(Fiona's POV)
I woke up groggy, heavy-headed, and bone-tired. The aftereffects of last night's rain were kicking in, and I'd caught what was likely the worst cold I'd had in years.
I dragged myself out of bed and shuffled over to the bathroom, barely able to hold my head up.
The bathroom light gleamed on the cold tiles, making my headache worse. I opened the medicine cabinet, pulling out a bottle of cold medicine. My fingers worked robotically, unscrewing the cap.
But then it hit me. The cub.
My joints locked in place, the bottle frozen halfway to my lips. I stared down at the pills in my palm, a wave of panic washing over me. I was pregnant-six weeks along. I couldn't take these. They could harm the baby.
Horrified, I rushed to the sink and spat out the small amount of water and pills that had touched my tongue. My hands shook as I rinsed my mouth out, gripping the basin for balance.
"What are you doing?" Black's low, firm voice startled me.
I spun around, nearly losing my footing. He stood in the doorway, broad-shouldered and imposing, the usual frown etched across his face. Even freshly out of bed, his golden eyes were sharp, his Alpha presence suffocating the room with authority.
"I-I thought I grabbed the wrong medicine," I stammered, gripping the edge of the sink harder to steady myself.
His eyes narrowed slightly, the suspicion clear in his gaze. He stepped closer, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his sweatpants. "You look awful."
"I'm fine," I lied. My voice cracked, betraying just how bad I actually felt.
Black tilted his head slightly, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. For a moment, his wolf flickered behind his gaze, the faintest glint of concern crossing his features. I didn't trust it to last.
"You're burning up," he said flatly. He was close enough now that I could feel the faint warmth radiating from him. Though Black's tone remained detached, his wolf, Logan, was restless. I could sense it. His wolf always responded when I was unwell or in danger, even when his human side ignored me.
I tried to brush past him, needing to put space between us. "I'll be fine. It's just a cold."
Black's arm shot out like lightning, blocking the doorway. His posture was tense, his eyes scrutinizing me further. "Fiona. You don't look fine. You-"
"I said I'm fine, Black," I cut him off, harsher than I intended. My voice wavered under his piercing gaze.
The bond hummed faintly between us, reminding me of the shred of connection we shared-a connection his wolf clung to, even if he didn't. But I couldn't afford this tension, not when the secret of my pregnancy was still hanging precariously over my head.
Black studied my face again, silent for a long beat. I thought he'd press the issue, but instead, he stepped to the side, his jaw tightening as he dropped his arm.
"If you say so," he muttered coldly as I slipped past him. The relief that washed over me was short-lived. I could feel his gaze boring into my back.