Chapter 33
A Beta Before An Alpha
Lauren's Point of ViewI hear my phone vibrate, just as I'm waking up. I crawl out of Zac's embrace to the end table, to grab it. It's a text fromSadie. She has been texting and calling a lot lately. Shes coming down this weekend for the Luna ceremony, and she'salways just calling with questions about the pack. Asking how certain things are done or wondering what to expect. Nowthat her parents have joined our pack, sheâs going to too.I don't even have time to respond before Zac is pulling me into him from behind. He's the big spoon, and I'm the little onHe starts kissing my neck, and his hands move between my legs. âWhat got into you this morning?â I ask, breathing heaviHe's acting like he's starving for me, which is odd because he had so much of me last night. The sparks from our nakedbodies touching feels like an electric current coursing through my entire body, pumping a euphoric heat all over.âWatching your naked body crawl out of the blankets, and your a*s sticking up like that," he growls. What heâs doingbetween my legs with his hands is working, I'm moaning and breathing hard.So wet,â he whispers, and I can feel his erection against my back. Soon I'm reaching behind me, and using my hand topush him inside of me. Zac hisses as he enters me. His hand still working his magic on my clit. I roll my hips, and Zac kissmy neck.âf**k, Lauren,â he moans. It's hot and steamy. As I'm nearing my peak, I warn him.âYes! Zac," I moan. Then it hits me full force like a tidal wave, as my hands grasp the sheets. I can feel Zac's warm seedbeing released inside of me, and he mutters groans and curses under his breath. We stay connected for a few minutes,while Zac holds me close.Finally, we separate. I hate it, but we do. âWhy don't I order room service, and then we can take a shower?âSureââWhat do you want?" he asks, handing me a menu. I don't even need to look.âWaffles... and fruit," I say, and Zac's smiling wide at me.âWhat?ââYou're just so cute," he beams. He has me blushing, and I can tell he loves it. âCoffee, of course, anything else gorgeous?I shake my head, and crawl over, and cuddle into him while he calls. I wonder how long we would be completely contentalone together, just ordering room service, making love and talking. I can't imagine ever tiring of this. âIt'll be here in 45minutes,â Zac says and scoops me up like I weigh nothing, and carries me to the shower while planting kisses on me.âYou're going to be my wife,â he smiles.âAnd you are going to be my husband," I laugh in disbelief.We enjoy our breakfast together in bed, and then we make love once more before we pack up. Zac was so sweet, he evenpacked a bag for us. I'm glad 'm not walking out of here in my lace dress I wore last night.We spend the last 30 minutes in our room finishing off the leftover cupcakes we didn't finish last night while discussing tLuna ceremony.This week is going to be hectic because the Luna ceremony is just 4 days away. Zac has already hired a crew to transformthe dining hall. The drapes and large chandelier will start to be hung tomorrow. Then the rest will be finished on Thursdanight.zac and I went through the list of things that we are going to have to get done before Friday. I need to get a dress, bookhair and makeup artists for me and a few other women. I need to sit down with the kitchen staff and decide what I want 1be served for the Luna ceremony.We also thought it would be fun to have our close friends and family over for lunch earlier that day. So we need to alsomeet with a caterer for that because there will be just too much going on for me and Zac to prepare it ourselves.We both need to make a list of who we want to be invited. Zac is also working on finding another construction companythat can get to work on transforming the basement. I also am going to start to design the gym. Itll be nice when the gymhere is done, and I can work out here, on packlands.[3 Day's later]âBabe, what time do you have to pick up your gown this afternoon? I'll move my lunch so we can eat together,â Zac asks,he walks out of the bathroom.â1 pm. We can eat at noon if you want?ââPerfect! Tomorrow is the big day, and we're all set. You excited?ââThat's good. I'm glad we're prepared. I'm a little nervous, but excited for things to calm down a little," I admit while I finsgetting my makeup on, and we're soon heading down to breakfast.As soon as I step foot in the kitchen all of the smells hit me so much stronger. It's almost overwhelming me. âWhat's withthe face?" Zac asks.âI don't .. feel... oh notâ I run out of the kitchen, and barely make it to the garbage can in the common area, of the livingroom. It was the closest place I could think of with a garbage can, that wasn't in the kitchen.zac is pulling my hair back, and then rubs my back as I empty the contents of my coffee and the handful of grapes I ate tmorning, at home. As soon as I am finished, Zac pulls me into his arms.âSo, it's been nearly a week since I marked you... Do you think you're pregnant?