Chapter Nine
1135 Words
Luna Princess Ayla
My stomach twisted tighter the closer Nate drove us to his former pack. I was nervous about telling my father about what happened to my mother. He still didn't know, and I was about to pop his baby bliss bubble. I wanted to be the one to tell him what happened, but I'm also scared he will blame me for her death. I don't want to go back to not having him in my life.
"Baby?" Nate brought our interlocked hands to his lips, kissing mine. I sniffled, quickly wiping the tears off my cheeks.
"Baby, why are you crying?" I could feel his eyes on me and his confusion through the bond.
"I have so much to tell him. I just don't want him to hate me," I choked, tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Why would your father hate you?" he questioned, squeezing my hand.
"Because I let my mother die," I cried. I covered my face with my free hand and sobbed. Nothing was going to stop the tears or the grief I was feeling.
I don't remember Nate pulling over to the side of the road, or him pulling me out of my seat and into his lap.
"Nate, why are we stopped?" I lifted my head off his shoulder. He took hold of my cheeks and brushed away the tears with his thumbs.
"My Luna needed me. I'm worried about you, Ayla." He pulled my head down to rest my forehead against his.
"I'm scared, Nate. What if my father blames me for what happened to my mother?"
"Your father has made his mistakes, but he will see that what Melody did was her choice. And you did everything in your power to save her. We are almost there, and we can tell him together. Okay?" I nodded.
Nate helped me move back to my seat before he reached around me and buckled me in. He rubbed his hand over my shirt-covered belly.
"How are you feeling?" I placed my hand over his.
"Baby's okay. It's me who feels like I'm falling apart," I looked at him.
"And I'm here to put all those pieces back together." he leaned over and brushed his lips against mine.
"We need to get moving. Ready?" I nodded. He quickly buckled before putting the truck in drive. Nate followed behind the SUV in front of us. He took my hand in his again. I watched out the window knowing we were getting close. The sun was starting to set, and I knew Nate wanted to get there before nightfall.
"Our mate wants to keep us safe, now more than ever. We have to play it safe, Ayla. Soon I won't be able to shift without hurting our baby." Kaia said.
"I understand. I'm not going to let anything happen to our baby. We have made it this far under impossible circumstances." I rubbed my belly with my free hand as I thought about who our baby was going to be. Would he be a wolf like his father, or would she be a mermaid like me?
"You also have a wolf," Kaia huffed, reading my thoughts.
"But it's not normal for a hybrid to have both. It's either one or the other. And the baby's blood is mostly wolf."
"Genetics isn't something I can answer. But I know our baby will be perfect and loved." I swear when I closed my eyes I could see my wolf smiling.
"What's got you smiling, baby?" Nate's voice pulled me from my conversation with my wolf. I opened my eyes and looked over at him.
"Just talking with Kaia about our baby," he squeezed my hand as he watched the road ahead with a grin on his handsome face.
"You are going to be the perfect mom," he brought my hand to his lips.
"I also have the most amazing man standing by my side, supporting me. I couldn't have asked for a better daddy for my baby." Happy tears ran down my cheeks. These damn hormones were going to be the death of me.
"Baby, why are you crying?"
"Hormones," I choked, and he chuckled.
"I'm a mess," I giggled through my tears.
"A beautiful mess," he kissed my hand again.
The distraction was much needed. But when Nate pulled up in front of the pack house and my father was standing out front, my stomach twisted painfully again.
"I'm right here, Ayla. You have nothing to worry about." He kissed my hand again before climbing out of the truck. His parents were waiting with my father and Thea. I took a deep breath before Nate opened my door and helped me out of the truck.
"Don't you think all these warriors were a bit overkill?" My father chuckled.
"One can never be too careful," Nate replied.
"Ayla, my dear," Thea pulled me in for a hug.
"How are you feeling?" I mumbled.
"Exhausted. I'm going to be using you a lot while you are here," she breathed out. "Besides, it will be good practice for when you and Nate have a baby of your own." My father grumbled before pulling me away from his mate and into his arms.
"Hi, dad." I hugged him tightly.
"Hi, sweetie." he kissed the top of my head.
"I'm sure you two are starving. Let's head into the dining room," Elizabeth, Nate's mother, announced. With the mention of food, my stomach churned and growled at the same time. I stepped away from my father and Nate wrapped his arms around my waist.
"Go inside, baby. I'll be there in a minute. I have to get the warriors settled."
"I'll help, son," Will, Nate's father offered.
"Can I help?" I asked and he smiled.
"You can help by going inside and eating something," I pouted, and he chuckled, rubbing his nose against mine. "Please?" I pushed my lips into a line and rolled my eyes.
"Fine," I grumbled. He kissed my lips before Thea tugged me away. I yelped when his hand came down hard on my ass. I turned back and glared at him.
"Less attitude next time, Luna," he smiled, and I flipped him off. My father roared in laughter and Thea was snickering beside me as we continued walking into the pack house.
"You two are adorable," she chuckled.
"I don't think I'll be able to sit," I exclaimed, rubbing my free hand over my throbbing cheek.
"That boy," Elizabeth huffed, walking behind us.
"He is lucky he's sexy," I retorted and they both laughed.
"And he loves you so much, dear," she walked beside me and caressed my cheek.
"That fucker is dead," Kaia growled in my head and I laughed.
"I love him too. Even if he is a pain in the ass."
- Writer
