and a new glass of water, quickly explaining myself.

“When I lived in the small village outside of the capital with the Blackhide Pack, I always heard stories about the powerful wolf spirits of the Mages who served as messengers to the Goddess and how they would provide council to those in need. I visited the Temple a while ago, and it really helped me, so I’d like to go tonight.”

Marco only nods at me dismissively, although some color has drained from his handsome face.

When I arrive at the Moon Temple, I make my way to the small room off to the side. I climb into the cushioned seat of the little chamber, smiling slightly at the sight of the veiled silhouette on the other side of the sheer curtain.

“Hello,” I say softly, surprised by the sound of panting as if the Mage were breathing heavily after a run.

“Are you okay?”

There’s some vague grumbling and then a bit of coughing before the Mage answers.

“Yes, all good. Proceed, my child. What can I help you with today?”

“Well, I was wondering… Could I ask you what kind of gift you like? Hypothetically, if your birthday was coming up, what would you like to receive?”

“Meat!” the voice answers excitedly, a bit gruffer than before.

I sit there in stunned silence, unsure of what to say to that. There’s a faint shuffling noise on the other side of the curtain and then a bit more coughing before the voice becomes gentle and feminine again.

“I’m afraid I’ve given you a strange answer to a strange question. Why are you asking me this?” the Mage asks. “My husband’s birthday is coming up, and with all my heart, I want to give him the perfect gift. But what can I give to the man who already has everything? I’ve been wracking my mind and can’t figure out what to get him. I just want to make him happy, but I don’t know how.”

There’s a long silence as the Mage seems to consider my words. Finally, after what feels like forever, comes the reply:

“Have you asked your husband if he even wants to celebrate his birthday?”