The words kept playing over and over in my head for the whole night.
'Roxy, you're pregnant.'
I'm pregnant.
It was so incredibly exhilarating, but at the same time scary as hell. I always wanted kids, but at a time like this? In the middle of war? Was that safe?
Could never be.
I had re-masked my scent the next day so that nobody else would sniff me out, and I didn't call back Ace that night. I decided to tell him when I got home. That is, if he doesn't notice right away.
It made me wonder how I didn't notice before. I guess with all the stress it made me oblivious to the changes in my body. It's not like it was impossible. Ace and I had a lot of sex. I mean a lot. So I was stupid not to consider it.
But I was going to be a mother in a matter of months, and I have to do what's right for my baby. No matter what it takes.
So when I got back to Ace's pack, I dragged Aiden aside to talk to him before I faced anyone else. We were in the driveway when I stopped him before he could go off to his room. I had used the last of the masker before I said goodbye to dad, so it should be wearing off soon.
"What's wrong Roxy? " He asked once he saw that I was serious.
"I have something to tell you, but you have to have an open mind about it okay? " He nodded slowly with a worried look on his face as I continued.
"When I was with Jane and the masker wore off, she noticed that I smelled different "
"Well yes Roxy you're mated-"
"No Aide, not like that." I almost chuckled, remembering that I thought the same thing when Jane told me that I 'smelled different'.
"Like what then? " His former worried demeanour returned. He must've been thinking that I was sick.
"I'm-" I took a deep breath before continuing. Who knew that this would be so hard. "I'm pregnant Aiden"
I let out a breath I was holding as I waited for some sort of reaction. His eyes flashed to my face, then to my belly then all over the world before meeting mine again.
"Are-Are you sure? " He asked finally.
"Yes. I didn't notice before because I was so stressed. I've been ignoring my wolf's motherly instincts. When Jane told me, I reached out to my wolf and indeed I'm pregnant"
He ran his hands through his hair but said nothing. I knew he was thinking the same thing that I was thinking-- bad timing, but not a bad thing.
My worry eased for a second when I saw a smile on his lips as he thought about it.
"My sister is pregnant. I'm gonna be an uncle" He whispered in awe.
But then reality struck him and he remembered why we were even here. I knew, because I went through the same when I first processed it. He met my eyes with an unsure look on his face and asked the question that I've been dreading.
"Where does this leave us? It's not healthy for you to be stressing over this mission"
"I know, that's why I've been thinking..."
"Thinking about? " he urged.
"I was thinking that I would tell Ace about the mission" And that was all it took for him to go from supportive uncle to rampaging Alpha.
"Are you crazy Roxy! What's your plan huh? Tell him and then what? "
"He'll understand Aiden but I can't have a baby in a war" I semi-screamed desperately, trying to make him understand.
"And you think telling him will stop the war? Don't you think he'll want to act on this betrayal?"
"He wouldn't hurt me" I tried.
"I know Roxy but he would sure as hell hurt me. And when he kicks me out and sends me home, what do I tell dad? That his daughter got pregnant by the Alpha and abandoned mission? "
I sighed at him and gave him my most rational answer. "I'm not abandoning mission Aiden. This will help us both. I can talk Ace into having an agreement with dad to give him back what was his."
"Haven't you noticed that your 'talks' with him haven't been effective? If the dude wanted to, he would've already"
"I don't believe that" I defended, though I felt like I was losing.
"You see Roxy, this is why we were instructed not to get attached. Your emotions are clouding your judgment."
I sighed again, feeling a headache coming on. I rubbed my temple with my fingers and decided to end this conversation.
"I'm pregnant. He'll want to do what's best for our child and once he gives back dad what he wants, he won't have any reason for attacking anymore. Dad will be upset with me for a few months, but it will blow off. Everybody wins"
"You're making a mistake Roxy" He shouted after me when I walked off.
