“We have to do an ultrasound to know more details. But don't worry, the baby is alright,” Lily crossed her arms. “Do you know how risky it is to go hiking while being pregnant? You’re lucky you're a wolf, Luna.” she shook her head.
I swallowed thickly before looking at my mate and then immediately darted my eyes back towards Lily. “I…I didn't know,” I confessed, feeling guilty even though I had no idea about this situation. Cassian was immediately beside me, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. The warmth of his touch helped to calm me a bit.
Lily let out a soft sigh. “I know. But it was obvious… I've been expecting this ever since I heard you both spent your heat and rut together. It's impossible not to carry after a situation like that where both of you are at your extreme fertility. I think I should've given you a heads-up.” she explained and then gave us a soft smile. “We can do an ultrasound sound tomorrow if that's okay with you,”
“I-It's fine,” I stuttered out, struggling to recover from the news that shook me to the core. Cassian casted a worried glance towards me before he addressed the healer. “Lily,” Cassian's voice was low and careful. “Can you keep this news to yourself?”
Lily's face relaxed before a look of understanding dawned on her. “Yes, Alpha. No problem,”
Cassian threw her a tight-lipped smile before he looked at me. “Can I take her to our room?”
“Yes, of course!” Lily nodded, quickly grabbing the test results and extending them towards my mate before she smiled at me. “Drink a lot of water, eat healthy, and take a good rest, Luna. Don't tire yourself out.”
I found the strength to smile even though my thundering heart was about to crumble me into pieces. It felt like my whole world just changed with a snap. Suddenly, looking at Cassian felt like a difficult task and my head felt heavy enough to not even think about that happening.
The walk to our room was weighed down by the heavy tension that lingered in the air. Each step I took made me hold my breath as if I were walking on a thin wire.
Cassian stared at me expectantly when we were within the walls of our bedroom. I could feel his eyes piercing into my skin. I could already hear the hundreds of questions that were on the tip of his tongue. He was holding back, waiting for the right moment to unleash them.
I watched as he made the bed comfortable for me. Making sure the linens were fresh and the pillows were fluffy. Simple gestures that made my heart swell.
I settled on the bed, anticipating the questions that were about to come my way.
“You don't have to feel so nervous. We can talk about it later if that's what you want,” Cassian stated suddenly, surprising me to the core. He was ready to wait till I was comfortable. That thought alone brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't deal with the amount of guilt weighing down my heart.
“N-No…” I stuttered out, looking at him with eyes blurry with tears. Cassian let out a sigh and sank to his knees beside the bed, taking my freezing hand into his. “I want to talk,” I said even though all I wanted was to run away and hide in a cave.
My mate had a soft look on his face, one that I had grown familiar with only recently. His golden eyes trailed over my face as he tilted his head. “What is it, love? You seem upset. Do you not want to keep it?”
The question sent a shiver down my spine. I looked at him, my eyes moving at lightning speed. Surprise, hurt, anger…I couldn't pinpoint the emotion that washed over me.
“What are you saying?” I breathed out, chest heaving while I gripped the blanket tightly.
Cassian's hands found mine in a soft squeeze. “We don't have to keep it if you don't want it, Ivy. The choice is yours. It's your body. No one will force you to do anything. I promise it,” sincerity dripped from his voice. I knew it came from a good place. I knew that it was because my mate put me first. He wanted me to make the call but my omega was going berserk, feeling offended and angry at the fact that my mate even dared to think that I wouldn't want to keep our baby.
“Cassian…I don't want to do that…”
“Then what is it? I'll listen to everything you say. Please tell me,” the alpha sounded like he was begging me, and somehow that made me feel even worse.
“I'm so sorry…I just…I don't know what to say. I can't even figure out what I'm feeling,” I let out a sigh, feeling frustrated and tired.
“That's fine. It's okay to feel like that. We can figure it out together.” Cassian's whispered, voice so soft and patient.
“I…Do you think we rushed it? I know…I know that it's me who chased you and begged you to mate me but I feel like…I'm scared, Cass. I don't know what to do. Am I… Am I even capable of being a mother?”
When I looked back at the alpha, his eyebrows were furrowed as he stared at me.
“Ivy, what kind of question is that? Of course, you'd be a great mother. Are you hearing yourself? What made you think that?” Cassian stared at me, appalled.
“I…” Shame started to fill my mind the longer I looked at him. “I don't know, Cassian. We just started taking small steps towards our relationship….I can't help but feel scared. I just feel guilty. I feel guilty that I can't be happy while welcoming our baby to this new world. I'm going to be a terrible–”
“Shhh!” Cassian hushed me with a finger to my lips. “Don't even dare to finish that sentence. Ivy, I may not be able to fully understand what you're feeling. No one would be able to understand you fully. Your experience and emotions are unique to you and they are carved by the things you went through and the things you learned. But I can tell you that you're a strong woman. That's why you're the Luna of this pack. The moon goddess is never wrong. A Luna is the one nurturing the pack similar to a mother. You are a great Luna so I'm sure that you'll be a great mother too.” he gave me a soft smile. “This pack and I are lucky to have you. I'm sure our baby will feel the same. You don't have to feel guilty for how you feel. It's totally fine. We have plenty of time to get used to the arrival of our baby. I'm sure by the time our little angel is finally here, you'll be happy and healthy.”
