A heavy sigh whistled through Merissa's teeth as she looked at the positive pregnancy test. Slowly a tear emerged, quickly swept away. She could not figure out if it was happiness or sadness, the weight of pressure or the inevitability of taking a werewolf for a lover.

There was a high chance that she was pregnant with several wolf cubs. Only time will tell as to the exact number, Merissa prayed that it was only a few. One would be the kindest to the new mother, but Merissa knew she wasn't that lucky.

A wary knock echoed against the wooden door. Adley knew that Merissa's mood had been off and wondered if he was the reason for it.

"Ris babe, you okay?"

"Yeah," She said softly.

Checking the mirror, she put on a smile and opened the door. Adley stepped back, seeing the unease on her face. It appeared as if she was hiding behind the forced smile on her face. Adley didn't want her to hide how she felt but he also knew Merissa. She was a stubborn woman who regularly hid behind a thick wall.

"We need to talk."

The werewolf nodded warily, watching as Merissa tucked herself into the corner of the lounge. It was unsettling to see her put the wall up again, barricading herself behind the long legs. Still, Adley sat on the seat next to Merissa and waited for what he thought was inevitable. They'd had a good run, right?

Maybe dealing with their friend Lyla's loss, the funeral, then her own issues finding about siblings and dead parents was too much and everything was weighing down on Merissa. Ever since she'd read the fake files they'd taken from Fielding Hall, Merissa's mood had sunk. Adley knew that she was thinking about her siblings.

The pressure of not knowing the truth had to be too much for her. He knew that she would find out one day but that may be a long time into the future. There could be a dozen things he could say to ease the burden, and to help Merissa find some kind of positivity but he knew that it wouldn't do any good. She'd accept his words and then slink back into the morose mood.

Adley thought that the past and the questions surrounding it was pretty heavy on his shoulders and he was an outsider for all of it. He had no idea how it felt to be in this situation.

Merissa frowned as her arms wrapped around her legs.

"I don't know where to begin."

"Start with what's going through your mind."

"I'm pregnant."

Adley stared, lost for words. This was not what he expected her to say.

"Say something."

"Like what?"

"Are you okay with this?"

He nodded, giving Merissa a smile.

"Yep, very okay with it."

"So, I guess we should discuss the future, right? We've never gone there but I think that we need to talk about us."

The wall needed to come down. Adley could see it was a defensive move because Merissa clearly thought that he'd end it. He had no idea why she'd think that. Adley knew that he struggled to keep his hands off her. He didn't want to smother her or make Merissa think that she was nothing more than a play toy. Adley adored her and loved to keep her close. It was a struggle to find the right balance between showing affection and not suffocating her.

Pulling Merissa's hands, Adley made her move closer to him. He could see the hesitation on her face. With her sitting on his lap, Adley settled into the corner of the lounge.

"Were you freaking out?"

Biting her lip, Merissa nodded. Adley smiled, freeing the plump flesh for a tender kiss.

"I told you that I'm not going anywhere."

"Even when I'm fat with lots of wolf cubs?"

"Did dinner with my parents teach you nothing?"

His hand smoothed over the flat stomach, wondering how big the babies were. Would they be wolves or vampires?

Merissa smiled as she remembered the one and only dinner that she'd had with his parents. His mother was pregnant and Adley's father was always hovering around, fussing over his partner, ensuring she didn't have to lift a finger. He made dinner, set the table and cleaned up after.

Freya was ready to give birth any day now, looking rather large yet Kegan couldn't keep his hands to himself. If Freya stood too close to him, the hand would be on the belly, searching for a little limb that would be stretched out.

"We do not abandon our mates," Adley whispered as he kissed over Merissa's neck.

Her eyes fluttered closed, enjoying the wonderful sensations of his attention. She had to give him credit, Adley knew how to make her feel good.

"We prepare our home to welcome the lives of our offspring and we celebrate their life. Which reminds me, you need a white dress for mum's labour."

"We're going to it?"

Merissa was a little shocked.

"Everyone does. It's fun, you'll enjoy it."

She couldn't help but frown, wondering why his entire family had to be at the labour.

"And why do I need to dress in white?"

"It's a werewolf thing. Everyone in the immediate family attends."

"Ours will be different, right? I do not want anyone telling me what to do. In fact, I don't want anyone near me."

Adley's eyes narrowed with a smirk.

"Wait and see what it's like."

"Dad won't want to see anything gross."

"That part is private."

"Good." Merissa grumped.

It didn't help that Adley smiled at her. The boyish smirk that got her into this mess. She could not resist him, not when he shot that mischievous smile at her.

She smacked him, Adley chuckled then began to tickle Merissa until they fell back on the lounge.

Hovering over her, Adley could see the fear that was masked by all the other unsettling emotions.

"Are you really worried that I'd leave you?"

Merissa stared for a moment then nodded.

"Because you're going to get a belly full of my children? That's a bit mean."

"Come on Adley," She snapped. "You have one hell of a drive. You're not going to wait for me when I'm too tired, not interested, throwing up. What about when the babies are born and we can't? Are you really going to pass a full moon and not have sex?"

Adley was taken aback, hiding the hurt from her.

"You make it sound like that's all that there is to a full moon for a werewolf."

Merissa cocked an eyebrow at Adley. He huffed, rolling his eyes.

Settling onto her body, Adley lowered to his forearms and rubbed his nose over hers.

"You, my beautiful vampire, will soon learn what it's like for a werewolf when he has taken a lover and when he impregnates her. There is no need for your fear, I'm not going anywhere and I'm not going to stray. On that note, we're actually going somewhere."

As Adley lifted from the lounge, Merissa sat up with a heavy frown.

"Where?"

"Doctor."

Grabbing her jacket, Adley tossed it to Merissa. A little lost, Merissa held it and looked up at Adley. He was standing at the cabinet searching for his things.

"Why?"

Adley turned with a smirk, tucking his wallet into his pocket.

"Because your scent changed after the last moon. I asked dad what it meant."

He shrugged when the glower appeared on Merissa's face.

"I was going to tell you."

"What? When I'm sitting in the doctor's office completely bewildered as to why we're there?"

"I left lots of signs around the place for you."

Lifting his jacket from the hook on the back of the door, Adley shot a cheesy smile at his lover and pointed to the sign that read you're pregnant.

"Seriously?" She snapped.

Taking her hand, Adley dragged Merissa to the kitchen and positioned her in front of the fridge. The post-it notes were pinned to it among the pictures. It was obvious but hidden. You. Are. Pregnant.

"You suck." Merissa hissed.

Adley grinned, then wrapped his arms around her. Merissa howled with laughter as he planted lots of kisses all over her face. It was not how she expected the conversation to end but Merissa was happy that Adley was still here. Now all she had to do was get through the doctor's appointment.