Chapter 27 - Pride
Alyssa's POV:
"Wait, is this also why you were so sick?" He turned to ask me as the elevator closed.
I nodded, "yes it sure was, but I had no idea at that time. I genuinely just thought I was sick," I promised him.
"Then what made you take a test? I mean, I'm so glad you did of course, but just curious." He crossed his arms and leaned his shoulder against the elevator wall.
"It was just the combination of it all; the fact that my palm was slow to heal, the increased appetite, my bloated stomach, the sickness. All of those things on their own probably wouldn't have caused me to think anything, but when combined together I definitely got suspicious. I even waited till the day after I was so sick to take the test. Not fully believing it was possible."
His head fell back against the elevator wall as he turned to face the doors, "damn, I'm almost glad I didn't know that you were pregnant when you were sick. That scared me bad enough without having to worry about the baby, too. I'm so grateful y'all are both okay," he said as he took me into his arms. The elevator opening moments later as we both emerged.
We stepped out, him holding me as close as he possibly could. We entered the ballroom and my gosh it was stunning. The tables were all decorated with navy blue, cream, and cranberry. My favorite fall colors. Each plate rested in a ring of magnolia leaves for a pop of green, and earthy vibes. Candles of all shapes and sizes ran down the middle as center pieces, casting a magical glow in the mood lit room. I was thrilled with how my vision had come to fruition.
We walked toward Jess and Anderson, they were standing in a corner talking as we still had a bit until the feast would begin, many of the pack wolves showed up to these things right on time, so it was not unusual.
Jess hugged me as we walked over, and Brent immediately announced to Anderson, "she's pregnant and I knocked her up the first fucking try, bro!" Anderson's smile was huge, giving him a high five and pulling him in for a hug.
"Fuck yeah you did, man! Atta boy!" My mouth hung open at the exchange between the pair. Men. Freaking men.
I shook my head and placed my head in my palm, "ah Luna don't be embarrassed, it must be hard keeping your hands off of such a hottie," Anderson winked, and quickly hugged me, followed by Jess.
"Holy shit, y'all wasted no time!" Anderson gawked.
It was I who piped up this time, "yeah because SOMEONE had me convinced it was practically impossible!" I said, pointing my finger at my mate who raised his arms in defense.
"Hey now, I had plenty of reason to think my words were truthful. I didn't realize I was mated to the world's most fertile woman," he returned, causing me to blush all over again.
"When are you telling the pack?" Anderson wondered, Brent looking at me for an answer.
"I'd really like to have a check up with a midwife first and get the all clear and then tell them. I am sure everything is fine, especially since the ultrasound looked so good, but I just want to be absolutely positive." I looked up at Brent to see what he thought of this plan, and he slowly nodded in agreement.
"That's totally fine with me, but why a midwife? Why not Dr. Greer?" He wondered.
I turned to fully face him, "maybe because I don't want a man touching me down there after all that I have been through and a midwife will also do a home birth, as I've said before I have no desire to be in a hospital ever again." My tone became strained at having to explain myself in such a public setting.
Jess rubbed my arm in reassurance, "that's completely understandable, Luna."
Brent, realizing he'd struck a nerve, pulled me close, "I apologize for my ignorance and for making you talk about this here. I should've saved the questions for back home. I'm sorry, my love."
His soft words soothed my annoyance and raging hormones.
The room began to fill up, hearing "mommy" from across the room I turned to see my baby girl running to me and I quickly scooped her up, Brent allowing me one hug before snatching her up, mumbling that I needed to be careful picking her or anything heavy up. I rolled my eyes, but didn't argue. I was going to have to get used to the increase of his and his wolf's protective nature.
Brent led us to the table where we all remained standing as he addressed the pack, "good evening and thank you for joining us, I would like to make a toast, to our Luna. She has worked tirelessly to bring this feast together. Working long hours and planned it all herself, from the menu right down to the place settings. I think we can all agree that this year we have much to be thankful for with her addition to this pack." The room roared with cheers and applause for me as I wiped a stray tear from my cheek, "further more, she has planned a hunt for us this evening. We will eat our feast together and then as a pack we will shift and allow our wolves to run together as one. Everything we hunt will be brought back to be skinned and cleaned for tomorrow's dinner." Another round of cheers filled the room.
