The emotional burden I was feeling inside threatened to explode if I don’t find an outlet to let it all out. Zoey told me to drop by the hospital before her next shift starts the following morning.
There, in the nurse’s lounge---I poured all my heart’s content. “I don’t get it, Z! Why would he deny it? I mean…I would understand if he’d admit it to me…”
“Whoa, you would?”
“Yes, that’s Lili. I can’t compete with her. She’s Lili for God’s sake!” The tears started rolling again and I doubt if they’ll ever stop. Even to my ears, I sounded so defeated. “She’s Lili…you know what she means to him…”
“This is why I told you that you should have asked Malachi to marry you first!” Z’s anger was evident. “Legally, you have no rights to him, Dani. In the wolf culture and tradition, you’re fine. But with society in general…in paper…Malachi is single. What’s keeping you together is that child.”
At the mere mention of my child, I regained composure. There was no way that I am bringing this baby into this world with a problematic set of parents. My child deserves a happy family. And I am giving it to him or her come hell or high water.