*after THE WEDDING*

Chapter One

Scarlet Kesley held her legs to her chest, taking in deep breaths. Her left hand curled into a fist, pulling up the blanket of her bed with it. She could feel the small bump against her knees, which she only discovered that morning. Right after she threw up.

The thing was, Scarlet was only twenty-five, and while she'd been married for a full year now, the idea of raising a family together still shot panic into her mind. Sure, Wolf would be an amazing father, but with her hereditary background, she didn't know if she'd be the same way.

Her head spun as she gently smoothed her hand over her round-ish stomach where she knew a small baby resided. Her head spun as she felt a small kick at the base of her belly. A small gasp escaped her lips, and her heart began to swell.

Ze'ev's footsteps echoed as he came up the stairs to her, and her head snapped up, eyes meeting his vivid green beauties.

"Ze'e-Wolf.." she stuttered, eyes turned downward, to the comforter still bunched between her palm and fingers. "I-I need to say something and I have no idea how to and I don't know how you'll react and… Oh, Lord, I am so, so scared!"

"Scarlet-"

"Wolf! Just… promise not to be angry with me. Please!"

"I promise, Scarlet. But-"

"I'm pregnant," she whispered. "I'm going to have a baby. Your baby."

His mouth curved up into an o. Her face turned as red as her namesake.

"A-a baby?" he asked, hope filling his eyes.

"Maybe two," she responded, her voice barely a whisper. She pulled her hand up off of the comforter and wrapped it across her. "I'm so sorry."

He hurriedly swept himself across the room, sitting behind her, his head put into the small space between her shoulder and neck, his breath tickling her and sending a shiver up her back.

"Did you really think I would be angry?" he asked softly, and she let her hair drop over her face.

"I had no idea. Ze'ev, everyone tells me that I'm so brave, but right now, I feel nothing close to bravery. I feel… terrified." She placed her hand below the bump, reaching across her body to find his hand. Her eyes closed shut as she squeezed it, and her heart raced against the background of terror and love for this infant.

Or infants.

"Do you… do you really think I'd be a good mother?" she asked softly, leaning back into Wolf. He smiled against her neck, a loosening of relief flooding through her body.

"Do you really think you wouldn't be?" Wolf lifted his head pulled Scarlet's face to his, meeting her eyes. She let out a shuddering breath, running her hand down his chest.

"I don't know."

He pressed his lips to hers, and she responded immediately, putting her hand in his hair, her body curving into his. All of the reality melted away until there was only him, only her…

Then a tiny kick pushed at her abdomen.

"Shit," she muttered, pulling away from him. He grinned.

"I felt it."

She put her head on his shoulder, letting out a long breath.

"We're gonna be parents," she murmured. He let out a low chuckle.

"Yeah. Yeah, we are."