Back to Ryan's POV
The day after the ceremony I woke to Aden serving me breakfast in bed wearing his basketball shorts with obviously nothing on underneath them which I'm not going to lie, that turned me on big time. He leaned down and kissed me and turned to leave. I decided to surprise him and slapped his ass as hard as I could which made him jump and rub his ass where I slapped while scowling at me. I smirked and said "Thanks doll." He rolled his eyes and said "I'll give you that one beautiful and you're welcome.
I ate and then showered and dressed in a gray Armani suit with a sky blue tie. When I got downstairs I saw the children eating hungrily. I walked over and kissed each of them on top of their heads and then went to my mom and kissed her cheek before going to Aden. He said "Wow babe, you look amazing in that suit. What's the occasion?" I gave him a quick chaste kiss and said "Well, it's my first real day as Luna and I have a lot of work to get done. I'm heading to the office but I'll be around the territory all day. Aden wrapped his arms around me and asked "Will you have lunch with me? Just the two of us?" I smiled softly and said "Of course I will."
I left the house and went to my office, the first half of the day was hectic trying to get everything the way I want it. The pack is running well but I believe I can do better. Aden stops by to pick me up and we go out for a typical picnic by a waterfall and talk about old times. Aden sang to me and he is awful but it was so cute that he tried to serenade me. We laughed about how bad he was for a while and before we knew it…we made love and it was fantastic, right next to the waterfall. The rest of the day went quickly and just as I was about to leave, Niko, Aden's assistant came to me to say Aden would be late getting home tonight. I said "Thank you Niko, would you please ask him to let me know what time he thinks he will be home so I can get his dinner ready?" Niko gave me an obvious forced smile and said "Of course Luna." He walked away just after that.
I thought that was odd but shook it off and went home. For the next few months things got better and better between Aden and I and we had the wedding planned for 3 months out but I have been feeling sick lately and I'm quite miserable if I'm being honest. I'm weak and constantly nauseated and crave strange things. I finally decided to go see the doctor because I have a feeling by the symptoms that I'm pregnant. I got to the new medical center and was taken straight back. After a blood and urine test…surprise, I'm pregnant. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I'm sure Aden will be happy but will he try to force the marriage issue sooner? He should know by now that I won't be forced into anything so no, I don't believe he will but I do believe he will step up his efforts to win me over.
I left the medical center and headed straight for Aden's office. I didn't even knock, I just walked in. Aden looked up and smiled until he saw my nervous expression and stood up so fast I barely saw him. He came over to me and cupped my face in his hands while gazing at me tenderly. I smiled and as he was about to ask, I said "I'm pregnant." Aden gulped and then smiled brightly before saying "Well, that didn't take long. The moon goddess must be impatient." I laughed and said "Your little soldiers are impatient." He chuckled and said "Well, them too. Now, I suppose I need to work harder and faster to gain your forgiveness and your complete love before our child is born." I chuckled and said "I agree." Aden carefully lifted me off the ground by my hips and spun me around grinning ear to ear and yelling "We're going to have a baby!"
That night we had a family dinner at our home and told the families, his and mine. Of course everyone wanted to touch my stomach even though I'm only ¼ of the way finished with this pregnancy considering we only stay pregnant for 4 months. I barely had a baby bump at this point that you couldn't see if you didn't look closely. The children were excited to have more siblings which made me happy. My mom switched rooms to one on the other side of the house and put me in the master bedroom before planning to turn my old room into the nursery. She had me choose colors and furniture out of a catalogue but I didn't want to go into town tomorrow so I asked my mom to go and she agreed. Jodie is ecstatic to have another niece or nephew and gave me an evil smirk while telling me how much it hurts and how miserable I will be during the pregnancy.
The next day we all went about our business until one of the men in my mothers protection detail ran into my office with blood all over him. I looked up and froze. I asked "What happened?" He let out a quick sob and said "We took our eyes off of her for just a moment when she asked us to put the crib in the truck and somebody killed her. I'm so sorry Luna, please forgive us." My stomach dropped to my feet and I frantically jumped up and ran out of my office heading toward the medical center with Aden at my side hearing my rushed footsteps. When I arrived at the medical center I found my mother with her throat ripped out and face scrunched up in a horrible fear-filled expression and I lost it. I sobbed uncontrollably while Aden, his parents and Jodie and Russ surrounded me in their arms while sobbing softly themselves.
