The words were clear and there was no denying what he was witnessing, but somehow speech evaded him. Words fled the scene and hid from sight.

"Gabe, are you okay?" Amelia's brow furrowed. Concern was visible by the pursing of her lips.

A conflicting whirl of emotions swelled inside. He wasn't sure whether he should be furious, yelling and screaming, or worship at her feet. Somehow, it was all battling within, fighting for dominance.

How could she keep this a secret from him? How did he not know?

A warm hand caressed his cheek, his neck. Gabriel finally took a deep breath. His nerves soothed as his lungs expanded, body relaxing. He leaned into her touch. For a brief moment the emotions subsided as he allowed their bond to settle, blanketing him in warmth. Closing his eyes, he burrowed farther into their bond and beneath it he could feel the life growing within her, thriving and strong.

"Come inside."

Amelia's voice was a gentle kiss against his soul, featherlight and tender and allowed her to guide him toward the house. He briefly recalled Emery watching patiently at a distance, yet close enough to intervene if need be. Did his own daughter think Amelia needed protection from her own mate?

The sound of boots stomping up the stairs was distant. He barely recalled the front door closing behind them. Whisper's circled the air. Hushed gasps and playful giggling could be heard as his pack observed their Alpha's. Amelia's hand held on to his firmly, leading him up the stairs and to their bedroom.

The scent of roses and sugar berries wafted behind her, filling him with her pregnant scent. It was rich and heavy in his lungs, setting his blood on fire. The image of bending her over and gazing down at her swollen backside excited him, but rage also crept in.

The door shut behind him, awakening him to the weight of their situation.

Gabriel spun around. "How could you? How could you keep this from me? I thought we were done keeping secrets!"

Amelia on reflex wrapped her arms around her stomach, protecting the life within. Tears instantly lined her eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't leave the Wandering Moon. They needed me."

"And you needed me! That baby needs us! I already missed out on being there for Emery, raising her, watching her grow and now you try denying me the same with this one?"

"No! Never!" Amelia tried to reassure him, reaching out to lay her hand on his arm but Gabriel jerked out of reach. "I didn't mean to stay away this long. I wanted to tell you every day but I knew you'd make me come home and with the vampires lurking I couldn't leave them."

Gabriel's silver moon eyes glared harshly at her. A terrifying growl drew his lips back as the overbearing, overprotective Alpha male crept forward. The idea of vampires anywhere near his pregnant mate brought forth a violent and animalistic reaction he could barely control.

"Did they touch you? Did you—"

"No." Amelia shook her head harshly. "Ever since I found out I was pregnant I've stayed out of the fight. It's beyond frustrating letting my packs fight for me, but I won't put this baby at risk."

Gabriel seemed to find relief in this.

They really had changed.

The old Amelia, the young and rash teenager would have run head first into danger, to hell with the consequences, but together they had been through enough loss and pain that they were bound to learn at some point or another.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. It wasn't my intention to keep this from you for this long," Amelia tried again.

"How far along?"

Amelia winced. "Seven months."

"Seven months! Amelia!"

"I know!" Amelia yelled, throwing her hands in the air. "I fucked up. I—ahh." She hissed, clutching her side and lower belly, her face contorted in pain.

Gabriel immediately went to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist, supporting her in case she fell. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Amelia held her eyes closed, breathing in deep, steadying breaths through whatever had caused her pain. "I'm okay. It's okay. This baby just enjoys beating my kidney. It hurts like a bitch."

Gabriel stared down at her stomach in amazement. The fact that his child was growing inside was marveling. Pride swelled, his lips pulled back into a small smile.

"Can I?" Gabriel inclined his head, his gaze fixed on her belly.

Amelia followed his line of sight and smiled. "Of course. She's your daughter too."

"It's a girl?" Gabriel jerked his head up, staring into those stunning jade green eyes.

"I'm pretty sure, besides it's all Emery keeps saying. It's like she can sense it."

Gabriel was in awe as he reached out and carefully placed his hand on the swelling bulge. Amelia grabbed at him with impatience and moved his hand around until it settled along her side, just above her waistband.

Silence ensued as they waited.

Gabriel made to pull away but Amelia held him firm. He went to open his mouth to say something when something faint and firm nudged his hand. Startled, he gaped at the life within and held still. Another three kicks ensued along with a flutter of movement as though the baby was merely getting warmed up.

"She's a feisty one." Amelia squirmed uncomfortably.

"Just like her mother," Gabriel smirked.

With his hand still resting on her stomach he gazed down into her lovely face.

Pregnancy had breathed life into his mate. While she looked tired with slight bags under her eyes, her skin glowed healthy and radiant. Her body had swollen in other areas outside of her stomach. Her breasts were heavy and full, brimming out of her top, begging to be tasted. Her face was fuller, hips wider, and backside more voluminous than he remembered.

Pregnancy had never looked better.

"I've missed you, Snow," Gabriel purred. He removed his hand from the life within and trailed his fingers down her neck, tracing her claiming mark, and down between her breasts, fingering the material containing them.

Lust swirled in those pearly green-blue eyes, hungering for his touch.

"This isn't over. I'm still pissed and we have a lot to discuss," Gabriel warned.

