"You're the one who's gonna lose,
something so special, something so real"

CHAPTER TWO©

Mania | Caius

I let out a deep sigh as my sister Leah paced back and forth in front of me, her eyes burning with a mixture of shock and anger. "You let a leech get you pregnant!" she shouted, her voice laced with disbelief.

"To be fair, I didn't know he was one until after we had sex," I replied calmly, bracing myself for the inevitable onslaught of questions and judgments.

"He didn't smell like death to you?" my brother Seth chimed in, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Nope, he smelled like chocolate," I answered matter-of-factly, watching their expressions morph from bewilderment to pure befuddlement.

"Chocolate?" Leah repeated, her tone dripping with skepticism.

"Yeah, I don't know why, but he did. He still does, but the rest smelled like death - though it's not as bad as how you guys smell it," I explained, trying to make sense of the situation myself.

Seth's eyes widened as a realization seemed to dawn on him. "Did you imprint on him?" he asked cautiously.

I shook my head, feeling a twinge of uncertainty. "I don't know," I admitted, my hand instinctively reaching down to caress the swell of my belly.

Leah's gaze followed the movement, her eyes narrowing as they settled on the evidence of my condition. "Does mom know?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of worry and resignation.

"I told her, and she screamed and swore up and down all types of words, then cried, then she laughed and said I would be a wonderful mother," I recounted, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips despite the chaos.

"Sounds like her," Seth chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.

Leah, however, remained stoic, her brow furrowed in deep thought. "Where are you staying?" she asked, her gaze fixed on me.

"You remember that house I showed you guys?" I replied, a spark of hope in my voice.

"Yeah," Leah said, her expression softening ever so slightly.

"You bought it!" Seth exclaimed, his face lighting up with a grin.

"Yup, and you guys can stay there with me, and Embry, Quil, and Jacob too, so you don't have to be here all the time. I have plenty of rooms ready to be claimed," I said, my excitement palpable.

Leah let out a reluctant sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Even though I'm mad at you, I'll accept your offer because any place is better than here," she conceded, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

"You know I'm moving in even before you asked, and I'm sure Embry, Quil, and Jacob will agree too," Seth chimed in, his enthusiasm infectious.

Just as I was about to respond, a familiar voice cut through the conversation. "I think you should stay here so we can monitor the baby," Rosalie said, her golden eyes fixed on me with a mix of concern and curiosity.

I felt my hackles rise at her suggestion, my protective instincts kicking in. "No, thanks. We're perfectly fine," I replied, my tone firm and unyielding.

"Why is your pregnancy different from Bella's?" Alice asked, her delicate features etched with a mixture of fascination and puzzlement as she entered the room, the rest of the Cullens and Jacob trailing behind her.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the question. "Bella was a fragile human, and I'm not," I answered, my voice dripping with a hint of condescension.

Carlisle, ever the diplomatic one, stepped forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "Still, you should have similar experiences," he mused, his gaze thoughtful.

"Nope, perfectly normal. In fact, my pregnancy is actually slower, which is probably why I'm not suffering," I countered, a subtle note of pride in my voice.

Bella, who had been silent up until this point, chimed in, her expression a mix of hurt and defensiveness. "I didn't suffer," she said, her voice laced with a hint of indignation.

I couldn't resist the urge to tease her a bit. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you believe, Bella," I said, the corners of my lips quirking up in a mischievous grin.

Esme, ever the nurturing matriarch, stepped forward, her gaze warm and compassionate. "Do you know what you're having?" she asked, her voice gentle.

"Yeah, a girl," I replied, a smile blossoming on my face as I imagined the tiny life growing within me.

"You're getting your Adeya Nomi," Leah said, her own face lighting up with a smile.

I nodded, my heart swelling with a mixture of joy and anticipation. "Yes, and I need your help with finishing her nursery," I said, turning to my sister.

"Of course, I'll help you with it," Leah replied, her voice soft and sincere.

"We can help too," Alice chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her enthusiasm. "Ignore her," Leah said, shooting me a conspiratorial wink.

Sensing the growing tension, I decided to make my escape. "Can we go now?" I asked, my gaze sweeping across the room.

Seth, ever the eager one, jumped at the opportunity. "Yeah, let's go. I want to pick my room," he said, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

As we made our way out of the Cullen's home, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me.

The constant scrutiny and questioning from the Cullens, while understandable, had started to wear on my nerves. I needed a place where I could focus on my pregnancy and the impending arrival of my daughter in peace.

Mania's house

The house I had purchased was a haven, a sanctuary where I could surround myself with the people I trusted the most.

Embry, Quil, and Jacob had been like brothers to me for as long as I could remember, and I knew they would be there to support me every step of the way.

And with Leah and Seth by my side, I felt a sense of comfort and security that I hadn't experienced in a long time.

As we pulled up to the house, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swell within me. It was a spacious, modern home, with plenty of room for everyone to have their own space. The nursery was almost complete, ready to welcome my little girl into the world.

Leah and Seth immediately began exploring the house, their excitement palpable. I could hear them bickering playfully over who would get the best room, and I couldn't help but chuckle at their antics.

It was a familiar and comforting sound, a reminder that despite the chaos and uncertainty of my situation, I still had my family by my side.

As I made my way upstairs to the master bedroom, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and trepidation. I knew that the road ahead would not be an easy one, but I was determined to face it head-on.

This pregnancy, this child, was a blessing – a miracle that I never thought I would experience. And I was going to do everything in my power to ensure that both of us came out of this journey safe and healthy.

I let my hand rest gently on my belly, feeling the subtle movements of my daughter. "Don't worry, little one," I whispered, my voice soft and soothing. "Your mama's got you, and we're going to be just fine."

With a deep breath, I turned my attention to the task at hand – to finish unpacking and settling into our new home.

There was so much to do, and so many preparations to make, but I was ready. This was my chance to start a new chapter and to create a safe and loving environment for my daughter to grow and thrive.