Missy

“How have you gotten so much faster in only a couple of weeks?” I asked Maddox as we emerged from the trees, both fully dressed. I was still panting from my struggle to keep up with him.

“I told you I was serious about protecting the Alpha family,” he laughed. We strolled across the lawn, heading towards the packhouse for lunch. Both of us were starving after our run all morning.

When we woke up this morning, I was immediately struck with fear realizing that we had cuddled all night. We stayed up late talking. I confided in him what happened with Vlad, and he was a good friend by just listening to my troubles. Somehow though, there was no awkwardness at all. We both woke and started our day like it was normal for a couple of teenage kids to sleep together like that. At my request, Maddox was taking the day off but wanted to let his wolf out, so we went running. A warrior was sent after us to watch me, but he kept his distance, and we just ignored him.

Maddox’s hand brushed against mine as we walked. “We aren’t racing anymore. You now have an unfair advantage. Especially after all the private lessons with Felix,” I told him.

“And your dad,” he said with a cheesy grin. His fingers slowly intertwined into mine, taking advantage of my momentary shock.

“What? You trained with Liam?” I asked stupidly.

“Yea. Before everything happened, he showed up and watched Felix and me for a bit before stepping in himself. He’s incredible,” he said easily. He acted as if he wasn’t taking private fighting lessons from the Alpha and casually holding his daughter’s hand as we openly walked into the packhouse.

I bit my l*p as my eyes darted down to our fingers. I was slightly conflicted because V and I left things sort of unresolved. His words felt like a breakup, but he didn’t outright dump me. Plus, Maddox made me feel good in a different way than V did, a more effortless way.

“I think my muscles could use a dip in the pool. What do you think, lunch then some swimming? We can do a movie marathon after dinner to round out the day?” Maddox said as we entered the dining room. I looked up at him to see his face drop into a scowl, and his hand let go of mine. I followed his line of sight to see V waiting at the opposite side of the room.

I swallowed the lump that immediately formed in my throat. I had put all my energy into making sure Maddox was okay; I hadn’t gotten very far in my Vlad dilemma.

Maddox bent over just enough to whisper in my ear, “I’ll grab us some lunch. Meet me outside when you’re done.” He walked away, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the dining room. V pushed off the wall and sauntered towards me.

He stopped a few feet from me. Luckily, there were not many people in the dining room for lunch yet, and no one was paying attention to us. “Can we talk?” he asked.

“Sure,” I managed to squeak out. I turned on my heel and walked out of the dining room. As we got out to the hallway, V grabbed my elbow and pulled me towards the hallway leading down to the laundry room.

He stopped about halfway down the hall, dropping my arm. I stood looking at the ground, not sure where this was going to go.

“I’m sorry,” he started. I stilled slightly but didn’t look up at him. “I crossed the line. You aren’t a slut, Missy.” I clenched my jaw, anger rising in my chest. “I was just frustrated. I want to be the one you rely on and the one that holds you when you cry….” he trailed off. I could feel his eyes on me, and I knew he was waiting for me to say something, but my anger blinded me.

“So what? You come to say sorry, and I just hop right back into your arms?” I spat. Vlad blanched slightly.

“No, I just….” I looked up at him now. His face looked contrite, but this didn’t go away too easily.

“Just stop. Vlad, that was the scariest day of my life. My brothers were kidnapped! One of them got hurt! But all you cared about was who actually got me into the safe room. Not that it matters, but I can’t remember much from that span of time. I have no idea where you even were. But I am to blame for this!” I was shouting now. It was probably a good thing we were away from people.

“You aren’t to blame. I know you were afraid. I hated seeing you like that,” he tried.

“Then what were you doing?” He looked away from me, his eyes blinking rapidly.

“I know you aren’t going to forgive me right away, but I want you to know I didn’t mean any of it. I was frustrated, and it isn’t your fault. You aren’t a slut. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m really sorry,” he said in a low voice, unable to make eye contact now.

Silence stretched between us for a long minute. “I will let you get back to your lunch,” he said, pausing on the last word. He gave me a brief glance, hurt evident in his eyes, before he turned and walked away.

I stayed rooted to the spot for a minute, trying to calm myself down. “You okay, Missy?” Maddox linked me.

With a heavy sigh, I headed back. That sure resolved everything. “Yea. Be there in a sec.”

Azalea

With all the amazing technology we have, one would think that doctors would not require pregnant women to have a full bladder when they come for an ultrasound appointment; shouldn’t we have evolved past this terrible practice?

