Chapter Fifteen
1113 Words
Luna Princess Ayla
Nate and I walked into the kitchen. His mother was now with Ruby and Rosie.
"Oh, my goodness, Ayla, are you alright?" Elizabeth hugged me. "How's the baby?" She pulled back and placed her hand on my stomach.
"How the hell did you let this happen?" She yelled at her son before I could answer.
"Liz, calm down. I'm fine, and the baby is fine. It was an argument," I assured her.
"I swear I'm going to rip that girl apart," she grumbled.
"Mom," Nate exclaimed.
"Liz, I appreciate your concern, I do. But I handled it. Rosie, baby, and I are all safe." I grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
"You should get an ultrasound, just in case. Stress is not good for the baby, and you have been under more than enough," she glared at her son, before pulling me away from him and pulling out a seat at the counter.
"What the hell, Mom?" he grumbled.
"Well if you hadn't kissed her in the first place she wouldn't be stressing out my daughter-in-law," she retorted.
"And it's not easy for your son to have to work with my ex, Liz. I can't blame him for what he did. And I won't blame him for her actions." I defended my mate.
"You got a good one, brother. I would have thrown your butt under the bus," Ruby chuckled.
"Ayla, can we have pancakes now? I want to go back in the pool?" Rosie asked. She was sitting across from me with Ruby.
"Of course, we can, sweetie. I have all afternoon to spend in the pool with you," I smiled at her.
I took a deep breath when my stomach twisted. I swear our child is trying to kill me.
"Baby," Nate sat down beside me and rubbed my back.
"I'm okay," I mumbled.
"How long has this been happening?" Liz questioned. Always the doctor.
"It just started. Seawater helps, but I can't always be in the water," I told her.
"I'm going to do some research. Maybe there is something that can help."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Nate leaned over and kissed my bare shoulder. I was still wearing the robe. I was going back in the water, so there was no point in wasting clothes. I turned my head towards him before nodding and resting my forehead against his.
"You two are sickly sweet," Ruby gagged and I giggled.
"Ayla, Ruby helped me make this one for you," Rosie stood on the chair and slid a plate over to me. It was a pancake in the shape of a heart. Tears filled my eyes as I looked at the plate and then back at my little sister. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," I choked on my sob. I was too emotional for this. Damn hormones.
"I'll get you a fork," she beamed as she climbed off the chair. It took her a few minutes to get a fork and climb back into the chair. She refused Ruby's help.
"Rosie, how about we go eat by the pool?" Nate asked and she squealed. She jumped off the chair again and rushed around the counter to me.
"Let's go," she tugged at my hand.
"We'll bring everything out," Nate pecked my lips before I stood up and followed my sister outside. I didn't expect to see all of Nate's friends waiting by the pool.
"Hi," I greeted them before I scooped up Rosie. She was about to jump into the pool.
"I want to swim," she pouted.
"And I want to show you something. Are you ready?" She nodded her head. "Don't jump in without me in the water." I put her down and dipped my foot into the cool water.
My stomach instantly settled as my dress covered my body, replacing the robe. I heard gasps and Rosie let out a shriek.
"It's so pretty."
"What are you guys still doing here?" Nate questioned.
"Waiting on you," Mitch said. "Hey, baby," he smiled as Ruby walked out.
"You guys can just hang out here. I'm sure we'll be in the pool all afternoon." I told Nate. "Ruby, are you swimming?" I asked his sister.
"Hell yeah. Mom went to go do research." she shook her head before removing her shirt. She was wearing a deep red bikini top under it, and Mitch let out a growl. I chuckled when she blew him a kiss.
Nate walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. "You still need to eat," he mumbled against my bare shoulder.
"And I will. I'm feeling better already and have a heart-shaped pancake to eat." I told him. He ran his hands over my lower belly and sighed.
"Stop being so sweet and let her swim," Ruby protested. "Yeah," Rosie added.
I giggled before kissing him. "Go." I removed his hands before diving into the pool. I half expected him to jump in after me.
The shift came naturally, and when it was complete, I surfaced. With a flip of my tail, I splashed my mate. His white shirt was now soaked, and it clung to his perfectly sculpted chest. His friends started laughing as he pouted. He ripped the shirt off and threw it at me. I laughed as it hit the water and splashed me.
"My turn," Rosie demanded, and I swam over to where she was ready to jump.
"I got you," I held out my arms. She wiggled before jumping. I let her head go under before I pulled her back up and against me.
"Beautiful," Ruby mumbled as she ran her fingers over my tail. She had walked down the stairs into the water.
I smiled as I watched my mate pick up a towel before going to sit with his friends.
"So, you can actually breathe underwater?" I laughed at Ruby's question.
"Yes, I can. It was weird at first. It feels like you are drowning, but then you push the water back out, and you're breathing."
"That is so cool," She exclaimed. "And you get a wolf."
"Kaia looks like my scales," I told her as I swam on my back with Rosie on my tummy.
"Lucky. I think the only unlucky thing in your life is my brother," she snorted.
"I heard that," he growled, and I laughed.
"You got lucky with her, dear brother, but she got stuck with you," she yelled out to him. I know she was just teasing him. Nate's a great guy and I'm so lucky to be blessed with someone so wonderful as my soulmate.
"I love you," I linked to him.
- Writer
