Page 212 of His Fated Luna

I looked closely at Layla. Did she have feelings for Tony by any chance? They’d known each other since they were kids, but Layla had always been one of the guys to him. She was one of the guys for everyone. Even Aiden. And until now, Layla had never shownan ounce of inclination towards Tony or other pack members as a matter of fact. What had changed?

“You’re still young,” I assured. “There’s still time to find your mate. But there’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself and trying to be happy.”

“I don’t want to get attached to someone only to find my mate later on. Look how that worked out for Alpha Aiden. It’s too complicated,” Layla said stubbornly. “Until recently, all I’ve ever thought about is being the best pack warrior out there but…now…I just…want more?” Layla struggled to describe her feelings.

I had an inkling all of this had to do with the fact that most of the girls were finding their mates and I myself was about to become a mother. Layla was starting to feel like the odd one out. Baby fever had kicked in among them. Many of the she-wolves were trying to get pregnant with their mates after my pregnancy became common news. The pack was going to have a baby boom six months from now.

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. And I think you should go for it,” I hinted, trying not to be completely transparent in my bid to push her towards Tony.

Layla merely played with the tips of her pin-straight short brown hair that framed her face just below her chin. Usually, she wore a severe bun piled atop her head, held in place with an inordinate amount of pins and clips. Today she’d left it open to reveal the artfully cut layers that ended right at the nape of her neck. She looked…nice. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was all for a certain beta.

“Babe.” Aiden spoke up from behind. I smiled when he stepped into me from behind, arms coming around my waist and chin settling atop my head. “Are you feeling alright?”

I nodded with a smile he couldn’t see.

“Well, they want us to cut the cake,” Aiden said.

I thought back to another time where we’d cut a cake, in this same venue. A time where I’d thought he didn’t want me. How wrong I’d been. And when we cut the cake and clapped along with everyone else, I decided I wouldn’t change a single thing. Because all of it had led up to this moment. This moment where I had a beautiful daughter on the way and a mate who adored me.

I playfully swiped a smidge of frosting across Aiden's cheek. Aiden caught my frosting covered finger in his mouth with a roguish glint in his eye and sucked off the frosting. People hooted; I simply looked at my mate sternly while trying to hold back a laugh.

Life was perfect. Too perfect.

Chapter 67

“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return.” – Natalie Cole

Aiden’s POV

“She really should be resting, Mom, she’s already pushed herself enough for one day,” I admonished as Mom insisted we open the presents from the baby shower earlier today.

“She also needs to have some fun,” Mom countered, arms full of gifts, standing her ground in my foyer. “You’ve apparently had all the fun sucked out of you, so someone needs to make her smile.” Mom then glanced at Rose. “Get some rest, Rose. I’ll just put these in the nursery, and you can go through them later.”

Rose smiled thankfully at Mom who disappeared up the stairs and towards the nursery. She walked over to me as I stood back stoically, arms crossed, leaning against the far wall in the foyer. Rose then placed both her hands on my upper arms before standing on her tip-toes. giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“Carry me up?” my mate whispered into my ear sweetly.

Immediately, I lifted her into my arms bridal style like she was as weightless as a feather. Rose’s fingers skirted the nape of my neck as she leaned into me contentedly.

“I remember how hard it was to keep myself from touching you when you picked me up like this during my heat,” Rose murmured, her lips brushing against my neck.

“Mmm it might be better if you keep yourself from too much touching. At least for tonight,” I joked.

Rose looked hot in her maternity dress. I’d wanted to rip it off her all day. But now she was tired. She looked pale and the shadows under her eyes indicated her exhaustion.

Plus, I was a little edgy about doing something with her now that she only had a month left in her pregnancy. It was usually the last month that was the hardest for she-wolves. The baby grew the fastest and was ready to be born any day after crossing six months. Rose was always uncomfortable and moaning about how she couldn’t breathe because the baby was kicking her ribs. Sex was probably the last thing we should be involved in these days.

But instead of agreeing, Rose pressed a kiss to my neck just as I passed the threshold to our room.

“Please, Aiden,” Rose moaned.

I could feel her longing for me.

“Is it…safe?” I couldn’t help but ask stupidly.

Rose giggled. “Of course, silly.”

“But…I think you should rest,” I said adamantly, setting her down on the settee in front of the dresser. I pulled out a set of pajamas for her to prove a point.