"Yea maybe I am. But I'm tired of sitting around and watching everything fall apart. I didn't ask for this Aiden. I didn't ask the moon to make Ace my mate, but maybe it was for a reason. Maybe this baby was needed to bring peace and equality between the two packs. So yea I could be making a big mistake and maybe this will not go how I intend it to go. But I'm Ace's mate and this is Ace's baby. Waging war on Ace is waging war on both of us. And I'll be damned if I let anything happens to my father's pack and my baby's pack"
And with that I ran inside and up the stairs to find Ace. A part of me was eager to see him because I missed him so much, but the other part of me wanted to tell him everything.
"Ace" I called once I entered his office. He was at his window looking at the forest, and his head turned at the sound of my voice. Relief flooded his features when he saw me, and I quickly went to him and jumped in his arms. He hugged me back tightly and flooded everywhere he could reach with kisses.
"I missed you" I mumbled when I pulled away slightly.
"I missed you too, Love" he whispered, tucking my hair behind my ear. He then brought his lips to mine and kissed me softly, but I wanted more so I deepened it, cherishing the taste of him.
He lifted me by my thighs and placed me on his desk, still kissing me deeply. I moaned when his lips went to my neck as he slowly ran his hand up and down the inside of my thighs, then pushed my dress all the way up.
My mind cleared and I noticed what he was doing, but as much as I wanted it, I had to talk to him.
"Ace wait" I mumbled through breaths. He quickly obliged and pulled back, searching my face for answers.
"What's wrong?" He asked in a worried tone. I could see his eyes returning back to their beautiful hazel colour as the darkness faded. Slowly I saw him regaining control.
His face then turned to something I couldn't decipher as I struggled to tell him the wonderful news.
"When I was at home, I discovered something. I didn't want to tell you over the phone"
"What is it? " he asked. I could tell that he was getting antsy, as he buried his nose in my neck again.
"I'm -"
"Pregnant " He whispered just before I could finish. He brought his eyes back to mine as he watched me in so much joy.
"You're pregnant " he repeated with a huge smile on his face. For the two months I've known him, it was the first I've seen him so happy.
"Yes" I mirrored his smile as a few tears rolled down my cheek. How could one person make me feel so happy?
A yelp of surprise escaped me when he lifted me from the desk and twirled me around, laughing loudly with so much life.
"We're gonna have a baby! I'm gonna be a dad!"
I laughed as he showered me with kisses, then he slowly placed me back on my feet. He held both my cheeks in his hands as he gazed lovingly at me.
"I didn't know you would be so happy. " I mumbled truthfully in a small voice.
"Of course I am. Aren't you? " He asked.
"Yes! One hundred percent. I always wanted to be a mom. I just thought you would've thought it was too soon"
I was twenty and he was twenty-one. Having a kid so young wasn't bad, but some people rather wait. I wasn't sure if he would've been one of those people.
"The timing is always perfect once it's with you Roxy" He pecked my lips and rested his forehead against mine."I love you Roxanna Gilbert" He announced, making my heart stop for a moment. It took a few seconds to register what he said, and I searched his eyes and face for a sign that he wasn't sure. But I found none.
He loves me. Ace loves me!
Unexplainable joy clouded my heart, as I stared at the man in front of me. Never in a thousand years have I ever thought someone would make me feel the way Ace does.
He is such a gift to me. Having him in my life was such a blessing. Every day I'm thankful that he is in my life and that he is by my side.
This was it. This was what love felt like, I just knew it.
I knew I loved him too, maybe even more than he loves me and I had to make him know that.
"I love you too Ace" I whispered back.
The look on his face made my whole body shiver. His former happy face was nothing compared to what he looked like now.
It was like I just gave him a perfect day.
And so, I knew I couldn't ruin it by telling him about the mission. He deserved this day to be happy and that was exactly what I gave him.
We spent the remaining of the day together, and I had to push Aiden out of my head multiple times when he learnt that I hadn't told Ace yet. I knew I had to, but I gave him the day to relish in the bliss and good news.
I'll tell him tomorrow. For sure.