Chapter 33

~Derek POV~

Aaden's breathing stuttered slightly as I entered the dark room. It was raining outside, lightning occasionally lighting up the room and illuminating her face. In her sleep, she looked almost child-like. It was hard to remember the fact that she was going to be a mother if she made it through her pregnancy.

I turned to glance at the glistening, rain adorned glass of the window to Aaden's right. The drops didn't slow or fall faster, just stayed constant. I swiftly brought my eyes back to Aaden when she stirred, moaning quietly. In her sleep, her hand found her risen belly. Again, she moaned uncomfortably.

I had an inkling as to what was happening. The child within her was probably moving. I'd spoken with Silas about this time way before she felt it the first time. He'd predicted that, more than likely, she would experience pain with its movements. Normally, a pregnant woman would delight in her kid's rambunctious kicking, but Aaden wouldn't.

When she'd told me a few days ago that it was moving already, I was shocked and pained. I knew what it meant, and it wasn't going to be pleasant. The kid would kick the crap out of her until the day it got here, wherein it would find a way out of her, no matter the cost.

I couldn't think about that though. We had a bigger problem on our hands at the moment.

Natalie was coming back. We'd been expecting it, but her retaliation was going to be strong, probably stronger than we could ever expect. Aaden had killed her best wolf, and followed up with the second. Natalie knew what Aaden was, and what she would become. I was exercising strength in hoping I could perhaps change Aaden once the kid got here and she didn't die. Natalie was unaware right now that Aaden was pregnant, but once she found out…it was safe not to think about it right now.

Deep in my thoughts, I didn't notice Aaden moving again. Her small warm hand flopped gently right into mine. I brought my eyes to her face, and much to my surprise, she was still asleep. I couldn't make myself take my hand away. Strength and warmth flowed into me through her touch, with a little something else. Softly, so I wouldn't wake her, I tightened my grip on her hand, the tingly feeling I usually got from her leaking into my spine. But there was something extra there. I focused in on it, struggling to find what it was.

My heartbeat picked up, and Aaden's body shifted again, her moan a little more pronounced. It was the kid. That extra little 'oomph' in what I was receiving from her was coming from it. I sheltered my heart from opening to it, but I couldn't undo what was being felt. I couldn't help it.

Without a second thought, I reached out and splayed my fingers over her rounded belly.

~Aaden POV~

I had to be dreaming. I didn't change my breathing, but I knew I was awake now. And there in the darkness, I felt a hand on my belly. It rubbed over the baby, warm and semi-inviting. Warmth leaked into me, making my legs tingle and my heart pick up. Lightning flashed. For the split second that the room was brightened, I made out the shape of Derek's body. I felt heat shoot through my stomach. His hand once again made a circular motion on the baby.

I startled when the baby kicked, sending a tiny stab of pain to the area. Derek's hand snatched away, like he'd been burned. I couldn't have asked for a more precious moment. Derek had felt our son or daughter kick. He hadn't intended on it, but all the same, he'd gotten it. He didn't replace his hand, and I realized then, that somehow, he'd gotten ahold of mine. So, to let him know I'd woken, I gave it a small squeeze. "I didn't mean to wake you." Came his voice in the darkness.

"You didn't." I said back, which was only half true. He remained quiet, but I felt him shift, crawling into the bed beside me. In the few seconds of light that shone through the window again, I saw his confused, semi-dazed face. "What is it?" I asked, daring to hope he might actually stay a bit. "The kid…" "The baby kicked you. I know." "You know?" "I felt it." He went quiet again, then quietly said, "It's going to hurt you." "I figured. It didn't hurt at first, but it's begun to burn a little. Is it because of the baby's strength?" He swallowed. "Silas says yes. It's only going to get worse from here Aaden." His lips moved gently against my throat. I swallowed, pushing away the thrill that raced through me at his closeness. "I understand that. It has too. The baby is going to get bigger…a LOT bigger. Before long, they won't have much room left." Derek's nose trailed my jaw, and he buried his head into my neck. "Yeah…" He said.

I couldn't help it any longer. He was close, so close, and I couldn't resist. We hadn't been together in months, and I missed him. His smell, his taste, everything.

