Doubts

Doubts

After we leave the hospital with the ultrasound photos in an envelope, we drive back to the packhouse in silence. Once again, we are sunk in our own bliss now that we have seen our pups. It's official, we're going to be parents. This feeling is more intense than I thought.
We decided to announce the news during the ceremony officially. About my pregnancy and the number of little ones on the way. I can already imagine how exuberant the pack will react to this news. It is now also not a secret anymore, of course, that Zane and I have not kept our agreement to mate after I was eighteen. But hey, why should we wait? It all took too long. And we're fated, the proof was there long before my birthday.
When we get to the packhouse, we head to my in-laws first. Former Luna Jonel and her mate James, Zane's parents, have always been fond of me, spoiled me a lot over the years. I have a special bond with his mother and his sister Elise has always been my mainstay. As we step into the apartment, I can tell from their faces that they already know the news. Strangely I turn to Zane, he avoids my eyes and smiles guiltily.
Elise takes me by the arm.
“You know, Mercedes. Your mate here came knocking on our door a few hours ago to ask us to keep the secret of your pregnancy for you," she begins, looking at Zane accusingly. “Of course, we made it clear to him that we are absolutely not cooperating in this. And I notice that he has followed our advice”. I turn to Zane, but he shakes his head in shame and stares at the floor for a moment before looking my way.
“I was nervous, didn't quite know how to tell you about it,” he confesses. “It was a shock to me too. I remembered you wanted to hold off on adding to our family and look what happened. I just forgot to use protection. This has never happened to me before,” he explains with pleading eyes.
“And how long did you think you could keep it from me, my love?” At these words of mine, everyone in the apartment stumbles with laughter. His father throws him a knowing look from under his reading glasses, a man-to-man thing.
Elise and I retire to arrange my dresses for the Luna ceremony. After the official part, there will be a reception where those present can congratulate us personally. Knowing my sister-in-law, it will be a big event, she has always been extravagant.
When we enter her chambers, I see the dresses already spread out in front of me on the bed. The traditional robe is accompanied by priceless precious jewels, all pure gold and platinum. I clap my hands enthusiastically when I see all that splendor in front of me. I love jewelry. “These pieces belong to the family legacy, Mercedes. They are centuries old and made of pure metal”, Elise informs me. “You'll have to keep them safe and pass it on to the mate of the next Alpha of Midnight Moon. I assume one of the pups is a son, the successor of the pack?”
Smart Elise, landing a sneak question to know more about my pups. But I got her right here. “Elise, I know where you want to go with your question. Yes, one of the pups is Zane's expected successor”, I reveal frugal. That is the least I want to state about my pregnancy, I have agreed with Zane that we will announce all the details during the ceremony. Because strangely enough, all of Midnight Moon already knows that I'm pregnant, I suspect my excited in-laws have something to do with this.
Elise's eyes light up, they go to my stomach. And then she stretches out a hand and strokes the place that will be round in a few weeks. “Cleo and I also want pups too but for some reason, we can't get around to it. I think it's time to make concrete arrangements with my mate when he gets back from Silver Moon," she sighs. There is a gleam in her eyes. “I know it's going to be a lot of sacrifices, but I'm so ready for it. And then all our pups can grow up together, take turns taking care of them and use as few nannies as possible”, she continues.
“You know, Mercedes. For years I feared the day you would turn eighteen. The idea that Zane wouldn't be your mate, after all, your wolf would notice someone else, scared the hell out of me," she admitted. “Although everything indicated that you belonged together, the final confirmation is with your wolf. It could be that Jax was wrong.”
I sit beside her on the bed and put my arm over her shoulders. “Zane is my fated mate. My wolf Era didn't want to risk shifting. The pups could suffer from that while they are still small and vulnerable”, I assure her. “Actually, before my birthday she had already told me that Zane was my fated. After the birth, I will ask her to reconfirm that publicly.” The happy smile crossed her face again.
“Thank you, Mercedes. You're the perfect Luna for us, we couldn't ask for better,” she says as she hugs me. “When the two Alphas claimed you, even my parents were stressed and desperate. We couldn't imagine you'd never be here with us again, after all those years. And now we even get a bonus”.
I burst out laughing. “Multiple bonuses. And look at my mark. I definitely belong to Zane”. I push my dress aside so she can see the bite on my neck. Proudly I hang forward so to give her a good look at it. Elise is now howling with laughter. She falls back on the bed, her hands over her stomach, hiccupping to calm down.
“Mercedes! Everyone in the pack is making jokes about you showing off your mark. Just a little while and your name will be Luna Mark”, she teases me.
Aaaahhh, life couldn't be better.
My mate, my pups, my in-laws and my mark....