Page 95 of One True Mate

Nearly 8 weeks have passed since the battle with the Bulgarians. It was hard to believe as it just flew by. My Aunt Raina was granted permission to stay with the Westin Pack for as long as I needed her. I have learned so much about my family, sisters, and most especially my powers. It's been more than a little overwhelming dealing with all the new possibilities, but Kyle and I have been working hard on how to channel them for the security of our pack.

Speaking of Kyle, it turned out, he inadvertently transferred power to us during the battle while his dad was incapacitated. Jason is doing okay. The injuries he sustained fighting Kamen had been expedited in healing, but were so extensive that even months later he was still recovering. Because of this, there was no challenge to the cessation of power. Micah said there was no way Jason would have survived without my powers. Honestly, knowing that, has helped me a ton with accepting my gifts. I shuddered to think of what we would do without Jason and Mary. They may no longer be Pack Alpha and Pack Mother, but to me they were now and forever Mom and Dad.

Kyle and I were officially made Pack Alpha and Pack Mother about a week after the big battle. As if discovering you have crazy new witchy powers you inherited from your dead sisters wasn't enough. Though, if I'm honest, I've never felt more in control of my life and more settled and assured in who I am than in my new role as Pack Mother. It's like I was born to do this and I finally had the family I had longed for. Life was good.

I walked into the office, where we both still worked even knowing we would need to transfer duties soon, allowing Liam to step up and take over for Kyle, and then I would step down and into full-time Pack Mother duties once their transition was complete and a replacement for me found. I saw Elise's door was shut. It seemed it was always shut these days. Kyle was constantly worrying about her. It was like everything just changed in an instant and she wouldn't talk about it with anyone. I sighed but needing to talk to her I knocked softly on the door.

“Enter,” she said, not even looking up from her work as I walked in. When she finally did I was happy to see a genuine smile. “Kelsey, hey, is something wrong?”

I laughed, “Does there need to be for me to stop in and say hello?”

“No, of course not. As long as my brother didn't send you here to harass me.” She rolled her eyes.

“He's just worried about you, but no. He doesn't know I'm here. I sorta need your help with something.”

That seemed to cheer her up. I knew she hated being asked what was wrong, so I was determined to just pretend like everything was normal and not question at all why she was locking herself away from family and friends, never venturing out into the town of San Marco anymore, and working ungodly hours, day and night. Today, none of it matter and I knew she'd talk about it when she was good and ready.

“So, what's up then? I can tell there's something you definitely want to talk about.”

I gave her a sly grin and handed her the gift bag I'd been carrying with me, trying to decide what to do with its contents.

“Um, here. You're the first person I've shown this to, and honestly I'm terrified and ecstatic and,” I started to tear up feeling overwhelmed. “Anyway, you know Kyle better than just about anyone. I need help figuring out how to tell him.”

She peeked into the bag and her eyes went wide and immediately started misting over as she pulled out the positive pregnancy test I had taken that morning. She just held it, staring, and crying with a huge smile on her face before jumping up from her seat and rounding the table to embrace me in the biggest hug I'd ever received.

“I'm the first person you've told?”

I nodded unable to speak. My emotions had been running rampant for several days.

“Kels, I'm so honored. I can't believe it, I'm going to be an aunt!”

I just kept nodding.

“How the hell have you kept this from Kyle?”

I laughed, “It's not easy. I've had to shut down our bond link entirely and he's freaking out because of it.”

“Good, make him sweat. He's been driving me insane and totally deserves it.”

“Tonight's family dinner night. Should I just announce it then? Should I just tell him? Do you think he'll want to keep the news to ourselves till I'm further along? I've never even held a baby before. All the girls homes I was placed in were for older girls, we never had babies. I don't know anything about babies, Elise. What am I going to do?”

She hugged me tighter and laughed. “Relax girl. Just breathe. You are a natural Pack Mother which means you're going to be a phenomenal mom to my little niece or nephew. Now, on to the real dilemma. Kyle's been driving me insane for weeks. I say let him sweat it out and announce it at dinner. Or maybe take him to Dad's office, er, Kyle's office? That's going to take awhile to get used to! But maybe take him in there and let him know and then you can announce it together?”

I nodded like a fool again. “Okay, yeah, I like that plan. But E,” I looked at her seriously trying not to be complete freaked out with nerves, “what if he's not happy about it? I mean we've never talked about having kids. I have no idea how he'll react to this.”

“Trust me, you have nothing to worry about. Just do me a favor, keep a lock on your bond and torture him for the remainder of the day!” She grinned evilly and for the first time in months I truly saw the real Elise and was suddenly glad I had come to her first.

Ignoring Kyle throughout the remainder of the day had proven more difficult than I had thought and I knew it would be hard. When dinnertime came, I couldn't even look at him. I was so nervous and he looked terrified. We said pleasant hellos to everyone and he asked to speak with me in private. I chanced a glance at Elise who grinned and nodded in silent support.

Behind closed doors in what was now Kyle's office I watched my strong mate melt before my eyes.

“I'm so sorry babe. I don't know what I did, but please just tell me and I'll fix it. Please don't keep shutting me out. Whatever it is, I promise you I'll make it better.”

My eyes teared up and I laughed walking straight into his arms and hugging him tight. I opened our bond but purposefully kept my mind blank. I was overwhelmed with our combined emotions and started crying uncontrollably. I suspected this new sensation was going to be sticking around for the duration of this pregnancy.

“I'm sorry. I wanted to surprise you, not terrify you. I-I-I mean, I'm a bit terrified and excited and nervous and…”

He silenced me with a kiss that I felt radiate through my entire body all the way down to my toes. Knowing his entire family was waiting just down the hall, I didn't encourage him further, so when the kiss ended I stepped back out of his reach and took a deep breath before handing him the gift bag I had shown Elise just that morning, only now it contained a few baby items I had added in, including a little onesie that said “My Dad Rocks” with a guitar on it.

---