BITTEN BY FATE

Justina's Point Of View

I smiled sweetly at the customer and watched him reply with a smile unconsciously.

"I'm so sorry to hear that," I told him. "Believe me, we never meant to give you a defective product. But it's exceeded the days granted by our return policy and we can't take it back,"

I smiled apologetically at him. "I'm sorry sir. So sorry,"

The man sighed. "It's alright. Guess I will just have to take another one then," he said. "In how many days can I return this and have you accept it back?" he asked, holding up the packet I'd just passed to him.

I chuckled. "Don't bother with that. You won't have to return it,"

The man nodded, flashed me another smile, and was gone. The moment he stepped out the door, Dawn came up behind me.

"How the hell do you do that?" I could hear wonder in her voice. "It surely wouldn't have gone as smoothly had it been me attending to him," she said enviously.

"Maybe I have a magic voice?" I joked.

Dawn hit me playfully, then got instantly serious. "You know, I believe that," she said. Then she sighed. "I'm really glad I started bringing you to the shop. It has taken your mind off your worries. And my sales have boomed too,"

Dawn smiled brightly at me. "it's a win-win,"

I smiled back gratefully. Instinctively, my hands went to my belly to rub it. I had noticed that habit ever since I discovered I was pregnant.

I guess it was a mother's instinct to protect her baby that manifested that way. I had complicated feelings about the baby.

On one hand, I was extremely glad I was going to be a mother. On the other hand, it was Jasper's. I didn't want my child to grow up fatherless, but…. would Jasper want the child?

I was afraid he was going to reject the child the same way he rejected me. This, even though Dawn had been urging me to return to my pack and inform Jasper, I had done so.

As if sensing my thoughts, Dawn cast a pointed look at my belly, then put her arms on the counter, leaning to face me.

I knew her well enough to know she was preparing for a lecture on why I should return to my pack. I sighed. She wasn't ready to give up, but I wasn't ready to go back to that pack either.

"Justina," Dawn began gently, her voice laced with concern, "You can't stay here forever. You have a pack, a family. They might not have been there for you before, but they might be now. Especially with the pup on the way."

I flinched at the mention of the baby. Though I loved it, the baby was still a raw topic for me. It was a constant reminder of Jasper's betrayal. "I don't know, Dawn," I mumbled, avoiding her gaze. "What if they reject the pup the way they rejected me?"

"They won't," Dawn countered firmly. "A pup is a blessing, even a half-breed pup. Besides, wouldn't you want your child to grow up with their kind? To learn pack traditions and have a support system?"

Her words held a truth I couldn't deny. The thought of raising a pup alone, ostracized by my pack, was a daunting prospect. But the thought of facing Jasper, of potentially reliving that rejection, filled me with dread.

"I... I don't know what to do," I confessed, my voice trembling. Dawn squeezed my hand gently. "I know it's scary, Justina. But you're strong. And you don't have to do this alone. I'll come with you. We'll face them together."

The sincerity in her voice brought tears to my eyes. Dawn, a rival pack member, was offering me more support than anyone in my pack ever had. Shame washed over me.

"Thank you, Dawn," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "You're a true friend."

Dawn smiled warmly. "We'll figure this out, okay? But for now, let's close up shop. I have a feeling you need some rest."

We finished cleaning up, and as we walked home, a sense of unease settled over me. The decision to return was daunting, but the thought of raising my pup in a loving pack environment was too appealing to ignore.

Reaching Dawn's den, I started gathering my few belongings, my heart heavy with anticipation. Just as I was about to zip my bag shut, my phone buzzed with a notification. A text message from an unknown number. Hesitantly, I opened it.

My breath hitched as a picture filled the screen. It was Jasper and Olivia, arms wrapped around each other, faces beaming with joy. They were in front of a packed cabin, a familiar cabin – the one Jasper had promised we'd build together someday.

The world spun around me. The pain of betrayal ripped through me afresh, sharper than ever. They were happy. They were building a life together. And I was alone, carrying his child.

Tears streamed down my face as I let the phone fall on the bed. Suddenly, the fear of rejection paled in comparison to the burning anger and the crushing sense of betrayal.

I sat down on the bed and held my head in my hands. I had told myself I had moved on. Promised myself even.

But seeing those pictures had been more heartbreaking than I would imagine. I pursed my lips, trying to bite back the sob that had risen in my throat.

It felt like my heart was being crushed by a heavyweight. Suddenly, breathing became difficult. I took huge gasps, but couldn't seem to get enough air to fill my lungs.

Terrified, I let out a hoarse scream. Dawn rushed into the room and managed to catch me before I fell. Gently, she laid me on the bed.

Then she saw the phone, the picture still on the screen, and picked it up. I had shown her Jasper's pictures before, so she recognized him.

I heard her suck in a mouthful of air. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, I looked at her, a newfound resolve hardening my gaze.

"I'm not going back," I said, my voice hoarse but steady. "I'll raise my pup here. In this pack. With you. Jasper doesn't deserve me, and he certainly doesn't deserve our child."

Dan sighed. She suddenly seemed to age ten years as her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Maybe I was wrong, Tina. I don't think you should go back to that scoundrel,"

As she spoke, she enclosed me in a warm hug. In that moment, surrounded by the warmth of Dawn's embrace, a flicker of hope ignited within me. The road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with a friend like Dawn and the love for my unborn child, I knew I could face anything. This pack, this new life, was where I belonged.