Chapter 33

AYRA

*Months Later…*

I was sick to my stomach. This was the third time I was throwing up the contents of my stomach in the space of an hour.

Of course, I wasn’t naïve. This wasn’t the first time. Since the week began, I’d become best friends with the toilet.

“I think I’m pregnant,” I said to the girls over lunch. I couldn’t even bring myself to eat the food the server had placed in front of me. The diner was oddly empty, but I chalked it up to it being cold. Maybe they preferred staying home, where it was warm.

Reese couldn’t join us because she was heavily pregnant, and according to her, she didn’t want people congratulating her and letting her know how cute she looked with her bump.

*"Face it. I’m fucking fat,"* she had barked at me one time when I said she was beautiful.

“Really?” Kimberly asked with excitement. “I was going to say the same thing. Logan and I are expecting a baby.”

“Oh, God,” Nikki groaned, banging her head on the table. “First, it was Reese, and now, it’s you two. Reese is a fucking nightmare. I don’t want to imagine how you two are going to be.”

“Kimberly!” Bethel shouted, approaching our table. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“I took a break so I could grab some food. Do you need something?”

“It’s Penelope’s birthday tomorrow. I asked for a necklace last month. Did it come in already? We’re planning on giving her tomorrow morning when she wakes up.”

“The new products came in yesterday, but we haven’t had time to sort them out yet. We should go do that now.” Kimberly rose to her feet. “I’ll come by later in the evening to talk about it,” she said to me."

“Bye, ladies.”

“Something else is on your mind,” Nikki said after Kimberly and Bethel had left.

“I don’t think I’m ready for a child now. I don’t even know if Nathaniel wants a child.”

“Of course he does. What Alpha doesn’t want his lineage to continue?”

“That isn’t something we have discussed.”

“Well, if he doesn’t want kids, he could’ve invested in some protection. I’m just saying.” She shrugged. “Shit is as easy as that. If he acts like a dick, we can leave together. I do have estranged parents, and after some begging, they’d be willing to take us in.”

I knew her well enough to know she was serious. I could only smile at her in return. “Thanks?”

“Believe me, it’s an option. So, do you want to go break the news to Nathaniel?”

***

NATHANIEL

“Any luck yet?”

Ishmael shook his head, letting out a frustrated sigh. “No luck. How the fuck did Ryker get powerful enough to pull this shit off? Something isn’t adding up. Odin trained all of us together.”

“You mean the sorcerer who’s fucked in the end? The same sorcerer who was yapping on about a quadbrid or some shit?”

Ayra had explained what she had read on the piece of parchment paper, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it had anything to do with Ryker’s plan. She mentioned something about her captors talking about a quadbrid.

“Yes.” Ishmael smiled, his former frustration vanishing from his eyes. “Your child. Ryker is after your child.”

“What child? And why is that something you’re smiling for?”

“Ayra is pregnant. He wants that baby. They said something about a quadbrid, right? You’re a werewolf-demon hybrid. Ayra is a vampire. Everything is falling into place. Fuck, how could I have overlooked this?”

“You’re not making any sense,” I said, trying to desperately push my anxiety back down. Ishmael wasn’t helping matters at all.

How did he even know she was pregnant? It was always something I suspected, but I never asked about it, and she never brought it up.

“They turned Ayra into a werewolf, and somehow she doesn’t know she’s a vampire. She can’t even access her vampiric powers. Odin said there would be a quadbrid. They were trying to take Ayra’s vampiric part away from her. That way, when you two have a child, it’ll just be a werewolf-demon hybrid. Not a tribrid.”

“Okay, that makes up for three species, but the fourth?”

“We have to do some digging into the lineage of Bloodline vampires. I think all of this was planned. They intentionally let Ayra go. Fate is inevitable.”

“You believe in stuff like that?” I asked with a snort.

“Definitely. You finding a mate is predestined. It was bound to happen one way or the other.”

“If Ayra is pregnant, it means Ryker can never know about it. His plan failed, after all. He’s going to hunt her down, and guess who he’s going to use to carry out his plans?”

“Benjamin.”

***

“You’re back. I thought you wouldn’t return home tonight,” Ayra said, lifting her leg off the lounger so I could sit before placing them on my thighs.

