BXBX NOVEL Chapter 404: Overprotective
«I see,» he sighed. «You won\'t follow me.»
«No!»
«Well, it\'s your choice... Congratulations, though. I\'m happy for you.»
«Co-cong... What?»
«Samantha, you\'re pregnant.»
«P-p... Pr...»
Renato blinked, pulling his mate even closer. What was that? Another ploy to take her away? He couldn\'t lower his guard.
However, that thought... What if she really was pregnant? Oh, that would have meant she would stay with him forever! And they were going to be more than two!
Oh, how nice would it have been? A little pup with Samantha\'s features and witty nature. It would charm everyone in the pack!
While he had accepted that news pretty readily, Samantha was still in shock. When did it happen? They had always been careful... Oh, almost. During the last Bright Moon, they were alone in the woods. But it had been only once!
She wasn\'t ready to give birth! No one had asked her whether she wanted to be a mother. She loved kids and dreamt about having her own, but they were in a complex situation. How could she re-establish a pack while taking care of a small thing always asking for attention?
«A baby?» she asked, finally returning able to talk.
«Yes,» Nate confirmed, nodding. «Haven\'t you noticed?»
«I can\'t feel my own scent. But... Are you sure?»
«Sam, please... Haven\'t you noticed the sudden urge to protect you coming from... from everyone around you? Even those who weren\'t too interested in you before?»
«I thought they were happy to have me there,» she said. «I thought it was because of the pack, of protecting them
«Maybe it is. But your new scent has surely accelerated your integration in the pack. Now, everyone will love you a lot.»
«Sounds unfair.»
«But are you sure you want to deal with it alone? You\'ll face power struggles and problematic wolves until you establish your position. It\'s not easy to be an Alpha. Even more, a female born Alpha.»
«I\'ll survive just fine,» she said.
«And she\'s not alone,» Renato added. He was there for her, and his family would surely help with whatever they might have needed. His mother would be happy to hear about it; he couldn\'t wait to tell her.
But... If what Woods said was true, then his parents already knew... They hadn\'t told him, though.
Was everyone assuming they knew? Or they thought it was too soon to tell them?
«I\'ll become an uncle,» Nate chuckled. «I can\'t wait.»
«Oh, don\'t tell me,» Samantha sighed. She leaned back on the bench, even though with difficulty because Renato was clinging to her. «Hey!»
She pushed his arms away and saw his face turn dark. He was as sad and desperate as... Oh, she hadn\'t seen him like that.
«Wait, does it mean it\'s normal that people treat me like an idiot? Everyone opens doors for me, for the Moon Goddess.»
«It might be due to your status, Sam. You\'re an Alpha; people will act courtly with you.»
«But... It\'s annoying! I can\'t do anything alone! I still know how to protect myself and carry small things. I didn\'t become unable all of a sudden!»
«Don\'t blame them,» Nate chuckled. «It\'s in our nature to protect pregnant females.»
«Oh, but... Nine months like this?»
She would turn crazy before the delivery. Renato had already earned a slap, and he was going to get it soon lest he moved his hands away.
Nate nodded again.
«I wish I was there for Lara as well. I would have liked to be of help when it was her turn. But I couldn\'t.»
«Maybe next time,» Samantha said.
«Sure... If that time ever comes.»
«You\'re both young; you\'ll have more kids!»
Nate chuckled, amused by the images in his mind. Other pups with his mate and a happy, numerous family.
«How are my niece and nephew?» Samantha asked. «Have they asked about me?»
«Yes,» Nate said. «They were sad that you wouldn\'t play with them, but they also said you should have your family and be happy.»
«Really?»
«Really. But I\'m not sure how much of it was sincere.»
«They\'re growing up, right?»
«Very much. And very quickly.»
«It\'s been a few days only, but I miss them,» Samantha said.
Nate sighed. He agreed. A few days were more than enough to miss the little beasts.
«We can arrange for you to meet,» he said. Even though it would have been difficult.
«Really?»
«Yes.»
«Oh, yes! Please, Nate! It would be awesome. You can drop the kids to me when you\'re busy, and I\'ll keep them for you.»
«We were here to talk business, not kids.»
«You started it!» she accused him. He started talking about babies and whatnot.
«We should discuss the terms for peace.»
«Oh, right. How would you like to proceed? Do you have any special conditions?»
«Wolves from Mayford won\'t be allowed in Norwich unless they request permission and warn us in advance.»
«Does the same happen in Mayford?»
«No.»
«I see...» Samantha murmured. «It\'s quite unbalanced.»
«It has to be. You lost the war in the end. And my priority is to defend my family with everything in my reach.»
«I can\'t let you come and go from Mayford either. If you do, then our pack will never recover. At least, don\'t ever cross the border of the quarters.»
«I won\'t.»
«Okay, then. We won\'t come to Norwich unless you send an invite or we obtain permission in time. It would be nice to have the same treatment from you, but I won\'t put it as a condition for peace.»
«I knew we would have found common ground for negotiations.»
«I\'m representing Mayford, but I can\'t ensure they will follow it later.»
«I know. But it\'s just a matter of time,» Nate said. Samantha was going to take full control of the pack. Oddly enough, Mayford was becoming their ally. Who would have imagined it?