Chapter 143

[ 1,759 words ]

I’m pregnant

143: 143.

I’m pregnant Aria

Music, laughter, and the comforting crackle of dozens of fires stretch between the three massive mess halls.

The celebration is connected by torches that burn with golden flames, casting warm light across the smooth, polished stone.

I stand at the edge of the main gathering hall, watching the festivities unfurl.

The submissives did a great job using nature and skill to decorate in a way that both feels like it’s part of the mountain and exuberant at the same time.

Spruce trees line every entrance, their branches draped with dried orange slices, cinnamon bundles, carved wooden ornaments, and braided ribbons made from woven grasses.

Evergreen garlands wrap around rough-hewn beams, dotted with clusters of holly berries and pinecones gathered by the children earlier in the week.

Wooden tables stretch nearly the length of each mess hall, covered in thick woven tablecloths crafted by a few of the Saturn packs’ skilled crafters.

The metal serving dishes Ranosom crafted are overflowing with roasted chestnuts, fresh candied fruit, smoked elk and venison, hand pies, braised vegetables, warm bread, and a few other seasonal dishes.

Children squeal as they duck and weave around adults playing various games while their parents make only half-hearted attempts to stop them.

I smile as one tiny pup tackles another into the floor in an overzealous tag.

“That’s cheating!” the pup on the floor says as he stands to dust himself off.

“No, you’re just slow!” the other replies impishly.

“I am not!” the first pup cries.

“Then prove it. Catch me,” the other challenges.

The offended little boy’s whines disappear, and a look of determination fills his face as he launches himself at his companion.

Laughter erupts around them.

Inside, the juveniles have claimed an entire corner for themselves.

Girls from Ironclaw sit beside boys from Ashfang.

Nightbane teenagers joke with Stone Ridge wolves as though they have known each other their entire lives.

Before we came to the mountain, they would have been taught to be insular, to see anyone outside of their pack as people to be cautious of.

Enemies.

They would have grown to judge and war with each other, with only the potential of mating with someone out of their packs as a point of peace.

My wolf stirs quietly.

So, you finally see.

I let my gaze drift over every face.

The adults who spent years believing neighboring packs were monsters now share pitchers of mulled cider.

Liam scowls at something Elliot says, but the gesture falls quickly, and a smile breaks through.

Bitter enemies with a bloody history, now allies.

Friends.

Hunters among shifters, sharing the same goals.

My heart races as an idea forms.

No, not an Idea, something deeper than thought, a knowing that pulls at the strings of every essence of me.

Rick’s words circle my mind.

We are keepers of balance.

Yeah, I think I finally do, I reply.

This misfortune may have been forced on us, but what if it was also inevitable?

What if when the syphers were driven to extinction, and the council stepped into places, the true problem wasn’t their desires for power?

What if it was the separation, the distortion of balance.

This is our chance to restore it, my wolf says.

Restore it.

I mull over her words.

I look back out into the crowd.

Even the Alphas seem lighter today.

Ben throws his head back with a booming laugh after Cobalt says something that makes Elliot nearly choke on his drink.

Ransom slaps his back, a little too firmly, smirking.

Hazam is actually smiling at one of the submissives as they regale him with a joke.

I blink.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile like that, without guard or suspicion.

My eyes drift instinctively across the room towards where my mates are.

Ronan is laughing as Theo unsuccessfully attempts to teach Barric a complicated dance step.

Barric nearly falls into Kade, who catches him with an exaggerated sigh.

“You have the grace of an intoxicated moose.”

“You’re half right,” he smiles with a flush.

“Gods, how many have you had already?” Kade asks.

“Ben challenged me and I kind of lost count after the fifth ale.”

“Alright, you need some water and some food to soak up all the alcohol,” Theo laughs.

Ronan pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Making a game plan for tonight’s debauchery,” Hazel whispers.

“I’m not an expert, but I think they’ll be a sure thing.”

Before I can react, something cold is shoved into my hand.

I look down at the Mulberry wine and take a sip.

Notes of cinnamon, honey, and clove bloom across my tongue.

“They better be,” I retort.

She smirks.

“Who are you and what have you done with ‘don’t kiss and tell,’ Aria?”

“She retired somewhere between mates one and two.”

“As she should. What’s life if you’re not going to thoroughly enjoy it?” She gives my mates a pointed look.

Her blonde curls are piled high on her head, her cheeks lightly tinged with a pink hue.

“So why are you hiding in the corner?

“I was just thinking.”

Her face scrunches.

“Ew, no. We are not doing that today.” She grabs my hand and pulls me out of my hidey hole.

I sigh.

“You’re right.”

“Always am.” She drags me to Quinnie and Felix.

“Finally the band is back together,” Felix sings.

“We were starting to think you were avoiding us,” Quinnie says

“Don’t rub it in. I didn’t do it on purpose,” I whine, wrapping my arms around Quinnie.

She gives me a grumpy look that lasts all of five seconds before she gives in.

“Fine, but you have to spend time with us.”

“And I know just where to start,” Felix says, picking the drink out of my hand.