I shifted, laying on my side, and pressed my lips to his. I expected him to break the kiss, and leave. But to my surprise, his fingers slithered through my hair, pulling me closer to him. His strong lips parted my own, and I welcomed it.

I'd spoken with Silas moments after he'd diagnosed my pregnancy about intimacy between Derek and me. I'd been worried at the time what it might do to the baby, never dreaming he'd not touch me at all after that. He'd been quick to assure me that the baby was made of tougher stuff, and that our encounters could continue. I was just happy it might be finally happening again after so long.

Derek's hands slipped under my loose gown, his fingers gently pinching my nipples. It sent a jolt through me. With my pregnancy came sensitivity. I understood now why I'd been told it could make bedroom time much better.

His warm lips took hold of mine again, his hands gentle on my breasts. I tugged at his black sweatpants with my toes, sweeping my fingers up his bare chest.

"Aaden…" He began moving away.

"Don't, don't do that. I need you." I gently pulled him back to me. He couldn't leave now, not when his fingers touching my skin was all that I needed. "Are you…well what about…?" "I talked to Silas already. He said we won't hurt the baby."

Derek sighed, but leaned into me again, kissing me. He pulled my gown over my head and pressed it against the headboard. Gently, he kissed my throat, then trailed his lips down, softly latching on to my left nipple. White hot feeling shot through my abdomen and I felt my core tighten. With my feet, I pushed down his sweatpants to his knees. He didn't bother removing them fully, but helped push down his boxers. In one fluid motion, he was inside me.

My whole torso burned with need. I wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing his lips to mine. His sudden thrust nearly caused me to bite his lip, so I chose to bury my face in his neck. I felt my walls tighten as his thrusts grew faster, and his breathing in my ear brought a smile to my lips.

I quietly sighed as I reached my climax, bringing Derek to his own. He laid down beside me, his chest gleaming with sweat in the lightning. He pulled me to him, kissing my forehead. "I love you Derek." I said.

"I love you too." His words almost brought tears to my eyes. I thought surely after this, he would never say it again.

Sharp pain brought me to attention and I sat up, my hand pressing into my pelvic bone. "What?" He asked, alert. "Just a kick. That was a big one," I gasped, not moving my hand from the pained spot. Derek growled, pulling me back down to lay as he loomed over my belly.

"Alright kid," he said sternly, putting both hands on my risen stomach, "be easy on your mother."

As if in response, our baby gently nudged me. Derek's hand rubbed over it. In the milliseconds of light that appeared again, I saw Derek's face. I wouldn't say anything, but his expression was one of awe. "Have you never felt a baby kick before Derek?" I asked, saying something I had said I wouldn't.

"No." He said, applying gentle pressure on my skin again. Again, the baby kicked his hand. I closed my eyes, soaking this up. "What do you think?"

"I don't know. I don't know what to think. All I can say is, and write it down in history, I was wrong. I didn't consider it then, but you're right. The baby is a person."

I couldn't believe my ears. I was about to say something when Derek reached down and grabbed the comforter, quickly bringing it up and over both of our naked bodies. "What-"

Farren and Vlad burst through the door.

"Sorry to interrupt things, but we've got a problem. Derek, we need you to round up the wolves." Derek sat up, making sure I was covered, and grabbed his sweatpants, racing out of the room and putting them on at the same time. "What's going on?" I asked, sitting up and holding the covering to me.

"No time, take her somewhere she can't be found." Farren turned away after issuing the command to Vlad, who immediately raced over with a change of clothing. "Hurry, now." He said. I knew if Vlad was in a hurry, something bad was really going on.

"Vlad?" I asked, pulling on my clothes. He said nothing as we hurried down the hall and out the back door. "Please?"

"Natalie." He said, looking around outside as we went into the woods, "She's here. She's unaware that you're pregnant, but she's looking for revenge. If she sees you…best not explain." "But, Derek-" "Is a grown man and Alpha werewolf. He can handle himself, but you're his mate and unable to fight."

I was too stunned to listen to anything he said.

The fight was here on our front doors. Would any of us make it through this to even see the upcoming war?

**Well, well. This is a panicked situation indeed! What do you guys think will happen? Please R&R! Have a good day!**