Chapter 20 — Marco

The news about Katina’s pregnancy has spread around like wildfire through the pack, and everyone is abuzz with excitement. My heart swells with pride knowing that Katina has successfully won the hearts of my pack, and they no longer view her as a threat or an outsider.

But there is a sense of dread that accompanies me every waking moment, knowing that this house of lies I have built can come crashing down on us at any moment.

I feel stupid for roping Katina into my lies, because once the truth is out, she will suffer the consequences far more than I will. I vowed to protect her and her unborn pup, but how can I keep my vow to her, when my lie is the most dangerous thing to both of them? I have felt the doubts and the questions through the link I share with my pack members, and I know I have to address the issue of the pregnancy before it is too late. Katina will give birth to her pup anytime soon, and the longer I wait to make a statement, the longer the speculations about the paternity of her pup, and I cannot have that.

As I step into the council chambers, I feel the weight of their stares, their eyes flickering towards me with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"As you all know, Katina is pregnant,” I start, hoping to ease their worry. “She is safe and healthy too.”

Some nod, a few murmur, and only one speaks up, voicing their thoughts.

"Marco, are you sure the pup is yours?" It's Aya, one of the elders. She doesn’t speak much but it’s a testament to how worried the others are, if Aya has chosen to speak today.

I can hear the skepticism in her voice, and I know that her opinion holds weight among the council. "Yes, I'm sure," I answer, my voice strong.

"Katina has only been with us for a few weeks, and you've only been together for a month," she counters, and I can feel the tension build up in the room. "How can we be sure that the pup is yours, when we still have no idea where she comes from, or what her story is?"

I take a deep breath, fighting the urge to lash out. I know that they mean well, but this question strikes a personal chord with me. I meet Adrik’s gaze, and though he hasn’t voiced his concerns yet, I know he backs Aya’s words. After all, he has been against my relationship with Katina since the beginning.

"I met Katina before she came to our pack," I say, keeping my voice calm. "We've known each other for a lot longer than just a month."

There's a murmur of surprise, and I can tell that the council is taken aback by my revelation.

"Why didn't you tell us this before now?" Adrik asks, his tone accusatory. I detect a hint of betrayal in his tone, and I feel a slash of pain at my deception once again.

How can I still look them in the eye, when I’ve been blatantly lying to them for weeks?

"It didn't seem relevant at the time," I answer, feeling my frustration start to boil over.

There's a moment of tense silence before the council finally nods in agreement. "We'll take your word for it," Aya says, the finality in her voice leaving no room for doubt.

I exit the council meeting without waiting for a moment to speak with Adrik, citing the fact that Katina needs me back at our den.

I feel his gaze burning at the back of my head, but I don’t turn or acknowledge him anymore.

“I’ll explain everything to you soon,” I say through the private link we share, hoping that’ll be enough to assuage him. But I get no answer in return, just a vast emptiness where he is supposed to be.

Was he so furious with me that he blocked me from accessing him through our link?

I turn around to look for him, but he has somehow slipped out undetected. I resume my journey towards my den to check up on Katina, hoping that I can salvage whatever is left of my relationship with Adrik when I see him next.

As I enter my den, our combined scents fill my nostrils. It's a comforting aroma that brings a sense of familiarity and belonging to me, but one that also feels me with dread and yearning. I'm still ruminating over the lie I told again at the meeting, claiming Katina’s pup as mine when I notice her at work.

She's building a nest with my clothes and the comforters that have our combined scents on them. The sight of her meticulously arranging them tugs at my heartstrings, making me pause as I watch her. In all the time I've known Katina, I've never seen her like this. There's a certain glow to her, and an intense focus on her task, a she arranges the cushions to her taste.

It's almost as if she's in a trance-like state. Her movements are quick and precise, and she seems to find pleasure in every action. This is the nesting mode—the instinctive desire to create a cozy and secure environment for a family.

A primal part of me tells me to leave her be—to respect her space and let her do what she needs to do since I have no business with her nest. But there is another part of me that yearns to be close to her, to help her in any way I can, especially now that I see her building her nest with my clothes.

My clothes!

Mine!

Not someone else’s!

That must mean something, right?

Hope blooms in my chest, and for a while, I watch her in silence, taking in the sight of her.

It's incredible how the simple act of nest-building transforms her. Her aura is radiant, and I'm reminded of why I’ve found myself falling in love with her. I’m struck by how different she is from the wolf I first met all those weeks ago. Back then, she looked tough and independent, with no interest in forming attachments, nursing a broken heart from being betrayed by her pack. But now, I know that something has shifted in her.

As I continue to watch her deftly arrange blankets and cushioning, I’m filled with a sense of pride and awe. She’s a fierce and powerful Alpha in her own right, but there’s also a gentleness to her that only surfaces in moments like this.

For a long time, I stand back, watching as she works, taking in the scent of her and our shared belongings.

Over time, I’ve learned that there are certain moments when Katina needs to be left to her own devices. Nesting is one of those times—a primal and intimate experience that she needs to go through on her own terms. So instead of interrupting her, I stand back, content to watch the love of my life at work. It’s a rare opportunity for me to see her in this state, and I take it all in, savoring the moment.

As she finishes up, I’m overcome with a flood of emotions once again–love, pride, and a sense of protectiveness. I know deep down that I’ll do anything I can to protect her and our family–if she allows me–and watching her in this moment only reinforces that drive.

When she’s finally done, she turns to face me, and a look of pleasure crosses her face. “Come on in,” she says, gesturing towards the nest.

Tentatively, I step inside, taking in the arrangement of the blankets and cushions around us. Everything is soft and cozy, a reflection of Katina’s love and care. “Thank you,” I say, my voice awash with emotion. “It’s beautiful.”

Her eyes meet mine, filled with a depth of feeling that I’ve never seen before. “This is our home,” she says, her voice soft and warm. “I wanted to make sure it was perfect for us.”

There’s something about this moment that fills me with a sense of joy and contentment. I know that in this nest, surrounded by our shared scent, that things will turn out better than I have hoped.

We sit for a while, surrounded by the smell of our combined scent and the intimacy of the nest she has created. As we sit together, my mind drifts to the future and the family that we’re about to create. It’s a future filled with laughter, love, and the sense of belonging that only a pack can bring.

In this moment, with Katina by my side, I realize that I don’t want anybody else but her.