Page 74 of The Wolf's Bullied Pregnant Mate
Ours, I thought.
“We can’t say the gender yet,” the nurse said. “The speed isn’tthatfast, but we can book you in for a scan in another month to check the progression and go from there. But what I can confirm, Adalyn, is that you’re growing a very healthy, strong baby.”
“Just like their mom,” Zephyr whispered in my ear. I turned to gaze at him, utterly wordless. I kissed him as tears slipped down my cheeks.
“I’ll leave you both for a moment,” the nurse said, leaving the scan on the screen. That tiny heartbeat continued to soundthrough the room, and I burst into tears. Zephyr tucked my face into his neck, angling us so we could both watch the screen.
“Look at that,” he whispered, shaking his head. “That’s our future right there, Adalyn. A little witchy wolf.”
I couldn’t help laughing through my sobs. He was right. That was our baby, growing healthy, and I had protected both our child and myself.
“Adalyn,” Zephyr began, kneeling next to me. “What you did at the Emporium… The way you protected us both… It was the strongest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“You were hurt,” I murmured. “You were hurt, and I—I couldn’t fix the shield quick enough and—”
He shushed me gently. “I’m fine,” he told me. “I was checked over earlier. They gave me an antidote, but because you went unconscious, they needed to keep you under observation. But I’m okay. See?”
He held out his arms, those beautiful arms that had carried me through it all, and I slid my palms up them. I swirled my fingertip over his tattoos, pushing up his sleeves, eager to touch as much of him as I could.
“How do you feel?” he asked me softly.
“Like I got hit with a rock,” I muttered. “But you help. You being here… It helps.”
“And I’ll stay here,” he told me, a heavier, second meaning weighing in his voice. His gaze met mine, his hand holding my face. “Adalyn, I was wrong to do… Everything I did before we went underground. I was terrible. You have never been weak. You’ve always been strong, and I’ve been full of misplaced hatred. Alex and Hector have been telling me how much your shields helped the northern part of the island. Whenyou left our cave to do more protection, you stopped a swarm of demons infiltrating the towns. Residents with fewer defenses weresavedby you. The shields saved them. Portals couldn’t be opened anywhere you had shielded.”
“But the parts that I hadn’t—”
“Were taken care of,” he assured me. “Alex told me that a bigger catastrophe has been avoided. We took the worst of them out at the Emporium.” Guilt flashed over his face. “And I trapped some in the sanctuary, so I can only hope they’ve teleported out of there.”
I let out a quiet laugh. “You’ll feel the wrath of the witches.”
“Oh, no doubt,” he said. “It was the only way I could get to you.”
“Zephyr, your anger and hatred weren’t misplaced,” I told him, kissing his cheek, then the bridge of his nose, each corner of his mouth. “I’m sorry that any of my kin ever came near your brother and caused so much pain to your family.” I shook my head. “I can’t answer for that witch, and you deserve revenge, but if you’ll take it, all I can offer is a fresh start. A future without any feuds.”
Zephyr nodded. “I’m making peace with my distrust of witches,” he said. “Thanks to you. Although Iamstill terrified of your grandmother.”
“She… She’s changed her mind about shifters. I fear we might have some convincing to do with her.” I smiled helplessly. “After all, sheisthe Matron.”
Zephyr’s face went white as he blinked. “That’s… Greta is the Matron of the Lindell coven?”
I nodded.
“And you knew all along?”
“Obviously.”
“And you didn’tsay?” His voice pitched high with incredulity. I could only laugh and kiss him.
“I knew it would freak you out,” I murmured. “But yes, I knew.”
“Does that mean you’ll be the Matron one day?”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t necessarily go down familial bloodline but often the one who proves themselves to be worthy of the position. It’s not one I would want, I don’t think. I want a quiet life. I want you and our child to pass on my knowledge to younger witches so they can know that what they have and give and do is so special. I went too long without knowing that from anyone outside of my family.”
“I want to work with you,” he murmured. “To make the Cove safer.”
“The Cove,” I echoed, grinning.