He half-drags me to the dance floor with Hazel and Quinnie behind us.

“I don’t dance,” I try to protest as he swings me around to make room for the girls.

“You do now bitch,” Felix says expertly, moving to the beat.

Hazel and Quinnie join him, and we all link hands as they move and jostle me until I’m jumping and giggling along with them.

We dance until we are glistening with sweat and in much need of refreshments.

“Let’s go get a drink, I’m drying up,” Quinnie pants.

“Alright then we can take a quick moment to catch up,” Hazel says.

“I’m down. I’m sweating like a pig,” Felix complains.

We head to the refreshment table and hydrate, or not in Felix’s case, as he downs some ale.

“Alright gals,” Hazel says, “time to spirit away for some alone time.”

“Uh oh, who’s in trouble?” Felix asks.

Hazel shrugs and wipes the curls from her forehead.

“Guess you’re going to have to follow and find out?”

Once we’re safely away from wandering ears, Hazel sighs dramatically.

“I’m worried.”

The teasing disappears from her expression so quickly it catches me off guard.

Felix and Quinnie huddle in closer.

“About what?”

She stares into her cup.

“After everything is over, Ransom will probably leave with Elliot. And don’t try to lie to me and tell me no. I see the way that furry bitch is all over him.”

Quinnie’s sympathetic look wavers under a smile.

“The Nightbane Pack isn’t far from ours.

It’s actually half a day away if that makes you feel better.”

“Ugh, I know, but we spent half our life by each other’s side and the other half trying to get back to each other and now it feels like it was useless.”

“It wasn’t useless.

You guys can see each other all the time,” Felix consoles her.

“But…,” her words drop.

“It won’t be the same.” I finish for her.

She lets out a resigned breath.

“Okay. I’m done being a baby. At least that crazy fuck seems to make him happy, right?”

I know what she’s really asking.

She needs that clarification that he will be safe.

“I’ve never seen that male as obsessed with someone as he is. It’s actually as scary as it is sweet,” Felix says.

“Fe is right. With a male like Elliot, there is no grey area. Ransom is probably safest with him,” Quinnie assures her.

“You’re right,” Hazel admits begrudgingly.

“So…,” I venture, trying to infuse a little humor into the conversation.

“Are they official?”

“He hasn’t confirmed yet. But Ransom is even slower than me about those things. I think he’s still getting used to being a kept-man.”

Felix groans.

“Some men drown while others die of thirst. What I wouldn’t give to be kept, bound, and gagged.”

I nearly choke on my drink.

“What about Dex?”

“What about him? He’s content to look and never touch. To care but not too much. It’s…demoralizing.”

I wrap my arm around Felix and squeeze.

“That fucking sucks. Maybe it’s time to let go.”

His voice sounds dejected.

“Yeah.”

“Well, since it looks like we’re on a roll, I have a confession to make.”

Hazel, Felix, and I all turn towards her.

This is the first time that I’ve actually seen her nervous.

“What I say goes no further, got it,” she warns.

That makes my wolf stand at attention.

“Of course. You know we won’t talk,” Felix says.

She rubs her hands together, biting her lip.

“I’m pregnant.”

Oh.

That wasn’t what I was expecting her to say.

Hazel’s mouth falls open.

“But I can’t smell—” Felix starts.

“I went to Kiara to have the hormones blocked,” she says quickly.

I stare.

“Why? What’s wrong? It is…um… Sebastian’s right?”

Felix gives me and Hazel a look that says we’re slow on the uptake.

Which, admittedly, we probably are.

“Do you know how shifter pregnancies work?”

“Not at all,” Hazel says, saving me some embarrassment.

“Shifters can only conceive with their mates, either fated or imprinted.

This is the reason there are no unwanted pregnancies.”

“Okay, I’m still lost.

If he’s your mate, then is this a bad thing?” Hazel asks.

“That’s just it. I can’t feel the bond,” she says in a panicked whisper.

“I hoped we were, and what I feel isn’t just attraction, but now I know for sure.”

“He’s blocking the bond,” Felix says softly.

“Either that or he doesn’t want it to begin with. How am I supposed to tell Bash this when he’s willing to be with me but doesn’t want the bond?” I can feel her anxiety spiking, and I place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t know what to do.”

The corners of her eyes well with tears.

She sniffs.

Blinks hard before pulling herself together.

“Sorry about this; I just had to tell someone, and Kade is out of the question for obvious reasons.”

I wrap my arms around her.

“Listen, it will be okay. I’ll kick his ass if you want me to, but before that, you know you have to tell him.”

She sags against me.

“I know.”

We all hug her and make our way back to the main room before someone notices we are gone.

As soon as we enter the room, Theo accosts me.

“We were looking for you.”

“I was spending time with the girls,” I respond.

“Well, now it’s time to give your mates attention.”

Hazel snorts behind me.

“Better go with them before they throw a tantrum.”

Theo’s strong hand wraps around mine, and he pulls me into the crowd.

I let him, doing my best not to let the concern for my friend show.

I know she’ll be okay, because I’ll make sure of it.

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