My child dances on my bladder, having an all-out rager in my uterus while I try to focus on paperwork in front of me for the Inn. I try to keep still and not squirm in my chair while under Robert’s vexing glaze. Neither of us was happy about this arrangement clearly. Although we are amicable to each other, Robert and Lyssa will never be my favorite people. They are good grandparents to my children, which is the most important thing to me.

I g*****d softly, dropping my head into my hands. I reach down and rub my belly softly, willing my child to calm themself. I sigh, looking back up at Robert, who just stares at me. For no reason at all, his presence is irritating me. He has stood at the door, watching me with his arms crossed since we got here.

“What’s wrong, Little Luna?” Liam links me.

“You want the list?” I reply haughtily.

“Can I help, baby?”

“Removing your father from my office would be a great start.”

“Azalea….” he g*****d. He was almost as frustrated by this arrangement as I am, but probably for different reasons.

“Please tell me we can leave soon? If we don’t get this over with so I can pee, I may actually burst,” I whined.

“Why don’t I call my uncle and see if we can come a bit early?”

“Please!”

He didn’t respond right away. He knew getting into our appointment early would relieve me of his father sooner and bring me closer to the release of my bladder.

“Alright, Little Luna. I’ll come get you in ten minutes. The car will be waiting downstairs for us,” he finally linked. I began putting all my things away on my desk in excitement. Robert shifted.

“Oh, Robert. Liam will be coming in a few minutes. Thank you for staying with me. I am sure you can head home to Lyssa now,” I said as sweetly as I could. He just rolled his eyes.

“Nice try. Those aren’t the rules,” he grumbled.

“Really, if something were to happen in the few minutes that I would be alone in my office, then don’t we have a bigger problem than my fragility?” I prompted.

He breathed out a small snort. “You would, indeed,” was his response.

I gave up my attempt and finished packing my things away. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait the entire ten minutes before Liam was rushing through the door.

“Ready?” he asked excitedly. His smile was infectious, even if I was still frustrated. I nodded. He turned to his dad. “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate the help. I will see you in a couple of days,” he said. His father nodded before he left us alone.

“Can we go now?” I asked as I pushed myself up from my chair. I came around my desk, and Liam held his arm out so I could hold onto him.

–

“Alright, Azalea, let’s take a look at this pup,” Doctor Ron said as he ran the ultrasound wand over the cold jelly already on my bare skin.

Liam sat next to me with a giant smile on his face, holding my hand while he impatiently waited. I don’t know if I was more excited to see the baby or if I was more excited to see Liam so jovial.

Liam’s eyes were glued on the small screen of the ultrasound machine as Doctor Ron moved the wand about, taking a look at the baby from varying angles. “So,” he said after a few minutes. “Do we want to know the s*x this time around?”

“Yes,” Liam said.

“No,” I said at the same time. Doctor Ron chuckled. Liam looked at me incredulously.

“Little Luna, why don’t you want to know the s*x?”

“Because it doesn’t matter. You said it yourself; you will love it either way, so why not let our last one be a surprise?”

“Why don’t I put it in an envelope, and if you change your mind, Azalea, you can take a look,” Doctor Ron suggested.

“That will be great,” I said with a smile. Liam was pouting.

“Alright, Alpha, how about some photos?”

“Yes, let’s see that pup,” he said, his mood returning mostly.

Doctor Ron showed us the baby and gave us four photos to take home. When he was done, Liam helped me up from the table so I could finally empty my bladder. When I got back to the room, Doctor Ron had a few more things to talk to us about. I sat down next to Liam, who wrapped his arm around me while we waited for Doctor Ron to start.

“So, I think it is about time that you consider bed rest, Luna,” he started. I blinked a few times, my brain trying to catch up to my ears.

“I feel fine!” I said.

“Yes, but I have a few concerns about both you and the pup,” he explained. “The baby is a little small for this point in the pregnancy.”

“What does that mean?” Liam asked.

“Well, it could be no big deal, or it could be cause for concern. I just want to monitor the pup a little more closely from here on out. And it would be best if Azalea’s body could use all of its energy for growing the baby.”NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Liam squeezed me slightly. “We’ll make sure she is off her feet as much as possible,” he said.

–

We were both quiet on the way back to the packhouse. I held the ultrasound pictures as well as the sealed envelope containing the gender in my lap.

“This isn’t the end of the world, Little Luna,” Liam said as we pulled up to the front of the packhouse.

“What if something’s wrong with our pup?” I whispered. He put the car in park and turned to me.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure our pup comes into the world healthy, baby,” he tried to soothe me. I just gave him a tight smile and nodded.

Liam pushed his fingers into my hair, pulling it away from my face. “Why don’t we go spend the rest of the night together upstairs? I’ll have Missy watch the kids,” he suggested.

“Alright,” I said softly.