Bastien
Learning that my cousin may be responsible for all my problems over the last few years has sent me through a loop. I’ve been searching for a motive beyond power and bloodlust since this all began, but it seems I didn’t learn my lesson after my uncle’s coup. Problems don’t disappear after they’ve been exiled, and blood is no guarantee of loyalty.
When I came home tonight I held my mate and pup close, feeling even more protective of them than usual. I think Selene sensed something was wrong, but thankfully she passed out even earlier than Lila did. She’s been tired lately, taking a lot of naps and going to bed so early I have to fight the urge to wake her up for adult playtime when I’m finally ready to go to sleep myself.
Tonight I didn’t have any such problems. Sex was the last thing on my mind, and it was hours before I could relax enough to go to sleep. I lay awake late into the night, staring at the ceiling and wondering how everything could have possibly gotten so mixed up. The worst part of all this is that my family’s past drama may be endangering the life of my wife and child. Selene and Lila had nothing to do with any of this, yet their proximity to me has put them in the line of fire. The guilt could eat me alive.
I comfort myself by wrapping my body around Selene’s so tightly that I know no one could possibly get to her without going through me first. After drifting off in fitful bursts, I wake around three AM, immediately aware I’m alone in bed. I glance at the bathroom door, but it stands ajar and the lights are off. Sliding out of bed, I pad to the bedroom door, tracking my mate’s scent out into the main apartment.
A soft white light emanates from the kitchen, and I follow the gentle glow, rounding the marble island to find Selene standing in front of the open refrigerator. She’s still wearing the silky negligee I wrangled her unconscious limbs into when I put her to bed, and her thick, dark hair is an artfully disheveled mess.
Her back is to m, and I can hear her soft munching noises indicating a late night snack, but I’m so on edge I have to ask, “Baby,” I greet her sleepily, “are you okay?”
Selene jumps half a foot into the hair, spinning around and whipping her hands behind her back with a dismissive shrug. “I missed dinner.”
“I know you did.” I commiserate, eyeing her tense posture. “I’m sorry sweetheart, I would have woken you but you were really out. I thought you must need the rest.”
“It’s okay,” she assures me, “I just woke up hungry.”
“I can imagine. Why don’t you let me make you something.” I suggest, rounding the island and reaching for her.
“No! That’s okay!” She exclaims, shrinking away from me. “I already found something.”
Tilting my head to the side and knitting my brow, I remark, “I’m glad to hear it, would you like to tell me why you’re trying to hide it?”
Appearing very sullen, Selene huffs, “I’m not hiding anything.”
I reach for her again, and again she dances out of my grasp. “What’s going on little wolf, what are you eating?”
“Nothing.” Selene insists defensively.
“Which is it, mate?” I demand, my amusement growing with every minute that passes. “have you found something or are you eating nothing?”
Looking as if she’s admitting a terrible secret, Selene slowly brings her hands forward, revealing a jar of pickles in one hand, and a jar of chocolate spread in the other. Unable to hold back a chuckle, I say, “chocolate covered pickles?”
“It’s good!” Selene exclaims stubbornly.
“Alright.” I agree in my most soothing tone, slipping an arm around her while simultaneously extracting the ingredients from her hands. With hesitation, I dip a pickle in the chocolate and sample a bite.
Axel immediately starts making retching noises, and I burst into laughter, “Goddess Selene, that’s revolting.”
Selene moans, her eyes welling with tears and her lower lip quivering dangerously. I can see a storm coming, and guilt immediately washes over me, “Hey, no – it’s okay.”
“N-no i-it’s n-not.” Selene chokes, salty rivulets sliding down her fair cheeks. “Y-you said I w-was revolt-ting!”
“Selene, baby,” I profess, framing her face in my hands, “I said the pickles were revolting, not you!”
“Yeah but I’m eating them, so I’m disgusting!” She cries, breaking down completely.
