Page 170 of His Fated Luna

“You can ask him directly,” I pointed out, twirling my pen between my fingers pensively. “You can converse with them.”

“I tried before,” Rose said honestly. “I tried asking to talk to him, but he didn’t respond. Instead, it was a bunch of other elders talking about how we need to find Dylan a luna." Rose made a face. "Dylan's only eighteen. He has time. So I wasn't too keen on that topic. When they realized that, they left. They’re not exactly at my beck and call. If anything, it’s the other way around. I just get whoever is on the other line,” Rose supplied the information rather bitterly.

“Maybe Dad just doesn’t want to expose my aunt,” I suggested, massaging my temples.

“What could your aunt possibly gain from harming me?” Rose queried.

I shrugged. “An opportunity for Jake to become an alpha of a pack? He has the alpha gene. That’s why he hasn’t joined a pack yet. Most wolves find it hard to survive without a pack unless they’re alphas themselves. That’s why banishing wolves from packs is thought of as a punishment worse than death.”

“He didn’t touch me that day I was in heat,” Rose pointed out. “It would have been easy for him, but he called you instead, despite the fact that he disliked you.”

“My aunt might be acting without Jake’s knowledge,” I countered.

We fell silent, thinking and contemplating the issue.

“Well, I guess this is something we should ask the Council. Maybe they know something about it,” I supplied.

“Wouldn’t that get your father in trouble? That's why I came directly to you.” Rose bit her lip, she was visibly worried about the implications of bringing something like this to light.

“He’s not exactly here to be punished for it, if that’s what you’re worried about. My father wasn’t one to do things that went against the interests of his pack. I’m sure there was a good reason for this. You probably think he was trying to funnel pack funds illegally to help his sister but—”

“I didn’t say that! Oh, Aiden, I would never accuse Alpha Austinof something like that. You know I always try to get the full story before forming an opinion on something,” Rose cut in vehemently.

I smiled up at her. “I know, I know. But I also know it’s something that’s probably popped up in your mind, at least initially.”

I lifted my hand to squeeze her thigh, eyes training on the modest display of skin in her V-neck sweater. It was the same black sweater she’d worn last year on her date with Jake. She filled it out even better now. I teasingly let my hand run up her thigh before going up to cup her breast.

Rose let out a small yelp of protest.

“Aiden, you know I’m working right now. I wanted to get this out of the way before my training with Dr. Danvers starts in January.”

“These are looking fuller lately,” I admitted ruefully, palming her breast. “I think you’re about to have another heat soon.”

"Well, it’s been over three months since the last one,” Rose acknowledged.

“No no...it has nothing to do with time and everything to do with—” I brought another hand up to cup her other full breast. “These. They’re,”—I stood up, leering at her—“bigger.”

Rose batted my hands away playfully. “I think you’re just imagining things.”

“Hey, I suck on these every night, touch them multiple times a day. I think I know when their size changes,” I replied with a superior tone. I kissed her cheek. “I can’t wait to see how big they get when I finally put a pup in you.”

Rose’s hand went to her stomach reflexively. “I um…yeah, I’ll see you later,” Rose murmured suddenly, grabbing the books to get out of here.

I stared after her fondly for a minute. I could feel some of her nervousness now. She was probably just shy talking about babies. Ever since Rose had removed the mind-block, I was careful not to probe into her feelings. I didn't ever want her to feel like I'd crossed a line again.

Rose's POV

The moment Aiden began talking about me getting pregnant, I realized that my last period had been the beginning of November, ending a few days before Aiden and I had sex for the first time. It was the end of December now. There wasa possibility that I might be pregnant which is why I had immediately set up an appointment with Dr. Danvers.

And now, on New Year’s Eve, as we all gathered for the downtown fireworks, I found myself eager to break the news to my mate that hehadput a pup in me. I smiled to myself as I slipped my hand into Aiden's as we stood with our family and friends. I was bursting to tell him the news. This morning, Dr. Danvers confirmed I was a month and a few weeks along. I would no longer be able to turn into my wolf once my third month started. I’d tell him tonight, after the fireworks. It would be a wonderful way to ring in the new year—with the news of a baby. Aiden wanted kids; he kept talking about how turned on he got whenever he thought of me having his babies. We’d both decided to take advantage of my next heat whenever it came.

I hadn’t expected to get pregnant without my heat cycle. Even Dr. Danvers pointed out how only a small percentage of babies were conceived outside it. This was yet another prime example of whatever was meant to be would always find a way. Just like me and Aiden.

I tugged on Aiden's arm, wanting to give him the news in private. I pulled him off to the side and away from the designated seating area which had been reserved for Alpha and Luna of Bloodfire Phoenix. Aiden's family sat a little farther off.

The fireworks finally started up, illuminating the dark sky with an array of colors. Red, blue, and pink sparks all shot up in quick succession of each other. Tony had gotten up to stand in front of us, at a distance discreet enough to give us our privacy.

“Happy New Year.” I turned my head to Aiden, the words drifting between us, my voice softly heard over the din of fireworks.