â he asks, with a small smile.âIt's over a week if you impregnated me before that. I probably am. I highly doubt I just happen to get a stomach flu afterall this unprotected s*xâ I admit.âLet's go see Doc now, for a test,â he says while picking me up off the ground. I quickly dash past the kitchen to get outsicbefore queasiness hits again.âMy poor girlâ Zac coos, as we start to walk outside. He's a mix between concerned for me, and also excited.When we get to the Doctors office, it's empty, so it doesn't take long before we are face to face with the Doctor. âSo whatbrought you both in here today?â He asks, but he's smiling like he already knows.âWe think sheâs pregnant. She was feeling sick this morning," Zac gushes. He basically only seems excited now. *That's wonderfull We can do a urine sample and check that out,â he smiles, and hands me a urine bottle, and points me tthe bathroom.âDo you want me to come with you, babe?"Zac asks.âTo pee?â I question.âYeah! I don't want to miss anything,â he says eagerly.âYm not doing a test in the bathroom, I'm just peeing in a cup,â I smile. âI'll be back in a minute,â I pat his arm, and go to twashroom alone. I leave the cup where 'm supposed to and then head back to the room where Zac is waiting for me. Weclose together, hand in hand eagerly awaiting the results. The time seems to be crawling by.I keep checking my watch, and finally, 10 minutes later, the doctor comes in smiling. He closes the door, and then his hanfly up.âCongratulations!â he says excitedly. Zac grabs me, lifting us both up. I'm laughing, and heâs crying. Wait, he's crying. I holhis face.âYou're crying I whisper.âYm 50 happy,â he says with the most beautiful and pure smile.I hear the door click, and I realize the doctor gave us some privacy.I wipe his tears, âYm glad you're happy. I am so happy too," I admit.âI couldn't be happier. I love you, sweetheart. Thank you,â he whispers, holding my face close to his.âI love you, and I love our pup so much already. You know about my Dad and how he took off after my Mom died when Iwas littleâ he asks and 1 nod.âMaybe he never really loved me, or maybe he couldn't bear to look at me after everything he lost. Regardless, I promiseyou, no matter what... I am going to be there for our child, and you. Always. No matter what" he confesses.âI know you. I know your heart. I don't doubt that for a second," I reassure him, and he nods, âGood.ââAnd Zac, it really is his loss. You are the most incredible man, and I am beyond proud of you, and the fact that you're miHe's missing out. Now we're creating our own little family, and I know you are going to be the best Dad. I trust you, and Ilove you," I explain.He never acts like it bothers him that his father abandoned him after his mother died, but how could it not? His lips curlinto the warmest smile. âThank you. You are all the family I need, and now adding children to it is just the icing on thecake!" We take a minute together in each other's arms until we hear a knock at the door.When the Doctor comes in, we sit down, and he gives me a list of âDo's and Don'tsâ for the pregnancy, as well as someprenatal vitamins. âIf the nausea gets so bad that you aren't able to keep anything down, come back and we'll try out sonmedication. They call it morning sickness, but it can come and go at any time of the day, or all day. It usually stops at themonth mark for she-wolves, although some women have experienced it throughout the whole pregnancy,â he explains. Ilook to Zac, and he is listening carefully to the Doctor, and nodding along. He's so cute.We leave the Doctors office with a lot of information, and we're full of excitement. My stomach seems to be more settledthan it was earlier.50 what do you want to eat?â Zac asks as we're heading inside.âWaffles... and fruitâ As soon as we walk into the kitchen, all the smells are hitting me the wrong way again. Zac see's myface, and quickly ushers me upstairs to our place.âI'll get breakfast, and bring it up!ââThanks, babe,â 1 give him an apologetic smile.zac walks in with 2 styrofoam containers, âI didn't know what was safe for me to bring in here, so I just got the same as ycYour waffle order has changed in the last few days, and it's all you've been eating for breakfast. You went from cinnamonwaffles and syrup to regular waffles, little syrup, whipped cream and berries.â 1 think it's adorable that he pays attentionthis stuff.Eggs and bacon are my usual go-to, but I'd spring for the cinnamon waffles every few days. Now I'm crazy for regularwaffles, with different toppings than usual. When he just said bacon, I felt a bleckk feeling. âI think it's the bacon smellthat's... not sitting well with me,â I admit, and he frowns sympathetically.â50 is the waffles a pregnancy craving thing?â He asks; he's so excited for all of this, which is just the most heartwarmingthing.âIl would have thought it would be too early for cravings, but it does seem suspicious that I'm all of a sudden obsessed wione thing that I never really ate before," I admit.zac and I sit at the island, eating our breakfast together. When we're done, Zac drops me off at the daycare, and he headsto his training class.