Oh, no.
Oh, for Goddess sake, no.
Felix sat on top of the toilet in the stall, in some gas station in the middle of nowhere, holding a pregnancy test in his hand. He had been experiencing morning sickness for over a week, so he decided to buy one when he got a chance, just in case, just to be sure…
And the result? Tested positive.
Just his damned luck.
With a heavy sigh, he got up, left the stall and tossed the test in the bin, his hands still shaking. He splashed his face with cold water, and leaned on the sink, his fingers grasping tightly to the cold metal until his knuckles turned white, staring at his reflection in the dirty, scribbled-on mirror.
He looked terrible, with his face pale and dark circles underneath his golden eyes… His messy, golden brown hair also seemed to have lost its shine, although whether it was because of his poor diet, or simply because it was unwashed, he didn't know.
It was the worst.
It wasn't so much that he was against having children. No, he wanted to have pups one day… But not now. It didn't matter that his baby had Jared's blood, Felix would love his child all the same regardless of who the father was, but it simply wasn't the right time for that. He was still on the run, constantly in transit, wandering back and forth, changing his direction twice a day to mislead any tracking attempts, barely able to take care of himself…
So how was he supposed to care for the baby on top of all that?
He bit on his lip, his mind spinning as his thoughts ran wild, analyzing the situation and trying to come up with a new plan. Originally, he was going to wander around for at least a year or two, perhaps even longer. Never stay in one spot for too long, as he knew Jared must be looking for him, no doubt. But with a baby on the way, he had to throw this plan out of the window.
His first priority now should be to find a quiet place, preferably in a neutral territory, where he could hide. In a few months, as his pregnancy progressed, it would be too difficult to stay on the move. He needed a place where he could peacefully give birth and spend at least the first year or two of his pup's life…
At least he had quite a lot of cash. He withdrew all of his savings the first morning in town, before catching a random bus. And, as he was vigilant - and with his current ragged look didn't even appear like a worthy target for any thieves - all this cash was still stored in secret pockets, spread out through his clothes and backpack, kept for emergencies. It should be more than enough to rent a cheap place in some small town.
…Yeah, it should all be alright.
'Hey, you there?' Felix willed his wolf in his mind.
No response.
'Still sulking? Get it together, we're gonna have pups now!'
His wolf was still quiet.
Ever since Felix decided to run away from the pack, run away from his mate, his wolf had been angry with him, refusing to shift or even communicate. Unlike Felix, he was happy with Jared, their strong Alpha mate. Their feelings did not align.
Well, he couldn't sulk forever, right?
Felix exhaled deeply, brushing the wet strands of hair away from his face, and left the toilets, going to the counter to get himself a cup of coffee and some snack. With this, he made himself comfortable on the wooden benches outside, and pulled out a large, paper country map.
It was falling apart, torn and withered in multiple places, the ink from the pens Felix used to mark the packs' territories dissolved where the map got wet. It was still readable, but it would be a good idea to buy a replacement soon, so that Felix could transfer the markings accurately. Unlike back in the pack, he had no access to that sort of information now, and he would have to rely on his memory… Which, although good, was not infallible.
Felix's eyes scanned the map, examining all the markings. A safe place. Somewhere far away from the Moonhill Pack. Preferably a neutral territory. Nowhere close to any of the friendly packs, but not near the enemy either, in case Felix's identity was to be discovered. It would be best if the relationship was peaceful, but cold, although maybe not too strained…
…Was he too picky? With all the conditions he set, only three places somewhat qualified. Somewhat - because Felix made his decision on the information he had right now, which was hardly complete.
But three places was alright. Heck, even one would suffice. It wasn't like he could wander around checking them all anyway, it would be too risky now that he was pregnant…
He stared at the three small circles for a moment. One in the East, one in the South, and one in the Northwest. If he were to choose based on his preferences, the one on the East seemed the most appealing…
Felix folded back the map, finished his coffee, and got up, walking along the road toward the nearest town. There, he bought himself a one-way bus ticket, heading South. For now.
Two weeks later, he finally arrived far in the Northwest's secluded corner, a small misty town called Silverfall. A place full of rogues, misfits and other rejects.
A perfect place for someone like himself.