30: THIRD TRIMESTER

Marisol smiled softly as she opened the door to the packhouse. Dr. Callahan was more persuasive than she was apparently because her mother agreed to come stay with them. Even better, she agreed press charges against her father. It was clear that Samantha felt the bond immediately.

She showed her mother where she would be staying, but she requested to stay with Cal. He was more than overjoyed to agree to her request. When Marisol made sure her mother was alright, she took a shower in her room and called Brad. As she exited the bathroom, she noticed Grey, sitting on the bed with his hands in between his legs like he was thinking. Like he thought another fight would start.

Marisol wobbled to the bed, sitting next to him. "I'm mad that you made the decision without me, and I'm angry that no one told me, but above everything else I'm terrified. What if...what if you don't win?"

"I will, Marisol."

She nodded as he brought her into his arms. She laid her head into his chest, willing what he said to be the truth. "I need my own people here."

"I know."

"What's Dr. Callahan's first name?"

"Alexander."

She smiled to herself. His name meant savior. "When is it? The fight, I mean."

"After your due date."

"You'll win," she affirmed. "You have to."

❥

The following day, after breakfast, Marisol and her family went over to their house to begin moving in some of their things. Marisol got out of the truck and went to the back. She reached for a small box and Carlisle grabbed it before she could.

"You're 29 weeks pregnant."

"I can carry–"

"No, you can't." Carlisle gave her a look to which she rolled her eyes with a small grin. Marisol walked in their new home to see Nolan and Greyson hauling in the couch and table fro the living room. Greyson was carrying the couch, while Nolan carried the table. She chuckled to herself.

She could hear Abigail and Arabella upstairs, probably finishing the nursery. She wasn't allowed to go in while they were painting, so she settled for walking outback to the porch. She took out her phone and sat down on the steps, texting her mother. She smiled to herself as her phone rung after she sent one text.

"Mom?"

"Marisol!"

Her smile brightened as she listened to her mom's voice. It was no longer stressed. She sounded...somewhat happy. "Hey, ma, we are at our new house moving in. How are you?"

"I'm okay, sweetie, Alexander, he took me to a little restaurant..."

Marisol listened to her mother talk about her morning with her mate. She didn't know it, but Alexander was hers. They were meant for each other. Marisol enjoyed hearing her mother's excitement.

"Oh, but have you thought about names?"

"We have but it's a long list. We still aren't sure."

"Sweetheart," her mother whispered.

"Yes, mom?"

"I must say, Alexander's hearing is fantastic!"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because when I was in the kitchen, I dropped something and he came immediately! He was so fast!"

Laughing, she nodded. "There's a lot I have to tell you, ma. Maybe we could have dinner later?"

"Do you think Arabella would mind if I cooked something?"

"No, mom, cook whatever you'd like, but they probably won't eat."

"Oh, why?"

"They have very strict dietary restrictions." It wasn't a lie, really. "Hey, I'll be back soon and we can talk about it all, okay? Maybe we could do some yoga like we used?"

"I'd like that."

"You know we have to talk about dad..."

"Yeah," she sighed, "I know."

She said goodbye and stood up, walking back up the stairs. She, unfortunately, she misstepped and fell down onto her knees. She winced with a sharp shriek, and before she knew it, Grey and Carlisle were outside. Grey was panicking, asking her questions about how she was feeling.

"I'm fine," she whispered as she grabbed Grey's hand.

"Dr. Cal is looking at you, okay?"

"Baby, I'm fine, really–"

"It would make me feel better," he insisted.

"Okay, okay." She smiled as Grey picked her up bridal style and carried her back into their home. Their bed was set up in the master bedroom, but nothing else was ready as of now. She smiled seeing the progress that was happening in their home. She feels bad she couldn't help, so she insisted only the heavy things be handled.

As Grey came in, hanging up his phone, he sat down next to his mate, kissing her head.

"Hey, I was thinking, you should decorate."

"You were so excited to decorate your home," he stated, confused.

"Yeah, I was, but then I realized I won't...I won't be able to see it. You should decorate since you have to deal with it."

Shaking his head, he grabbed her hand. "No, Marisol. You'll decorate. I want you to. That way you can memorize your house. It is our house, you know."

She nodded with a small smile. "Okay." She jumped slightly, feeling her stomach as her little ones punched her ribs.

"What? Are they kicking?" He smiled as he laid a firm hand on her stomach, feeling the tiny jabs. "Does it hurt?"

"Now, it does. They're kicking my ribs. Hey, maybe they'll be good at soccer?"

"Probably," he said with a smile. "Do you want me to get you anything?"

"No, I'm okay."

"Then how about we look at some furniture magazines. Pick out what you like."

❥

She watched Dr. Cal like a hawk as he waved the wand over her stomach. She couldn't look at her stomach; the stretch marks were awful. "Alexander, huh?"

He looked at her with a small smile. "Yes."

"She's been through alot."

Alexander's hand clenched the wand. His jaw ticked and he nodded slowly. "I know. I should have found her sooner."

"Are you seriously blaming yourself?"

"In our culture, mates are supposed to look for each other."

"And you didn't?"

He looked at her, then, with a deep stare. "I did for 20 years. I gave up. I figured she didn't want to be found."

"It's not your fault. I'm glad she has you now. Do you think one day you might want to switch packs. I'm sure Greyson wouldn't mind."

"Luna," he said, looking at her, "My pack needs me; I'm their medic."

"Right," she whispered. "Stupid question," she continued, turning her eyes away. It felt unfair. She lost her mother, and then found her, only to have her taken away again.

Greyson cleared his throat as he walked in, sweating from moving furniture in all day. Strangely, he looked good in his unbuttoned shirt with sweat down his chest. "How is she?"

"She is fine and so are the babies, but I'm afraid bedrest is a definite now. No more walking, no more exercising, no more pretending to be on bed rest but really just staying in the house. It is too dangerous to exert yourself."

Grey smiled. "Okay, I'll get the TV up here and the bookshelf so you can be entertained as we move the rest of the stuff in. I'll bring up your pregnancy pillow too. Do you need anything?"

As Alexander cleaned up his equipment, Marisol grabbed Grey's hand. Once he left, she looked at her mate. "I love you."

He looked at her strangely for a moment before smiling. "I love you too."

"No, no I mean it. Not that superficial bullshit. I've never felt so much love in my life," she whimpered. "You take such good care of me. I'm so glad..."

"I know, Marisol. I know, shh, it's okay. How about this, I'll finish downstairs and bring all the necessities up, and then I'll bring you up a bowl of ice cream and show you just how fun bedrest can be?"

She smiled brightly, nodding. "I'd like that."