Chapter 119
119
~Elara’s POV
I sat on the bed, still frozen in a mix of shock and joy, my hands clutching the sheets as my mind tried to catch up with the reality the doctor had just delivered. I was going to be a mother. Somehow, the words still didn’t feel real. My chest felt tight, my heart racing with a mixture of happiness and fear I couldn’t fully name.
The doctor, seeing the uncertainty in my eyes, turned to Darlon and spoke in calm, measured tones. “Alpha Darlon, the Luna needs to avoid stress as much as possible. She should rest well, maintain a balanced diet, and take care of herself. The body undergoes a lot during pregnancy, especially in these early stages.” He paused, looking at me with a faint, professional smile. “Everything else seems normal, but she must take care of herself p>
Darlon nodded seriously, absorbing every word. “Understood. Thank you, Doctor p>
The doctor bowed to both of us and stepped quietly out, leaving a silence that felt heavy and yet comforting. Darlon moved closer to me, and before I could react, he wrapped his arms tightly around me. The warmth of him pressed against me, and I felt his heartbeat calm me slightly.
“I can’t thank you enough,” he murmured into my hair, his voice full of emotion. “Thank you for this… for us… for our family p>
I blinked, startled by the intensity of his gratitude, and my throat tightened. “Darlon I started, but my voice caught, and I looked down.
He lifted my chin gently with his hand, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Sweetheart, is something wrong?” he asked softly, concern knitting his brows together.
I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “I… I’m so happy to carry your child. I want this more than anything… but I’m scared.” My hands shook as I spoke, and tears pricked my eyes. “My mother… she… she died while giving birth to me. I keep thinking… what if the same happens to me p>
The fear in my chest spilled over, and I started crying, small sobs shaking my body. “I don’t want to die, Darlon. I… I can’t… I can’t leave you, or… or our child p>
Darlon’s face softened instantly. He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears that ran down my cheeks. “Shh… Sweetheart, look at me,” he said firmly, yet tenderly. “That will not happen. You will be fine. I will make sure of it. I will protect you, every step of the way. You are not alone in this. I am right here, and we are going to face everything together p>
I leaned into him, letting the warmth of his body and the steadiness of his words wrap around me. My tears didn’t stop immediately, but they felt lighter, like they were being absorbed into the promise of safety in his arms.
“I… I just… I don’t want anything to go wrong,” I whispered against his chest, my hands clutching his shirt as if holding him would hold the world steady.
“You won’t,” he said softly, pressing his lips to the top of my head. “You are strong. Our child is strong. And I will be with you, always. We will be careful, and we will do this together. You won’t lose yourself, and you won’t lose us p>
I lifted my head slightly, looking up at him through the blur of my tears. His eyes shone with a mix of love, determination, and relief, and I felt a little of my fear melt away under their intensity.
“I… I’m scared,” I admitted again, my voice trembling, “but… I’m happy. I can’t believe it… I’m going to be a mother p>
Darlon smiled, that deep, calm smile that always made my heart clench and unclench at the same time. “And I am going to be a father. We are going to do this, sweetheart. And we are going to do it right. I promise you p>
I let myself lean back into him, letting the tears fall freely now, feeling both fear and joy mix together, heavy and overwhelming, yet somehow bearable because he was there, because we were there. The warmth of his arms around me felt like a shield, a promise that no matter what came next, I wouldn’t face it by myself.
His hands were gentle as he brushed my hair back from my face, his thumbs lightly tracing along my cheeks, wiping away the tears that had left little trails down my skin. “Shh… it’s okay,” he murmured softly, his voice like a lullaby I hadn’t realized I needed. “It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to feel scared p>
I leaned into his touch, letting the trembling in my body slowly ease as he held me tighter, whispering little reassurances I clung to like lifelines. His presence grounded me, made the fear shrink just enough for the happiness to seep through, spreading cautiously like sunlight after a long storm. My breathing evened out, the panic that had been clawing at my chest subsiding, replaced by a quiet, tentative calm.
Finally, he tilted my chin up so I could meet his eyes, the intensity and warmth in them making my heart ache. He gave me a small, playful smile, trying to lighten the heaviness that still lingered. “You’re calm now,” he said gently. “Do you feel a little better p>
I nodded, brushing at the remnants of tears with the back of my hand. “A little,” I whispered, my lips quivering with the last remnants of emotion. “Thanks… for being here p>
His thumb stroked my cheek again, and he chuckled softly. “Always. I will always be here. I promise p>
Then, after a pause, his eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement. “So… when should we start getting things ready for the baby?” he asked, his voice light but eager, almost teasing.
I looked at him, a soft smile tugging at my lips despite the lingering fear, and felt a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the room. “Are you… that happy about it?” I asked.
Darlon’s smile widened, and he leaned closer, pressing his forehead to mine. “Happy? Sweetheart, I’ve never been this happy in my life. This… this is everything I ever wanted, everything I could have dreamed of. And it’s ours p>
“I want to know everything about my child, even before he or she is born. I want to be there for all of it p>
I tilted my head back slightly to look at him, and he reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing gently against my skin. Then he gave me a playful, teasing grin that made me want to melt right there. “So tell me,” he said softly, almost whispering, “do you think it will be a girl or a boy p>
I couldn’t help it. I laughed, a full, bubbling laugh that shook through me. “How am I supposed to know that?” I said, covering my mouth with my hand, though the smile never left my face. “I don’t have a crystal ball, Darlon. The baby hasn’t even shown us yet p>
He laughed too, a deep, warm sound that wrapped around me like a blanket. “I know,” he said, leaning closer again, his forehead resting lightly against mine. “I’m just saying… I’ve been imagining it all, what they’ll look like, how they’ll laugh, how they’ll drive me crazy just like their mother already does p>