Chapter 464

Nina

I stared back and forth between the pamphlet in my hands and the poster on the glass doors.

“Prenatal Yoga: Movement for Expecting Mothers,” the sign read.

The one on the door had the same image of a very pregnant woman doing a headstand, and I almost laughed again at the idea. It had to be a gimmick, right?

But, as I stepped through the door with my yoga mat tucked under my arm, I realized… that it wasn’t.

All around the room, there were women of all different stages of pregnancy. Some had perfectly flat stomachs, others were maybe halfway through their pregnancies, and others looked as if they were about to burst.

Almost instantly, I felt a little out of place as I looked around. Regardless of the stage of pregnancy, so many of the other women seemed so flexible and agile as they warmed up on their mats, chatting happily.

I furrowed my brow as I glanced down at the pamphlet again. Was this class not meant for beginners? Maybe I had gone to the wrong place.

“Hello,” a kind voice suddenly said. “Are you here for prenatal yoga?”

I looked up to see a middle-aged woman approaching. She was thin and athletic, with blonde hair pulled back into a slick bun at the nape of her neck. She was smiling, and wearing a matching light blue set of leggings and a sports bra.

“Uh, yes,” I said, holding the pamphlet up. “Is this the right place, or…?”

She nodded. “It sure is,” she said. “What’s your name?”

“Nina.”

“Welcome, Nina,” the woman replied, bowing slightly. “I’m Hannah. We’re so glad you could join us today. Just find a spot and make yourself comfortable, and we’ll be starting in five minutes.”

I nodded and found a place at the back of the room, unrolling my yoga mat with slightly trembling hands. My gaze wandered across the room, taking in the other women who seemed so at ease, chatting and stretching in their chic yoga outfits.

As I sat down on my mat and began to stretch before class started, a voice caught my attention, “First time?”

I looked up to see a young woman, around my age, with a perfectly round baby bump and a perfectly poised demeanor. “Uh, yes, it is,” I replied, trying to muster a smile.

“I’m Lea,” she said, extending a hand. “You look familiar, by the way.”

“Do I?” I asked with a slight laugh.

She nodded, then narrowed her eyes slightly at me as she tried to figure out who I was. Then, her face seemed to light up with recognition. “You’re Enzo Rivers’ wife. The hockey player?”

“That’s me,” I said, throwing my hands up in mock admission. “Local celebrity, huh?”

Lea scoffed slightly. “Hardly,” she said, rolling her mat out next to mine. “I’m kidding, of course.”

“Of course.”

“Although,” she said, “I do have to say… it was quite interesting to find out that Enzo Rivers married you. He didn’t seem like that type.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly, but said nothing. It wasn’t terribly uncommon for people to make comments like this; Enzo had, after all, had the reputation of not only a star hockey player, but also a playboy himself.

We had put those days behind us, though.

Before I could respond, the class began. Thank god, I thought to myself.

The class began with some simple stretches, but I quickly realized my flexibility was not what it used to be. Each move felt more like a struggle, and I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious as I glanced around the room, seeing all of the others move with such grace and ease.

“And now,” Hannah said, “we’re going to move into Warrior III…”

Lea, who was still next to me, seemed to notice my discomfort as we flowed into the next pose.

“Don’t worry, it gets easier,” she whispered, her voice laced with a hint of condescension. “Though it’s clear you haven’t been exercising much.”

I stiffened, the comment stinging more than I cared to admit. Little did she know the sort of physical peak my body had come into when my wolf had emerged—but lately, with my pregnancy symptoms being so all over the place, I hadn’t been able to do much at all.

“Well, I’ve had a lot of negative symptoms,” I said, trying to brush it off. “Haven’t been able to do much.”

Lea laughed lightly, a sound that grated on my already frayed nerves. “I can see that,” she said, eyeing my body up and down. “A little flabby, aren’t we?”

Her words felt like a slap across the face. I tried to keep my composure, focusing on Hannah’s instructions, but Lea’s words echoed in my head, amplifying the insecurities that had been brewing inside of me for a while now.

As the class progressed, Lea’s remarks didn’t cease. “You really should try to keep up, Nina. It’s important for the baby, you know.”

I nodded, my throat tight with unshed tears. I had always been confident in my body, but her words cut deep, reminding me of every doubt I had ever had about myself.

During a particularly challenging pose, I stumbled, my balance faltering. Lea let out a titter, not bothering to hide her amusement. “It’s okay, not everyone’s cut out for this. Maybe you should start with something easier.”

I felt the eyes of the other nearby women on me, their gazes pitying or indifferent. The warm, welcoming atmosphere of the class had turned suffocating.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment and frustration, my body feeling more foreign to me than ever.

I couldn’t take it anymore. With a mumbled excuse, I rolled up my mat and hurried out of the class, not looking back. The cool air of the fresh breeze once I stepped out of the studio was a small relief, but it did little to soothe the way I felt.

As I walked to my car, I fought back tears, feeling defeated and small.

Lea’s words replayed in my mind, each one a sharp jab at my self-esteem. I had come to the class seeking some peace and strength and to help care for my body throughout the pregnancy, but I just left feeling more vulnerable than ever.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, I took a few deep breaths, trying to compose myself. The last thing I wanted was to go home and explain to Enzo why I left the class early. I dreaded the thought of admitting how deeply Lea’s words had affected me.

“You should have said something,” my wolf said, agitated. “Why did you just… sit there and take it? That’s not like you.”

I swallowed as I put the car into gear. “I just couldn’t,” I muttered under my breath. “I can’t… I can’t describe it.”

My wolf fell silent, but I could feel her annoyance. Hell, I was annoyed, too. I knew it wasn’t like me to not stand up for myself.

Was it the pregnancy hormones, or something else?

A little while later, I was relieved to see the house come into view. I let out a breath I didn’t know I had been holding as I pulled into the driveway. And as I stepped into the house, I was greeted by the familiar comfort of home. The air smelled aromatic; Enzo must have been cooking something.

I found him in the living room, and he looked up as I entered, a smile on his face that made my resolve shatter.

“Hey, how was the class?” he asked.

And almost instantly, I burst into tears.