Two Weeks Ago

Two Weeks Ago
Chapter 54
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Elena

A lump formed in my throat as I told him. “Everything.” 

His brows drew together, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “Go on.”

I took in a few deep breaths and bit my lip. 
 “I’m… pregnant.”
The words left me in barely more than a whisper, yet they seemed to echo between us. His eyes widened, the guarded suspicion melting into something raw…shock, disbelief, maybe even fear.
For a second, he didn’t move. He stared at me as though his brain was fighting to translate what I had just said.
I could feel my pulse in my ears, every beat heavy and loud. “I… I found out two weeks ago,” I confessed, my voice trembling. “I wanted to tell you right away, but—”
“But you didn’t,” he cut in sharply, his voice tight.
I swallowed hard, tears pricking my eyes. “I didn’t know how you’d react. I wasn’t sure if this would… make you stay or push you away.”
He stepped toward me slowly, as though approaching something fragile…me, or maybe the truth itself. “Elena…” His voice softened, but it was still edged with a thousand unspoken questions. “You’re carrying my child?”
I nodded, my vision blurring as a tear finally slipped down my cheek. “Yes.”
The air between us was electric, heavy with the weight of everything this meant. I could see the storm in his eyes…the fear of the unknown, the guilt over the past, and something warmer that flickered just beneath the surface.
Then, without warning, he closed the distance and cupped my face in his hands. “You should have told me,” he murmured, his thumb brushing away my tears. “I deserved to know the moment you did.”
“I know,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “But I was scared. I didn’t want to ruin… whatever this is between us.”
His jaw tightened, but his eyes softened. “You’re not ruining anything.” He hesitated, his breath brushing my lips. “You’re giving me something I never thought I’d have.”
My chest tightened at his words. I had imagined anger, rejection, maybe even cold indifference—but not this. Not the way his voice trembled like he was barely holding himself together.
“You are mine now, and this is a symbol of our union.” He said, gently brushing my cheeks.
His mouth curved into something soft. 
“I didn’t think I’d get this. A mate. A family. I didn’t think it was in the cards for me, and now… we’re here.”
My chest ached, my breath catching. “So you’re not… mad?”
He gave a short laugh, almost disbelieving. “Mad? Elena, I’m terrified. But not because of you, or this baby. I’m terrified because I want it so much already.”
Tears blurred my vision again, but this time they felt lighter. He tugged me closer until I was in his arms, his chin resting on the top of my head. For a few moments, the world felt still. It was just him.
 Us.
When he pulled back, there was a spark in his eyes. “We’ll figure this out together. Every step, every mistake, every late-night craving.”
I almost laughed, but my throat was too tight. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“You should,” he said, his thumb brushing my cheek again. “Because I mean it.”
We moved to the bed, sitting side by side. His hand stayed on mine, occasionally brushing over my knuckles as if to reassure himself I was still there. I could see him thinking and planning, maybe…but not in the cold, calculated way he sometimes did.
“What’s going on in your head?” I asked.
He huffed a breath. “Names. How the hell am I going to stop my mother from moving into our house the second she hears about this.”
I smiled faintly. “You are already thinking of names?”
He gave me a look. “But of course.” 
We stared at each other for a while before we burst out laughing.
His laughter faded into a soft hum, and we sat there for a while longer, just… breathing together. It was strange how something as simple as his hand resting over mine could make my chest ache in the best way. Eventually, exhaustion caught up with me, and my head tilted until it rested against his shoulder.
“You should have some rest,” he murmured, pressing a kiss into my hair. “I’ll be here.”
I wanted to answer, but my eyelids were too heavy. The last thing I felt was his arm slipping around my waist, pulling me closer, his warmth wrapping around me like a blanket.

When I woke, the morning light was spilling through the curtains in soft gold streaks. I listened—to the quiet hum of his breathing beside me. He was still asleep, one hand loosely draped over my hip, his hair falling messily across his forehead.
Carefully, I shifted onto my side to face him. It wasn’t often I saw him like this—unguarded, his expression calm, lips parted slightly. My fingers itched to smooth the line between his brows, to memorize every detail of this rare softness.
I must have lingered too long, because his eyes cracked open, and the faintest smile curved his lips. “Staring at me while I sleep? That’s a little creepy, Elena.”
I rolled my eyes, though I felt my cheeks warm. “You make it sound like I was plotting your murder.”
He smirked, voice still husky from sleep. “And here I was, hoping you were just admiring me.”
I shook my head, but couldn’t stop my smile. “You wish.”
We lay there for a while, trading quiet remarks, until the smell of something faint…coffee I  think—drifted through the air. Now I was suddenly hungry. He stretched lazily before sitting up. “Stay here. I’ll make breakfast.”
“Do you even know how to make breakfast?” I teased.
His grin was sharp, smug. “I’m about to impress you.”
He disappeared into the kitchen, and I followed the sound of his footsteps and the low rumble of his voice drifting away as he muttered to himself.