THE NEXT MORNING
As I wake up, a warm, rich aroma fills the air—a heady mix of butter, sweetness, and a hint of vanilla. Pancakes. My heart swells, and a smile spreads across my face. I only mentioned it to Lucian last night, a passing comment about a craving, and here he is, up early to make them for me. It's so unlike his aura—Alpha, warrior, fierce protector—and yet, so sweetly him.
I stretch and slide out of bed, savoring the thought of that first bite, but as I make my way to the closet, a strange wave of nausea rolls through me. The smell, so mouthwatering a moment ago, suddenly turns my stomach. My insides churn, and before I know it, I’m bolting for the bathroom.
My knees hit the cold tile, and I clutch the edge of the sink, just in time for my stomach to empty itself. The delicious scent of pancakes now feels like an assault, lingering and taunting me as I gasp for breath.
“You can’t keep this a secret much longer, Talia,” Eira’s voice murmurs in my mind, soft yet insistent. There’s a tinge of humor in her tone, but also a warning.
“I know,” I reply inwardly, pressing my cool hand to my forehead, trying to steady myself. “I just… I’m afraid to tell him.”
Eira’s presence within me feels like a warm, comforting pulse, steady and calm. “Why, Talia? He deserves to know. He’s your mate now. He cares for you deeply.”
I swallow, gripping the edge of the sink tightly, my knuckles white. “But this isn’t his child,” I whisper in my mind, my voice trembling with the words. “It’s… Kael’s.” The truth hangs there like a heavy cloud, thickening the air around me. “What if… what if he doesn’t accept the baby? What if he sees this child as a reminder of Kael, of everything that happened between us?”