Chloe's POV

I sit on the porch swing in the back snuggles in my blanket and stare off into space my mind completely blank after the bombshell Cody threw on me not even ten minutes before. Once the words left his mouth it's like I shut down, until my stomach got fussy again and I rushed to the bathroom. After I was settled enough, Cody helped me downstairs and outside to get some fresh air while he grabs us some cups of tea in the kitchen.

I jump when the door opens, revealing a very domestic looking Cody as he carefully balances two steaming cups of tea. He comes to hand me one, shaking out his hand before he turns back to close the back door behind him. Once it's closed, I still the softly swinging chair so that my small friend can climb onto it easily being careful with the hot beverage.

He settles on the seat and I begin to rock us softly, the both of us looking off into the clearing behind the house in a soothing silence, Cody leaning on me softly to offer comfort. I get the feeling he's waiting for me to speak up again and after a couple minutes of my mind going around and around, I finally do.

"I'm pregnant?" I ask him softly, one of my hands fluttering down to caress my stomach softly. As much as the idea is amazing it's also terrifying because as much progress as we've made this past two months, are we really ready to add a child into the mix? I let go of my stomach and grip the wolf pendant around my throat instead as Cody replies.

     "There's no doubt that you're pregnant, Chloe." He tells me and I'm not sure if it's an assurance or a death sentence for our relationship.

     I feel my eyes water in fear over Alex's reaction but I brave the conversation and continue. "How? How do you even know?" I don't mean for the question to come out so harshly but it does.

     I feel Cody shift away from me to look around the yard, his free hand coming to squeeze my arm as he answers my question. "I've been trying to get pregnant for two years." He exposes and I feel the pain in his voice straight into my chest. "Being an omega should make it easy but I'm a hybrid. Half human. And that little small insignificant fifty percent is stopping James and I from creating a family. So I did the next best thing, I helped all the wolves that could get pregnant. I babysit pups, I work in the pack hospital some days and I...."

He trails off as his voice gets watery and he sniffles and I set my cup between my legs and wrap my arms around this amazing strong bean. After a couple seconds of wiping his eyes he continues, though he clings on to me in support.

"James thinks it only makes my depression worse but being around those happy mothers and fathers makes me have hope. And when I came in today and smelled your scent changing, I knew immediately that you were living my dream." He tells me and the way my heart tears inside my chest should be illegal.

And suddenly I don't feel scared about having a child grow inside of me, I feel thankful, blessed even. Cody has just reminded me there are people in world who would and have killed to be in my position and I'm sulking about it.

"Don't worry, Cody, I know you're going to get pregnant and you're going to be the best parent in the world. You're already the best friend." I tell him, nudging him with my shoulder and he laughs a little trying his hardest to stop crying. We sit there a moment, swinging in the afternoon breeze, thinking about life before he speaks up.

"Are you going to tell Alex?" He asks quietly, and if it was anyone else that asked me I would be offended but I know Cody is only trying to look after our well-being.

I nod my head slowly in response shooting him a small smile. "I am. Not today though. I want some alone time with Tobias again before I do. I don't know, it only seems fair since it's his kid too. I want them to be there together when I tell them." I answer him, my voice growing more confidence as I do.

He looks up and smiles at me. "That's a good plan." He says nodding but I can't help but see the raw pain in his eyes at the thought of not having kids one day. I open my mouth to say something to him when he shoots to his feet, his face frantic as he stumbles off the swing. "Jeez, Chloe we have to go, now. Get up."

His face is stern and no nonsense as he orders me up and I realize I'm not longer talking to my friend Cody but my Luna. I scramble off the swing and follow a determined Cody inside where we set down our cups and my blanket before he grabs the extra set of keys off the fridge.

     We hurry out the door and to Alex's car, Cody sliding smoothly into the drivers seat while I hop into the passengers. As soon as we're buckled, the car is starting and we're on the road.

      "Cody whats wrong?" I ask him, heart racing because I've never seen him like this and all sorts of possibilities are running through me. My anxiety over the situation is making me nauseous again but I try to ignore it.

     "James told me to come to the pack house, Alex got into a fight and all he's asking for is you." And my heart drops to the ground and we leave it somewhere behind us on the road.

    "Oh Goddess." My voice is faint as my hand flies over my mouth in pure panic. "A fight? He got into.." Tears prick my eyes as my mind circles to the worst and I turn back to Cody to ask him a question. "How do you know? You didn't get a call." I ask confusion working through me.

     "All packs have a mind link that flows through their Alpha and Luna who can interact with anyone's mind. However besides them, only Mates can speak between mind links after they complete the Marking." He explains, his voice calm and level as he pushes against the speed limit. I sit there dumbfounded at all the new information I'm being given today.

     "So... after Alex marks me I'll be able to talk to him through.... telepathy?" I ask trying to work my head around it.

    He tilts his head from side to side in a 'kind of' gesture. "I guess that's the best way to explain it. And you'll be able to talk to Tobias as well if you want." He says before he's turning down a gravel road and I gasp silently, but before he can tell me any more, the pack house comes into view and all thoughts about pregnancy and mind reading disappear as Cody parks the car.

     The only thing on my mind is making sure my daddy is well and okay, so as soon as the car stops, I'm out of it heading towards the steps quickly, though careful of any sudden movements.

     I hear the car door slam behind me and the crunching of steps until Cody is beside me as we open the front door. We enter into a hallway filled with coats and shoes hearing voices echo down from somewhere.

     We follow the sounds out the hallway and to the right, my eyes flitting around the room until I see Alex laying on a long couch. I gasp, hand covering my mouth as I hurry to him, my brows furrowed when I see the cuts along his lips and face, his shirt torn with blood on it. My eyes well up in tears as I near him, his head turning at the sound of my approach. I see his face light up behind the curtain of tears in my eyes but it quickly falls when he sees what state I'm in.

    He sits up on the couch and opens his arms, and ignoring whoever else is in the room, I rush to him, climbing into his lap to hand onto him lightly, too scared to add pressure. My sniffles are quiet but loud enough for him to hear, his hand rubbing my back soothingly.

     "Hey, pup. It's okay princess. It's only a couple scratches on my face and chest. They're not even deep, Chloe I promise." He tries to assure me but I pull my head back from under his chin and glare at him pointing accusingly at his tattered shirt.

     "If it's not deep, then why is there blood?" I ask, trying to make my voice hard but I only hiccup through the question.

     He chuckles deep in his chest before he strokes me tail with his skilled hands. "Simple. It's not mine." My mouth quickly forms an 'o' shape as I check for my self that he only has a few scratches. But looking around his face and chest I don't see that many though I swore only a couple minutes ago he had them all over. I frown in confusion as I double check his skin.

     After the third look, Alex finally chuckles and gives me a much needed explanation. "Wolf healing remember?" I blush in embarrassment over my ignorance and nod like I knew all along. Now that I was positive that Alex was okay, I laid my head back down in the crook of his neck and inhaled deeply.

     "You're a shit head you know." I tell him into his neck quietly and he sighs.

     "I know, princess. I'm sorry if I worried you." He apologizes into my hair, his breath waving between my ears softly.

     "Is Tobias sorry too?" I ask him, knowing that he was probably the instigator.

"Not at all. He would definitely do it again." He says without hesitation and all I can do it laugh and snuggle deeper into his arms, glad to know that he's safe and okay.

And as I sit there in his lap, ignoring the voices around us, I can't help but begin to get excited about the life growing inside my stomach.

~~~~~
Damn Cody's story do be making me cry though. And I love how worried Chloe got over Alex. Should I skip straight to the TobyxChloe date?

Thoughts?

Comments?

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