Chapter 211
The house was quiet for once—an unusual moment of peace after days of chaos. As I walked through the open kitchen door, I found Jake sitting at the counter, his shoulders tense yet relaxed for the first time in what felt like forever. His eyes lit up the moment he saw me, as they always did. Even after everything, after all we had been through together, it still felt like a spark had ignited the moment our gazes met. He was just sitting there, a mug of coffee in front of him, but to me, he looked like the most important man in the world.
“Morning,” I said, leaning against the counter. His gaze softened as he studied me, his smile turning playful.
“You’re up early. I thought I’d be the first one awake for once.”
I shrugged, unable to hide the smile that tugged at my lips. “I’m always up early. You just don’t notice it when you’re still asleep.”
His brow arched, and I could tell he wasn’t buying it. “I’ll remember that next time,” he said with a grin. “You look beautiful as always, though.”
I couldn’t help the way my heart skipped at his words. It had been a while since I’d really felt beautiful, especially with the way things had been going. But Jake had this way of making me feel like I was the only woman in the world, even on my worst days.
“I’ll make breakfast,” I said, trying to shake off the growing warmth in my chest. “I’m craving something hearty. The baby’s definitely got me eating like I’m preparing for a feast.”
Jake chuckled and stood from his seat, crossing the room to stand behind me. His hands rested gently on my shoulders, a comforting weight that I was quickly getting used to. I closed my eyes for a second, savoring the peace of the moment. Jake always seemed to calm the storm that raged inside me, especially as of late.
“I can’t believe we’re going to have a little one soon,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head.
“I know,” I said, my voice quieter now. “It still feels surreal. Some days, I wonder if I’ll be ready for it. But when I think about it, I just feel… so excited.”
He chuckled again, his hands sliding from my shoulders to wrap around my waist. “You’re already more than ready. You’re strong, Ayla. You’ve been handling everything with grace.”
The words felt like a balm to my soul. Jake had always been there for me, encouraging me, supporting me, and reminding me of my strength when I felt like I had none left. But hearing him say it, hearing him believe in me—it made me feel like I could take on the world.
“I’m glad you think so,” I said, resting my hands over his as he held me. “Because I don’t think I could do any of this without you. You make it all easier.”
We stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other’s warmth, the weight of the world seeming so distant for once. But then, I remembered something—the mystery surrounding the strange magic I’d witnessed. Fatima and Sophie had been just as concerned as I was, and we had agreed to meet later that day to discuss the next steps. But for now, in this moment, it was just Jake and me.
Pulling away from him, I turned to face him, my expression turning serious. “I’ve been thinking about the magic,” I said, my voice quieter now, more thoughtful. “I don’t think it’s over. We haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of it.”
Jake frowned, his eyes darkening with concern. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure,” I replied, glancing out the window toward the horizon. “But it feels like there’s something darker behind it. Something we haven’t discovered yet. Fatima and Sophie are both worried too. They’re going to help me figure it out.”
Jake nodded, his concern evident but softened by the trust he had in me. “Just be careful. I know you’re strong, Ayla, but you’re not alone anymore. We’re in this together, okay?”
I smiled at him, my heart swelling with love. “I know. And I’m not planning on doing this alone. But I can’t help it. I need to know what’s going on. I can’t sit by while this magic grows stronger.”
“I get it,” he said softly, stepping closer to me. “But promise me one thing—if anything happens, you come back to me. You come home.”
The seriousness in his voice struck me deeply. I had always known Jake to be the protector, the strong one who had everyone’s back. But now, as the father of our unborn child, there was a vulnerability in him that I hadn’t quite realized until now. And I would never do anything to put that trust at risk.
“I promise,” I said, my hand resting on his chest. “You’re my home, Jake. And nothing will change that.”
He nodded, his hands cupping my face gently. “I love you, Ayla. You know that, right?”
My breath caught in my throat at the sincerity in his words. I loved him too—more than I had ever loved anyone. He was my rock, my partner, and now the father of our child. But somehow, hearing it from him still made my heart skip. It never got old.
“I love you too,” I whispered, leaning in to kiss him softly, tenderly. It was a slow kiss, as if we were savoring the moment, knowing that life would never be this simple again.
As we pulled away, I rested my forehead against his, my hand still on his chest. “Do you think we’re ready for this? For everything that’s coming?”
Jake sighed, wrapping his arms around me once more. “I think we’ve been ready for a long time, Ayla. We just didn’t know it.”
I smiled, feeling the warmth of his embrace, the strength of his words. For a brief moment, everything felt like it was falling into place. Whatever was coming—whatever danger awaited us—I knew we would face it together. With Jake by my side, there was no fear I couldn’t overcome.
The moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. I pulled away from Jake reluctantly, glancing at the clock on the wall. “That’ll be Fatima and Sophie,” I said, already heading toward the door.
When I opened it, both of them stood there, looking as ready as ever. Fatima, tall and graceful, was the first to speak.
“You’re up early,” she said, flashing me a smile as she walked in.
Sophie, always the more quiet one, gave me a warm smile before saying, “We were hoping to discuss our next steps. We don’t want to waste any more time with this whole magic thing situation...gosh i hate magic it always comes with trouble.”
I nodded, turning to look at Jake. “I’m going with them, talk through our options. But if anything happens, we’ll be quick.”
Jake’s eyes softened, but he didn’t argue. “Be careful.”
As the three of us gathered around the table to discuss our next steps, I felt a sense of determination building inside me. Whatever this dark magic was, whatever threat it posed to us, we would face it together. I would protect my family and my pack, no matter what it took.
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