Chapter 95

**AUSTIN**

I’d spent the entire night by her side.

Not speaking. Not sleeping.

Just watching her.

The rise and fall of her chest was the only thing that kept me from losing it completely. Adam sat across the room in silence, eyes sunken, rubbing his hands together like he had something to say but didn’t dare speak. Once or twice, he tried. But I shut him down with a look.

He hadn’t kept her safe. And right now, that truth lived between us like a canyon. No words could bridge it.

Aria had woken up a few times during the night, groggy and disoriented. She drank the water I held to her lips, her hand barely able to grip the glass. Her eyes fluttered closed again before she could say anything coherent. Every time she stirred, my heart jumped into my throat.

I had come to surprise her. To bring a little joy after everything. Instead, I had found her collapsing in the hallway, bags of baby clothes spilling around her like fallen petals. And I hadn’t even been able to catch her.

It was just after dawn when the door creaked open and one of the community doctors stepped in quietly. She carried a folder and a small device I recognized from too many field med runs: an ultrasound wand.

Adam stood, eyes sharp with questions, but I didn’t move from Aria’s side. I had her hand in mine and I wasn’t letting go.

The doctor offered a faint smile. "She’s stable. The bloodwork came back. That strange discomfort she’s been feeling—it’s not from illness. It’s..."

Aria stirred, blinking awake just as the doctor hesitated.

"You’re awake," I said softly, brushing her hair from her forehead.

"Mmm," she murmured, voice hoarse. "What’s going on?"

The doctor smiled gently. "Aria... you're pregnant."

The room froze.

Adam sat back in the chair behind him like the air had been sucked from his lungs.

Me? I just stared at the doctor, blinking, waiting for her to say something else.

Pregnant.

My chest expanded with something fierce and protective. Something overwhelming. She was carrying our child. My mate. My love. And now...

I looked down at her, her wide eyes blinking in shock.

"Your HCG levels are high," the doctor continued, clearing her throat. "We’d like to do an ultrasound to confirm everything’s progressing well."

Aria nodded mutely, and I watched as she clutched the blanket to her chest, her free hand flying to her abdomen like she needed to feel it to believe it.

She was pregnant.

Joy and dread clashed violently inside me.

Because while part of me wanted to shout with happiness, the other part remembered Caedmon. Remembered the intercepted messages. The betrayal. The uncertainty slithering inside the walls of the community.

I could no longer tell who was loyal and who was just waiting to strike. And now, more than ever, I needed to protect her.

"How far along?" I asked, my voice rough.

"It’s early," the doctor replied. "But the hormone levels suggest a very healthy pregnancy. We’ll know more after the scan."

I nodded and forced myself to let go of Aria’s hand as they prepared her for the scan. Adam stood to help, adjusting the blankets around her. Our movements were careful, reverent. And still, I could feel the silent tension between us.

As the doctor moved the wand gently over her belly, I watched the screen come to life. A flicker of motion. A small, perfect shape. The soft, rapid beat of a tiny
heart filled the room.

Aria let out a choked breath.

And I broke.

I crossed the room and knelt beside her bed, taking her hand again. I pressed a kiss to it and then to her temple.

"You’re carrying our child," I whispered. "And I swear to you, I’ll do everything in my power to protect both of you."

Her eyes turned to me, glassy and full of love. But I could see the fear there too.

"It’s not exactly ideal timing," she murmured.

"No," I agreed. "It’s terrifying timing. But it’s also... it’s ours."

The doctor gave us a moment of quiet and then excused herself, leaving the room in soft silence.

Adam finally spoke. "We didn’t think it could happen this fast. Not after what she went through."

I looked at him. The anger was still there, but it had softened. Not forgiven, but set aside.

"It did," I said. "And now we protect it. No mistakes."

He nodded once. We were aligned now. Whatever rift had formed, the child had anchored something deeper between us.

The doctor dimmed the lights, applied the gel, and inserted the probe with practiced care. Aria winced, and I squeezed her hand.

A few moments passed. Then the screen flickered to life. One tiny flicker of movement. Then another.

The doctor’s brows lifted in surprise. "Well... that explains the hormone levels."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

She turned the screen slightly toward us and pointed. "There are two. Twins."

The room fell silent again, but this time the shock was different.

Twins.

I felt the breath leave my lungs like I’d been punched. One child had overwhelmed me with joy and terror. Two? My mind couldn’t process it. Aria gasped softly, her fingers tightening around mine.

Adam let out a slow breath. "Two?"

The doctor smiled gently. "They look healthy for this stage, but... Aria, we’ll need to monitor you closely. Your body is reacting uniquely. Given your previous miscarriage, we have to be cautious. For now, I recommend strict rest. No stress. No strain."

Aria gave a weak nod, eyes glassy. She was holding back tears. Happy ones, frightened ones—I couldn’t tell. Probably both.

"You need to be careful," the doctor said again. "Until we better understand how your body is handling the pregnancy, I’d rather err on the side of safety."

When she left the room, silence took over again.

I sat beside Aria, unable to stop staring at her. She looked fragile and strong at the same time. Glowing but shaken.

She turned her head toward me. "Twins."

"Yeah," I whispered. "We’re having twins."

A slow smile spread across her lips. "You look like you’re about to pass out."

"I might," I said, laughing under my breath. Then I sobered. "Aria... this changes everything."

"I know."

"I have to protect you. All of you. And I don’t know who to trust right now. If Caedmon has already shared information with the other pack, if there’s more we don’t know..."

I trailed off, pressing my forehead to hers. My voice dropped to a whisper. "I can’t lose you. I can’t lose any of you."

Her hand came up to cup my cheek. "You won’t. We’ll fight smart. We’ll fight together."

Two.

We were going to have two children. And no matter what it took, I would make sure the world was safe enough for them.

Even if I had to tear it down and rebuild it myself.