MY WATER BROKE

MY WATER BROKE
Darius

I loved looking at how beautiful that Ayla was, seriously, I doubt that I would ever get tired of it.

She was playing some sort of game with Freddy that I had no idea what it was but I was just happy to watch…. Now I would have joined in if not for my bad habit of being fiercely competitive.

I’d rather be in the sidelines than ruin the fun.

I know, I know, I need to learn to be more of a good sport, but I just could not help it… All my life, I had been pushed to be the best version of myself.

I had to be faster, to be smarter, and to be cooler.

I had issues probably… you know what, thinking about this, I think that I need to work more on myself.

I leaned against the wooden porch railing, arms folded, and a small smile pulling at the corner of my mouth.

Peace, I was quickly falling in love with that feeling.

It wasn’t something we’d always known — hell, it wasn’t even something we believed we deserved some days. But in this moment, watching my mate and our son chasing each other like time didn’t matter, I felt it.

It was nice to not have to look over our shoulder all of the time, or hate each other, this was just, nice.

Freddy shrieked as Ayla caught him, pulling him down onto the grass. She tickled his sides mercilessly while he squirmed, giggling and trying to escape. My heart swelled.

That boy had brought so much light back into Ayla’s … into my life, and it was the kind of joy that we did not know we even needed.

Even though it was tragic how he lost his mother, but things did happen for a reason and we would be the best parents to him.

They eventually collapsed side by side on the grass, both panting and flushed, and Ayla turned her head toward me. “You’re just going to stand there and stare, Alpha?” she teased, eyes twinkling.

I chuckled and walked down to them, lowering myself carefully to the grass beside her. “I’m supervising,” I said. “Someone’s got to keep an eye on the chaos.”

Freddy grinned. “We’re not chaos. We’re fun.”

“You’re dangerous,” I teased, ruffling his hair. “You will do big things one day.”

He puffed out his chest like a mini alpha. “One day.”

Ayla did tell me about Freddy wanted to practice his magic, and I was on her side, anything that would make him happy was alright.

He was born with an angelic heart and that was all that mattered.

Ayla just shook her head, amused. “You created this monster.”

I kissed her temple softly. “Do not even blame me sweetheart, you are the one who spoiled him.”

We stayed like that for a while — tangled together, just watching the sky.

For the first time in a long time, there was no threat. No prophecy hanging over our heads. Just the three of us, waiting for the fourth to arrive.

“I’m going to grab some water,” Ayla said, sitting up and brushing grass off her dress. She groaned softly, holding her back. “This baby is getting heavy.”

I offered her my hand. “Want help?”

She waved me off. “I’m fine. Pregnant, not helpless.”

I smiled, watching her waddle toward the house. Freddy leaned into my side, suddenly quiet.

“Are you scared?” he asked softly.

I looked down at him. “About what?”

“The baby. That everything will change.”

I wrapped an arm around his small shoulders. “Things will change. But not the important things. You’ll always be ours, Freddy. You’re our first, no matter what and you will always be part of whatever change that happens.”

He nodded slowly, leaning into the comfort.

A moment passed before a loud gasp came from the kitchen.

“Darius!”

Ayla’s voice rang out sharp and startled.

I was on my feet instantly, heart pounding. Freddy scrambled up beside me as I rushed into the house.

Ayla stood frozen near the sink, eyes wide as she looked down. A small puddle had already formed at her feet.

“My water just broke,” she said breathlessly, locking eyes with me.