Accepting The Pups

Still Rain's POV

We stare at each other for several seconds.
My heart forgets to beat, like hypnotized my eyes stay on him. Then he takes a few steps toward me, slowly so as not to scare me off. About a meter in front of me, he stands still. "Do you recognize me, Rain?" he asks softly, his eyes holding mine.
"Yes, you're the man from the restaurant."
I can't help but answer in a whisper, heavy emotions squeezing my throat shut. "You feel the mate bond too. At the restaurant, you came after me because you perceived my scent in a way only you can do. Do you also know what that means?" he asks anxiously. I blink my eyes a few times. "Yes, you are my fated mate," I say in a low tone. A broad smile crosses his face. "Yes, I am. I have been since you turned eighteen. We were so happy, Rain. Come back home, my love". The gleam in his eyes changes, silver rings appear around his pupils. "I miss you so much. I'm going crazy without you in my arms," he adds, yearningly. "It's been too long, baby."
"Jasper, I am King Ralph's fiancée and pregnant with his pups," I tell him with a glance at my round stomach. He follows my gaze and then his face twists with shock. "Pregnant? But you're my mate! And you couldn't get pregnant," he stammered huskily. I stare at him in amazement. "Why do you say I couldn't get pregnant? Now look". Sadness first, followed by disbelief and then an unfamiliar emotion appears on his face. I feel his breathing suddenly quicken. "How far along are you in your pregnancy?" he asks hoarsely. Without hesitation, I answer him. "Ten more weeks to go. It's twins".
For a moment there is silence, Jasper seems lost in thought.
Then he takes another step and now stands so close that I feel his breath on my face. "You do not belong to the King, you are my mate and the Luna of Storm Forest," he states firmly. "We already held our mating ceremony, we wanted to wait to mark until your wolf emerged. You are officially mine," he declares possessively. He wraps his arms around me and I lean against him. The mate bond is strong, his intoxicating scent filling my being. When I close my arms around his waist, it feels like I have reached my destination. With Ralph, I never experienced this deep feeling.
"Yes, I belong to you. But I have already given my word to Ralph. I cannot go back on that," I reply with a burdened heart. "I knew there was something in my past that I had yet to fix. That's why I asked Magda to find out for me what that unknown was. It was you who was always in the background". Jasper grips my chin tenderly and lifts my head toward him. "I love you so much, Rain. You are my life. I failed to convince you then that I love you just the way you are," he tells me tearfully. "I am so grateful to the Moon Goddess that I found you in time. Now I must convince the King to release you from the promise you made in ignorance."
I nod, although I don't have my memory back, I'm sure I want to be with Jasper.
The bond is fierce, I can't resist it. It's like I've known him my whole life, he feels so familiar. "My love, I cannot jeopardize my pack to declare war on the Kingdom full of Lycans. I will consult the Elders in my pack on how to handle this. They brought our mating before the Moon Goddess and it is accepted because we are fated," he informs me. "Wait for me in the palace. As soon as I have the answer, I will come to get you. Even if I have to petition the Council to do so".
I detach myself from him and look at him.
"Really, Jasper? Ralph is a good friend but I don't feel the bond with him. You are my fated, with you I want to be if you can accept me with the pups of another man". I look at him, pleading. Again that indefinable emotion appears in his eyes. "I promise. And don't worry about anything. Everything will be all right," he assures me. And then our lips meet. An explosion of emotion immediately ensues. Hungry, we plunder each other's lips, unable to resist the desire that binds us. "Jasper," I whisper when we have to let go of each other out of breath.

With our foreheads touching, he smiles.
"This is how it has always been between us. We are one body and soul, no matter what happens. That's why I could never touch another she-wolf while you were away," he whispers breathlessly. "Hold on, my love. Let me take the formal route to resolve this first. Whatever happens, I'll come and get you". I nod hopefully.
"Behave as normally as possible. Don't let anyone but Magda know about our meeting until I arrive," he urges. After a final peck on my lips, he disappears through the same door from which he appeared. I stare after him, my heart beating like a raging in my throat. Quickly I enter the fitting room and sit on a bank. After some breathing exercises, my heart rate normalizes. And then Magda storms into the room. "Is everything okay with you, Saray?" she asks.
Smiling, I look up at her. "Thank you, Magda. You don't know how much this means to me," I tell her gratefully. Tears begin to roll down my cheeks. "It was so hard to live without a past. And now I have Jasper". My friend takes me in her arms for comfort. "No, Saray. You don't owe me anything. Thanks to you, I now have a great life alongside the man of my dreams," she replies. "I give my life for you. Only thing I want is for you to be happy. Ralph may be a good guy, but he's not enough for you despite being the King and a Lycan," she adds. "I heard and saw how Jasper spoke about you. That is true love. I hope you can resolve all doubts between you. The man is crazy about you, Saray".
"Yes. I wonder what was so terrible that I left him. He said I couldn't conceive, but look at me now," I point out. "Do you think he is ready to accept Ralph's pups as his?" I ask uncertainly. Confident, Magda looks at me, my hands in hers.
"I not only think so, but I'm also sure of that. Rain, leave all those worries to Jasper. He knows better"....