“You shouldn’t be up late in your condition,” I said watching her eyebrows lower in confusion.

“How did you know?”

“More like when did I know? I’ve been suspicious for a week now.”

“So, what do we do now?”

“Do you not want children?”

She didn’t skip a beat before answering. “I adore children. Bethel’s children are amazing, but…”

“You don’t know if you’re ready to become a mother yet.”

“Yes. That’s exactly it.”

“Well, we have a few months to ease that worry of yours, no?”

“And you? You want children?”

“The thought hasn’t crossed my mind, but I’m okay with it. Do you want to go for a run? I can tell a lot is going on in your mind.”

“You think it’s safe to shift while I’m pregnant?” She asked, looking down at her still very flat stomach.

“I’m sure it will be fine. You probably aren’t far along.”

“You’re right. I need to get some books for pregnancy tomorrow. Everything they have. Do you think it’s different from normal human pregnancies?”

“I know for a fact that it is.”

“You will not stop me from reading books like that this time around?” She asked, side-eyeing me.

I fought to cover up my laughter with a cough. She was still sore that I didn’t want her reading about demons. We had fought over it for over an hour — well; she did — and some rather rewarding events had followed.

“I don’t know dick about pregnancy, but guess what I know everything about?” At her scoff, I laughed. “That’s right. Demons.”

“I’m only agreeing to this run because I have never seen you shift in front of me.”

“I run very early in the morning before I hit the gym sometimes.”

“You’re the weirdest person I’ve ever met,” she said, questioning my sanity with just one look. “Everyone knows the sleep hits deeper when it’s morning. How do you not have bulky muscles?”

“Do you want me to have bulky muscles?”

“Not so muscular that you won’t be able to put your arms by your sides. I prefer the lean build.”

“Then you shouldn’t be complaining. Come on. Loser cooks for two weeks straight.”

“Oh, you’re on, Mr. Black.”

Cooking wasn’t her strongest suit, but she did her best at it. When she was in the mood, she threw her all into it. And then there were other days she just threw sandwiches together because she said and I quote: “I couldn’t expect her to make a five-course meal every day”

***

“Want me to make a roster of all the things I want to be served for the next two weeks?” Ayra asked with a triumphant smirk, tugging her clothes back on. “Oh, don’t be a sad baby,” she mocked, patting my head.

I was still in my wolf form, watching her get dressed.

“You don’t want to get dressed?” She asked with a raised brow. I shook my head. She shrugged, picking up my clothes from the glad. “If people see us together, I’m speed walking home. I’m sure that’ll be the gossip on the island.”

I grunted in reply.

“Did I mention that you have a beautiful fur?” She asked, ruffling my pitch black fur. “Oh, right! I was too busy beating your ass.”

The Alpha who turned her into a werewolf was a powerful one if she could outrun me. I wasn’t being cocky when I said this, but only a few of the Enforcers could match my speed. Not only was she fast; she was just as big. All attributes of an Alpha.

*"I was rusty tonight. Don’t get too cocky,"* I said through the mind link.

She cackled. “Rusty, my ass. I won fair and square. Just wait till Kai hears I beat you. He’s going to be over the moon.”

She’d built a close relationship with some of the pack Enforcers, Kai being number one on the list. I’d caught them gossiping several times when Kai dropped by at the house. He wouldn’t let me live it down if he found out I lost to Ayra, but it was worth it seeing the smile on her face as she skipped along the path home.

*Home.*

A word I didn’t think I’d be using with her when we first met. But it felt like home. She’d effortlessly settled in, messing up the order of the things I kept around. Sometimes, I felt like she did it on purpose to get a rise out of me.

“If anyone is rusty, that’s me. I haven’t shifted since the day we had to run from Dalia.”

*"You don’t get the urge to take a run?"*

“Nope. The same way, I don’t get the urge to drink your blood unless we have sex.”

*"I’m glad. You have a prodigious appetite, and no matter how much I love you, I’m not letting you suck me dry."*

I froze, the realization of what I’d just said dawning on me. I’d just confessed my love for her through our fucking mind link. Shit!

