Chapter 121 Elara's POV
I woke to warmth and the sound of steady breathing.
For a moment, I was disoriented that this wasn't my bed. The sheets smelled different. Pine and earth and something uniquely Kaden.
Then I remembered I had moved into Kaden's quarters. Into our quarters now.
I turned my head carefully and found him still asleep beside me. His face was relaxed in a way it never was during waking hours. Younger, less burdened.
I watched him for a while, this powerful Alpha who'd chosen me despite everything. Who had fought for us when it would have been easier to give up.
His eyes opened slowly, catching me staring.
"Morning," He said, his voice rough with sleep.
"Morning."
We lay there looking at each other. The intimacy of waking up together felt strange and new despite everything we'd been through.
"You snore," I said.
He blinked. "What?"
"You snore not loudly, just a little like a content bear."
"I do not snore."
"You absolutely do and you steal the covers."
"That's because you radiate heat like a furnace. I was actually too warm last night."
"That's the pregnancy. I'm always too hot now."
"I noticed." He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my face. "You also kicked me twice."
"That wasn't me, that was the baby. He's very active at night."
"Our son is already causing trouble. I'm so proud."
I laughed. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're beautiful. Especially in the morning with your hair all tangled and that grumpy expression you get when you first wake up."
"I don't have a grumpy expression-"
"You absolutely do like a cat who has been woken up before she's ready." He pulled me closer. "It's adorable."
"Stop trying to charm me. I know what you're doing."
"What am I doing?"
"Distracting me from the fact that you took up three-quarters of the bed and your elbow was on my back for half the night."
"Was it? I didn't notice. I was too busy not snoring."
We dissolved into laughter, the awkwardness of sharing a bed finally breaking.
"We should get up," I said eventually. "I have that scan appointment with Damian this morning."
Kaden's expression immediately shifted. Less playful. More tense. "Right the scan."
"You are still coming with me?"
"Of course someone needs to make sure Damian keeps his hands to himself."
"Kaden-"
"I'm joking mostly." He sat up. "I will behave. I promise."
But when we arrived at the medical wing two hours later, Kaden was anything but relaxed.
Damian was professional as always, setting up the ultrasound equipment, explaining what he had been checking for.
"This is a more detailed scan than the basic ones we've been doing," He said. "We will look at the baby's organs, bone structure, and brain development. Make sure everything is progressing normally."
"How long will it take?" Kaden asked, positioning himself on the opposite side of the bed from Damian.
"About an hour, maybe longer depending on what I find."
"And you will tell us immediately if something's wrong?"
"Of course." Damian's tone was cool. "I do know how to do my job, Alpha."
"I'm sure you do. I just want to make sure we're clear about priorities."
"The baby's health is always my priority."
"Good as long as we understand each other."
I rolled my eyes. "Both of you stop, this is supposed to be a happy occasion. We are checking on our son. Can you please not turn it into a territorial pissing match?"
They both had the grace to look sheepish.
The scan took nearly ninety minutes. Damian was thorough, checking every detail, making notes, occasionally explaining what we were seeing on the screen.
"The heart looks good. Four chambers developing properly. Brain structure is normal. The spine is straight. All the organs are where they should be."
He moved the sensor around. "And the lunar pulse is strong. I can actually see it on the scan. That blue glow that's the blessing manifesting physically."
I stared at the screen, watching our son move and shift. Seeing the faint blue light emanating from his tiny form.
"He's perfect," I whispered.
Kaden's hand found mine and squeezed. "He is."
"Everything looks excellent," Damian said. "Growth is right on track with no abnormalities. No worries, you are having a very healthy baby."
Relief flooded through me. I hadn't realized how worried I had been until the worry lifted.
"Thank you," I said to Damian. "For being so thorough."
"It's my job. And my pleasure."
He cleaned off the ultrasound gel. "You are free to go. I will want to see you again in two weeks for a follow-up."
Kaden helped me sit up. "Two weeks. We will be here."
"I'm sure you will be," Damian said dryly.
In the car on the way back to the pack house, the tension from the medical wing finally dissipated.
"We should talk about names," I said.