My Claimed Mermaid Queen

Chapter Twenty-One

Luna Princess Ayla

I knelt beside the bed as Nate lay on his stomach. The food pouch I was milking tasted like banana purée. It was good, and I found it calmed my stomach.

I brushed my fingers through my mate's hair, and with every hiss, my guilt grew.

"Baby," he caressed my cheek.

"I'm so sorry," I cried.

"Hey, it's not your fault," he assured me. "But when I tell you to do something, I need you to listen." I nodded and rested my head against his on the bed.

"Ayla, sweetie, how are you feeling?" Liz asked me.

"I'm okay," I mumbled, and Nate kissed my forehead.

"How's the flavor?"

"It's good." The consistency of the purée was nice.

"I have a few boxes for you to take home. The nausea can become worse if you're hungry,"

"Thank you."

"It will get better, sweetie. The first few months can be hell."

"That's an understatement," I muttered.

Nate chuckled, kissing my forehead again. "It will soon be over, and the sickness will be forgotten as you hold our newborn." I smiled.

"I can't wait," Liz exclaimed.

"I'll be more excited when the baby lets me eat, and I feel normal again." I sighed.

"Oh, sweetie, the days of feeling normal are over. But I promise they are worth it." Great, I thought as I pouted. "All done, son. You heal faster since becoming an alpha."

"See all better," he pecked my lips before sitting up. "Thanks, Mom."

"I'll wait downstairs."

"Are we still leaving?" I asked, moving to sit on the edge of the bed.

"First, we need to call Xander before he storms the pack," he answered as he pulled on a shirt. "Then, we are leaving. I have a feeling that the bomb was supposed to go off once the body hit the ground."

I shivered at the thought. No one here would be safe with me staying here.

Nate sat beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. He pulled me close, kissing my temple. "Everything will be okay."

He pulled out his phone and video-called Xander.

"Finally," he answered after the first ring. "I need to explain the concept of time to you."

"That's my fault. He was taking care of me."

"Ayla, are you alright?"

"I wasn't hurt."

"That's not what I asked."

"Xander, we are leaving the pack soon. The warriors have everything cleaned up."

"Ayla, we'll talk when you're back. Nate, keep her safe," he ended the call, and my mate pocketed his phone.

We exited the packing house, and everything was the same, minus Nate's truck, which was no longer in the lineup of vehicles.

I said a quick goodbye to my father as everyone else was in the safety of the house. I understand why my father didn't want them out here. I put everyone in danger. I hugged Nate's father before hugging his mother.

"Please eat," I nodded. "And be safe. Nate won't survive without you." I glanced at my mate, who was speaking to our fathers.

"I promise."

When Nate was finished, he opened the passenger side of one of the SUVs.

"I'm sorry about your truck," I told him once he pulled away from the pack house.

He took my hand in his and brought my hand to his lips. "It can be replaced."

I jolted when I heard yelling. I must have fallen asleep. Looking out the windshield, my mate and Kaden were arguing. I grumbled as my head pounded, and I closed my eyes.

"Ayla," the vehicle door was opened. Without warning, I leaned over and threw up. Xander groaned.

"I'm so sorry," I panted.

"It's fine, princess. This isn't the first time you have thrown up on me, and I'm sure it won't be the last," he chuckled. "Why do I smell banana?"

I gagged. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"Baby?" I heard Nate.

"I'm okay." I sighed, leaning back in the seat. "But I think Xander needs a raise."

"Whoo, princess, you look like s**t," Silas exclaimed. "Owe."

"Jackass," I heard Chase. I looked around Xander to see my mate and guys standing around.

"Always good to see you, Silas." I unbuckled my seat belt, and Xander helped me out of the vehicle.

"Are you sick?" Kaden questioned.

"I'm okay. I think it was just motion sickness."

He raised a brow. "And all the other times?" I looked at Xander and gagged.

"Good thing I won't take that personally."

"I'm sorry."

"Let's get you inside," Nate wrapped his arms around me.

"I need a swim."

"There's a dragon in the bay."

"I also need to speak with him. Also, you and Xander need to explain why everyone was called here?" I questioned, looking up at my mate. He sighed, pulling me against his chest and resting his face against my neck.

"I almost lost you today," he linked me, kissing my neck, "both of you."

"And you need to explain what happened at the pack, Ayla. We felt your distress." Kaden demanded. Nate whipped around at his tone and growled.

"I would hardly call it distress, Kaden. I disagreed with a pack member. I was watching my sister, and I was protecting her. It's nothing I couldn't have handled."

"And throwing up?" he retorted.

I looked at Xander, "You should get cleaned up."

"You should tell them, Ayla," he linked me. I looked at my mate, who was glaring at the king. I looked back at him and shook my head. It wasn't the right time.

"I wasn't feeling well. Maybe it was being away from the ocean," I shrugged.

"Then we should go for a swim," Silas declared. "See," he pushed Kaden's shoulder, "I knew it was nothing."

Kaden scoffed, "It shouldn't have happened."

"I'm allowed to have my own life. Nate is my mate, but he doesn't have to be with me twenty-four/seven. I can kind of take care of myself." I huffed.

"You still don't get it, do you," he stepped towards me, but Nate pushed him back. "f**k off, wolf boy, this is between us."

"She is mine, and this is my pack," he retorted.

I was thankful when Xander stepped between them.

"We all have the same goal; keeping the Black Pearl safe. You two need to learn how to work together."

"It's good to see you, princess," Silas said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Even if you do smell like bananas." He chuckled when I gagged. "Let's go for a swim, and I'll explain why the dragon is here." Silas tugged me along.

"Baby," Nate grabbed my hand.

"I'll be in the bay," I told him. "I need to swim," I linked him. "I don't want to tell them yet."

He pulled me away from Silas and against his chest. He kissed my cheek, "I'll be right there."

I walked away from them towards the ocean. The salty air helped, but it was nothing compared to being in the water.

"So," Silas nudged my shoulder, "Is everything okay?" Chase was walking on the other side of me.

"It's been a long week," I exhaled.

"What happened at the pack?" Chase asked.

"Ugh, just this woman who wants my mate. I've dealt with her before, but I didn't expect her to confront me when I was swimming with my sister."

"Does she have a death wish?" Silas chuckled.

"A black trident came out of the water. My father had the water in the pool changed into salt water."

"Really?" Chase questioned.

"Yeah, I don't know if I can call upon it again, but it was enough to scare her."

"The magic surrounding the Black Pearl seems to be getting stronger. Did anything else happen?"

"Everything else, you know," I shrugged.

"Maybe it's because she is fully claimed?" Silas chimed in.

"Maybe."

I exhaled as my feet hit the water. My dress covered my body as I waded into the waves. I felt better when I dived under the swell and shifted. This child wasn't making it easy. How would I hide it if I couldn't keep anything down? There were only so many excuses I could make for being sick.

"The magic you possess will only get stronger, Ayla. The ocean will always protect you," my wolf said as I surfaced.

"I wish the magic would help with this damn morning sickness."