Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 44: Chapter 44

Eva announced her plans for a massive banquet. She said it was to celebrate Leo's victory over the Rogues. It was her first time hosting a banquet as a Luna. The previous banquets had been officially hosted by Annette.
Leo smiled when Eva made the announcement and kissed her sweetly. He acted pleased with the idea and nodded along with Eva's plans. But I could tell he wasn't really happy.
He sighed and shook his head when he thought he was alone. Leo was somber when he spoke to me. He winced anytime anyone besides Eva mentioned the celebration.
I understood. Everyone in the pack thought we were celebrating Leo's victory over a bunch of Rogues. But all Leo could think about was his brother's betrayal.
I wasn't sure what would happen to Zane. Banishment was the traditional punishment for treachery. But if Leo banished him, he'd just run to the Rogues and probably come back with more of them to attack us all.
There would be an official inquest, and Zane would have to stand in front of the alpha, or in our case alphas, to plead his case. There wasn't any doubt about his guilt, though. So really, the trial was just a formality.
I had to work hard to prepare for the banquet, just like I always had. This time was different, though. I wouldn't be serving.
Ethan had been invited, because he was Leo's best friend. And because he claimed I was his lover, he wanted me to attend the banquet as his date. I accepted, because it was sweet of him to think of me. And it meant I could avoid the rowdier guests.
The problem was that I had nothing to wear. My only “nice” dress was my sundress, and that wasn't appropriate for a celebratory banquet.
The night before the banquet was one of my “dates” with Ethan. Actually I was helping Dr. Lee with her patients. No one was critical but a little boost of healing went a long way for a faster recovery.
Dr. Lee noticed I was distracted. I explained that I was going to be Ethan's guest at a banquet for an alpha, but that I didn't have anything to wear.
“Oh, that's no problem at all. We're nearly the same size,” Dr. Lee said. “I have just the thing. Don't let Ethan rush you off to dinner until I get back.”
She returned with a beautiful green and gold beaded dress. It had a matching shawl that would camouflage my belly, too.
“I can't,” I hesitated, “It's so nice.”
Dr. Lee insisted, and with the banquet the next day, I couldn't really refuse.
“You're so nice to me,” I said.
“What are friends for?” Dr. Lee asked.
I went home with Ethan, mostly silent for the whole drive. I was just stunned. Was Dr. Lee my friend? I'd never had a friend before, so I wasn't sure.
The next evening, I got dressed up for the banquet. I put on Dr. Lee's dress and tied the shawl so that it would cover my bump. I put my hair up in a slick twist that my mother had taught me, and did my make up.
I stared into the mirror for a moment. I looked good. I wasn't used to that. Mostly I worked hard to be invisible, unnoticeable. I was a little nervous to leave my room.
Ethan met me at the front door. He smiled broadly and complimented me on my outfit. He held out his arm to escort me to the banquet hall.
It was a little odd to be escorted through my own home. It was even stranger to be treated like an honored guest. I was just Tessa, the half-blood servant. But with Ethan, I felt like a princess.
Eva glared when she saw me seated at the main table. She hadn't been able to object without seeming incredibly petty. And that didn't fit the image she wanted Leo to have of her. So she had to smile graciously as Ethan and I approached.
I'd probably pay for that later, but in the moment it was so satisfying that I just didn't care.
Leo complimented me as well. He looked sad when he called me lovely and congratulated Ethan on finding such a lovely date. Ethan was quick to compliment Eva, and informed her that she was positively glowing.
The banquet food was fancier than I was used to. The rich smells sent the pup in my belly into acrobatic leaps. I tried to eat small portions, but it didn't help much.
“Are you all right?” Ethan asked when the main course arrived.
“I, um,” I swallowed heavily. “I'm not feeling well.”
“Oh, dear,” Eva said with thick, false concern layering her voice. “What's wrong?”
She glared at me as I covered my mouth.
“Just, um...” I couldn't control it. I had to get out of there.
I ran from the banquet hall to the nearest bathroom, and only just made it in time as my stomach emptied. The pup rolled and twisted in distress within me.
I covered my belly and tried to focus my healing, to soothe my insides and my baby. I was only a little successful and another wave of nausea had me fold over double.
“Tessa?” Ethan was close on my heels, worry filling his voice and scent.
“What's wrong with her?” Leo demanded. “Is she sick? Was there something in the food?”
“No one else was affected,” Ethan pointed out.
I panicked. I couldn't get out of the bathroom without shoving past both of them. I could barely stand up, let alone shove aside two powerful alphas. I was trapped.
My condition would be obvious the moment they looked closer. I'd dropped the shawl somewhere in the hallway. My belly was showing plainly. And it wouldn't take them long to realize my illness had nothing to do with food poisoning.
I wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go. I couldn't think of a plan. I could barely think past the fear. It was over. Leo would know the truth, and he would banish me, and Eva would kill my mother.
I stood, slowly, with Ethan's help. My legs shook so hard I would have fallen if he didn't offer me his hand.
“Tessa,” Leo growled, eyes locked on my belly. “You're... are you?”
I nodded. I couldn't lie to him, not about this, not with the evidence right in front of his eyes.
“Is that why you've been so tired?” he asked.
I nodded again.
He growled. “Who. Is. The. Father?”
I shrank back, trembling. Here it was. I had to tell the truth. Everything was going to come out. It was over.
“It's mine,” Ethan declared.
“What?” Leo turned on his friend.
“You know what I'm like, Leo,” Ethan said. “I can't resist a pretty face and Tessa is gorgeous. I guess we got carried away.”
I stared at him. He was claiming my pup?
Leo snarled and poked Ethan in the chest. “You're not going to walk away from this, Alpha Ethan. She's your mate now. You're going to take care of her, properly.”
“Of course! I wouldn't dream of doing anything else,” Ethan said.
He wrapped an arm around me. “We just wanted to wait a little while, before telling anyone.”
Leo looked at me and shook his head. “A little while? Until when, the pup arrives?” He turned away, stalked off a few steps, and then paused and turned around. “Congratulations, Tessa. You'll be a fine mother.”
I didn't know how to respond to that, but he walked away before I had to.