âGood Morning Mrs. Potter,â I smile.âGood Morning, Dear!â I work in the 2-4-year-old class from 9-10:30 am, and the 12-year-old class from 10:30-12.âLuna, I just wanted to thank you so much,â a red-haired woman says to me as I'm walking into the daycare.âReally? Why?â I don't even know this woman.âWell my son Charlie was having a really hard time here, and it was breaking my heart. Then you came in and broke him oof his shell. It's such a relief that he is happy to come now. I just want to say thank you so much,â she smiles.âOh, it was my pleasure. Charlie really is such a sweetheart, and I'm glad that daycare is easier for both of you now. I canonly imagine how difficult it can be to leave when you see your little guy having a hard time.â She nods, making a painedface.âMs. Lauwen,â Charlie tugs on my hand.âHi, Charlierâ I greet him. He has a book in his hand, and heâs trying to pull me to the carpet.âWhy don't you get on the carpet, and we'll have story time in a few minutes when all our friends are here okay?â I explaiand he goes to sit on the carpet where we read stories.The morning I felt okay, and the sight of cheese, crackers and apple slices we gave the kids at snack time didn't make mystomach churn at all, so that was good. I am so glad to be working at the daycare again. I feel like working with kids is onof my greatest joys.The ladies are getting lunch ready, so I lead the 1-2-year-olds, in a few songs to get them moving, and burn some energybecause after lunch will be nap time. We dance and sing to shake your sillies out, and a Halloween baby shark song. I lovdoing songs with this age group. I think their little dance moves are the most adorable thing. I have Margot in my arms aswe dance. She is the only one in the class that canât walk yet, so I tend to dance with her so she doesnât miss out.When we're done I help get all the kid's hands washed and seated for their lunch. Today they are having Mac and cheesewith bacon on it, and cucumbers and ranch dip. I'm done now, thankfully because the bacon on the Mac and cheese ismaking me nauseous. I say goodbye to the kids, and I see Zac leaning at the door frame, smiling at me.âHow long have you been standing there?ââI came in somewhere in the shake your sillies out song,â he smiles and leans in to give me a kiss. âYou're going to be suca good Mom," he beams.âThanks, babe, and you'll be the best Dad, but let's get out of here. There's bacon in that Mac and cheese,â I say withdisgust.-1 can't believe you're pregnant- he mind links me.We eat lunch together, and then jenny and I head into the city to pick up the dresses that we got for the Luna ceremony.jenny and I have only gotten closer, and I'm so glad. She's nice, fun, and sheâs fiercely loyal.As soon as we get in my car, I'm spilling the beans. I can't hold it in, I need to tell one person. âI have news," I say excitedâWhat?â She says, meeting my enthusiasm with just as much of her own.âYou can't say anything...â I start.âOkay, my lips are sealed. SpillââYm pregnant!â I gush.âAre you serious?â she asks, wide-eyed. I nod and laugh. *Congratulations. Gosh, if you weren't driving I'd hug you right now. I'm so happy for you. That was so quick! You two don'twaste any time,â she says with a chuckle.âI know. We basically agreed right away that we were both ready for kids, so we said why not?ââWow! That's amazing. I've been thinking more and more about being a mother in the last year or so, but Malcolm isn'tquite ready. He said he wants to wait until he turns 25, at least. He turns 25 in 7 months though,â she explains.âWell 7 months isn't that long," 1 add to encourage her. She smiles and nods.âBut seriously, this is amazing news. When are you going to tell the pack? Tomorrow at the ceremony?ââYes. I figured it would be the first thing we share with everyone. I think it will be a great way to kick off the night."âDefinitely,â she beams.After the 30 minute drive, and lots of fun girl talk, we make it to the dress boutique, and we are both given our dresses totry on to see if the alterations fit. My dress is a black, A-line. The top is corseted and looks a little see-through, but it isactually a nude fabric under it. Then the skirt is a tulle material. It's not super puffy and princess-like. It's beautiful, classand a little sexy. Jenny is wearing a gorgeous red silk dress, that shows off her body, and it has a super sexy long slit.âWell if Malcolm sees you in that, he might not be able to wait 7 months, Jenny. You look so hot! Like smoking hot. Malcolis going to lose it" I say, and her cheeks turn a light pink.âThanks. I hope 50. You too! Your dress is amazing! You look gorgeous. Zac is going to love it, it's sexy and classy, perfect ffor a Luna!â she smiles.âThanks. I think it's appropriate. I have never been to a Luna ceremony, so it's hard to know what's expected, andappropriate,â I explain.