14: First Trimester

"Don't wolves, like, eat their young?"

Marisol sighed deeply at her friend. Brad continued on with his rambles about everything that happened the night before. He had stayed over, and since she couldn't sleep, he and Grey watched movies with her all night.

Now, with the sun fully risen, both her and Brad sat at the table. Since Grey had told them about his kind, the entire house no longer kept their wolves at bay. Marisol jumped hearing a growl from somewhere.

"Not the best thing to say considering I'm carrying his child."

"Well, the good news is I think only Alphas kill the pups."

"You're freaking me the fuck out."

"Really? I'm freaking you out? We are literally in a house filled with wolves!"

Marisol could hear someone near their table and both shut up. As the person sat next to her, she realized it was Abigail. "You do realize we can hear everything you say, right?"

Brad blushed and Marisol's eyes widened. "No," she whispered. "Sorry."

"Wanna talk about it?"

Marisol shook her head. "It's just... a lot. I just need time."

Abigail nodded then turned her attention to Brad. "In a few minutes my mate is going to ask you to come with him. He is going to take you to see the Alpha."

"Why? I didn't do anything."

"You're human. They have to insure you will not tell anyone else. They will not hurt you. I just wanted to warn you."

"Who's the Alpha?"

Abigail looked at Marisol. "Your mate."

Before Marisol could respond, Nolan walked toward the table and laid a firm hand on Bra's back. "Come with me for a sec?"

Brad stood and followed Nolan up the stairs. Abigail was left with Marisol. Marisol turned toward her friend, playing with her hands. Tala whined and she pet the top of her head with a small smile.

"You're taking the news of all this well."

"I'm freaking out," Marisol admitted. "I have so many questions."

"Can I answer any?"

"You said my mate...Grey told me I was his, but I am still confused about what it means. And h-how does all this work? And also," Marisol lowered her voice toward the end. "Do Alphas eat their kids? What about the moon? Are you guys tied to it?"

Abigail laughed hysterically. "Yes, Grey is Alpha, and yes he is your mate, but no he does not eat babies. None of us do. We can control our shifts, regardless, but during full moons we experience a deeper urge to do so. There are some things you should know, but Grey should talk to you about the mate bond."

"Is Nolan your mate?"

Abigail smiled brightly and her cheeks turned red. "Yes, he is. He's the Beta."

"The Beta is second-in-command?"

"Exactly."

"Are there a lot of people like you? Do you have a president or a king?"

"There are many packs around the world. These packs are independent of one another and each are run by an Alpha. Greyson is our Alpha. And Carlisle was the previous Alpha."

"Well, I assume the mate of the Alpha has a name then? Or is this society as patriarchal as mine?"

"There are some female Alphas actually. So maybe a little less sexist," Abigail laughed. "Do you have any other questions?"

"How good is your hearing?"

"Let me put it to you this way, the day you and Brad came to visit, the pack laughed over the fact Brad said we were a cult."

"Oh, God, I'm sorry about him. He's a lot, I know."

"He's funny, so we don't mind." Abigail's eyes wandered behind Marisol. She smiled, seeing Grey walk toward the table.

Marisol jumped slightly feeling a hand on her back. "Can we talk for a second?"

God, every time he touched her she couldn't think. She nodded and held out her hand. He grabbed it and helped her upstairs. She didn't know where she was.

"Where are we?"

"This is my office, Marisol."

"I've never been in here before. What does it look like?"

He shrugged. He never had to explain it before. He led her to a chair and she sat down with him beside her. He looked around, trying to find the words to describe it. "It was my dad's office, so it's not exactly my style."

"What's your style?"

"You have to ask Brad. I don't know how to explain it." He chuckled. "Marisol, now that you know about who I am, I need to explain other things as well."

"Like the mate stuff?"

He smiled at how she grinned to herself.

"Yes. But I need you to be fully aware of what you are getting yourself into. As of now, you only signed on to being my surrogate, nothing more. The people who broke into your home attacked you because of me. They were from another pack that have declared war against mine–"

"War?"

"Yes," he said. He grabbed her hand and took it to his lips. "Because of this, you will always be in danger. Because you are my mate, you will always be threatened, but I promise you, I will do everything in my power to protect you. You are my world now. I know you don't understand it, but the relationship between you and I is more than love. But you have a choice, you will always have a choice. If you want to forget about me, you can. I won't follow you. I won't pressure you. You can choose to live here until you have the baby."

She stayed quiet, listening to him. Once he finished his sentence, she spoke up. "A-and once I had the baby what would happen?"

"Well," his jaw tightened and he let go of her hand. He wanted her. He wanted his mate. "You would return to your home and continue your life, but I would always have guards near you, just to make sure you are safe."

She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "W-what do you want?"

"I want to watch you grow with our child and be by your side as you deliver. I want to do whatever human things you want to do. I want to lead you for the rest of our lives. And, Goddess, I want you to make me watch all the rom-coms you want and tell me about the stupid decision the jury made. I want you to come home to me every night. I want to make you happy, Marisol. I want to grow old with you."

Marisol started to tear up. She shook her head. All she could hear was her father's voice. "I-I can't...I-I just...you deserve someone better. Someone who can see. Someone who can be as strong as you. You shouldn't have to take care of me, Grey."

"Is that what you think you are? A liability? A patient? If you ask me, you see more than any other person I know. How can I get anything better when I already have the best? I want you, Marisol. I only want you."

"B-but what if you decide one day you don't? What if you wake up one day and no longer want to lead me around."

"That would never happen."

"It could and it would–"

"How can I prove it to you? Tell me."

"I-I," she shook her head.

"Humans marry, right? That's how you tell married people from the single...we could get married–"

Marisol laughed at the absurdity. "A proposal is supposed to be much more romantic than this."

"I'm sorry," he sighed, "I should have brushed up on my human knowledge."

"You and Abigail said we are mates. You told me that mates are soulmates..."

He nodded with a hum.

"Everything else you told me was true," she continued, "so I expect that is true too. And I'm sorry you got stuck with a blind mate."

"I'm not." He grabbed here hand as she shook her head in disbelief. "Marisol, I am not. I am so proud of the strong, intelligent, fierce woman I have. No one else could live through what you have and accomplish as much. There is one reason that your blindness saddens me."

"What is it?"

"You don't see how beautiful you are. You can't see your gorgeous honey eyes or your long dark hair. You can't see your radiant smile...but I can, Marisol, and I'm telling you I want to see it for the rest of my life."

No one had ever been so forthcoming with her. No one had ever been so romantic before. No one took the time with her like he had. Maybe it was his comforting scent, maybe it was the depth of his voice, maybe it was the sparks she felt when he touched her...but she believed him. Not only that, she wanted the same thing. She wanted him.

"You can't leave me," she whispered.

"Never, beautiful."