My heart stops, but at the same time, it races rapidly. Is that even possible? I don't know. My mind is definitely blank now. I can't form any thoughts or make sense of anything.

I can only blink.

And then blink again.

I forget about the anchor, the darkness, and the drowning. I forget about what happened with Elisa. All I can think about is Lyall's green beads of eyes. And how they are staring at me like I am the only person in this world.

And... that... did he just say he will make sure nothing will happen to my baby?

Hold on... he knew?

He knew??

"You knew...?" My voice is equivalent to the small squeak of a mouse, yet my heart drums wildly that I am confident he will be able to hear it.

Lyall puts on a blank face. He tilts his head slightly, which is quite cute. "I thought you knew that I've known about your pregnancy since our night in the cave."

"What?"

My mind conjures the memories I had when we were at the cave. Lyall said something to me, but I couldn't catch it because I was so tired and sleepy. Could he have told me he knew I was pregnant back then?

"Also... sometimes your mind leaks out through the mate bond. And all you could think about is your baby."

This is new for me. I never get any leaks from Lyall through the bond. But he's telling me he has read my mind a few times? I hope he hasn't read my mind about the boy... I wouldn't want to implicate him.

"So... you're not mad?" I keep my hands on his shirt. It's too late now to find that handkerchief Naver gave me. That item was dropped to the floor in Lyall's office before I rushed to the infirmary.

I am entangled in Lyall's embrace and am sitting on his lap on the bathroom floor. He has his hand on my stomach and back. I am at his mercy, but he does nothing to me. Instead, he keeps on holding me like I am a precious baby in his arms.

He embraces me just like I embraced Elisa.

"Why would I be mad?" His brows furrow together in confusion.

"Um... because she's someone else's child?" I put my hand on my stomach. Our fingers meet in the middle, together we feel the rise and fall of my stomach where life is growing.

"But that's understandable," he says, still with a confused look, "You were married before you met me. Besides, it's not like we're an official couple, too."

When he sees the look in my eyes, an understanding passes him. "Ohh, you thought I would be all possessive and jealous about it?"

I nod. That's exactly what I assumed.

"You thought I would make you abort your baby and tell you to exclusively only bear my seed?"

I nod again. "You can't really blame me for thinking that. I ran away from my old pack because Mason would definitely make me abort the baby. Even though we are lacking fertile females, he would want me to only 'bear his seed.'" After quoting his own words, I continue, "Werewolf males are always possessive and jealous."

"Well, first of all, I am not Mason." He hauls me up and puts both of my legs between his waist, so I am sitting on his thighs. Instinctively, I put my hands on his wide shoulders as I find my face one level with his. He leans to the bathroom wall in a relaxed position. "Second, I'm a lycan, not a werewolf. We lycan males are not as barbaric and we do value our females more."

His fingers take a few strands of my hair and twist them playfully. "We are still possessive and jealous creatures. We can be assholes when it's about our mates, too. But being our mates doesn't mean you're automatically our item to do however we pleased. It's your life. It's your body."

"Besides," I can't take my eyes off from his adam's apple that is moving up and down, "It's not like you're going to let me trample your life just like that, anyway."

"Mars..." His voice chokes up when he sees my eyes tearing up. I try to avoid his gaze, but with this position... it's impossible.

"Don't tell me this is what you were so nervous to tell me about?" his voice has become a whisper now, a gentle and soothing whisper.

I nod to answer him. "I've been stressing about how to tell you for months, and even more stressed out thinking about how you would respond. I even–"

I stop myself before saying further. But Lyall seems to already know the words I don't get to say because his eyes look disappointed now. "Don't tell me you've prepared plans if I don't accept the pregnancy... Have you planned of ways to leave this kingdom?"

With just one look in my eyes, Lyall has found my answer. Technically, my emergency plan with Ganesh and Naver is my way out of the kingdom. I have several contacts I can call, too. So, yes... I have figured out ways I can play on how to run away from this kingdom if I have to.

"But I really want to stay," I say in a small voice, "I don't want to lose all that I've built here."

The look of disappointment in his eyes diminishes. "I'm glad to hear that." Then he kisses my hair on his fingers. "Stay. You're meant to build a life here."

My eyes become hotter because of his sweet words. "Thank you." I can't hold back the tears any longer.

Lyall wipes a tear from my cheek gently. Then he leans to kiss me, and as if it's just meant to be, I kiss him back. Somehow, the kiss is just so natural, as if we both need it.

It starts slow, just putting pressure on each other's lips. Then it becomes more intense. We suck on each other's lips with gentle, passionate movement. Before long, I find myself closing my eyes.

Before long, I notice the wetness between my legs, too.

One of his hands snakes its way to the back of my head. He puts a light pressure to keep my face close to his, where he can continue to claim my lips as his.

Once we finally break off the kiss, we are both left breathless. I am a little dizzy from it.

"Mars," he croaks my name. His other hand has been caressing my thigh gently, sending sparks to my skin. "Don't you ever feel the urge?" There is something so sweet about the way he asks me. It's almost like he is begging me.

Before I can even form an answer, my hips are already moving on their own. It grinds against his bulge and each movement causes me to be wetter. Heat fills me from the depth of my stomach to my fingertips.

Werewolf females usually go into heat once they've found their mates but are unable to do the coupling. But since I've mated before, I didn't feel any heat... until now.

Now... my body is answering Lyall for me by bringing me into heat. Sasha, that damn wolf, might play a part in this too.

"You're going into heat," Lyall whispers.

My cheeks feel hot. All I could focus on is his bobbling adam's apple. This is bad.

"I need..." I look up at Lyall's eyes and what's reflected in his eyes is a girl with desperation painted on her face. "Lyall... please," I beg him. This is the worst!

I swear I see the lycan king smirking slightly, "I thought you'd never ask."

He gives me another kiss as he tears my top so easily, revealing my laced cream-colored bra. His lips then trail to my chin, down to my neck, and to my chest. But then he stops.

"You are into BDSM, right?" he asks me.

I tilt my head to answer. "Honestly? I tried it only because Ed wanted to. He's always the dominant one in bed. So I'm okay with it as long as it doesn't get too extreme. Some ropes and toys are fine."

"What about positions?"

"Ed never let me be on top. Then again, it never really crosses my mind to try it." I bite my lip again as I am well aware of the bulge beneath me. The heat is spreading like wildfire inside my body now. I wish Lyall would speed up all this questioning.

"Would you like to try to be on top?" he asks, "You can set the pace yourself. Be in charge."

"Just fucking do whatever you want with me," I tell him exasperatedly, "Tie me up, choke me, tell me to take charge, punish me. Whatever. Please..."

This devilish king grins wider. "Um... we're not going that hardcore since you're pregnant. But your wish is my command." He tears my top even more into long strips of fabric, then ties both of my hands with it.

He laughs excitedly. His chest rumbles under my palm. "Don't regret it later."

Then he whisks me away so easily in his arms. He carries me out of the bathroom and to the bed.

"Goddess," he curses under his breath, "What a view."

I thought he was talking about the room's new décor at first. But then I realize that he only looks at me all night long.

He was commenting on how I looked, sprawled on the bed, being in heat, and tied up, ready for him.

–to be continued–