Because, you know, I'm a pirate

Peggy had holed up in the big, sprawling den that had once belonged to Kassander, rather than her own, because no one really would look for her there, and she wasnt quite ready to face anyone just yet. She was bitterly ashamed of her actions, and she knew that if anyone knew the truth they would know it was her fault, that it was what she'd deserved for being such an idiot. There were worse names for what she was.

She hadn't been feeling well, either. Painful false contractions had plagued her since her return from the Rio Grande, and she had felt so terribly weary. Today was even worse, it seemed that she couldn't get comfortable at all and what she assumed to be false labor pains wouldnt stop. She was still early yet, so she was bitterly aware that she had a week or more of this to enjoy still.

And then Rhyme called for her. Peggy winced at the sound, her ears and tail drooping. She knew she had been slacking on her duties as a pack member in addition to blatantly not informing either of the alphas of her pregnancy, so she could expect this summons to be nothing good. She couldn't blame them, she deserved to get in trouble for all this. Sighing, she made the painful trudge toward where he was calling from.

She was nearly there when she finally raised her head from her immediate path to look ahead, and what she saw froze her in place, a flutter of panic beating in her chest. He was there, he had spoken with Rhyme. Oh god what would Rhyme think of her now? She had never told him or Shaye what had happened and now he was getting the whole thing dumped on him at once. And by someone who had professed to be in a bad place with Abaven, on top of that.

Another pain racked her abdomen, taking her breath away, and Peggy had to brace herself against it until it passed. But with its passing she had no more excuse, and had to finish the humiliating walk beneath their gazes. There was a stranger there, too, but Peggy's gaze was fixed firmly on her paws, her ears burning in humiliation. She stopped before them, a trio of giants towering over her own much smaller form, and tried to find words. Her tongue failed her, though, and she simply remained silent.