Lillian’s POV
I picked up a glass of juice and took a sip from it with a smile, then put it down on the table.
When I looked at Jace, who sat next to me, and then at Edith, who was next to Harvey, I frowned.
“What?” I asked seriously.
“Um… nothing,” Harvey answered quickly.
“What do you mean ‘nothing’ when you can see how clearly the table is packed?” Jace said.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked, then picked up a piece of cake and ate it happily.
“Sunshine, I don’t mean to disrespect you in any way, but just look at the empty plates,” he said softly.
I looked at them and then sighed heavily.
I had clearly been eating a lot these past weeks, and I had cravings I couldn’t avoid. But that wasn’t something to openly point out because it was embarrassing.
“I really enjoy eating a few dishes; I’m sorry,” I answered in a low tone.
He grabbed my free hand and smiled.
“I am not upset with you in any way; I just don’t want you to have a stomach ache or anything,” he answered softly.
I was about to tell him how I wouldn’t when Edith stood up and walked to my side, standing behind me.
“What are you doing?” Jace asked when she moved her hand on top of my head.
“Give me a minute,” she whispered as I looked up.
She had her eyes closed and her hand moving in a circular motion.
“Edith, what are you doing, seriously?” I asked.
“Stay still and don’t move,” she answered firmly.
I wanted to refuse but found myself doing just that.
“Harvey?” Jace called in what sounded like a question.
“I have no idea what she is doing, Alpha. As you can see, I’m like you, not a witch,” he answered, making me laugh.
“I was asking just in case she was mind-linking you in your closed mind-link,” Jace said.
All mated werewolves had their own special mind-link where they communicated without the others listening in.
“She said nothing,” he answered.
“It’s okay, I trust her,” I whispered, then picked up another piece of cake.
When she dropped her hand and moved to my side, I turned to face her.
She knelt down and moved her hand to my chest. Some sort of energy wave was coming from it.
She slowly moved it to my stomach and then dropped it with a smile after a minute.
“I’m not like other witches, but I try to use my powers as best as I can,” she said, confusing me.
“What do you mean by that? Is Lillian not well?” Jace asked in concern.
“Oh no, she’s not sick,” she answered with a wide smile and then stood up and moved back.
“Then what?” Harvey asked loudly.
“She’s just pregnant,” she answered as the piece of cake fell from my hand.
“What!” Harvey exclaimed.
“Edith, are you certain?” Jace asked at the top of his voice.
“A hundred percent certain,” she answered in an excited tone.
I was startled when Jace quickly stood up and wrapped his arms around me.
I was in shock and didn’t know how to react.
Even when we mated, I could only dream of having pups. As months went on, I accepted that I was somehow broken or meant not to have them.
As most she-wolves went into heat with or without a mate, I never did, and so I blamed it on my wolf’s late awakening.
I never wanted to bring it up because a part of me was very scared. I knew how Jace loved me and how he would never leave me, but then I felt guilty knowing I was going to be the one to deprive him of being a father.
I secretly prayed to the moon goddess and did my best to have him knot me whenever we made love.
Never did I ever expect my prayers to be answered.
“Sunshine,” Jace called softly and then moved in front of me and leaned in.
“Are you sad?” he asked in a pained tone.
I slowly shook my head.
“Then why are you crying?” he asked softly as I slowly moved my hands to my wet cheeks.
I had no idea I was crying.
“I’m just so happy,” I whispered, then smiled when he hugged me.
I hugged him back and closed my eyes, inhaling his scent.
“Ahh, I’m so envious,” Edith said loudly.
I opened my eyes and pulled back as Jace stood upright.
“I want kids! Harvey, you should do something about it. I want my very own kids!” she said at the top of her voice.
Harvey stood up without a word and approached her, sweeping her off her feet and carrying her caveman-style.
“If you need me, mind-link me, because we will be locked in the bedroom for quite some time,” he said as he walked away.
“Go easy on her,” Jace said through the pack’s mind-link and then chuckled softly.
When he looked back at me, I stood up and moved, wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my head against his chest.
He instantly hugged me back.
“What is it? You can tell me anything; you know I won’t get upset,” he said softly.
“I know,” I answered and then pulled back.
“I was so scared,” I said huskily.
“Of becoming a mother?” he asked and then brushed a strand of my hair back.
“No, I have never thought about becoming a mother. While most she-wolves went into heat, there was never a day that I did. So I thought I was never going to have pups of my own,” I answered as tears filled my eyes.
“What are you talking about?” he asked seriously.
“With or without heat, a she-wolf can still get pregnant. Yes, it’s hard, but they can, and you have been in heat every night of the full moon,” he said as I blinked a few times in shock.
“Your heat is quite unique and different; I, too, was shocked. You didn’t go through pain or give off that intense, addictive scent that drives most males insane,” he said and then smirked.
“But you did give off a very seductive scent that only affected me, and when that happened, you usually complained about how hot you felt, remember?” he asked seriously as I kept quiet and thought back over a few times I did feel that way.
Back then, I thought nothing of it, but now it made a lot of sense.
Every night of the full moon, I felt hot and badly wanted to be in his embrace. He usually was eager to hold me too, and most of the time, he would tell me how my body and scent were amazing and unique.
Then I assumed it was my natural scent that only he could inhale as my mate. Never was there a day I thought it was because I was in heat.
“Oh my goodness,” I whispered, then laughed softly.
“You remember now, don’t you? I knew it was a matter of time until we became parents,” he said happily and then moved his hand to my cheek.
When he chuckled softly and lowered his gaze, I grabbed both of his hands.
“Jace,” I called softly.
“I am just so thrilled, excited, and very happy,” he answered in a cracked voice and then looked up.
His eyes were filled with tears threatening to fall.
“Me too,” I answered and then hugged him as he hugged me back.