"I know." Amelia was nearly breathless, already panting with need and desire.

A long, sharp claw extended from his finger, tracing down the thin cotton of her shirt, releasing her breasts from their confinement. They exploded from her top, like a river released behind a dam wall. He cupped one in his hand, surprised by the fullness and weight. Her nipples were perky and erect, begging to be tasted.

Gabriel was more than happy to oblige. He leaned in, wrapping his mouth around the peak and swirled his tongue around the hardened tip. She tasted sweet and flavorful, so much more than he remembered.

Amelia shuddered beneath his touch, pressing herself farther into his mouth.

Gabriel smirked at her reaction. Clearly pregnancy made her less patient and more sensitive. He rolled the nipple between his teeth a bit sharper than necessary causing her to hiss.

The scent of her arousal filled his nose, making his head swim as his cock twitched in his pants, painfully straining against the jean material.

"Careful, Snow. We haven't even made it to the bed yet."

"I need you, Gabe. I've been waiting so long for this. You have no idea how bad I've needed you, how bad I've wanted you."

Gabriel made his way up her chest, peppering kisses along her slender neck, grazing his tongue along her mark. He nibbled on her ear, pulling at it teasingly. "You should've come home months ago. I would have gladly supplied you with whatever your heart desires."

Amelia moaned as the tips of his canines skimmed her mark, the place where her neck and shoulder met. She clamped her legs together in an effort to alleviate the pressure but he would have none of that.

Gabriel slipped an arm behind her legs and lifted, cradling her against him. He carried her to the bed and laid her down on the edge of the mattress. He stood towering over her, looking down and admiring what was his before peeling off the black yoga pants and underwear, tossing them to the floor and getting down on his knees.

Amelia tried to prop herself up on her elbows, but opted to look around her expanding belly. "Gabe," she said almost in warning, as though she wasn't sure he wanted to be doing that.

Gabriel didn't allow her time to think or object. He could sense her insecurities, see the thoughts swirling about in her mind and they appalled him.

How could she ever think of herself as anything but beautiful? She was a magnificent, stubborn woman and he would make it his life's mission to make her see that.

Gabriel plunged forward between those thick thighs and tasted her, running his tongue over her wetness. She tasted like his own personal sin. The woman before him was his own personal heaven and hell, and here before him was a meal made just for him. Licking and sucking, he worked his way up and down her wet folds, devouring her nectar.

Amelia began to squirm beneath him. He gripped her thighs firmly, pulling her ass down to the edge of the bed and held her in place. Flicking his tongue back and forth over the small bundle of nerves, he grazed his teeth lightly over the clit. Amelia gasped in response, reduced to nothing more than pants and moans for more. Her body began clenching around him, legs shaking, nearing release, but not before he slipped a finger in. She responded beautifully by clamping down, trying to hold him in place, but he wasn't done with her yet.

Gabriel continued circling his tongue around her pearl, sucking and teasing as his finger worked tirelessly. Amelia lifted her rear, pushing herself farther in his face. Her hand tangled in his hair, directing him until he stood up abruptly, withdrawing his face from between her legs.

"What the fuck," Amelia groaned, breathless and frustrated.

Gabriel smirked, unbuckling his jeans and kicking them off. His hard, erected member stood stiff, throbbing and craving to be used. He lifted her legs and slipped himself inside, deep in her sex.

A growl reverberated through him at the friction. Asigh of sexual relief passed through his lips. To be buried inside his mate once again was a memory he pondered over more and more frequently these past months. He propped her feet on his shoulders and pounded into her mercilessly. The sound of her moans, her cries for more made him thicken even more. Her asscheeks slapped against his thighs, her body bounced on the bed with her tits spilling over her top. She was glorious to watch as she neared the peak of her climax, writhing beneath him, trying to match his movements.

Their bodies were a perfectly orchestrated tempo. The sound of her body clapping wetly against his, their grunts and moans, and explicit use of the word fuck was music to his ears.

"Fuck, Gabe."

"Fuck, babe, you feel so good."

Amelia's breathing grew harder and faster. She was close, but so was he.

Gariel picked up his pace as he felt the pressure nearing the tip, pulling back and slamming back in. The head of his dick grazed roughly along her sweet spot just as he came. Amelia cried out as he grunted, spilling his seed. His head became light and fuzzy, his body relaxing and tensing as his dick spasmed.

Gabriel stood there a moment longer, watching as her ragged breathing turned into long, deep breaths as she struggled to regain composure. Her silver hair was a mess around her. He could hear her beating erratically beneath those perky breasts and through their bond he could sense her satisfaction and the slight lessening of anxiety on her psyche. He would just have to work harder to release all her woes from her mind.

He slowly lowered her legs and pulled out before stepping inside their bathroom. He grabbed a hand towel and ensured his mate was cleaned up, wiping away any leakage between those perfect thighs. He laid beside her on the bed, listening to her labored breathing as they both came down from their high.

Gabriel gathered her in his arms and pulled her in along his body. It was strange having a basketball between them but the thought made him smile. Her head rested in the crook of his arm, snuggling in as close as she could get. Breathing him in deeply, those beautiful eyes closed.

Never before had he felt so content as he rested a hand on her belly and felt the child inside move.