Orik sat in the tavern, sipping on strong liquid. Jada was sitting on his lap. He had also gotten her a glass of the strong liquid, hoping that Carrie and Zack didn't get angry that he had given it to her, considering they felt she was 'underage.' When she tasted it, she laughed, saying it was a stronger version of beer, calling it alcohol.

An hour had passed when Vernisa and Julian arrived. Orik raised a hand, ushering them over to their table. Vernisa paused a moment, looking at Jada, her face draining of color before conceding and heading over. She had to deal with the situation sooner or later. Her own mate and this Jada knew each other.

Julian pulled a chair out for Vernisa, helping her to sit as the server headed to the table to take their order.

Jada studied Vernisa for a few moments; her nose flared. "You shouldn't drink this stuff right now," she advised Vernisa. Pointing to her drink, then took another sip herself.

Vernisa flinched, feeling defensive. "Why is that?" Her voice was less than hospitable.

Jada shrugged, taking another drink of her own. She already had a slight buzz. For a half-zombie, it took a lot more than most to get that way. Jada looked Vernisa directly in the eyes. "If you drink this stuff while you're pregnant, it can harm your baby," she told her, then turned to Orik, smiling, not being able to help it. Her mind wandered, thinking about what it would be like to have a child by him.

Orik was staring at Vernisa in shock, and so was Julian. It appeared that neither of them had known that Vernisa was pregnant. Jada looked between Julian and Vernisa. "You didn't tell your mate that you were pregnant?" She sounded baffled, like it was unheard of not to tell your mate something like that.

Vernisa put her head down, a sudden shame filling her heart. "I was pregnant before I found my mate," she said quietly, then looked up at Jada, her eyes turned hard. She was angry that it had been discovered in such a way. She wanted to be the one to tell her mate. She suddenly wanted to hurt Jada. "This child's father is your mate's. The one that rejected you," she sneered subtly.

"Sounds like I dodged a bullet there, then," Jada chuckled, then looked up at Vernisa, her voice going serious. "You found someone who loves you. You're better off because of it. Besides, a father isn't the sperm donor; he's the one who raises the child with unconditional love. The sperm may have come from Keirn, but his father is sitting right next to you. And just for your information, I'm happy with the rejection, so be happy that he rejected me; I am."

At Jada's words, Orik pulled her closer, trying to comfort her. Orik could tell that she was hurting because her fated mate didn't want her. To everyone else, she seemed perfectly fine. Inside Orik's soul, he could feel what she was really feeling. It made him wonder.

Vernisa stared up at her. Thinking about what she had said, Vernisa didn't know what to say in response.

Julians held Vernisa's hand. "Jada is correct. Your child is mine. I will raise the baby as if he or she is my own."

Vernisa looked over at Julian, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was trying to find the right time."

"Don't be sorry, Nis, I understand," he told her, gently grasping her hands and kissing them.

The server cleared her throat, breaking the sudden melancholy. Orik ordered for everyone at the table, getting strong liquid for everyone except Vernisa, who ordered a bubbling drink, which turned out to be a clear fruit soda.

When the drinks arrived and were passed around the table, Vernisa and Julian finally broke apart. Vernisa looked up at Jada. "I'm sorry for my behavior toward you. I should not treat you that way because Keirn rejected you. I was with him for a while, leading up to him finding you and rejecting you," she explained quietly. "That same night, I found Julian." Vernisa smiled at the thought of finding Julian.

Jada put down her drink. "If he hadn't rejected me, I would not have found Orik."

Jada suddenly got quiet, realizing what she had just said, then turned and looked at Orik. He had a stunned look on his face. They made eye contact. Jada saw the stars in Orik's eyes. It was the same feeling as when Keirn had looked at her, only this time, it didn't fade. It only got brighter. Orik was her mate, and they hadn't figured it out until that moment.

When Orik looked into Jada's blue eyes, he saw stars shine. He smiled, pressing their foreheads together. He whispered. "I guess it took a while."

Jada reached up and caressed his cheek as he did the same. They sat like that for a while, not wanting to move away from each other.

The tavern's door opened, and Keirn stepped in. He surveyed the tavern, his eyes stopping at their table.

He first looked at Orik and Jada and how they held each other. It was how mates held each other. He gritted his teeth. He had his fists clenched, his knuckles turning lighter from the pressure as he stared at them. Then he looked at Vernisa and Julian. He was holding her hands as he held her close. She was drinking the clear, bubbling liquid. He did a double-take at her drink. His eyes widened in realization, so he stomped over to the table.

Stopping in front of the two couples, he cleared his throat to get their attention. They all turned to look at him. He looked directly at Vernisa. "Is the fetus mine?" he asked stiffly.

Jada, who was feeling the need to stick up for Vernisa, eyed Keirn. "It is a baby, not a fetus. I know your people tend to call it a fetus, but that is disrespectful to the child inside her. The baby is hers and her mates."

Keirn's eyes moved to Jada. "And you are mine, yet you are with Orik," he shot back.

Jada's eyes grew hard. "You rejected me. I felt the bond snap. It isn't there for me to be your mate. I have that bond with Orik." Jada suddenly smiled as she said it. She liked that she finally found that they were mates. "We," she said, pointing to her, then Orik, and back to herself. "Are bound by the bond that you threw away like garbage."

Keirn's face paled at her words. He knew she was right. He knew that everything bad happening in his life was due to his messing up. He lost his girlfriend and his mate all in one day. It was all his fault. There was no one else to blame; he did it all on his own.

Keirn swallowed hard. His voice lowered; it was as if he was pleading. "Please tell me, is that child mine?"

Vernisa looked up at Keirn. "Yes." She said calmly.

Keirn's face paled further. "Were you going to tell me?" He suddenly felt angry that she would keep that information from him. He felt betrayed. He needed someone else to blame for all his misfortune. Someone other than himself.

Vernisa studied him for a moment before she spoke. "I was on my way to you to tell you when I was redirected to help in the dorms. That's when I found Julian. I went to talk to you to tell you everything, but you wouldn't leave your strong drink. You weren't listening that night. I tried to tell you, but it was you who wouldn't let me."

Keirn thought about it while everyone at the table stayed silent, not wanting to get involved with this particular topic. He realized that Vernisa was right. He was having difficulty with the pain of losing his mate. One that he chose to lose at that time. He was in no mood to listen to anyone that night.

"I am sorry," Keirn stated slowly. There was silence for a few moments before Keirn turned on his heels and slowly walked out of the tavern, not staying to order himself a drink.

The two couples finished their drinks and then left, going their separate ways. After the confrontation with Keirn, none of them wanted to stay out.

Orik lifted Jada on the way out of the tavern and carried her towards home. Jada couldn't help but giggle. "Is it always like that?"

Orik smiled. "What is?"

"The stars in your eyes when you know that someone is your mate?" Jada laughed.

"I saw stars in your eyes as well. It is as if you are my universe, and I am yours," he grinned.

Jada snuggled up to him, pressing closer to his chest. "That's exactly what happened with me, too."

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