Brent told me that the wolves used to hunt together on major holidays, especially Thanksgiving, but Maci had called it barbaric and unsanitary. Wolves were meant to hunt and run together. It was the very basis of our nature. I was grateful I could bring this back for them even if I couldn't participate myself. I couldn't shift while pregnant as It could harm the baby.
Brent asked everyone to be seated and the food began to be served. First on the menu was a salad with an orange ginger dressing. It was deliciously delightful with the pops of citrus in the dressing. Next up was a choice of potato soup, or chicken gnocchi, with many choosing both. This was followed by the main course - Cornish hens with sides of twice baked potatoes, asparagus wrapped in bacon, and a dinner roll. This was an all you could eat sort of dinner and many filled their plates several times over. The food was beyond words so I couldn't blame them.
Dessert followed, with choices of strawberry glazed cheesecake, apple pie and pecan pie. The cake was also rolled out at this time, the room oohing and awwing at the masterpiece of a cake. It truly was stunning. Brent shook his head at me that I had yet another birthday surprise up my sleeve and I just grinned as nothing, not even his resistance, could keep me from celebrating this man .
We walked to the center of the room and the entire pack sang him happy birthday. Large sparkling candles glowed at the top, looking more like a firework fountain than actual candles. I handed him the knife to make the first cut, but he insisted we do it together, revealing a vanilla cake with a white chocolate, raspberry filling. My mate groaned at the bite of cake he’d taken. It was his favorite cake flavor, which I had learned about in a game of 20 questions we had played weeks ago. His sweet tooth was insane. He ended up consuming all four dessert options, making me wonder how he was still rock solid. Must be all those early morning trainings with the warriors I thought as I dug into my cheesecake. Once I was done eating I rubbed my stomach in satisfaction at the incredibly delicious meal, earning me a knowing grin from my mate.
"I love knowing my child is in there," he leaned over and whispered, kissing my cheek. "It's so obvious now that I know, I can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner. My wolf is over joyed with the scent of our growing pup radiating off of you and you are absolutely glowing, my love." He brushed his lips across my knuckles, looking at me with such adoration had my chest constricted in emotion. Tears, once again, pooling in my eyes.
He pulled me into his lap, "oh, baby I didn't mean to make you cry." I shook my head and waved his words off dismissively.
"No, no its these dang hormones. I pretty much cry at the drop of a hat now."
He laughed softly and kissed my temple, "oh how I love you, you have no idea what you do to my soul," he affectionately responded.
Brent gave everyone a little while longer to finish and stood to announce it was time to get ready for the hunt. He let everyone that was participating know that it would begin in approximately an hour. The room emptied in minutes with excitement buzzing all around.
Brent, Tenley, and I all headed up to the apartment. Our last night here as we would be moving into the pack house over the weekend.
I barely got Tenley's dress off before she was trying to nod off to sleep and she nearly fell asleep while I was brushing her teeth. Clearly her time at the feast was well spent as she danced around the room with her "new grandpa" as she called him. I couldn't help but laugh at the memory as I laid her down and walked out of the room quietly, and went to my room.
I sat on the bed as I went to take my shoes off and Brent knelt in front of me and began to remove them for me. I groaned in pleasure as my feet were released from their prison, wiggling my swollen toes for good measure as Brent silently slipped my house shoes on me and pulled me up to stand, turning me around as he pulled the zipper of my dress down my spine and released my hair from the ponytail. He was seriously my wildest dreams come true.
I turned back around to him as he put his palm against my stomach. Still silent as he rubbed his thumb over my bloated lower abdomen. He looked up from where his hand rested and into my eyes. The love he felt for me palpable like a heartbeat.
"You have given me the greatest gift and I will cherish you and both of our children for the rest of my life," he said, whispering into the quiet room.
I rose up on tiptoes, as his mouth reached mine and kissed him softly, "I can stay here, I don't have to go on the hunt," he offered.
"You are so sweet, but I know your wolf loves to hunt. Go and enjoy yourself, we'll be here when you get back." I didn't want him to miss out on the first pack hunt in years, "besides, this pregnant lady needs her beauty sleep, we'll be okay, I promise."
I smiled and kissed him once more for good measure and assured him I would keep the bond open, so that he didn't have to worry.
He agreed with me and went into the bathroom to change while I showered. I had to push him out, reminding him he had to get back downstairs soon for the hunt and he begrudgingly left after several more kisses. I couldn't help but love how intensely he loved me. He made me feel likeI was the only woman on earth, and it was a beautiful feeling.
