13: First Trimester

Tiredly, Grey trudged into his room. He could feel his soaked jacket cling to his skin. It aggravated him, no, maybe that was because of the impending war.

He turned on the light as he looked at the alarm clock next to his bed. It was three in the morning. He grimaced; he knew there would be several later nights in the weeks to come. His eyes caught the animal on his comforter and he looked at it strangely. Walking toward it, he quickly read the tiny note attached to its neck.

New pack member arriving, Nov. 2021.

It dawned on him then what she was referring to. He had put it down in his file. Whatever he was feeling before was immediately replaced with an unadulterated need to see her. He left quickly, unbothered by his wet clothing. He went to Marisol's room and could hear the steady rhythm of her breathing. He went in without knocking, kneeling beside her bed. With his hand running through her hair, he gently whispered her name.

She startled awake but calmed as she realized who it was. "Grey?"

"It's me."

She sat up, worried. "Grey, you're soaked. Were you outside? Is everything okay?"

"I'm fine, Marisol...I...you're..."

For a moment, she looked at him with a bewildered look. But then, she smiled, nodding. "I'm pregnant. The embryo took."

Grey smiled and took her into his arms. She gently fell into his arms and between his legs as they sat on the floor, enjoying each other's company. Strangely, this was the most she felt relaxed in days. As his nose touched her locks of hair, he sighed contently. His heart fell once he realized now she would be even more of a concern; not only was she his mate, but she was also carrying his pup. "Marisol, I need you to promise me something."

She pulled away with a small pout.

"I need you to promise me that no matter what, you will always protect yourself first. If I tell you to run, you run without a second thought."

She shook her head, confused. "What do you..."

"Marisol," he pleaded, stroking her hair. "I need you to promise me."

"Greyson, what's going on?"

"Promise me, Marisol."

Hesitantly, she nodded. "I promise. Will you tell me what's going on?"

"I've put you in danger and I am so sorry."

"W-what do you mean? I told you it's not your fault, Grey."

"I haven't been entirely truthful," he said.

"You lied to me?"

"Not exactly, I just haven't told the entire truth. I do own a company and I do live in this house with my family, but they aren't blood–"

"Grey–"

"Let me finish, please. That movie you like, it was on your TV, Twilight...what if I told you it was real?"

She started laughing. "That what? You're a vampire?"

"Do you remember what Brad said? That there were stone sculptures of wolves outside?"

"Why are you saying this? Are you messing with me?"

"No, Marisol. I am telling you the absolute truth. My name is Greyson Weston and I am not a vampire. I am a lycanthrope. You are on my pack land with other lycans."

"I don't believe you," she whispered, pushing him away. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because you need to know so I can keep you safe." He pleaded with her to understand that he was telling the truth. He cursed himself for a brief second. What would have been a better way to tell her? Maybe not now at three in the morning, but in his defense, there would be drastic changes to their lives and she needed to understand why. She had a right to understand what she was involved in.

"I just told you I'm pregnant with your baby and you think it's time to joke around?"

Grey almost winced from the annoyance and anger that tainted her voice.

"It's not a joke," he insisted. "How can I prove it to you?"

She rolled her eyes, but something told her to call him out on his bullshit. The way to confirm his statement would be to watch as he shifted, but for her that was impossible. She swallowed, placing her hands on her hips. "I want you to shift in front of Brad, then."

He scoffed. "You trust him more than me?"

"Well, yes! I've known him longer–"

"Right," he sneered. "you're only carrying my child." After a moment he nodded. "Call him. I'll prove it to you."

❥

"Listen, Marisol, I'm starting to rethink this whole caregiver job thing."

"Why's that?"

"Because you have my ass standing outside in the rain in booty short pajamas to prove whether or not your baby daddy is lying to you."

Marisol chuckled.

Greyson walked in front of Brad. "I'm sorry. She insisted."

"You're the crazy bitch that insists you're a werewolf. I mean honestly, Marisol, I told you this surrogate thing–"

Deciding that it would be best just to shift, Grey rolled his eyes and took off his shirt. This promptly stopped Brad.

"Damn, you're psycho, but I'll still ride you–"

"Brad! That's the father of this child!"

"That's fine, I can call him daddy too–"

Marisol whacked Brad in the chest and he groaned.

"Damn woman! Do me a favor and stop going to the gym."

Before Marisol or Brad could say anything, Grey's pants came off and his bones broke. His skin was replaced with fur. His back contorted. And standing in front of Brad was the biggest wolf he had ever seen. This shut Brad up, indefinitely.

Grey shifted back. He knew that Brad was in shock as he didn't comment on his nakedness or move an inch as Grey neared him. "Brad," Grey started.

"Brad?"

Grey looked at Marisol whose face was etched with worry. Grey carried Brad into the house and sat him on the couch with a blanket. Grey sat in front of Marisol and her friend, waiting for him to begin speaking.

After a minute, he finally spoke. "Marisol?"

"Yes, Brad?"

"I was right."

"Huh?"

Brad turned to her, grabbing her arm. "He wasn't lying. I don't know how...but...he–"

Brad stopped then and looked at Grey. "Are you going to hurt us?"

"No," Grey said emphatically. "I would never. I will answer any questions you have, but you are perfectly safe."

"W-why...is everyone in this house like you?"

"Yes."

"W-why go through surrogacy?" Brad talked with his hands. "I thought wolves mated for life or something?"

Grey didn't answer, looking at Marisol. "Marisol?"

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I didn't know how."

"Instead you just kept it until you were sure I was pregnant? Until I couldn't run from you?"

"No, Marisol...you said you would go through with surrogacy regardless, I couldn't let you get pregnant with another man's child."

"Why? Why not? What's the big deal?"

His jaw clicked and he ran a hand through his hair. "You're my mate, Marisol. You're mine even if you don't know it."

"Mate?" Her eyes blinked, furiously. "What is that? What do you mean I'm yours?"

Brad shuffled in his seat. "I feel like this is about to get super romantic and I shouldn't be here."

Marisol and Grey looked at Brad with disbelieving looks.

"Sorry, I should just be quiet," he whispered to himself. "It's not like I'm freaking the fuck out."

"Mates are soulmates. I was destined for you and you were destined for me. We are meant to be together, Marisol."

"Can I just say," Brad interrupted once again, "this is better drama than the Vampire Diaries."

"How can I believe you?" She whispered. "You lied to me about what you are."

"Because you feel it too," he pleaded, grabbing her hand. "You feel the sparks, the sensation. You may be human but you feel just as much as I do. Tell me you believe me, Marisol."

She didn't know what came over her. She wanted to trust her head, but her heart was screaming at her. He lied to her. He used her. But she felt the tingles under her skin. She felt her breath hallow when he said her name. She felt every part of herself burst from the slightest touch or word from him.

"I believe you."