9. Gabe
Chapter 9
Gabe
I wake up to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the curtains, stretching my arms above my head as I let out a contented sigh. Everything is fucking perfect. Louisa is sprawled out next to me, looking like a goddess tranquilly sleeping, cocooned in those soft flannel sheets. Just the sight of her sends a rush through me, a blend of love and desire, and I know I’ll never get enough of her.
I can’t help but take a moment to admire her. The way her hair spills across the pillow, framing her face like a halo, and how her lips curve ever so slightly, almost teasing me in her dreams. It’s a worthless endeavor to try to think about anything else. She’s completely consumed my mind twenty-four hours a day since the moment I first saw her.
Every muscle in my body feels like it’s stretching out of hibernation, waking up to the delicious reality that she’s mine forever. The thought of what we are to each other, of the bond we’ve forged, sends a thrill through my entire being.
I sit up and glance at the clock. It’s way too fucking early for most folks, but this is my favorite part of the day. I stretch again, cracking my neck as I contemplate what we’ll do today since it’s our day off. Then my nose perks up as my inner polar bear wakes up and stretches under my skin. “ She smells sweeter than honey today” , he growls in my head. He’s right. Her innate delicate scent is slightly different. There are new spicy undertones floating in the air. My heart races as I inhale deeply, trying to process what’s happening here.
I lean over, unable to suppress my curiosity, and gently nuzzle my face against her delicate throat. Her skin is warm beneath my cheek, and the scent envelops me, igniting something deep inside. It’s intoxicating, the mixture of her usual sweetness blended with a new, earthy richness that sends my mind spiraling.
The realization hits me like a freight train, and suddenly everything around me vanishes. She’s carrying my child. I pull back, blinking as I stare at her peaceful face, trying to wrap my head around the whirlwind of happiness crashing through me. I’ve been dreaming about this moment since my mate walked into my life.
“Louisa,” I murmur gently, but she just snuggles deeper into her pillow, blissfully unaware of the seismic shift happening within me.
Knowing she needs her rest, I slip out of bed, careful not to disturb her, and pace the short distance to my kitchen. My heart hammers like it’s about to burst through my chest as a swell of excitement mixed with an overwhelming urge to protect and nurture fills my thoughts.
I pour myself a cup of coffee, but the taste is lost on me as I consider all this means. I’m ready to roar with pride as the thought of my mate having our child lights a fire in my gut. My inner bear is a raucous ball of energy, tossing around like a wild beast anticipating the hunt.
I’m about to pour just a little more coffee, maybe to calm my thoughts, when I sense my mate’s closeness. I quickly spin around, and there’s Louisa, blinking sleepily as she walks up and wraps her soft arms around my waist. My heart flutters, making it impossible for me to breathe normally.
“Morning, sleepyhead.” I lean over and kiss her soft lips.
Louisa instantly pulls away from me like I’ve set off an alarm. Her expression shifts from contentment to something more pained, and I can’t help but frown. “ What’s wrong?” I ask, my heart beginning to race.
She shakes her head, her eyes wide, and I suddenly realize she’s covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh God,” she gasps, panic flickering across her face. “I think my stomach just… revolted when I smelled your coffee.”
Before I can respond, she bolts for the bathroom, and all I can think is, what the hell? Adrenaline spikes through me, and I immediately follow her, my bear instincts kicking in. If something’s wrong with my mate, I need to fix it.
Louisa barely makes it to the bathroom, and I can hear the unmistakable sounds of her retching just as I reach the door. I rush into the bathroom and kneel down behind her.
“Just kill me now,” she moans weakly. “I’ve never felt this bad in my life.” She palms her face, and it’s painfully clear that my beautiful, vibrant Louisa is down for the count.
I fight down the panic rising up in me. Seeing my mate suffering nearly brings me to my knees. “Just breathe. You’re gonna be okay.” I slowly run my hand in circles on her back, hoping to soothe her some.
Once she’s done, I help Louisa brush her teeth and take a quick shower. When she finally emerges from the bathroom wearing sweats, she looks like she’s been through the wringer. But she’s still impossibly radiant, even with the faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. I can’t help but grin, despite her disheveled state, feeling a wave of affection so powerful it almost knocks me over.
She looks at me with that questioning gaze, like she’s searching for answers in my smug, bear-sized grin. “How do you know I’m not just really sick?” she asks, her voice still a little wobbly but tinged with curiosity.
I lean against the door frame, crossing my arms as I try to figure out how to tell my mate we’re about to become parents. “Because morning sickness doesn’t last forever.”
Her eyes widen, moments slowly clicking into place as realization dawns on her. I watch her gorgeous eyes light up like fireworks as everything between us seems to shimmer with happiness.
"Are you serious?" she whispers, her hands instinctively finding their way to her stomach, her eyes wide with awe and happiness. The look on her face is enough to make my heart skip a goddamn beat.
"Hell yeah," I say, unable to stop the grin that’s spreading across my face like a wildfire. "We’re gonna have ourselves a little one."
"How do you know?" Her voice is edged with suspicion, though the corners of her mouth twitch with a hint of a smile.
"It’s all in the scent, sweetheart. There's a subtle change. The moment I got a whiff, I just knew." I tap my nose with a wink, relishing in my smug certainty.
"Oh my goodness," she murmurs, and before I know it, she’s wrapped her arms around my waist, snuggling closer. Her warmth seeps into me, and I feel her love wash over me like a comforting wave. "I love you so much," she whispers, and I can feel the sentiment echo through my mind.
Life couldn’t get any better. I tighten my hold on her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you, too, sweetheart. Prepare yourself; it’s going to be a hell of a ride." And in that moment, standing there with Louisa in my arms, I realize that the adventure we’re about to embark on together is one I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.