Chapter 28

~Aaden POV~

My insides were turning again. I felt like puking. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. Silas's words rang in my ears again, words that were dangerous, words that made my heart both burst with excitement and break in two.

"In normal circumstances, I'd be issuing congratulations. I do not believe this is this case."

No, Silas. This was not the case. In fact, 'congratulations' was the last thing I wanted to hear. Derek hadn't said a word to anyone, not even me, when I had been told I was pregnant. He'd simply walked out, his emotions stronger than ever and crashing into me one after the other. Waves of anger, followed by sorrow, more anger, then worry. What would this mean for us? For me, and for the baby? As much as it stressed me out, and as much as I wished I wasn't pregnant, I was in love. I was a mother. For now, it was upsetting, but it wasn't the baby's fault. He or she had certainly picked one hell of a time though. Sure, I thought down to the tiny being inside me, come on into this world. I'm so sorry that we're bringing you into a war. I was worried, that was for sure. We didn't even know if we would survive, much less this child. If Derek and I were killed, what would it mean for the baby? Would it get to live in a world where the hurt of the vampires was unheard of, or would she or he be born into the misery of what we were fighting against?

When the last person left the room, I couldn't help myself. Regardless of my hurting back and hips, I stood and went to look in the mirror. There wasn't a bump, it was too early for that. I was only five weeks along, which as a human, I shouldn't have even thought about it at this point. I was assured that this baby would grow just fine, I was on schedule and everything seemed perfect, but it was the other idea that bothered me. What would happen to me? I wasn't scared of dying, at all, and if I had to in order to get the baby here, so be it. My only worry was Derek. He was so angry right now, and I felt that it was directed towards me. Not me personally, but the little person within me. I knew what he was thinking, or what he must have been. He was asking why the baby had to prove him wrong. Would said baby kill his mate? Could he be a decent father? For the first two, I had no answer, but I knew when he came around, he'd be one of the best daddies in the world. He wouldn't know it now, but he'd come around, right?

Softly, I lifted my shirt, peering at the bare skin of my abdomen. I couldn't wait for the baby to move. It'd make it even more real. I ran my hand lovingly over where my baby was cradled. "If I survive this," I said quietly, but aloud, "I'll love you always."

"I will protect you."

~Derek POV~

My vision remained red. I had to get out of that room, out of the earshot of Aaden and bystanders. Pregnant. She was pregnant, and it was my fault. I should have been careful regardless of 'knowing' she couldn't be. How stupid I was! A damned idiot!

"Not now, Farren." I growled menacingly as she strode down the stairs and into the room I was hiding in. "Yes now, Derek," she said back angrily, "what the hell is wrong with you? Aaden could be upset right now, and here you are, down here pouting!" "I'm not pouting!" I said through clenched teeth, "I took myself away from the situation as to not make it worse." "What are you thinking?" She asked. "I don't know. She isn't prepared either, couldn't we just have Silas or someone take it out?" "I think you need to discuss that with her. It's her baby too. I agree with you though. It'd be simpler and more merciful if you just nipped this in the bud. Then be more careful from now on." "When we nip this problem, I'll change her immediately. She can finish studying when I've trained her." Having said this, I walked back out. First, I'd do some routine exercises, calm my mind and heartbeat and draw back the fangs, and then I'd go convince her. Surely she was thinking what I was.

Falling down onto the grass to do push-ups, I suddenly realized: How had I not noticed her smell? She still smelled like Aaden obviously, but it was tinged with another scent, one I recognized. Fresh cut wood, with a light undertone of smoke. The scent was all too familiar. Recalling it, I saw my ten year old self hopping into my mother's arms. I felt the touch of her fingers on my face, telling me that even though my eyes were different, they were still beautiful, just like the rest of me. Before I'd earned my Alpha status with the passing of my father and mother, the innocent life I'd taken had made my eyes turn blue.

I'd know that scent anywhere, but I had missed it in trying to prove it couldn't be.

I stood, heading towards our room. She couldn't have this kid. Later in life, we might try again, but it would most assuredly kill her as a human. It was hard on women in the real world, having human children, but a human attempting to birth an Alpha's baby? She'd die, hands down, and I wouldn't let that happen. We could have another baby, but I couldn't find another Aaden. Surely she would understand this.

When I opened the door, she was standing by the window, her shirt held up and she was studying her stomach. I felt oncoming rage, but put a leash on it. "Aaden," I said, and she started, looking up to me in the mirror. "Why did you leave?" She asked without qualms. "You're kidding, right?" I asked and sat down angrily in a chair to the side. "You're right, I'm sorry. It was quite the shock." Her eyes went dull for a second, before she shook her head and came to sit on the bed across from me. I decided to cut to the chase. "Aaden, you cannot carry this baby." Her look was dumbstruck, like I'd just spoken another language, or told her I'd killed her mother. "Why couldn't I?" "Aaden!" I yelled, standing in my distress, "We're in the middle of a fucking war! It will not be human, and I need you by my side! There can be other children later!" "Don't speak to me like I'm dumb! I know the consequences!" she yelled back, stunning me. "You're not dumb, but please Aaden, for fuck's sake!" I couldn't believe that I was actually close to begging her. "Why are you acting like this? Are you that worried?" "Aaden, I have no history with which to prove you will survive. Don't you get that? We can't ask anyone, there's never been someone with experience! I don't know what could happen." "I've been showing signs I shouldn't, right? A Luna has never been bitten, only born, remember?" "So?" "So, it appears I have some unique characteristics. I have confidence. I want to have the baby, Derek. What if we never get another chance, even if we were to win the war? What if some freak accident happens when we're fighting, and I'm incapable of having more kids? Not likely, but what if?" She was blowing my mind with this. She had to be bullshitting me. "You'd risk your life, and my well-being, to carry a kid you may never see and that may die regardless?"

"Yes."

I couldn't believe my ears. "And here I'd thought I'd come up here and you'd be reasonable." I said. Her eyes closed and she gritted her teeth. It was a shit thing to do, but I wanted to hurt her. I wanted to hurt her for hurting me, and not caring. Without another word, I stood up and left the room, slamming the door behind me.

**Well, it's true that love can endure all times, but will it for Derek? What do you think you'd do in this situation? Any guesses as to what might happen? Please let me know! Have a good one!**