Chapter 17 LIKELY POSSIBILITY (2)
WILLA'S POV
My blood ran cold, and my mouth dried up as I stared at the intimidating form of our grandfather, who was looming by the door.
While it was true that Greggory Alfiero could no longer find walking easy without the support of a cane due to his age and worsened by a recurring pain from past injury, he could still stand and appear imposing and mighty, oozing indubitable charisma and severity. The mild slouch of his back and the wrinkling skin couldn’t even put a dent on how intimidating he looked.
To make it worse for my growing apprehension, his austere face wore a cool and impassive expression that would make any lesser man quiver in their boots.
I tried not to be a lesser man and attempted to explain, but William gripped my hand and beat me to it.
“Grandpa, we were-”
“Discussing Willa’s pregnancy. I may be old, but I am far from senile. I know what I heard. You were even making crude bets about such an important matter. Has the war not instilled some level of maturity in the two of you?”
“Grandpa, I am scared,” I admitted. “My remark was simply an attempt to downplay the severity of the situation, because… because I’m scared.”
The coldness in his green gaze melted away. He puffed out a sigh and shut the door gently behind him. Then he hobbled over to us, his cane clinking rhythmically against the polished herringbone flooring.
“What truly happened, child?” he asked as he slowly took a seat on the bed, sandwiching me between him and William.
I adjusted myself back to my original sitting position—my back against the headboard and my legs outstretched underneath the duvet.
“Grandpa, I didn’t lie when I said that I got into my heat in the middle of battle. But it wasn’t because I missed completing my monthly dose of heat suppressants.”
“So that special moment happened then. You met your fated mate.”
His eyes twinkled with joy, and I deeply wished I could feel the same as him.
“Is it really so special even if I met him in battle? Even if he is our enemy?”
“Ah…” Grandpa nodded sagely. “Maybe you can be the reason for his change of heart.”
I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder. “Grandpa, you are asking for the sun, moon and stars.”
“Am I?” He chuckled. “You make it sound like your fated mate is that bloodthirsty Wick.”
Thankfully, Willian didn’t say anything nor betray any kind of emotion. He remained quiet, listening to my conversation with our Grandpa.
“That would be unlucky, huh?” I replied, my voice dropping into a whisper.
Grandpa hummed, patting the back of my hand that laid limply on my lap. “Indeed, child.”
“Well…” I swallowed thickly. “It doesn’t matter who he is, Grandpa. I have chosen the right path, even if it means walking on it without my fated mate beside me.”
“Are you sure, dear child? A fated mate is a bond unlike any other.”
My heart throbbed painfully at the reminder of what I could have if there wasn’t a war.
“I know, Grandpa. But maybe the time isn’t right for us yet. Maybe after the war is over, we could finally manage to set our differences aside.”
“Perhaps,” Grandpa agreed easily.
There was a momentary silence shared comfortably among the three of us. It almost lulled me into slumber.
“So,” Grandpa said carefully, stirring me into alertness. “William has a reason to believe you are pregnant? You have consummated and bonded with your mate, Willa?”
Oh gods.
Why did I have to talk about this with our Grandpa of all people?
Awkwardly, I hummed in confirmation. Then in a quiet voice, I confessed, “I received a bite. But I… But the bond is incomplete. I didn’t claim him with a bite, Grandpa.”
Grandpa scratched his beard for a second and said, “We shall ask for a healer to have a look at you. After all, it is best to err on the side of caution. The last thing we want is to endanger you and the growing pup inside of you.”
“You talk as if-”
“Fated mates are different, Willa. It is special as it is strong. You know this already. There is a high chance you are truly with a child. William made a good call in talking to you about this probability.”
I could almost feel William reverberating with pride at the small acknowledgment subtly thrown his way.
Even though he said he was fine over losing his position in the Peacemakers, I knew it stung him to be chastised by Grandpa, especially since the two of us looked up to him more than we did to our own father, the current Alpha of our pack, Wolverham.
Just then, a loud series of knocks stole our attention. It sounded urgent and frantic.
“Master Greggory,” the voice of Brandon, Grandpa’s young assistant, called out loudly. “A missive from Gallahan Wick of the Culling Army has arrived.”