Page 113 of Awakening

I look up at her and frown. “The fuck I can’t, and if I can’t someone else can…and will.”

“Ethan, you can’t keep me in the house and restrict my life to the point that I feel trapped, especially now that the threats have been removed.”

“I have no intention of making you stay in the house or making you feel trapped, but you will be protected. Ian might be gone, but I will never trust Austin fucking Mills. And,” I say, massaging her foot, “I will spoil you whenever the hell I feel like it.”

She smiles and shakes her head. “You’re impossible.”

“And, you love me.” I lean over her to kiss her.

“Damn it, I do,” she says with a giggle.

“I would like to ask one favor.”

“What’s that?” she asks.

“Can we keep this between us for now?”

“Yes,” she says immediately.

“Really? I was expecting to have to convince you.”

“No. We’ll have to share them with everyone else soon enough. I just want to enjoy this time together. I’d rather not announce it until it’s obvious that I’m pregnant, and definitely no gender reveal parties.”

“Agreed,” I say, switching to the other foot. “You know it’ll probably be obvious you’re pregnant pretty quickly with twins.”

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true. Thank God we’re getting married in a week. Any longer and my dress might not fit.”

Moving from the ottoman to sit next to her on the couch, I pull her into me and kiss the top of her head. “I love you, Olivia. You’re my whole world.” I reach down and touch her stomach. “I promise it’ll be different this time. I’ll protect you with my life…all of you.”

Twenty-Nine

Olivia

After two weeks of crazy, frantic planning, I get to marry Ethan today. He dropped me off at the pack house for a day of pampering with Chloe and Vanessa, but first he and I had breakfast and spent a leisurely morning together. I suggested that one of us sleep elsewhere last night in keeping with tradition, but I believe his exact words were, “That tradition is bullshit. It’s not happening.” In the end, I agreed. We’ve already spent too many nights away from one another. Why waste one more?

It’s been much harder to keep the pregnancy a secret than I anticipated. It feels like everything I do this week is met with an invitation to have a glass of wine or champagne. The only way I’m keeping Chloe off my back is by reminding her how drunk I was the last time we drank, but she won’t buy it for much longer. I had to tell her I was only drinking water at the rehearsal dinner last night because I didn’t want to be puffy for the wedding today.

As a wedding gift, Ethan arranged for our local spa to come to the pack house to give Chloe, Vanessa and me massages, manicures and pedicures, and then we were all treated to wedding hair and makeup by my favorite stylist, Layla, and a few girls she brought from her salon.

“Olivia, you look gorgeous,” Vanessa says, admiring my hair that Layla has curled in large, bouncy waves, pinning one side up behind my ear to reveal my mark.

“So beautiful,” Chloe says.

“Thank you. You both look stunning in your gowns.”

“I’m heading out to join the guests,” Layla says. “You look beautiful, sweetie.” She smiles and walks out as Camilla walks in.

“Alright, darling. Let’s get you into this gown.”

“I’m ready, let’s do it,” I say, with an excited smile.

I easily slide into my wedding gown. Thankfully, due to our muscle tone, werewolf pregnancies are also concealed longer than that of humans. The dress fits perfectly. She then helps me slide my feet into my heels, and position my veil.

There’s a knock on the door and Nick says from the other side, “Ladies, may I come in?” At the rehearsal last night, I asked Nick to walk me down the aisle today. Ethan loved the idea. Nick is like a brother to both of us now, and it means so much to have someone who feels like family walking me down the aisle in the absence of my father.

“Come on in, Nick,” I call to him.

“Wow, you all look so beautiful,” Nick says as he peers in the room. “You are a beautiful bride, Liv,” he says before walking over to Chloe, “absolutely gorgeous as always,” he says, kissing her. I love the way Nick and Chloe still look at each other when they enter a room. Ethan is the same way, and I’ve come to realize what a gift the mate bond truly is.

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