Chapter 65

I took a deep, steadying breath as I watched Mathew playing contentedly in the living area of our den, a small, fond smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as Mathew let out a bright peal of laughter.

"Mathew? Can you come here for a moment, my sunshine? Mama has something important to share with you."

I patted the space next to me, unable to stop my smile from widening as Mathew immediately snuggled against my side.

I dropped a tender kiss on Mathew's forehead. He hummed contentedly at my touch, those striking emerald eyes watching me with rapt attention.

"Did I do somethin' bad, Mumma?" he asked suddenly, small brow furrowing adorably.

"No, my little star, you're not in any trouble this time," I assured him.

With a smile, I cradled my son close and murmured, "How would you feel about becoming a big brother, my heart? Because very soon...you're going to have a new baby sibling."

It took a heartbeat for Mathew's eyes to go wide in realization. Then, before I could even register his reaction further, he was scrambling up and throwing his small arms around my neck in a fierce, uncoordinated embrace.

"Really?! Really really?" he babbled excitedly into my hair as I laughed in surprise. "I get'ta be a big brudder?!"

I pulled back just enough to meet his euphoric gaze, stroking his flushed cheek tenderly. "Yes, my darling one. Really and truly," I affirmed, reveling in Mathew's unbridled joy. "You're going to have a sweet new brother or sister to love and protect very soon. We'll be going to the clinic now now as your father will meet us there."

Dominic was currently finalizing a few things with Sage but was adamant on having me go to thr clinic. He wasn't there for Mathew and wanted to be there completely for his unborn baby.

"I can't wait to meet the new pup," Mathew murmured, wriggling out of my arms to slide down to the sofa next to me. His small hands patted my belly with a sublime sort of love. "Don't you worry, baby bladder or sissy...I'mma be the best big bladder ever an' always look out for you!"

His sweeping promise, spoken with such conviction, very nearly undid my fragile hold on composure. I blinked back the sheen of joyful tears blurring my vision as Mathew continued his chatter, delighting his unborn sibling with awe-inspiring vows of protection.

My hand drifted to join Mathew's small ones before taking him along with me to the pack's clinic where we were both immediately greeted happily by the pack's nurses and ushered into a room.

"Congratulations, on your baby Luna." They addressed me.

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Please, get comfortable." she pointed towards the bed making me nod as I made my way to lay trying to get comfortable.

I shifted restlessly on the narrow cot in the pack's clinic, unable to get fully comfortable on the thin padding. A frustrated huff escaped my lips as I repositioned myself again, one hand instinctively resting on my still flat abdomen.

"You know, fidgeting like that won't make this go any fwaster, Mumma." my son's voice piped up from beside me. Despite his young age, he was already mimicking his father's trademark smirk.

I couldn't help but smile fondly at the pint-sized version of my mate. "I just want to get this over with so I can get back home," I explained patiently. "Your father is overreacting, dragging me in here like I'm some fragile, wilting flower."

As if on cue, the door to the exam room swung open and Dominic ducked inside. His broad, powerfully-built frame seemed to dwarf the entire space as those piercing blue eyes fixed me with a concerned look.

"Everything okay? Your Mumma isn't giving you any trouble, is she?" His brow furrowed, even as his gaze raked over me in a mixture of tenderness and protective scrutiny.

"Mumma's just bein' antsy like usual, Daddy. The doc'll be here soon to check on the baby brother or sister, don't worry."

I shot my son a playfully chastising look which only made his boyish grin stretch wider, so reminiscent of his father's roguish charm.

Even though I felt controlled, I was unable to ignore a flutter of warmth blooming inside of me at Dominic's evident care - for me, for the new life within my stomach.

My powerful, fierce mate was practically vibrating with nervous energy over something as early and routine as this first prenatal checkup. It was oddly endearing how flustered he became already over ensuring the welfare of our unborn pup.

Even though I was still less than a month old, with werewolves, our pups grew very faster than that of normal humans, so ultrasounds this early was quite ok.

Dominic sat on the exam bed next to me, as he cradled Mathew in his arms, planting tender kisses on his head then on mine. The door opened and Dr. Emerson entered, her warm smile putting me at ease.

"Alright Freya, let's take a look at how things are progressing," she said, rolling over the ultrasound machine. I lifted my shirt, exposing my stomach as she squirted the cool gel on.

We watched the fuzzy image intently until two distinct forms began to take shape. My breath caught in my throat as the realization hit.

"I don't see anything," Dominic openly voiced, pushing his head closer to the monitor and blocking my view, making me swat at him.

The doctor tried breaking it down to him on the monitor while I drowned them out trying to make sense of what I was seeing on the monitor myself.

"Oh my...are those..." I couldn't even finish the sentence, looking up at the doctor with wide eyes.

She gave an excited nod. "You're carrying twins! And at one month along, they both have incredibly strong heartbeats."

Twins? The word repeated over and over in my mind as I tried to process this shocking yet elating news. I glanced at Dominic, whose face was split by the most dazzling, proud smile I'd ever seen. Mathew was buzzing with excitement in his father's arms.

"Twins," he repeated in an awed tone, bringing my hand up to kiss my knuckles. "My brilliant Luna, carrying not one but two new lives."

In that moment I felt shock, happiness and horror.

Shock at the fact that I was having twins, happiness at the fact that I was also having twins and horror at the fact that I now had two babies to worry about.