Page 36 of Branches of the Willow

“I was worried that something bad would happen and I would get both of our hopes up for nothing. I was drugged, a lot, when I was held in that cage. What if…”

“You thought you would lose the baby?”

Tears sprang free from my eyes then. “Yes.”

“Oh Jessica, my love, this is what I’m here for. You’re supposed to share these things with me so that I can help. I’m going to cancel work tomorrow. We’re going to see your mother, and Ashley, because they will know what to do. They can keep an eye on your health.” He moved me so I was far enough away from him that he could look down into my tear-stained face. “We’ll figure this out, but in the meantime, you will get more rest. You will make sure you’re eating well. And most importantly, you will stop acting like you have to get through everything on your own. You are not any less of a person for having help. The strong know how to rely on others to carry part of the weight, it’s how they grow stronger.”

“When did you get so smart?” I sniffled.

“When I stopped pretending that I wasn’t in love with you.”

My heart melted right then and there. My mate took me to bed, without any further hesitation. At least, that is, until something crashed downstairs, and my heart felt like it was going to burst through my rib cage and take flight instead.

“What was that?”

“It was probably just the guards downstairs.” Mikael reassured me. “Stay put, and I’ll go check.”

“Since when do we have guards downstairs?”

“Since we got you back. You just didn’t leave the room enough to notice before.” Mikael left the room, and it wasn’t long before I heard voices coming from the hallway. “You can try, but please, make it quick. She needs to sleep.”

“I swear, I will.” It was Ashley’s voice, I recognized it now.

“I’m going to go take care of the noise makers downstairs. Let Jess know everything’s fine, and that I’ll be back up shortly.”

“Okay.” Ashley burst through the door then and came over to give me a hug. “Hey. Mikael said he’ll be right back, but everything is fine.”

“No offense, Ash, but what the hell are you doing here?”

“Asi and I are staying here in one of the other rooms for a few days. We needed to get away from the craziness over on the pack lands, and I figured you could use some company too.”

“Oh. Did Mikael know about this?”

“Of course, that’s why he asked me to pick you up and bring you back to the pack tomorrow since he has things to do at his rescue.”

“Gotcha.” I slid further down in my bed and pulled the covers over me. “I’m so tired,” I managed to get out through a yawn.

“I think your mate is going to kill some guards down there. They’re in the middle of a rowdy round of poker, and he’s chewing them all out.”

“Sorry, Mikael,” I heard a male voice saying as footsteps bounded up the stairs.

“My mate is with child, she needs rest, and you lot will keep it down while she gets it.”

“WHAT?” Ashley shrieked. “Did he just say what I think he just said?”

I smiled at Ashley, and she crawled up on the bed in the little space that was between the edge of the bed and me. Ashley ran her hand over my belly. “Seriously?” She asked.

“Yes, seriously, although I planned on telling you a bit differently, tomorrow.”

“Oh my God, I can’t believe it!” Ashley beamed. “I’m going to be an aunt!” Mikael walked in then, with a pack of crackers in hand, and I could have shoved Ashley out of the way and kissed him for being so thoughtful.

Asi poked his head in the door, “Ashley?”

At the same time, Ashley had turned, bounced off the bed, and leaped towards Mikael. “You knocked up my best friend!”

“I did no such thing!” Asi added.

“Not you!” Ash snapped at Asi. “You!” She pulled Mikael in close for a hug. “I can’t believe I’m going to be an aunt.”

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