Absolutely beside myself and baffled about how a midnight snack turned into such a minefield, I pull her into my arms, rocking her as I ask, “Sweetheart where is this coming from?”
“I just wanted a snack!” Selene wails pitifully, sobbing into her pickle.
If I had a death wish, I might ask my mate if it’s her time of the month. I know she was unafflicted yesterday, but we haven’t been intimate today and she must be due. We’ve made love just about every day since reuniting and she hasn’t had her period yet. Of course… the logic slowly works out in my brain, that was two months ago.
All of a sudden, our conversation in the cafe comes back to me. You’re probably breeding already, you’re the most fertile you’ll ever be and we’ve had unprotected sex dozens of times.
Looking at Selene sharply, I lower my face to her neck, inhaling deeply and feeling a rush of euphoria when her altered scent reaches my nose. A joyous laugh escapes me, and my poor little mate cries harder, “Stop laughing at me!”
I can’t even explain my discovery or correct her misunderstanding, I’m too thrilled. Overjoyed and kissing Selene everywhere I can reach, I lift her into my arms and spin her around.
“What are you doing?” Selene hiccups, clutching me for support.
“Selene,” I say her name like a prayer, exalting my perfect mate and setting her down so I can look into her beautiful face. “You’re pregnant.” I explain, kissing her lips, nose and eyelids. Kissing all the way down her neck to my mark, then back up again.
“What?” Selene sniffs in confusion.
“Your scent is only just starting to change.” I share, “But it’s there. And it all fits – the exhaustion, the cravings, the mood swings.”
“Mood swings?” Selene repeats, thoroughly affronted.
“Sweetheart,” I say, trying to pull her attention to the matter at hand. “We’re going to have a pup!”
My words slowly sink in, and Selene’s eyes grow so wide I fear they might burst. “Are you sure?”
“Yes baby.” I insist, sliding my hand to her flat tummy and trying to feel the tiny being within. “I’m sure.”
Selene thinks about this for a long moment, the gears visibly turning in her mind as she tries to process the news. Eventually she looks back up at me and bursts into fresh tears, throwing her arms around my neck. “Selene, why are you crying?” I inquire in concern, holding her close.
“Because I’m happy!” She balls, pressing her tear-stained face to my neck.
Gathering her up into my arms, I vow, “It’s going to be different this time. I’m going to be with you every step of the way. You won’t have to do it alone.”
Selene whimpers, and at first I don’t think she’s going to share her thoughts, but eventually she gazes up at me, “You have no idea how much I wanted you with me.” She weeps, “I was begging for you in the delivery room, I was begging for you from the moment we parted.”
“You don’t ever have to go through that again.” I promise, caressing her hair. “You proved you could do it without me, but you won’t have to now. We’ll be together, we’ll do it all together.”
“Bastien, I was really sick last time.” Selene admits. “That’s why I ended up in the hospital that time. It wasn’t just morning sickness, but a severe nausea condition that lasted the entire pregnancy. I was hospitalized more than once in Asphodel.”
A stab of fear pierces my heart. “You never told me that.”
“We still have a lot to catch up on.” Selene hiccups, “A lot has happened over the last three years.”
“And we will catch up.” I insist. “I’ll take care of you, I’ll do everything I can to support you.”
“Lila’s going to be a big sister.” My mate realizes with a gentle smile. “She’s not going to like having to share the spotlight.”
“But she’ll love having someone to boss around.” I proclaim, still rocking the precious bundle in my arms. “Do you need more snacks or can we go back to bed?” I murmur, kissing her velvety lips.
Selene’s tears have slowed, and she grins up at me, “can I bring the chocolate to bed?”
Throwing my head back and laughing without restraint, I confirm, “Baby you can bring whatever you want, as long as you promise to share.”
With a sullen glance from beneath her lashes, Selene replies, “I’ll share the chocolate, but not the pickles.”
Feeling as if the sun is burning inside my very chest and threatening to burst out, I agree. “Deal.”
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