She must’ve felt how uncomfortable I was with the situation, because she brushed it off with a giggle. The truth was, I did love her, but this wasn’t how I’d planned to tell her. I wanted the fancy dinner and all of that shit.

“Well, you filled my chest with black and red marks. If I have to deal with that, you also have to deal with me sucking you dry.”

*"I’m not complaining."*

“Plus, I know you’d let me suck you dry if it meant that was the only way I got to live.”

She wasn’t wrong, so I didn’t bother objecting. We continued the rest of the trek home in silence, coming to a halt when I saw a familiar face by my gate.

“You’re a demon, aren’t you?” Ayra asked, her disdain for Rozol clear in her voice.

“Good guess. I don’t think you like me very much.”

“I wasn’t hiding it. Why don’t you just leave? Stop being Benjamin’s puppets.”

“I don’t think you like demons at all. I find that funny since you’re mated to one.”

“Nathaniel didn’t throw demons out of the lair because of what they are. He accepted them regardless of that. It’s fucked up that you couldn’t extend him the same courtesy. I don’t know what he was like in the past, but if it’s anything like he is now, you and your people lost a loyal friend. Not only that, but you also lost an outstanding leader.”

I shifted back into my human form, squeezing her hip to grab her attention. “Rozol wasn’t one of them. He owns a different lair,” I said with a smile as guilt sparked in her eyes.

She shrugged unapologetically. “Oh, well, he can relay the message. Those demons are fucked in the head. Benjamin especially.”

“How about you put your dick away, Nathaniel, and I relay my message before your mate obliterates me?” Rozol asked with an amused smile.

“Go on in. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“No. You said it the last time, and look what happened. I’m not taking chances,” she said adamantly.

I found it funny that she was willing to stay with me like she could take on Rozol.

I pulled her to the side, grabbing my clothes from her hand. “I promise he’s not fucked in the head like Benjamin.”

She rolled her eyes at the smile I had on my face. “I’m glad you find this funny.”

“I’m being serious. He’s one of the good ones. If he does anything to me, you know his name this time around. You can tell my brothers.”

“Okay, fine. Have at it. If he hurts you, then it’s all on you.”

“I agree.”

She eyed Rozol warily before unlocking the gate and walking in.

“I like her for you. She’s got the Staxton temper.”

“She is a Staxton.”

“I heard. Ishmael and I play poker frequently in the outside world.”

“What are you here to tell me?” I asked, zipping up my pants.

“There are rumors going around that Benjamin is looking for a powerful ally to take you down. Ryker is still assisting him.”

“More like he’s assisting Ryker.”

“Same difference. I don’t think this is a rumor you should brush off. My source said he’s waking Draven from his stasis.”

My eyes widened, fear paralyzing my limbs. “Well, fuck.”

That was one demon you didn’t want to cross paths with. Everyone in the demon realm knew about him. He’d been unhinged, killing anyone in his path out of rage after he lost the love of his life. It had taken a fuck ton of effort before they could pin him down.

“My exact thought. If he wakes that psycho up, it’s game over for you.”

“No shit, Rozol,” I said, blankly.

He shrugged. “I’m just saying. You have me on your side, but only my lair won’t be able to take on Benjamin’s lair, his allies, and Draven, especially if he wakes his love interest. Esmeralda is just as crazy.”

“Thought she was dead.”

“And we thought Draven would never wake from his stasis. You need to be on high alert. Ayra is pregnant, no?”

“How do you know these things?”

“It’s just brief whispers. Nothing has been confirmed yet. Demons from Benjamin’s lair have been quite mouthy. I do not know how they got the news of Ayra being pregnant, though. I’d say they’re correct, seeing as you have that look on your face.”

“How long do you think it will take to wake Draven?”

“You should ask Ishmael that. Probably enough time for Ayra to put to bed. It’s difficult waking such a demon up. It could all be a lie.”

“But you don’t think so.”

“It’s Benjamin we’re talking about here. I gotta run now. Congratulations on your first child.”

“It goes without saying that you’re not allowed to tell anyone.”

“Fuck off with that shit, Nathaniel. You know me well enough to know I wouldn’t do that. I’ll keep an ear on the ground for you.”

I didn’t get to thank him before he faded into black smoke and disappeared.