I climbed into bed after Brent walked out and turned the TV on to unwind. I had put on one of his shirts because in the rush of everything, I'd forgotten to keep a pair of pajamas. The movers had packed up all that we would be taking, which was basically just our clothes, and personal items. The only big items being Tenley's entire bedroom as it was all brand new.
I was so excited about getting into our home that I wasn't sure I would sleep a wink. However, my tired pregnant body won and off to sleep I went.
Brent's POV: The Hunt
I was headed to the elevator to leave for the hunt, but quickly snuck into my daughter's room to check on her and kissed her forehead as I tucked the covers back over her little body that she had kicked off. I didn't think I'd ever stop smiling. Life was just so damn beautiful.
I had a precious daughter, and new life was growing inside of my mate that was created by the both of us. The familiar lump returning to my throat. I was not a crier, ever. I cannot remember a time where I had cried, or almost cried this much in my life. What were these girls doing to me? I shook my head in amusement as I passed the security checkpoint of the apartment and entered the elevator. I checked my watch and realized I had merely four minutes left to get to the lobby.
The doors opened with seconds to spare and I led the pack from the lobby to the wide clearing. Signaling for them all to shift.
The air filled with sounds of bones snapping and popping into place as over a hundred wolves landed on all fours, shaking out their fur. Anderson, Ryan and I all stood facing them in our wolf forms as well.
'Wolves, tonight we hunt as one. You have two hours to hunt and gather as much as you can. For those that have never done this hunt, this is a time to work as one and to feed our mates, children, and each other in a show of solidarity and care for one another as a pack,' I spoke into the mind link.
The wolves howled with excitement.
'Let's head out,' I addressed them again, and howled as the signal that the hunt had begun.
We all raced off to different parts of the forest and myself, my Beta, and my Gamma all ran toward the mountains at the edge of our land. Almost immediately I caught sight of a wild boar. Lowering myself to my stomach and creeping through the brush, I stalked my prey.
With one pounce I took down the boar, sinking my teeth into its neck as I drug it back to the area that the butchers were waiting to take each animal in to be immediately skinned and cleaned. I repeated this cycle a few more times, bringing in a few more boars, a large buck, 2 doe and a few jackrabbits.
I cleaned my snout, paws, and fir in the chilly stream. Relishing in the way it cooled me down from the adrenaline of the hunt.
I noticed Micah, my top warrior, dragging a blood-covered buck and I nodded at him in respect of such a large kill.
'Well done,' I barked through the link.
'Thanks, Alpha,' he yipped back.
I loved this. I loved that my pack could run and hunt together again. If only Alyssa knew what she'd actually done for me, for this pack. She was an amazing woman. I had to find a way to show her how much she was appreciated by us all.
'Wolves, finish up your hunt and meet me back in the clearing,' I linked once my thirst was quenched form the cool water.
I made my way back to the clearing as wolves entered from all directions. Finally having the last kill show up, I addressed them once more before sending them inside.
'Thank you all for your contribution, the butchers have told me that as of the last count we have 27 boars, 19 deer, and 31 rabbits. I expect those numbers will rise by the final count. Our mates and children will be able to eat well from your efforts. Tomorrow we enjoy the fruits of our labor. For now go in and get some rest, goodnight.'
Once again the snapping and popping of bones filled the inky black night. Human forms emerged, talking excitedly about the meal we would share tomorrow. My chest swelled with pride at how much closer we were as a pack in just the short time we'd had our Luna.
I found my clothes I had discarded near a tree and pulled my shorts on and headed back inside. I made my way back to the apartment and quietly entered. I peeked once more at Tenley and then made my way across the house, the thick carpet muting my steps. The sounds of my mate's even breath from sleeping hit my ears and once I had showered and brushed my teeth, I climbed into bed next to my very own sleeping beauty and pulled her into my chest. Her skin was cold from her subdued wolf. Knowing it was a biological process that was necessary to keep our pup safe did little to relax my nerves that she was a weaker target without the full strength of her wolf. My own wolf vowing to me that we would keep her safe.
I took a deep breath of her scent, allowing it to fill my lungs and all of my senses. I protectively held my hand across her abdomen, the two acts calming me enough to allow me to surrender to the sleepiness tugging at my mind.