After about an hour I was all cried out for the moment and stood as if nothing happened. I walked over, grabbed at wash basin while I barely held my tears back and began washing the blood from my mothers body. The others tried to get me to let them do it instead but I jerked away and made it clear that I would care for my mother myself and told them in no uncertain terms that nobody was to tell the children until I could myself. It took me a couple of hours to wash the blood from her skin and hair and to sew up the wound on her neck. I allowed Jodie to go get something for my mom to wear and she and Samantha changed her while I looked away for my mothers modesty even in death. When finished, I stood over her for a long time praying to the moon goddess to watch over her spirit and swore "I swear on my life that I WILL find who did this and make them pay by my own hand. I will make them pay in pain and kill them with my bare hands or claws. I want every member of her guard detail detained in separate locations so they can't collaborate on what their story might be to assure honesty. Aden made sure it was done because he knew I wouldn't be able to rest until I had all of the facts and had the ability to get my revenge. The pack seemed to be behind me in my need for vengeance which I appreciated.
The guards all told me a muddy wolf with no scent came out of nowhere and killed my mother specifically and then ran off so fast that nobody had a chance to catch them. I learned it was a male since one saw his wolfy genitals as he leapt over the guard. The strange thing is, not many knew she was going to town that morning. There were Aden and me and our families and assistants as far as I knew. SO we had 8 suspects not including the guard detail. Of the 8 I only didn't know 1 and that 1 was the only one I could believe had anything to do with this all until Jodie said "I didn't think it was a secret and told anyone who called to speak to your mother that she was in town." Niko said "I overheard her which means anyone in either her lobby area or mine could hear as well.
After about a month of investigation we couldn't figure out who it was. We had moms funeral service a week after her death which put me in the deepest depression I could imagine and the only reason I made it through was the children and Aden making me eat. Samantha took over the Luna duties while I mourned and Irving took over Aden's alpha duties while he helped me through it all. I eventually pulled out of it and returned to my normal routine. I was now 3 months pregnant and I honestly could not wait to be done with the whole pregnancy thing because it kinda sucked to be sore, tired and not even be able to see your own dick anymore.
One morning I woke to banking on the front door and the cries of small children that I knew were Jodie and Russ' children. I got to the door first because I jumped out of bed and bolted for the door. When I opened the door, the children were covered in blood and crying hysterically. I tried to speak to them but they were too distraught so I sent Aden to their house while I began bathing the children. By the time all of the children were bathed and in clean clothes, Aden returned looking sick and completely devastated and I knew what happened instantly. All I kept thinking is 'Not again…please not again.'
The week went by quickly as we made the funeral arrangements for both Jodie and Russ. The pack had several volunteers offer to take in their children and I thanked them but told everyone that Aden and I would be taking them in ourselves. Samantha and Irving, Aden's parents moved into one of the few remaining guest rooms to help with all of the children. We began the process of adding on more bedrooms to the house shortly after for any future children. Aden and I came to the decision with 5 children adopted and another on the way; we need to get married right away so preparations began days after the funeral passed. I noticed over the last month that Niko, Aden's assistant seems very fake toward me and I feel like there is some hostility under the surface but I don't know why or if I'm even right. I'm trying to sniff out suspects on my own because at this rate my children and fiancé will be the next targets. I ordered a severe increase in security around the children immediately.
I began toiling away in my Luna duties to keep myself occupied because it was either that or go insane. Some told me it was unhealthy to bury myself in my work but others seemed to be on my side and agreed that for now it was my best possible solution to my problems. Everyone was very supportive and kind aside from that Niko who still seemed very fake. Part of me was on high alert around him for some reason. Part of me thought he might be the one I wanted to kill for murdering my family but the other part of me said that I was just trying to find ANYONE to blame at this point to help ease my grief and fear. The new state of the art daycare center is up and running and Jacobs house has been built along with another 15-20 houses for new arrivals that will be here any day now.
