39

~Arian Storm~

The months with my mate at my side flew by. It was much too nice when she was just by my side, but unfortunately our precious time together passed just as quickly. But I was all the more pleased to get to know my son.

We didn't know the sex yet because we wanted to be surprised, but I'm still firmly convinced that it will be a boy.

It was early fall and Lou was walking around the pack compound with a fat little ball. She was now in her seventh, almost eighth month.

Her mood swings were the cruellest thing for the entire pack. She kept yelling at someone and when she realized how wrong she had done to someone, she cried and apologized a thousand times, although no one blamed her.

To me, that was quite amusing as long as I wasn't their victim.

In the last few months I have also noticed how enriching a Luna is for the pack. Everyone here loved her and she quickly adjusted to her position. At first she helped out in the hospital until I decided it was too much for her and the puppy. Since then she unfortunately ran through the whole pack and helped where she could.

She really wanted to do something for the pack, and I wish I could have kept her safe in my... our bed all day.

But instead, despite my strong protective instincts, I had to trust that she was safe. Because I was still the alpha of the largest pack in America that needed protection too.

"Do you think they will attack again? They haven't done that in almost a year. I also find this invitation very suspicious." Sebastian shared his concerns about the Shadowlake pack with me. Their alpha, Maddox, often launches small attacks to identify my pack's weaknesses. The last time he attacked, it was my father Alpha and had to deal with the problem, Alpha Maddox has not yet responded to any of our peace treaties either.

"I don't know. In any case, we should assume it's a trap, but I won't ignore his invitation," I replied, stroking my sweating forehead.

All this work was exhausting. I wish I could go out and find my mate, take her to our room and make love to her the rest of the day and night. Just like every night.

"Are you sure Aryan? They could take you by surprise. Don't forget that Lou is expecting your puppy."

"I know Seb. But what should I do? I finally want peace between our two packs. Those shitty attacks from them cost Luan and many others a lover. If it's a chance for peace then I should take it, and if not then I'll challenge Alpha Maddox. I also smell when he arrives more with other wolves. Then I'll just turn back in time beforehand," I explained.

Somehow I knew that it was a trap, but I wasn't afraid of his pack, which was significantly smaller in number than mine, even though the number of relatives had increased in recent years.

His invitation to meet me alone tomorrow night at the border between our packs was unobjectionable. If he breaks his own request to come alone, I'll be able to smell it in time.

"Then he gets exactly what he wanted." Seb grumbled.

Yes, Alpha Maddox often pointed out to my father back then how weak it was to use an Alpha with a human mother. That it would be easy to defeat me.But if he's so convinced of it, he's welcome to show it himself and then I'll show him who I can really be. I am more than capable of leading a pack and my mother being human means nothing. She is a strong woman and Luna.

"If he wants to fight, he can fight. I have no intention of coming out of this fight as a loser." With that, I pushed back my desk chair and stood up.

Enough work today. I'm really longing for my mate now.

I roamed the corridors of the pack house and left a little later. There was a lot of noise outside. Children ran screaming between the pack houses and the adults supervised them or made themselves a nice day in this dreamlike weather.

I didn't have to look for my mate for long either, because I found her behind the pack house in the beautifully landscaped garden, chatting wildly with Zara.

"I'm not fat," Lou said, offended and stunned at the same time.

I had to agree with her. She wasn't fat in any way. This beautiful little marble had just my pup inside her and the few extra pounds she had gained was just a testament to how well she was trying to take care of herself and our pup.

"Oh but. Look at you. You used to be so delicate and dainty and now you probably weigh twice as much." Zara continued to tease amusedly. Someone must have liked teasing my mate.

"Zara," I growled warningly, her amused mood instantly dying, as my voice didn't sound joking as she usually liked to give back.

"Sorry Alpha." She immediately ducked her head and looked everywhere but at me.

"Man Arian, don't scare her." Lou suddenly bleated like a little reed sparrow.

What did I do wrong now? I was only protecting her.

Now I was the one who looked at her in bewilderment. She looked defiantly into my eyes with a grim expression.

"We were just joking. She doesn't mean it seriously." She continued to complain.

"But that looked different just now, angel." I tried to defend myself and got another grim look.

I sighed annoyed. It was clear what she wanted, but she could forget that. I never apologize to anyone except my mate. Also, I haven't done anything wrong.

"Forget it," I growled.

"Arian." These words left her sweet little mouth sharply.

Mmm she could do so many more useful things with her mouth instead of asking for things I would never do.

"No, come on now. I want to take you really hard now. The day was stressful."

"Arian!", Shocked by my open words, her eyes widened. Zara next to her snorted and laughed so loudly that all the surrounding pack members looked questioningly in our direction.

"Forget it Aryan. Tonight is girls night." Anna's voice appeared behind me.

Wait, what girls night out? There was nothing else like that. And why today? I've had a long morning.

I turned to Sebastian's mate, growling. Along with his twin sister Elvira, Anna stood there one eyebrow raised.

"What girls night out?" I growled at the two of them.

"You heard me right. The four of us want to go really hard today in the next town. Do something nice again before Luna Lou just has to change diapers.", Elvira explained. She brushed back her light brown hair with a swinging hand.

"Forget it. I forbid it. And your mates won't agree either." I crossed my arms over my chest to emphasize my refusal. I'm not going to let my mate walk away in this condition. Plus, the nearest small town is hours away. It is just about to make a connection through the Mindlink as best we could, but it would take far too long for either of us to be there should anything happen.

"Please Aryan. This might be the last chance to do something again without children. Now that Anna is pregnant too..."

My mate was interrupted by Anna who was loudly shushing .

But it was already too late, I had heard it long ago.

"What, you are pregnant? Does Seb already know about this? Now you can really forget that one of you is going somewhere today." The risk of something happening to them is far too high. After all, these are not only our mates, but they will also carry out the next alpha and beta.

"Super Lou, now he'll surely go and tell Sebastian about it. And to answer your second question: No, Seb doesn't know anything about it yet, but he can almost guess it if he sleeps with me without a condom on the full moon." Anna rolled her eyes annoyed. "Please, please, please Arian. Just this once. We'll have a quiet nice evening and then check out a hotel. Please..."

"No."

"Arian please." Now Lou too. I couldn't stay strong with her for long.

Suddenly all four girls who were more than a head shorter than me stood around me and begged me at the same time. Oh my goddess, I must stay strong!

"OKAY," I then blurted out.

Fuck, I knew from the start that a mate made you weak. Now I couldn't even enforce my decisions.

"But you will take one of the men with you."

Everyone sighed annoyed. Only my mate seemed happy.

"Okay," she said, quickly planting a chaste kiss on the corner of my mouth.

It worked out great with staying strong, Arian...