CHAPTER 430: HORSE RIDING

The next day, Jasmine was in the astronomy room reading through Xaden’s mother’s journals and the new book she had found.

From what she could read, his mother and her uncle had begun very close and inseparable.

In some notes, she discussed their progress on what they had learned about the other side.

She also detailed how the map was written in the stars and was yet to be deciphered.

Jasmine went around using compasses and bearings on how to draw the map, the exact same way his mother did.

But she just couldn’t.

Just like Xaden’s mother had been stuck at a particular point between the stars, she too was.

Jasmine sighed in frustration.

She had become so fascinated with the other side and astronomy.

It was also the only thing she could do to keep her mind from Xaden.

She shook her head when he sprang up to her mind again.

No, she was not going to think of him.

She was just overreacting, and she was most certain that he was safe and sound.

Even though he had been gone this long.

He was in safe hands.

She was sure of it.

Moreover, they were all supposed to visit the royal family.

She went down to the small blackboard and used her chalk to draw another point to make her bearings.

She heard the door open.

It was Nanny Nia.

"Jasmine." Nanny Nia greeted. "Good

Morning. I tried to look for you in your bedroom."

"It’s almost midday," Jasmine said. "I’ve never had this much free time in my life before. I always used to work from morning to night. And now here I am pregnant, with no chores and nothing to do."

"Well, if you think about it." Nanny Nia said as she walked to where the board was and stared. "Being pregnant is still a job on its own. Carrying a little wolf isn’t just something simple. Pregnancies and wolf births have become so normalized that we forget how difficult and stressful they can be. So if you can look at it from one angle, you would see that it’s still a job."

Jasmine gave a light smile, and then she faced Nanny Nia. "Any news about Xaden?"

Nanny Nia managed a tight smile. "No, not yet. But I am sure that we will soon hear. Erik is on his toes. We should hear word soon."

"I understand that. But it’s been over two weeks, and yet I can’t hear anything about it." Jasmine expressed. She picked up a quill and twined it between her fingers. "I don’t think you know this, but well, you probably heard from the members of the pack, Xaden and I were bonded, and then when he was hurt, I could feel it. When I was hurt, so could he feel it too."

"I never actually heard that from anyone." Nanny Nia said. "This is the first time."

Jasmine slightly shrugged. "That’s a surprise, I am usually the center of their conversations. But yes, we could feel each other until I fell Ill. I was poisoned and healing me, which severed our bond. So I stopped feeling him, and he stopped feeling me, too. I regret being poisoned because by now, I would know if Xaden was fine. Something in my gut tells me that something is wrong. I feel useless."

"Jasmine, you should not worry yourself." Nanny Nia said as she reached out to place her hand on Jasmine’s shoulder. "You are pregnant, and worrying can disturb the baby. So you need to take it easy. I will speak to Erik and get back to you, okay? Does that make you feel better?"

Jasmine smiled and touched Nanny Nia’s hand on her shoulder with a nod in response.

"Good girl." Nanny Nia said. "It’s time for your afternoon riding. The baby needs movement. It’s the one thing I agree with Marie."

"Alright."

And together, along with Nanny Nia, they went back down to the room.

Jasmine changed into her riding breeches.

Her slightly protruding stomach was now easily concealed thanks to her gear.

Together with Nanny Nia, they went down the stairs, and when they reached the ground floor, Jasmine was already breathing heavily.

"If this is how tired I get, then I can’t even imagine what it will be like when the baby is almost due," Jasmine said, fanning her red face with her hand.

"When Alpha Xaden returns, I will speak to him about changing your bedroom." Nanny Nia said as she helped Jasmine get ready.

She adjusted her gear and attached the necessary straps.

Then she put on the hat for her and styled it neatly.

"There, much better." Nanny Nia said.

Jasmine watched as Ned arrived with the horse.

She gasped as she saw him with Loren.

She squealed excitedly and ran up to him.

She pulled both of them together and hugged.

"Ah ah ah." Loren said gently easing her back. "You don’t want to disturb the baby."

She finally let go.

"Look at the two of you." Jasmine said excited.

"Look at you!" Ned said staring down at her tummy. "Pregnant and beautiful."

Jasmine blushed.

"I’ve missed you two." She said excitedly. "How was the trip?"

"Tiring." Loren said his face grim.

"Exciting." Ned said with a grin.

"Of course it’s exciting for him." Loren said a little annoyed. "He is the reason why we stayed so long there. Wouldn’t even let me take some air he kept on trying to learn some new potions everyday."

Jasmine laughed.

"How is the baby." Loren asked sternly.

Jasmine looked down at her concealed tummy and then she remembered what Marie had told her about the difficulties she could face during birth.

Loren was the only other person apart from Erik who had had her back when she had newly come to the pack.

He still had her back she knew.

She wasn’t sure if she wanted to tell him.

He might kick against her still insisting on having the baby.