Chapter 43 FORTY-THREE
Raven pressed the doorbell, and after a moment, Brienne opened the door. She stood there with a soft smile, her hand resting on her belly.
"Good morning, darling," Raven greeted warmly, holding out a vibrant bouquet of flowers. Brienne frowned, scrunching her nose and stepping back.
"Get that away from me," she said, quickly covering her nose. Raven froze, looking confused.
"What? What’s wrong, darling?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I don’t like the smell of those flowers," she said, shaking her head. Her tone was apologetic but firm. "Your child has been very sensitive these past few days," she added, gently rubbing her belly. Understanding dawned on Raven’s face, and his expression softened.
"I’m so sorry, darling. I didn’t think about that," he said.
He quickly turned and hurried back to his car, carefully placing the bouquet on the passenger seat. He grabbed a bottle of hand sanitizer, rubbing it thoroughly into his hands to remove any lingering floral scent. When Raven returned to the door, he was smiling brightly, his hands clean and empty.
"Better now?" he asked, his tone playful but kind. Brienne smiled sweetly and then glared at him.
"No," Brienne said firmly, shaking her head. "Go back after getting rid of that stench," Brienne added, before closing the door with a sigh.
Raven stood there for a moment, stunned. His jaw dropped, but then he chuckled, scratching the back of his head, and he turned back to his car. Fortunately, his hotel was just a few minutes away.
Half an hour later, Raven parked his car near Brienne’s apartment. This time, he came prepared, carrying a bag of healthy food he had picked up for her on the way back. Smiling, he rang the doorbell.
When Brienne opened the door, tears were streaming down her face. Raven’s heart dropped, and he rushed to her side, taking her hands in his.
"Darling?! What’s wrong? Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.
"B-Because you took too long to shower," Brienne sobbed, her words tumbling out between hiccups. Raven let out a soft sigh of relief and pulled her into his arms.
"Oh, darling," he said gently, holding her close. Brienne sniffed his shirt and buried her face in his chest.
"Y-You smell nice now," she murmured through her tears, clinging to him tightly. Raven chuckled softly, stroking her back.
"Thank you, darling. I’m sorry for taking so long," he said. Brienne nodded, calming down as she relaxed in his embrace.
"Shall we go inside now?" Raven asked, his voice warm and soothing. Brienne wiped her cheeks and gave him a small nod.
"Okay," she said softly, her earlier frustration forgotten as they walked inside together.
Raven settled on the couch, and Brienne joined him, leaning against his shoulder.
"What’s your plan for today?" Raven asked, his voice gentle.
"I don’t know," Brienne replied softly, her tone uncertain. Raven thought for a moment, then his face lit up.
"How about we go to the mall and shop for some baby things?" he suggested, placing his hand tenderly on her growing belly. Brienne shook her head with a small smile.
"Not yet," she said. "I want to know our baby’s gender first before we start buying things," she added.
"When do we find out?" Raven asked, excitement evident in his voice.
"Probably next month," Brienne answered, glancing down at her already swollen belly. She had recently filed for maternity leave, relieved that her manager had approved it so quickly. Deep down, though, she suspected Raven had something to do with that approval.
"Next month it is, then," Raven said, his hand stroking her belly gently. "And don’t worry—I’ll be with you for every check-up," he added.
Brienne’s eyes filled with tears, her heart warm from his words. She tried not to cry again, but Raven’s kindness made it hard to hold back.
"Thank you, darling," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Raven stopped stroking her belly and looked at her with wide eyes.
"What did you say?" Raven asked, looking at her curiously. Brienne smiled softly, shaking her head.
"Nothing," she replied, pretending innocence. Raven paused, then smiled, taking her hand gently in his.
"I love you," he whispered, his voice tender.
Brienne’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away, clearing her throat to hide her embarrassment. But then, a thought crossed her mind—something she had seen in the news about her ex-boyfriend.
"Do you remember Jasper?" she asked hesitantly. Raven’s expression darkened slightly, his brow furrowing.
"You mean your scumbag ex-boyfriend?" he said bluntly. Brienne nodded her head.
"Yes... He died in prison," she whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief. Raven’s fingers intertwined with hers as he pulled her closer.
"It’s karma," he said firmly. "After all the horrible things he did to those women, including you, it was bound to catch up with him," he added. Brienne sighed, shaking her head slowly.
"I just can’t believe he’s gone. He was so young," she said, her tone a mix of surprise and sadness. Raven stroked the back of her hand, his voice calm and reassuring.
"Life is unpredictable, darling," he said. "But people like him… They make their own paths, and sometimes, it leads to an early end," he added.
"Don't think about it anymore, darling. I don't want you to get stressed about it," Raven said, stroking Brienne's hair.
"Hmm, alright," she replied.
Meanwhile, back at the Crescent Stone pack, Elder Joaquin interrupted Arthur by storming into his office, his face flushed with anger.
"Arthur!" Joaquin exclaimed, his voice sharp.
Arthur looked up from his work. They had recently raided a rogue hideout, taking out some enemies, but the leader behind the attacks was still unknown. Folding his arms, he greeted the elder with a calm tone.
"Joaquin. What brings you here? What do you need?" he asked.
"Where is Raven? It’s been weeks, Arthur! He hasn’t returned to the pack to handle this crisis. It’s unacceptable!" Joaquin said. Arthur’s expression darkened as Joaquin continued. "He’s the Alpha, yet he’s abandoning his responsibilities. It’s incompetence!" he added. Arthur stood abruptly, his glare silencing Joaquin for a moment.
"Be careful with your words, Joaquin. You’re talking about my son. I might forget that you’re my cousin," he warned, his tone cold. Joaquin hesitated, stepping back slightly but not backing down.
"Arthur, Raven is not just any pack member. He’s the Alpha! He should be here, setting an example, leading us through this mess. Instead, he’s off with that human!" Joaquin said. Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
"That human has a name, Joaquin. Her name is Brienne, and she’ll soon be my daughter-in-law. Watch your tone, and remember whose house you’re in," he said, his voice sharp.
"Arthur—" Joaquin resumed, but Arthur's patience had run out.
"Get out," Arthur commanded, his voice booming with authority.
Joaquin froze for a moment, his lips pressed tightly together. Without another word, he turned and left the office, slamming the door behind him. Arthur exhaled heavily.
"What the hell is his problem?" He sat back down and returned to his work, refusing to let Joaquin ruin his day. There was too much to do, and petty arguments wouldn’t help the pack’s situation.