550- The Alpha's Triumph
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
I walked slowly to the bed, my fingers brushing the soft fabric of one of his favorite sweaters. It was crumpled, marked by my touch, as if I had already pulled it toward me countless times, feeling the comfort it offered. I brought the fabric to my nose and inhaled deeply, feeling the scent that calmed my racing heart. Anton's aroma was everywhere, impregnated in the cotton, in the wool, in the sheets that still held the warmth of our bodies.
I looked around, checking if everything was as it should be. The sheets, twisted and rolled to completely surround me, were the barrier I had instinctively created, as if forming a perimeter of protection. Anton's clothes were distributed to create a bubble, an intimate space that belonged only to the two of us.
The room had a strong but comforting smell, almost as if the space were alive, saturated with the scent of Anton and of us.
I let out a sigh of relief when I realized nothing had been touched. Lyris hadn't entered. Everything was exactly as it should be.
"I knew it!" Her voice echoed behind me. I jumped and turned around. She was a step away from the door, keeping a safe distance from the room, with her arms crossed. Right behind her were Lana, Aurelka, and Celindra. "It's not the first time I've seen one of these, and I'm sure it won't be the last."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.
"That messy mess in there, that you set up in Anton's room, is called a nest."
"Nest?" I repeated in a strangled tone. She nodded.
"Some omegas build them when they're pregnant." She narrowed her gaze on me. "Didn't you go into heat a few days ago?"
I slid my fingertips over the bed, checking that it was close to me in case my legs failed and I fell to the floor. I took a deep breath, trying to bring air to my lungs, but it didn't seem to reach them, as if it had become thin.
"Yes, I did."
She clapped her hands and began to smile. Aurelka and Lana let out little squeals, hugging each other.
"Congratulations, Thalyndra, you're expecting a pup," Lyris said.
I shook my head, denying it.
"No... there's no way to know for sure just because of a mess in the bedroom," I protested, my mouth dry.
"Yes, there is. Anton is hunting like a lunatic, and you're tending to the nest. They're your instincts heightened, the wolves giving signs of the pup that's on the way. Anton hunts to feed you, fulfilling his role as provider, while you tend to the place where you'll have the pup," Celindra explained. She dilated her nostrils, sniffing. "Besides, your scent is already changing too."
I opened and closed my mouth, but no sound came out.
"And, as I said, we're very used to this. Lunara did it during Anton and Myrion's pregnancies. We had to deal with this endless trance for weeks," Lyris hissed. "And Edric is not easy at all, so imagine the hard work we had."
"Don't remind me," Celindra murmured, and then, looked at me. "Come here. We're not going to enter the room, you might freak out if we do."
With unsteady steps, not feeling my legs properly, I did as she asked. As soon as I crossed the door, I was received by many hugs. They dragged me out to the street, where Vladren waited to congratulate me too.
I stood there, motionless, in complete shock and without any reaction.
I still felt the weight of the discovery inside me. Pregnant. The word echoed in my mind, bringing a mixture of euphoria and apprehension.
Anton emerged from the forest once more, shirtless, closely followed by Myrion. Sweat ran down his chest and his muscles were tense, every movement of his exuding power. He held a new deer, killed during the hunt. He carried the body with the same ease as always, but there was something different in his eyes. A more intense energy, something primal that made my heart race immediately.
When he saw me, he stopped before me, his blue eyes assessing me, as if searching for something that perhaps only he could feel. The air between us seemed to vibrate, and I knew he was attuned to my emotions.
Anton looked at the deer in his arms and, with a crooked smile, raised his head, his eyes gleaming intensely.
"So, what do you think? Does the meat look good?" he asked.
I felt warmth spread through my chest as I looked at him, the intensity of his gaze reaching me in a way I hadn't felt before.
I took a deep breath, my lips curving into a soft smile.
"Yes, it looks good," I murmured, my voice trembling.
Something changed in his expression, his eyes lit up with a new light, a gleam of satisfaction mixed with anticipation. He turned his nails into claws and, with precise movements, tore off a piece of raw meat from the animal.
I knew immediately what he was about to do.
He had tried before, had tried to feed me fresh meat, as an alpha wolf would do with his female.
"Then eat, let me feed you."
He extended the meat toward me, his eyes full of expectation. I felt something deep inside me. I was ready. It wasn't just about the meat, it was about what it meant. About us. About the bond we were sealing with every gesture. I needed him to know that, from that moment on, we were together in everything, including this part of our nature.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward. Our gazes remained fixed as I leaned in, biting into the piece of meat he offered. The metallic, raw taste invaded me, but I didn't pull away. It wasn't as bad as it seemed, nor as disgusting as I had imagined.
I let him feed me, accepting everything he offered. I let out a moan of satisfaction, my lips smeared with the deer's blood.