Tears formed in my eyes as I stared down at the white stick I held in my hands. It's not possible, it couldn't be! Glancing down at the other end, I felt my stomach turn again as it blinked up at me. Positive. Squeezing my eyes shut, all kinds of horrible scenarios flitted through my mind - being expelled from school, thrown out of the orphanage, and worst of all, giving birth to a live wolf pup in a hospital. I couldn't do that - any of it.

I was too young, Matei was too young. Neither of us could do this. Ah, what had I gotten myself into?! I clamped a hand over my mouth to stifle sobs that bubbled up in my throat as I pressed my back against the bathroom wall. Thank goodness I was the only one in here...and that Katrina had let me use her and Jana's bathroom. I didn't want to take the risk of someone walking in on me.

Not that it was anyone's business but still...people would talk if they found out. I squeezed my eyes shut then, willing the tears to say behind my eyes but it did no good. I was a wreck already. Blinking my green eyes open, the hot tears poured down my cheeks and a loud sob emitted from my mouth as my back slid the rest of the way down the wall. I hit the floor in a crumpled heap and pulled my knees up under my chin, tears falling onto the legs of my faded jeans. My heart pounded fast in my chest and I hugged my legs tight.

What was I going to do? I was pregnant with a Wolfblood baby...and I was terrified. One thing was certain though - I couldn't stay here. Katrina would start getting worried and come check on me. And Matei...how could I tell him? How could I possibly tell him?!

Wiping the tears away with the back of my hand, I made a decision then and there. I'd run away. Far away. I couldn't stay... I couldn't do this! I picked myself up off the floor and walked over to the sink, dropping the pregnancy test into my purse.

Grabbing my cell phone from where I'd left it on the bathroom counter, I stuffed it into my pocket and ran out the door. Without a word to Katrina who glanced up at me from the Kafe counter, I sped out of the shop. I ran blindly, tears clouding my vision. But I didn't care. I had to get away...and it didn't matter where I ran to at this point. The wind tore at my hair, blowing strands of it into my face but I ignored it.

After several minutes of running, I finally stopped. Falling to my knees in the grass, I retched into a bush, emptying the contents of my stomach. When I was done, I leaned back and glanced up to see where I was. How ironic. I was at the cemetery...and it wasn't just any cemetery. Picking myself up, I made my way through the iron gate entrance, weaving my way through the headstones.

There were so many names here - most of them I'd never even heard. But finally, I stumbled across the two graves I was looking for...the ones I'd seen in that vanilla folder. My stomach almost turned again. It really sinks in when you see it written in stone. Sitting down gingerly on the grass between the two of them, I felt tears prick my emerald orbs again as I flung my purse onto the grass beside me. Running my fingers across the names engraved in the cool marble stone, I sucked in a ragged breath as those words imprinted themselves in my memory:

James K. Hargreaves

January 18, 1972 - October 5, 2000

& Valentina Reyes

June 7, 1974 - October 5, 2000

"Why'd you leave me here?" I whispered, fresh tears trickling down my skin.

I bit my lip and glanced down at the ground, a deep mass of sorrow forming inside me. Digging my fingers into the grass so hard I tore blades out, I let out a loud sob.

"It wasn't supposed to be this way! I needed you here to show me...sh-show me how to do this! I can't...I can't do this without you guys..." I spat out, bitterness tinged with sadness filling my voice that was hoarse from crying so much.

A lump formed in my throat and I couldn't find any more words to say...nothing would came out of my mouth but painful cries. I pressed my hand to my mouth hard to stop them, the tears still falling steadily. Suddenly, I heard booted footsteps and glanced up quickly. Anyone else would have just thought it was a stranger. But I knew those chocolate-brown eyes anywhere.

"Thought I'd find you here..." he said to me softly, his deep velvet voice gentle as always.

Slowly, he made his way around the headstones till he reached me. Gingerly, he sat down beside me. He didn't say anything for a while, just let me have a moment to myself to cry. It was one of the things I liked most about him. He never pushed - he just let me do things in my own time. I let out a breathy sigh then as my mind went back to my parents.

"On days like this...I need them so much..." I whispered into the silence, tears sliding down my cheeks.

Matei's hand slid to rest atop mine then and he squeezed gently.

"What do you mean on days like these?" he asked me softly.

A ragged breath escaped my lips and I squeezed my eyes shut briefly before glancing up at Matei, concern in those brown eyes. I tried to form the words but I just couldn't. How could I say it? Biting my lip, I dug around in my purse before pulling out the tiny white stick. I handed it to Matei and he took it hesitantly, brown orbs meeting mine briefly. He looked down at it for a moment, eyebrows furrowed in confusion before realization dawned on him.

His eyes widened and he looked back up at me. I nodded, a sob bubbling up from my throat.

"Sometimes..." I admitted, my voice coming out laced with pain as I let out a sigh before continuing, "I wish you'd have never saved me from that Wolfblood..."

Wordlessly and without hesitation, Matei pulled me into his arms, gathering me to his chest as sob after sob wracked my body. I buried my head in his chest, the sound of his beating heart calming to my ears. He let out a breath, his hand cradling the back of my head gently as I cried. He pressed a chaste kiss on the top of my head as he held me and I could hear him crying as well.

"Don't ever say that! We're going to figure this out, Jem...I promise..." he whispered into my hair.

And for the first time in all these months I'd known him, I heard the fear in his voice.