Cassian's words brought tears to my eyes. It took only a second more for me to break down and sob into the crook of his neck while he wrapped his arms around me. The alpha managed to stand up when I finally decided to let him go. He slipped into the bed with me and pulled me into a hug. “We can wait to announce the news. We can wait as long as you want. Everything will go as you say, okay baby?”
I managed to give him a soft nod. “T-Thank you, alpha,” my voice was croaky from weeping on his chest. Cassian's chest rumbled as he let out a chuckle.
“Have I ever told you that you're cute?”
“Shut up,” a small smile formed on my lips. I'm so glad he's there to ground me when I feel like I can't even stand.
—-
“Well, aren't you both so cute!” A squeal is what brought me out of my sleep. I blinked my eyes repeatedly to get used to the light. Stella had a grin on her face and a phone in her hands while she giggled like a little girl. “Sorry, I took a picture. It was too cute to ignore,”
Cassian moved under me, his hand coming protectively around my waist as he let out a growl. Realization hit me like a truck. We were on the living room couch, snuggled up all cozily while we were napping. It brought a blush to my face when I felt the eyes of my mother-in-law and Cassian's beta on us. Ryder had a small smile on his face before he slipped away into the next room.
“Mom, what the hell?” My mate groaned. “Won't you let us be at peace?”
“What did I do?” Stella gasped, offended.
“Ruined the best nap I've ever had in my life?” Cassian grunted.
“Sorry, sorry, I couldn't help myself. This is the first time I've ever seen you like this. This type of thing kinda makes you look normal,” Stella laughed.
The alpha furrowed his brows. “What do you mean? I am normal as I've always been,”
“Not like this,” his mother snickered, feeling entertained by the way her son was getting annoyed. “You've acted like a puppy in love. I've seen that but I've never seen you like this. It's sweet. I never thought I'd live to see my son this happy,”
Cassian quickly looked away when my eyes met his. He looked embarrassed but tried his best to hide it with his annoyed expression. “Yeah, whatever. Leave us alone, can you?” he stood up, throwing a glare in his mother's way.
“Where are you going?” Stella raised a brow questioningly.
“To the kitchen. I'm going to cook something,”
“What?”
“What?”
“Are you really going to cook?” Stella looked surprised. “You can cook?”
“Yeah, that's what I said.” Cassian rolled his eyes. “Besides, I'm the best cook in this house.”
“That’s…debatable.” Stella scoffed.
“I've taught myself using the internet. It's an easy task and anyone can do it. Stop acting like it's hard.” He huffed while I tried to fight the smile forming on my lips.
Stella looked dumbfounded and a little bit confused. “What are you going to cook?” she asked, tilting her head.
“I–umm, what do you want to eat?” Cassian whipped his head towards me.
The question took both Stella and me by surprise. My cheeks immediately turned hot while Stella let out a surprised gasp. Cassian threw her a glare before he looked back at me, waiting patiently for an answer.
“I-I'm craving–I mean, I would like some fish? I don’t know. Whatever you can cook for me is fine,”
“Okay,” he nodded before stretching his limbs and rolling his eyes again at his mother's expression before making a beeline for the kitchen.
Stella directed her suspicious stare towards me. “What did you do to my son?”
I shrugged, feigning innocence while a small smile played on my lips. “Maybe a little bit of love? I'm not sure,” I let out a small laugh which made Stella chuckle.
“I don't think it's only a little bit, Ivy. You seem to have made him lovesick,”
“I hope so,”
___
“How's it?” Cassian asked, leaning onto the desk as he stared expectantly at me.
I smiled. “It's good,”
“Only good?” he raised a brow, voice a little soft and dejected. It was funny to see an alpha acting like a nervous puppy.
I couldn't help but let out a giggle. “Okay, fine. It's delicious!”
“You mean it?” he questioned, crossing his arms while looking at me suspiciously.
“I do! Are you calling me a liar?” I let out a gasp, placing my hand on my chest while giving him an offended look.
Cassian shook his head while he fought the smile that was forming on his lips. “Why are you so extra?”
“What? You don't like it?” I wiggled my brows.
Cassian held my stare as he moved closer, stopping only when he was a few inches away from me. He leaned down to get to my eye level. “I like every bit of you, omega.” the alpha stated with a cocky grin. Even though it made me blush like a tomato, I held his stare confidently.
I licked my dry lips, the action causing my mate's eyes to follow it. A grin formed on my lips when I saw the way he gulped staring at my mouth. “I would like to test it.”
“Test what?” Cassian broke out of his trance to stare into my eyes. His eyes gleamed from excitement as he waited for my answer.
“How much you actually like every bit of me…”
I saw the way his gaze darkened, the way he took in a shaky breath, and the way he gulped. “I will gladly comply,”
I gave him a crooked grin. “I know.”