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Otherwise, I wasn't sure what I would do.
***
It was awkward sitting next to Adrian at the kitchen table. Hector had made a delicious feast—steak tips, potatoes, macaroni salad, an assortment of green beans, and other vegetables that were all seasoned to perfection. Everything tasted rich in my mouth while at the same time tasting like the worst thing in the world.
I hated being pregnant. Food was one of the few things that I truly loved without feeling too guilty. Since coming back, it was hard to have a good relationship with food, especially withmy parents nearby. As much as it was awkward, it was nice to have Adrian to catch me up on the last several years.
He rested his hands on his stomach, gazing at the back door that led to the yard. “Lots of room for kids back there.”
I hiccupped. Hector spared me a smile while handing me a cup of water. “Easy, Cherry Pie.”
I grinned with enough heat in my cheeks to reheat the steak tips on the table. “Sorry about that.”
Hector turned to his previous alpha. “Yeah, we've been working on kids.”
Adrian chuckled knowingly. My entire face felt like a furnace. I just wanted torun awayand forget all about how nice this feels right now. Maybe the pregnancy news won’t be so bad.
But what if we’re not mates?
I picked at my dessert, a couple of chocolate cookies that Hector had made from scratch.
Adrian gazed curiously at me like he was trying to read my mind. “I see you haven't found anyone for the ritual.”
My stomach rolled. “I know. I'm sorry. It's a disappointment.”
I bowed my head.Like most things are with me.
Adrian shook his head. “I'm not disappointed at all.”
My head snapped up. I made eye contact with him. “Do you mean that?”
He nodded. “I think I have been too critical of my entire pack. I think, especially when it came to you, I was much too critical. It's not your fault you can't find a good witch for the ritual. In fact, I think that means we have the right witch sitting right here.”
I frowned. “But won’t it affect the outcome if I do it?”
He shrugged. “For all I know, it might improve the accuracy because you'll be the one doing it.”
I glanced at Hector. “Is that okay with you?”
A smile slowly spread on his face. “That's more than okay with me.”
I focused on Adrian, thinking for a while about what to say next. I was so tempted to blurt the news of my pregnancy. I wanted so much to celebrate it, to push the match ritual out of my mind, and move on with my life. It didn't matter if the magical world approved us mates.
Could we not just choose each other instead? I felt like I was choosing him every day that I woke up and stayed here.
That weird, scratchy voice came again.You should prepare to run.
I lowered my gaze, folding my hands together in my lap. Hector reached for my arm. “Are you okay?”
I waved off his concern. “I'm fine. I think I'm just trying to think of the logistics of what I would need to do.”
Adrian held out his hand. “I can get the ritual sheet to you so you can study it.”
I nodded. “That would be very helpful. Thank you, Alpha.”
Adrian chuckled while Hector sputtered in irritated defiance. His opposition was written all over his face—in the redness of his cheeks and in the way his brows furrowed with agitation.
Adrian broke out into a great laugh that filled the entire room. This was something I didn't want to miss. This was something I didn't want to run from.