I was on a run in the woods today and sadly came across a dead female wolf with an antler sticking out of its chest next to a dead stag. When I got closer, I heard whimpering and saw 7 wolf pups still trying to suckle from their dead mother. It was heartbreaking. I shifted back into my human form and made a small basket out of twigs and leaves nearby, thank you boy scouts, and placed all of the pups in the basket and carried them back to the house. Pack members saw me carrying them and ran over asking what happened. I told them about the wolf and her pups and asked that some go bury the she-wolf and even check to see if the stag was salvageable rather than the meat going to waste. I got the pups back to my house and bathed them and my new massive family of children (who would have thought I would adopt so many children at this age) came in and saw the pups and were falling in love with them instantly asking to keep them.
I spoke with Aden about it because I really need to consult with him about these kinds of decisions now that we are a mated pair and soon to be married, and he agreed. I said to the children "You can each pick on to keep BUT you must take care of them, wash them, feed them, potty train them and all else." Laura responded for the children by saying "We will mommy, we promise.��� I smiled at her and the rest who were all nodding furiously. I said to Aden, "Well my love, that leaves one for you and one for me. Are you ready to raise one of these wild pups with the rest of our wild pups?" Aden chuckled and said "I think I can handle it."
Shortly after, a warrior walks in with 2 more pups and says "We found 2 more near the body while burying it Luna." I sighed in a frustrated way while running my hands down my face and Irving said "Samantha and I will take the last two if you like Ryan and raise them until the little one you're carrying and the next are old enough to take care of them." I smiled gratefully at him and I was finally at my breaking point and just so thankful that they saw that and saw Samantha watching me closely and walked over to her quickly and just hugged her tightly as I tried to silently cry. She was the only mother figure left in my life and has been a rock for me since my mom died. All she did was wrap me in her arms and gently sway back and forth and Irving joined her and we walked into another room and left Aden with the children. They held me until I quieted down and I think Samantha realized that I kind of saw myself in these pups now that my mother was dead. I thanked them and they told me it wasn't necessary and that I was their son too whether we were married yet or not.
We went back into the other room and the children all picked out their pups and there were now 4 left in the basket. There was a pure white pup with beautiful blue eyes, a pure black pup with golden eyes, a gray pup with gray/blue eyes, and a brown pup with golden eyes. Aden, Irving and Samantha waited for me to pick first. I chose the white pup wit the blue eyes because her eyes reminded me of my mother and Jodie's eyes. Aden chose the brown pup because his fur reminded him of Russ' hair color. Irving took the gray and Samantha took the black pup. Aden went and picked up a formula for canines along with some bottles and thankfully the formula worked.
Another week passed and I'm now only 2 weeks from giving birth. Thank God because trying to take care of 5 children and a wolf pup while being nearly immobile because I have a giant watermelon of a gut on me is really hard to do. Aden and his parents and even Laura are trying to help me around as much as possible. Aden wanted me to stop working now and just stay home or go ahead and camp out at the medical center but I reused because there are things to do and I am not shirking off my responsibilities on him or Samantha any longer. I had taken a new staff on since Jodie and my mom are gone, Samantha's old assistant trained my new staff out of the kindness of her heart and now I had Emmett and Shawna Danes, brother and sister but a very good team nonetheless. Emmett is my assistant and Shawna is his assistant.
My new team was very competent but I missed coming in every day to see Jodie and my mom hard at work keeping my office running so smoothly but I was lucky to find this great duo because they did an amazing job of keeping everything together even when I was falling apart. As soon as I walked into my office lobby, Emmett jumped up and held my office door open as Shawna ran in ahead of me to stand next to my chair. She has been doing this to hold my chair and make sure I don't fall as if I can't watch to make sure…oh yea, I can't really do much physically so it kind of is necessary. Once inside Emmett has his tablet and pda and goes over my schedule for the day. I have several meetings and then I'm supposed to go meet our closest ally pack and when Aden found out I was planning to go he immediately took over the meeting and it was removed from my schedule. I sighed but knew it was best because it was very hard for me to even get into a car these days. The strange thing is, Niko didn't go with Aden, he sent his assistant instead which is highly unusual.
On my way home as I finished my work early, I decided to go for a run to clear my head and calm my nerves. My personal guard was about to follow me but I told them to check the forest and then join the patrols along the perimeter and I would be perfectly safe since nobody could get in then and I needed some quiet time to myself alone with nobody lurking around watching me. Once they were sure the area was clear, they joined the patrol and linked me that it was all clear. I began running through the forest but even in wolf form it was getting hard to run with my belly so big. Suddenly I felt a stabbing pain in my neck and everything got blurry before finally going black.