Cilla.
One week later, we assembled the whole of Moonshine pack. We had speeches from both sides and the last speech was Ridian’s. When he made the announcement that Sasha Miller would lead the pack, the crowd erupted in cheers.
“Please come forward,” Ridian asked Sasha who seemed so shocked by the announcement she couldn’t move for a while. Eventually, she strode forward in a responsible fashion and the crowd roared once me. I scanned the gathering and found alpha Aragon in tears. He seemed to be very happy that his daughter was going to be in charge.
“We have been observing this brilliant young woman for a while since she returned and we have decided that she is the best person to replace her father in the leadership of this pack,” Ridian continued. “We shall talk with the elders so we can have a coronation ceremony as soon as possible. Although your new luna will have to report to me, you’ll have more autonomy over yourselves. We believe she’s the best person to steer this pack to greatness as it develops alongside, Blackmoon pack. We hope to have stronger ties between the two packs in future.”
It was a day of joyful celebration in Moonshine pack that day. Everyone was happy with their new leader. The beta of Crystal pack even came and begged for forgiveness. He said he had trusted and helped the wrong woman and was glad the twins were back. I was so happy that I was unable to hold grudges, so I granted him the forgiveness he requested for. Sasha was happy that I forgave him as well, and it made me wonder if there was more to their friendship. Some hours later, Ridian and I left after signing some documents.
The coronation ceremony happened two weeks later. I attended with Ridian, Ren, Rose and other members of the pack. It was a colorful ceremony and everyone was really happy. Even the beta of Crystal pack attended. Now I was more than sure that there was something going on between him and Sasha. I approved. He seemed like a genuinely good person who had once got trapped in the finely spun web of an evil woman.
Ren decided to stay in Moonshine pack forever and he got assimilated back in. Rose and I continued to be members of Blackmoon pack. The separation was hard for them at first but I made sure to bring them together regularly. After some time, they got used to the dynamics.
A week after the coronation, I started getting unusually tired easily and had a lot of mood swings. I figured it was because I was very busy, always going up and down so I didn’t pay attention to it. It wasn’t until my mother in law pointed something out.
“When are you going to tell him?” Mrs. Jamison asked while we were monitoring the construction of a new and bigger pack house a hundred meters away from the older one.
“Tell who what?” I asked.
“My son.”
“What am I supposed to tell him?”
“That you’re expecting,” she said, casually. “Or wait. Is it not his?”
I chocked on the water I had been drinking. “What?”
“Whose is it?”
“I’m not expecting,” I said, then realization hit me. “Sh-, oh no, I might be. I thought I was more tired and moody because of work but…I have to go and get checked out.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “Any mother with a keen eye can tell you’re pregnant. You don’t need some witch or doctor to tell you.”
“Thank you for pointing this out but I will not think its pregnancy unless it’s confirmed.”
I hated counting my chickens before they were hatched. In my experience, that always led to disappointments. I had to confirm before getting overjoyed and spreading the news.
“Whatever. You’re free to go anyway. I have this under control.”
I did not miss the wink she gave the foreman when she said the last sentence. And she didn’t care if I saw it. Everyone knew about their relationship.
I went to our new witch’s cottage immediately and let her examine me. I was pleasantly surprised when I got the positive news and rushed back to deliver it to my husband. To my annoyance, he had just left the pack house when I arrived. Now, I had to wait. The wait was agonizing, but eventually he turned up. I grabbed the balloons Sarah had tied up and held the strings before going to the living room. Ridian was lying on the couch, calling out for me.
“Hey sweetheart,” I said.
He sat up. “Wow. You look amazing. What’s the occasion?”
“Do you mean I usually look bad?” I asked, pretending to be hurt.
He chuckled. “You know you don’t.” he stood up and came to kiss me. “You’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
I knew that was not true but I liked hearing it. Every woman needs to hear that from the man she loves every once in a while.
“Okay, I thought I could make this romantic but clearly I can’t. I’m pregnant.”
“What?” Ridian said, his entire face beaming.
“I sa-.”
“I heard you,” he said, before grabbing me and holding me up. “This is the best news!”
He placed me down and looked into my eyes. His eyes had got quite misty. “This is the best news. We’re going to have a baby!”
“Yes, darling.”
He kissed me on the lips with a smacking sound. “We’re going to have a baby!” he exclaimed.
“Yes, Ridian. It’s not that big of deal. It’s just a baby, a pup. Everyone has them.”
Ridian went to the window and looked out before yelling. “We’re going to have a baby!”
“Stop it,” I implored. He came and kissed me again, this time taking time to savor it. I kissed him back as my body quickly heated up.
“This calls for a party,” he said, staring into my eyes with an intensity I had never seen before.
“We shall have a party but not now.”
“Ah, you’re such a party pooper. If we can’t have a party, we’re going to do something else. I feel like doing something crazy, tonight.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Sex on that rooftop we hid at when we were being chased by hunters in Everdeen,” he said, smirking. “You promised we’d make love there.”
I smiled, remembering that night. “You’re crazy.”
“Crazy about you and not about to stop. Get ready. Darkness is coming, and with it comes something for big Ridian.”
I chuckled and hugged him. “You’re the best. You’re going to be an amazing father.”
“And you’ll be an amazing mother. Together, we’ll be the perfect parents. Our children will love us.”
“Children?” I chuckled. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Come here,” he said, pulling me close. He took my lips in his. He held my waist with one hand and used the other to undo the buckles of my bra under my tank top. I could feel the heat from his fingers burning me. I was happy, and knew I would always be happy as long as he was by my side.
THE END.