36

~Lou Wilson~

The next morning I woke up in the same position I fell asleep last night. Cuddled up in Arian's arms.

For a moment I thought I was just dreaming that he woke up, but when I saw the small smile he wore on his face, I knew it was real.

He wore that smile ever since I told him about my pregnancy. Even though he was still pretty weak and probably in pain, you just couldn't wipe the smile off his face.

How blind I was not to have realized sooner that I love him. I mean now I have to smile, just when he smiled.

I watched him for a while until I finally decided to get up carefully.

I almost forgot Lucian and Felia's arrival today, given the commotion yesterday, but I remembered it now. I wanted to make myself at least a little presentable for the two of them. My face probably looked flushed and my eyes puffy, even though I hadn't slept that well in a long time.

I had to smile all the time as I walked down the hall. Nobody could spoil my good mood today. Arian woke up is a good sign. Now all he had to do was rest and then he would certainly be back on his feet soon.

"Good morning, Lou, why are you in such a good mood?" Linus noticed my smile as he walked past and immediately stopped.

"Arian woke up last night and I told him I was pregnant." My smile widened, if that was possible.

"Oh, is he awake? Why am I just now finding out about this?" He was about to go to Arian's room when I stopped him.

"Linus!" I shouted, making him stop. "He was awake. Now he's asleep. But you should take a look at that smile he has on his face. Contrary to my concerns, he's mad about the pregnancy pleased."

"Probably the same smile as yours." Linus winked at me and then turned anyway to go into Arian's room. Hopefully he didn't wake him up. He looked so sweet and peaceful in his sleep.

I kept walking, but just before I got to the pack house, I noticed a car driving down the forest path and parked in the large parking lot. A short time later, the driver's door jumped open and my brother Lucian appeared.

Apparently he saw me beforehand because he stormed out of the car without closing the driver's door and quickly ran in my direction. Before I could take another step, I found myself in a tight hug that almost choked the air out of my lungs.

"Lucian," I gave tightly. "You're still strangling me."

Named immediately let go of me and instead took my head between his hands to check me out.

"You're alive, you're fine. I can't believe it." Again he pulled me into a hug, this time not quite as tight.

With my head pressed against Lucian's chest, I noticed Felia coming to a halt next to Lucian and giving me a shy smile, which I returned. She seemed very happy. At least Lucian isn't such an idiot as Arian started out.

After what felt like an eternity, Lucian finally released me from the hug. But instead of letting go of me completely, he grabbed my hand and suddenly pulled me towards the pack house.

"Now you pack your things and then you come home with me." He determined, which made me gasp.

"What? No! This is my home." I struggled against his grip, but he was just too strong.

"No Lou! That asshole keeps hurting you. How far is that supposed to go? I'd better get you out of here before it's too late."

I tried to collect my strength and pull myself away from Lucian with a jerk. It worked and so I immediately took a few steps away from him so that he couldn't grab my hand again.

"I said no ! I'm at home here, with Arian. Can't you see the smile I had just on my face before you tried to pull me away? I'm happy here!" I defended myself. Nobody should rule my life, especially not now. Arian is still doing badly and right now he needs me the most.

In response, Lucian growled at me. His eyes turned red with anger and his voice deep. "You will come with me! Do you know how long I've been looking for you, giving up hope with each passing day to find you alive? I almost would have stayed longer if Dad hadn't personally dragged me home to be alpha. And believe me Lou, I vowed to take you with me once I found you..."

Somehow his deep voice scares me and I took a few more steps back.

"Lucian, shouldn't she decide for herself what she does?" Felia stepped in front of Lucian and put her hands on his chest. "She seems fine after all."

"No Felia! We're taking Lou with us. Who knows what's next and then I'll regret not taking her with me." Lucian's voice was still deep and his red eyes were fixed on me.

Taking another step backwards, I fell over a root and tripped, eventually landing on my butt.

"YOU WON'T TAKE HER ANYWHERE!" Another dark voice chimed in. Moments later, my mate crouched protectively in front of me.

"Arian!" Felia gasped, startled at seeing her brother in such a state, while Lucian just chuckled darkly.

What was he even doing here? He has to rest.

The next thing that happened was so fast that neither Felia nor I could react. In the next second, Lucian was standing in front of Arian and took him in a chokehold.

"NO!" I yelled while Felia shouted "LUCIAN!" came.

I got up quickly and so now Felia and I each stood on either side of Lucian and tried to pull him away from Arian.

"You seem to have quite a loyal pack so one doesn't take advantage of your poor condition to become Alpha." Lucian's hand tightened around Arian's throat.

"STOP, YOU'LL KILL HIM!" Felia screamed in desperation. Tears of desperation welled up in my eyes too. Where were the other pack members? Somebody had to be able to help us.

"I could just kill you here and now and I would be the new alpha and my pack would more than double in size."

"Then you have to kill your sister too." Arian's voice croaked and he looked even worse than tonight, but the slight smile was still visible on his face. He didn't even resist Lucian's grip she is my successor in herself."

Startled by his words, Lucian dropped him. Arian landed on the ground and was only able to catch himself a little with his arms.

I felt so sorry for him. It broke my heart to see him so weak, who used to seem so invincible.

I knelt down to help him up.

"What does he mean by that, Lou?" I turned to my brother and looked at him in disappointment. How dare he take advantage of my mate's weak state?

"I'm pregnant. That's what he means." I slowly helped Arian to his feet, but he had to support himself on my shoulders.

"Fuck!" Lucian ran a hand through his hair in desperation. "Then you give birth to the child here and then you come..."

"No then !" I interrupted him. "Understand Lucian. I will stay here with Arian. I love you big brother and appreciate your concern. But I also love Arian and he loves me."

With my last words, I looked at Arian, who nodded slightly.

"Oke," Lucian said quietly, who seemed to have finally calmed down, because his voice seemed to be normal again and his eyes were no longer red. "But please promise me that he will never harm you again . He should never hurt you again, even if it's just mentally, and if he does, then don't hesitate to catch the next plane home."

I nodded. "I promise that neither Arian will ever break my heart, nor will I break his heart again."

"You too!" Lucian looked at Arian invitingly.

"Never again," he promised in a husky voice.

"Well, I'll take your word for it, Lou. And now we should get your mate back to where he seemed to have escaped. He looks like shit." With that, Lucian took my position, who, as a man of almost the same height, could support Arian better than I, little wolf.

"What happened?" Felia walked beside me while we took Arian back to the hospital.

"Long story." I looked ahead to Arian, who was leaning helplessly on Lucian's shoulders. "But I think we can all be grateful that he's still alive."