CHAPTER 129: PREGNANT.

CHAPTER 129: PREGNANT.
~ Ava’s POV~

My hands were trembling.

I stared at the small herbal strip in my palm, the one Mira had given me earlier to “help with nausea.” I didn’t expect it to reveal anything. I only took it because she insisted.

But now…

Now the strip had changed color.

Positive.

The air rushed out of me in a shaky exhale. “No… no, no, oh Goddess.”

My heart thudded violently.

Pregnant.

I was pregnant.

For a moment, the world felt weightless. The sound faded. The room blurred. I dropped to the edge of the bed and pressed a shaky hand to my stomach.

“My baby…” I whispered.

Kieran’s baby.

A laugh escaped me, small, uneven, filled with disbelief. It bubbled up from some soft place in my chest before breaking into a sob.

I covered my mouth. “Oh Goddess… Kieran…”

A memory flashed like lightning.

His hands cupped my waist. His breath was warm on my neck. The way he whispered my name, desperate, apologetic, worshipful. His lips against my skin, his body pressed to mine, the way he held me afterward as if the world could take me only if it pried me from his arms.

I closed my eyes tightly.

“That night…” I whispered. “That stupid, beautiful night…”

I smiled again, weakly, painfully. My fingers curled around my stomach as if I could hold the memory there.

But the warmth vanished as quickly as it came.

Kieran was in a coma.

Unmoving. Unresponsive. Locked away from me.

My smile crumbled. My throat tightened instantly. “Why now? Why like this?”

A sob tore its way up before I could stop it. I pressed both hands over my mouth, bending forward, shoulders shaking.

“How am I supposed to tell you?” I whispered into my palms. “How am I supposed to do this alone?”

Tears fell, fast, hot, relentless.

Everything felt too heavy.

I wanted him.

I needed him.

I needed his voice, his touch, his stupid half-smile, his warmth around me.

I needed him to know.

A choked sound left me. “Please wake up… please…”

I wiped at my face, but more tears spilled out.

Another memory hit me.

His thumb brushed a tear from my cheek.

His whisper: “I’m here, Ava. I’m not going anywhere.”

A fresh sob burst from me.

“You lied,” I whispered.

A knock sounded suddenly, sharp in the silence.

I jolted upright, quickly wiping my eyes with the back of my sleeve. The tears were still there, red, raw but I forced my breathing into some semblance of calm.

“Ava?” Mira’s voice floated gently. “Can I come in?”

I scrambled to my feet and wiped my face again, harder this time. “Y-Yes. Come in.”

The door opened.

Mira stepped in holding a wooden tray of food. The moment she saw my face, her brows dipped.

“Ava… were you crying?”

“No,” I said too quickly. “Just tired.”

She gave me that look, the one that said she didn’t believe a word but she didn’t press.

She walked over and set the tray on the bed. “Eric forced me to bring this. He said if you skip another meal, he’s dragging you to the healer.”

I snorted. “He wouldn’t dare.”

“He would,” Mira said flatly. “And honestly? I might help him.”

A small smile tugged at my lips. “Traitor.”

She huffed. “Eat first. You need strength.”

My eyes flicked down to the tray.

Gods, I needed strength for so many reasons.

Mira watched me for a moment longer, then her voice softened. “You look pale. Did something happen?”

My heart stopped.

I straightened immediately. “No. I’m fine.”

She tilted her head. “Ava… I know when someone is lying.”

I forced a smile. “I’m not lying. Just overwhelmed.”

Mira sighed. “We all are.”

I nodded, looking down quickly before she could read too much.

Mira clapped her hands lightly. “Okay. Once you’re done eating, head to the training ground.”

My head snapped up. “Training ground? Why?”

“You’re joining us,” Mira said.

“I—what?”

“You heard me,” she said, annoyed. “I don’t care if you’re tired or cranky. You’re training. We need every fighter available, especially with Livia out there… doing whatever she’s planning.”

“But…”

“No buts,” Mira cut in. “Eric is already setting things up. He said the prophecy is useless if you can’t defend yourself.”

My stomach twisted.

Training. Physical exertion. Combat drills.

How was I supposed to do that—pregnant?

“Mira…” I began slowly. “I don’t think I can…”

“You can,” she said firmly. “You’re stronger than you think. And if we’re going to rescue Kieran and take back the pack, then you need to be prepared.”

My heart clenched painfully at the name.

Kieran.

Our baby.

I swallowed hard. “Fine. I’ll come.”

Mira smiled, satisfied. “Good.”

She turned toward the door but paused and glanced back at me.

“Ava?”

“Yes?”

“You know… if you ever want to talk about something, anything I’m here.”

My throat tightened. “I know.”

“And I won’t judge,” she added gently.

I forced a small smile. “Thank you.”

Mira nodded once, then walked out, closing the door softly behind her.

As soon as she left, my smile fell.

My hand drifted unconsciously to my stomach.

“Kieran…” I whispered, voice cracking. “You’re going to be a father.”

The room felt heavy again. My breaths came slow, uneven.

“I don’t know what to do,” I confessed quietly. “I don’t know how to tell them. I don’t know how to fight. I don’t know how to lead. I don’t know how to fix any of this.”

A hot tear slid down my cheek.

“But I know one thing… I’m not losing you.”

I placed both hands over my stomach.

“And I’m not losing our child.”

The vow wrapped around me like armor.

No matter what the prophecy demanded.

No matter what Livia plotted.

No matter what Damon planned in the shadows.

I would fight.

I would protect them.

Even if it meant breaking myself in two.

Even if it meant walking into the fire of fate alone.

I looked at the doorway, exhale

d shakily, and wiped my eyes one last time.

“Right,” I whispered. “Training ground.”

Then, whispering to the tiny life inside me, I added softly…

“We’re doing this together.”

And I stepped out the door.