Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 64 - Filling Out Forms & Friendships

Chapter 64: Chapter 64 - Filling Out Forms & Friendships

Thoughts of that woman storm into my head. Beautiful white hair, brown eyes flashing orange with shifter instinct.

Well dressed, tall, strong force of a werewolf that had suddenly thrown herself into my path. Into my attempts to just... be, here.

In hercity...

> Would she... know if I visited here? Would they report it to her? And payment... don’t banks have lists of transactions? <

Vrika whines at my concern. Torn between its desire to protect the remnant of Helene that may be inside and the heady draw of the fated mate bond.

I sigh, knowing my own opinion is finally starting to affect the spirit. My lack of trust is making it trust less.

> Sorry. <

After all, it was a little more confident that the Alpha may not be so... disagreeable about this at first. Deep inside, in the parts I don’t have faith in, I also want to believe that.

No matter what, there was only one way to find out. For her to learn from me or be told by someone or something else...

And I needed answers about the child today to know how to proceed in the future. Far more than I needed to avoid potential complications that I’m not sure will exist.

I squared my shoulders and crossed the street. As I stepped into the lobby, the scent of wolf grew stronger.

The waiting area was modestly furnished, with half-dozen women that sat in comfortable enough looking chairs on one side. Some were leafing through magazines or scrolling on their phones.

None looked up with more than a moment of interest as I entered. None smelled of wolf.

Those that did were all clustered toward the other side of the room. A motley assortment of looks and smells that suggested they are not at all of the same... kind.

I could feel the gazes of these other werewolves, assessing me with a guarded and more lingering curiosity than the humans. Leaving a noticeable buffer between themselves and the other patients seemed intentional on their part.

But all I could do was either leave because of their looks... or make my way to the reception desk. While strutting forward, I tried to ignore the prickling sensation between my shoulder blades.

The sense of danger from them that is more about their willingness to fight tooth and nail if they had to.

> No different from me. To protect myself, or... <

The woman behind the counter looked up as I approached, her nostrils flaring slightly - obviously - as she caught my scent. Recognition flickered in her eyes... of what I was.

But she didn’t seem panicked or wary, just smiled professionally. A werewolf used to seeing new and strange she-wolves enter this place.

"Good afternoon. Do you have an appointment today?"

"No."

I admitted quickly, then hesitated... suddenly unsure of how to proceed in this matter. Asking for help with something like this still felt very strange to me.

A vulnerability I wasn’t used to exposing out loud. While the man at the bookstore and the motel owner might have assumed...

They were not the people I was worried would spread the information about a random woman. Other wolves, though...

"I was hoping you might be able to see me today. I need a... "

My voice caught - and I had to swallow before trying again. She simply waited patiently for me to get myself together.

Another lovely person. The werewolves here are nothing quite like I might have expected, from the Duskpaw memories alone.

"I believe it is likely that I am pregnant. I was hoping to get a check-up, just to make sure everything is alright."

The receptionist’s expression softened even more at my quiet voice. Even though she must get people coming in for this all the time.

> Maybe... not that much, for one of our kind, actually... <

"Of course. We have a walk-in clinic for women... like us. If you’re able to wait a short while, we can fit you in after the other similar patients."

Three ahead of me then. Assuming there are different physicians to keep the supernatural further segregated from the mundane.

"I can wait. I have nothing more important to do than this today."

A pleasant smile was returned to me when I spoke. Approval and happiness... for my sake.

Which leaves me feeling complicated. Because this is not really a happy thing but a sort of... duty.

Not the kind that a wolf might feel to their pack - to grow it and make it stronger. Just from one fox princess transmigrator to one she-wolf who had an unfortunate end.

"If you could just fill out some paperwork for me? As much as you can, so that our doctor knows more of the situation."

The counter was raised in the front... likely allowing the patron to use it while standing while the receptionist could still have the lower sitting part for their own deskwork. She slid a clipboard through a small opening on one part, along with a pen.

Humans really do look for lots of efficient little designs.

"If you don’t have insurance or identification, there’s a section to indicate that. We have financing options available if needed - and she or her assistant will talk with you further about them."

I took the clipboard with a faint nod of thanks, surprised at how straightforward this all seemed. As I turned toward an empty seat - one somewhere between the two groups - the receptionist added something in a much lower voice.

"We serve all women here. From all walks. You’re safe."

My feet slowed at her attempt to comfort, but I kept moving until I sat down and stared at the page. The request for my name and for so many other pieces of information that I didn’t know.

Helene had never been to a doctor, exactly. Not since she came of age.

In the Duskpaw... Kyle’s mother - Sheila Duskpaw - served as something of an apothecary when necessary and midwife when requested.

But it rarely was, for either case. Werewolf fertility was already low and it made distrust high especially when the new mother felt things were ’going right’.

> If my intense reactions so far, even as an outsider in this body, would amount to anything... then I somewhat understand why they would be that way. <

Getting second opinions from someone that might not have your interest as much in heart? Of course any beast is going to be suspicious.

As the pen scratched these English letters on the spaces of the very few things I was willing, or knowledgeable enough, to inform them of... my mind couldn’t get one question out of my head.

What kind of mother could I possibly be?

With the Queen Mother as an example and the few other people I knew, I don’t have much hope in myself. Helene’s thoughts don’t contain the feelings I might need... and this supposed Apocalypse may start before the child is even born.

> Sometimes the things we resist most stubbornly are exactly what we need. <

Edgar’s words echoed out again, from my voice, and Vrika’s ears perked up. At the time I heard it, I was really sure the wisdom which the blind old man imparted spoke of my behavior with Kyrie.

But the thing about phrases like that... they can be applied to whatever feels most relevant. Like self-fulfillingprophecies.

For instance, the help I needed from this wolf spirit when I got here, but did not want. When I stopped resisting it I gained a... a-

> Partner... no, a friend? Both... maybe. <

Glowing blue eyes looked up at me as I floated above it. Too vulnerable feeling to share the same ground with the mystical representation of a creature I’d given name to, even in my own soul.

Especially when it’s not arguing back with me.