“What is it?” he asked, coming towards me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Mara said before I could speak. “Sit down, both of you.”
We sat back down on the couch and Tristan took my hand. His palm was sweaty and I realized
he was just as nervous as I was.
Mara settled back into her chair and looked at us both. “Athena isn’t in heat,” she said simply.
“She’s pregnant.”
Tristan went completely still. His hand tightened around mine and I heard him suck in a breath.
“Pregnant?” he repeated, like he wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly.
“Yes,” Mara confirmed. “About two weeks along. What she’s been experiencing is a heightened
arousal response that sometimes occurs in early pregnancy with one’s true mate. It should ease
within the next week or so.”
Tristan turned to look at me and I saw about a dozen emotions flash across his face. Shock,
confusion, fear, and then something that looked like wonder.
But when he saw my tear–stained face, the wonder disappeared and concern took its place.
“You’re pregnant,” he said quietly, then more urgently, “Why are you crying? Are you okay? Is
something wrong with the baby?”
“I’m scared,” I admitted, my voice shaking. “What if I lose this one too? What if I can’t carry it?
What if what happened had already affected it?”
His face crumpled with understanding. He pulle won’t,” he said fiercely. “This is different. Daxon isn
anything happen to you or this baby.”
me into his arms and held me tight. “You here to hurt you anymore. And I won’t let
“But what if it’s not enough?” I whispered against his shoulder. “What if my body can’t do this?”
He pulled back to look at me, cupping my face in his hands. “Your body can do this,” he said. “You’re strong, Athena. Stronger than anyone I know And I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
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Chapter 255
“I’m terrified, I confessed.
78%
“So am I,” he admitted. “After Jess and the baby, I thought I’d never get this chance again. And
now that I have it, I’m scared out of my mind that something will go wrong.”
We looked at each other and I saw my own fear reflected in his eyes. We’d both lost children. We
both knew how much it hurt.
But we also both knew what it was like to hope.
“So we’re both terrified,” I said.
“Completely terrified,” he agreed.
“But also maybe a little bit happy?” I asked hesitantly.
A smile slowly spread across his face. “Maybe more than a little bit,” he said. “Athena, despite
everything, despite all the fear, I’m so happy right now I could burst.”
I felt my own smile forming. “Me too,” I admitted. “I’m scared but I’m also excited. Is that okay?”
“It’s more than okay,” he said, and then he kissed me, soft and sweet.
When he pulled back, he placed his hand gently on my stomach. “There’s a baby in there,” he
said with wonder. “Our baby.”
“Our baby,” I repeated, and saying it out loud made it feel more real.
The fear was still there, sitting heavy in my chest, but so was something else. Hope. Joy. Love.
Mara cleared her throat and we both turned to look at her. I’d almost forgotten she was there.
“I’ll need to see you regularly,” she said to me. At least once a week for the first few months. Werewolf pregnancies can be complicated, especially first ones. And given your history, I want to
monitor you very closely.”
“Whatever you need,” Tristan said firmly. “We’ll do whatever you need to keep them both safe.”
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15:05 Fri, Jan 16
The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
