As I began to slowly move my limbs the soreness creeps in. I try to move but a weight is pinning me to the mattress. Why is my back pressed firmly to a molten rock?
Realization dawns on me as I fling the weight off me.
I then fall flat on the floor probably bruising my tailbone.
"No...no....no..." Praesul and I battle for control.
The emotions overwhelm me and I clutch my stomach.
"What's wrong love?" Indicum's sit up alert. His voice sends shivers down my spine.
"Why did the heat stop?" I whisper. "No...I can't be..."
A wail of agony rips through my lips and Indicum is quickly engulfing my small frame in his large arms. I struggle to get away from him but his hold is firm.
"Let it out." His says soothingly.
Our connection is deep now that we've mated and marked one another. He can feel my terror, confusion, rage, and depression.
Once I've stopped crying, he stops stroking my hair. It's gotten long again.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He says pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear before wiping underneath my eyes with his thumbs.
"Last time the heat stopped this suddenly, I was blessed with Augur." I whisper.
I can feel his confusion turn to excitement and then he closes the connection, barring his emotions from me. His eyes deep blue in color. He buried his face in my neck and inhaled his mark. When he looked at me again, his eyes turned Forrest green.
"Mate?" Eques voice was deeper and more harsh than Indicum's.
"Yes?" I responded my lip still quivering.
"I would be proud to be a father to our child." His voice oozed emotion that gutted my heart. "I will do everything in my power to protect you. I will love you unconditionally. I will bring you happiness. I know what you've gone through and I can promise you, you will never need to know that depth of pain ever again."
I buried my face in his chest and cried until my eyes got heavy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I held Regina in my arms as she cried herself to sleep. Eques place a barrier between our emotions so we could keep ourselves in check. The thought of someone else touching let alone making love to what is mine made my blood boil. Jealousy coursed through my veins at the thought of her bearing another's child. Of course, I am her second chance mate, but she has only ever been mine.
I think back to a few years ago at the tournament. We were joking about our challenge when Rex approached her after winning his challenge. His hand rested on her stomach and I felt a faint jealousy then too. Even in my mind, I can't stomach the thought of calling him her mate.
What is with this mate bond? I feel so emotionally charged. I carefully lift her and set her on the bed. Her dark hair is sprawled across our pillows and light snores escape her parted lips.
Suddenly her eyes snap open and golden ones stare back at me.
"Hello beauti-"
"Listen, I don't have much time." Her voice was melodic like a song. Definitely not Regina or Praesul. "Your child with Regina will be the key to everything! Make sure you keep her safe for these next three months. An attack will come from inside and outside. Please keep her safe. She will need you!"
"Of course I will, but who are-"
"The betas will betray you both." She said before her eyes rolled in the back of her head and she fell unconscious again.
What just happened?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Sister!" She called in her melodic voice.
I winced as her heels clicked on the stone indicating her arrival.
"Awe, my poor little Ray. Why the dull face?"
I glared at her, my golden eyes mirroring her kaleidoscopic ones.
"You won't be able to keep me here forever little sister." I said with a smirk.
"The sun will shine even without you, deity."
"The moon will always be in shadow unless it has the reflection of the sun."
The back of her hand connected with my jaw.
"I am the Moon Goddess." She snarled.
"I am the Sun Deity," I whispered, "and you will never outshine me."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I woke up to an empty bed in Indicum's shirt. I rolled over to find a handwritten note on the pillow.
'Be back with breakfast. Love, Indy.'
*Aqua?*
*Uh, what?* She snaps.
I'm in no mood for her sass. *Bring me the pack doctor. Immediately.*
*Are you okay?*
*Just do it.*
I get out of bed and walk straight the bathroom. After a quick shower, I throw on a sports bra, big shirt, and jean shorts. My hair sits on top of my head in a messy bun.
After a few minutes there's a soft knock and I can tell Aqua and Doc have arrived. Aqua carries the doctor's duffel bag of equipment.
"To what do I owe this pleasure, Alpha?" She smiles broadly.
"I think I'm pregnant."
The silence is deafening.
"I'll just need a little blood to confirm." The doctor says finally taking her supplies from Aqua.
"What happened to the safe bunker?" Aqua hissed. "Took me a damn month to engineer and build it."
"Apparently it's faulty." I snap back.
"Impossible." She mutters and goes into the bathroom to inspect.
I don't even flinch as the needle pierces the crease in my elbow.
"Should be about 5 minutes. I'll be right back."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I sprint to the hospital and do the blood pregnancy test. As I wait for results, I hear the nurse talking to someone.
"She'll be fine."
"And the baby too?" Ignis' voice is unmistakeable.
"Both should be fine. We've had many cases where a human has birthed a pup."
Carmen must be expecting. I'll have to make a house call in the near future. Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in a year or so. How strange.
Before the ink can dry, I grab the results and sprint back to the pack house, walking straight to the Alpha's room. She's sitting with Indicum at the coffee table eating pancakes.
Confusion crosses Indicum's face before he puts on his Alpha mask.
"Tell it to us straight, Doc." She says resigned.
"Congratulations! You are pregnant!"
Her face remains void of emotion. Indicum takes her hand in his and kisses it softly before kneeling. He kisses her stomach and starts talking to their unborn child. Regina sits in shock not processing the world around her. A small tear escapes her eye but she wipes it away quickly.
"Thank you, Doc. That is all." She says weakly.
I nod then take my leave. I place prenatal vitamins on her nightstand and close the door behind me. I hope she'll be able to feel the happiness of motherhood properly this time. Goddess knows she deserves a ray of sunshine after these last few years in darkness.