Free Web NovelChapter 139: Chapter 139
My heart melted into a puddle. "It’s the sweetest thing ever."
His face relaxed into a smile. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." I hugged him tight. "You’re going to be such a good dad."
That night, I woke up at 2 AM needing to pee—another fun pregnancy symptom nobody warns you about. When I came back from the bathroom, Christian was sitting up in bed with the lamp on, reading.
I moved closer and saw the book title: "The Expectant Father’s Guide to Pregnancy and Beyond."
He had a highlighter. He’d marked passages. There were sticky notes.
"Christian?"
He jumped slightly, caught. "You’re awake."
"What are you reading?" I sat beside him, trying not to smile.
"Just... research." He showed me a highlighted section about supporting a partner through morning sickness. "I want to be helpful. I don’t really know what I’m doing."
"You’re reading parenting books at 2 AM."
"Is that weird?" He looked genuinely worried.
"It’s perfect." I kissed his cheek. "What else have you learned?"
He showed me sections on fetal development, how to install car seats, and what to expect during labor. He’d been studying like this was a final exam.
"I’m terrified I’m going to mess this up," he admitted quietly. "That I won’t know what to do or I’ll do something wrong."
"Join the club. I’m terrified too." I took his hand. "But we’ll figure it out together."
"Together," he repeated, squeezing my fingers. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"So..." I grinned. "Since we’re both awake, want to talk about baby names?"
His face lit up. "I actually have a list."
"Of course you do."
He pulled out his phone and started scrolling. "Okay, so some traditional werewolf names: Fenrir, Lyall, Ulric—"
"We’re not naming our baby Fenrir."
"What about Moonbeam?"
I threw a pillow at his face. "Absolutely not."
"Moonlight? Luna—wait, that might be confusing." He dodged another pillow. "Okay, okay. What about normal names?"
We spent an hour going through possibilities, laughing at ridiculous suggestions and debating serious ones. Christian wanted to use the name—Richard—if we had a boy. I liked names from my favorite books.
"What about something that works for both human and werewolf society?" I suggested. "Something strong but not weird."
"Like what?"
"I don’t know yet. But we’ll find it."
Christian pulled me against his chest, his hand settling over my stomach. "We have time to decide."
"Yeah. We do."
I fell asleep like that, feeling loved and safe despite the morning sickness and exhaustion waiting for me tomorrow.
The next morning, Christian was ready. Crackers, ginger tea, wristbands, open windows for fresh air—he’d prepared everything before I even woke up.
"Sit up slowly," he instructed, handing me crackers. "Diana says eating before you’re fully awake helps."
I munched crackers while he watched me carefully, clearly proud of his preparation. It actually did help a little.
Later that day, I was working in the Luna office when Marcus mentioned something about supply schedules being delayed. Again.
"Of course they are," I snapped. "Because nothing ever goes smoothly, does it? Everything is always delayed or complicated or—"
Marcus’s eyes widened. I never snapped at anyone, especially not Marcus.
Immediate guilt and horror flooded through me. "Oh my God. Marcus, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—" My eyes filled with tears. "I don’t know why I said that. I’m so sorry."
"It’s... okay?" Marcus patted my shoulder awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with Sophie crying. "Really. Don’t worry about it."
But I was already crying harder, upset that I’d been mean to Marcus, who’d never been anything but kind and supportive.
Christian found me five minutes later, still crying over my desk.
"I yelled at Marcus," I sobbed. "For no reason. He was just telling me about schedules, and I got so angry, and now I feel terrible, and I can’t stop crying, and—"
"Hey." Christian sat beside me, pulling me against his side. "It’s the hormones. Diana warned me this might happen."
"I don’t want to be mean to people."
"You’re not mean. You’re pregnant, and your emotions are all over the place. It’s normal." He rubbed my arm. "Marcus understands. Everyone understands."
"But I hate not being in control of my feelings." Fresh tears started. "I’m either angry or sad or randomly happy, and it’s exhausting."
"I know." He kissed my temple. "But I’m here. I’ll be patient. We’ll get through it."
"You promise?"
"Promise."
That evening, we sat together in our room, Christian’s arms around me and his hand on my stomach. The baby was still too small to feel, but Christian touched my stomach like there was something precious there. Which I guess there was.
"These past few days have been hard," I admitted quietly.
"Yeah."
"But also... good? In a weird way?" freewebnσvel.cøm
Christian’s chest rumbled with a quiet laugh. "I know what you mean. We’re closer. Even with all the throwing up and crying."
"And mood swings."
"And falling asleep at your desk."
I elbowed him gently. "You’re supposed to be supportive."
"I am supportive. Supportively honest." He tightened his arms around me. "I love you. Morning sickness, mood swings, exhaustion, and all."
"Love you too." I yawned. "Even when you suggest naming our baby Moonbeam."
"That was a good suggestion, and you know it."
I was laughing when sleep claimed me, safe in Christian’s arms and feeling loved despite all the challenges pregnancy was throwing at us.
Everything was perfect.
Until my phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Christian reached for it, probably planning to silence it so I could sleep. But then he went rigid.
"Christian?" I forced my eyes open. "What is it?"
He stared at the phone screen, his face draining of color.
"Christian, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?"
He turned the phone so I could see the message.
*Congratulations on the pregnancy, Luna Sophie. How wonderful that Shadow Ridge will have an heir. I do hope the child inherits the proper traits. It would be such a shame if complications arose. —A Friend*
My blood turned to ice.
Someone was threatening our baby.
