Page 89 of Unbreak Me

Why such a strong reaction? How was this possible? I thought I was cured of all my traumas.

Suddenly, I just couldn’t stay still—I had to move. I bolted from the bathroom, nearly tripping over my own feet.

"Day?" I heard Jan call from the kitchen, probably feeling my shock in his own body. But I couldn’t stop. I ran out to the terrace, his voice trailing behind me, and sprinted into the fields.

The crisp air hit my face, but it wasn’t enough to clear the storm inside me. I climbed the gentle slope of the hill, covered with currant seedlings, my lungs burning and my legs shaking.When I reached the hilltop, I bent over, coughing and gasping for breath. Tears blurred my vision.

Behind me, I heard Jan’s footsteps. He was close now.

Straightening up, I screamed into the open sky, full of stars, "They’re going to take him, Jan! They’ll take him from me, just like the rest!"

My voice broke as I wailed, the sound echoing over the hills. Tears streamed down my cheeks, hot and relentless.

Jan caught up to me, his hands gripping my shoulders firmly but gently. He turned me toward him, grounding me with his steady gaze.

"Who, Day?" he asked, his voice calm yet urgent. "Who?"

My lips quivered, and I whispered the words, barely audible, "Our child. I’m pregnant, Jan."

For a moment, his face froze, as if trying to process the enormous magnitude of what I’d just said.

Then, like a floodgate opening, his expression transformed. Pure, unfiltered joy spread across his face—a kaleidoscope of emotions too powerful to describe.

His lips parted in a wide smile, and he whispered, "No. No, no, no! They won’t. They won’t—this time, Day. He’s staying with us. Our child will grow up here, among these hills, under this starry sky. He’ll be loved, and he’ll be safe."

A loud, ragged sob escaped me as I clung to him. My eyes lifted to the sky, where the constellation Cygnus shone in all its beauty, the sparkling swan’s wings spread wide, ready to fly.

"Do you promise, Jan? Promise me?"

His eyes followed my gaze, and he looked at the stars, smiling.

Then he cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs gently brushing away my tears.

"I promise, baby. He’s ours. No one will take him away. He’ll stay in your arms, safe and loved."

My hand moved instinctively to my pendant, gripping it tightly, as if drawing strength from it.

"Is this real?" I choked out.

Jan’s voice was firm. "As real as you and me, and my love for you, Day."

"Swans mate for life, right?" I whispered.

Jan nodded solemnly. "They do."

Tears were no longer bothering me, as I buried my face in his chest.

"I love you, Jan," I whispered, filled with way-too-wild emotions.

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close, his warmth enveloping me like a shield against all the pain I’d ever known.

In that moment, I felt something shift deep within me—thelast scaron my soul, the hidden wound that even True Mates’ magic seemed to overlook, was closing in Jan’s embrace. Fading. Healing. Disappearing.

This was my time. My time to be happy.

Finally.

THE END