16: First Trimester

Marisol woke up a few weeks later, practically drowning in sunlight. Greyson had been working long days, but he still made time for her when he could. Today, he was going to some pack to form an alliance. He asked her to attend, but she worked as usual. They decided that they would do pack things together on the weekends. Grey understood that she had a career that she loved, and so did he. He didn't ask her to change her aspirations. He simply asked that she do what she could for the pack when she could.

When she had to go to court, her hours tended to end earlier than when she had to go to the office, so she would work on pack necessities then. Greyson still handled finances, logistics, and communications, but she was the person pack members would turn to when they needed advice or help with something. It took some of the weight off of Grey's shoulders as now he could entirely focus on the success of the pack.

She got up out of bed and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and take a shower. When she came out, she called for Brad, who was chatting with Nolan. He passed Grey on the way up to Marisol's room. Greyson scratched his head, watching as someone else helped his mate. He wanted to be her sole provider. He wanted to take care of her. He just didn't want to mess up. He sighed, continuing downstairs.

Brad came in and laid down an outfit on her bed. Tala braked as Marisol came out in a towel and felt for her outfit. She smiled.

"I didn't know what you wanted to wear. I laid out a pencil navy pencil skirt and a white blouse. I put the navy heels beside it, but I know they hurt your feet so let me know if you want me to change them out."

"No, it's fine. Thank you."

Brad nodded before putting Tala's harness on and handing Marisol her walking stick to put in her purse. He left her room only to run into Grey in the hall. "Jeez, you're made of stone," he mumbled.

"Is Marisol your only client?"

"Uh," Brad looked confused. "No. I have a few other people I look after. Why?"

"So if you stopped working for her, you'd be financially alright?"

"Yeah, I guess. But I love working for Marisol, she's my best friend."

Grey looked uncomfortable, standing before this man, asking for help. He had to stuff his pride if he wanted to help Marisol, though. "What if you just stayed her best friend, but not her caregiver?"

"She needs someone to look out for her– you know that. Wait," Brad looked at the tall man with a small smile. "Are you saying you want to become her caregiver?"

"I'm saying that one day I would like to take care of her completely."

"Well, sure. I always knew one day she would settle down and find someone."

"Do you think you can show me which outfits she likes most? And how to dress...women," he grimaced. He felt so embarrassed having to ask, but he barely knew male fashion, let alone female fashion. He felt much better from Brad's encouraging smile.

"I totally can show you how. And, for the record, I think it's really sweet you want to learn."

Before either could say anything else, Marisol stumbled out of her room. "Brad?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Can you button my shirt?"

Brad walked over to her and helped her finish getting dressed. As he did so, Grey vanished somewhere, probably to make breakfast. When they got downstairs, she could smell the crisp scent of bacon, and her stomach turned hungrily.

"Good morning, beautiful."

She felt Grey kiss the top of her head and lay a plate in front of her. He made pancakes today. She loved pancakes. Soon more people came into the kitchen, and they were all having a conversation before she had to leave.

"Marisol, would you like some orange juice?"

She thought it was kind for Irabella to ask, but as she got a gift of the strong citrus smell, her stomach churned uncomfortably. She shook her head, placing her hand over her mouth. "Trashcan," she said.

"What?" Brad asked confused.

"Trashcan!" Before anyone understood what she was saying, she turned to the side throwing up the breakfast she just consumed.

Abigail immediately jumped from her chair and held Marisol's hair as she threw up on the floor. Greyson ran to her, rubbing her back gently. When she was finished, he got her a glass of water.

"Drink this."

"I'm so sorry," she exclaimed, wiping her mouth. "I didn't think I could find my way..."

"It's okay, sweetie," Irabella cooed. "Do you still feel nauseous? Greyson used to make me sick every morning."

Marisol nodded, still entirely embarrassed. "It came so quickly."

"Let me get you to bed, Marisol," Grey said softly.

"N-no, I have to clean it. It's my fault–"

"It's okay, Marisol, I'll clean it," Brad and Irabella said at the same time.

"We'll take you to work later today, okay?"

Marisol nodded at Abigail as Grey picked her up. He carried her upstairs but realized he didn't take her back to her room. Instead, he put her in his bed.

"This isn't my room."

"It is now."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll be staying in my room for now on."

She didn't have the energy to argue. She just laid down. After a few minutes, she felt the bed dip and her mate pull her into his arms.

"What are you doing? You have work."

"You don't feel well," he said obviously. "I'll go in when you go in."

She silently rubbed her head against his chest. She could feel him slip off her heels and unzip her skirt before pulling it down her legs. He took off her blouse and replaced it with one of his shirts. She sighed comfortably. "Thank you."

"If you need to throw up again, tell me and I'll carry you to the bathroom."

At some point she must have fallen asleep because she woke up from her stomach gurgling again. "Grey," she said a little panicked. He immediately picked her up and carried her into his lavish bathroom. He set her down in front of the toilet.

"The toilet is in front of you."

He watched as she knelt and puked again. He didn't know what to do until he remembered what Abigail did. He grabbed her hair and gently rubbed her back as she emptied her stomach. She eventually came away from the toilet and laid against the bathtub, her stomach still turning. "I'm okay. I promise. You can go to work."

"No, Marisol," he said. He sat down on the edge of the bathtub, rubbing her back as her head fell into her hands. "I'm staying with you."

"Do you think this is morning sickness?"

"Yeah," he replied. "My mom wants to come in, is that alright?"

"Yeah, but only if she promises to leave if I have to puke again."

Greyson looked at the bathroom door as Irabella walked in with a kind, knowing smile. "I'm sorry, darling. I had really bad morning sickness too, but it didn't start until much later. It's probably because you're human." Irabella sat in front of Marisol. "When I was pregnant with Greyson, Jell-O and lemons helped a lot with nausea. Would you like to try it?"

"I'll try anything," Marisol mumbled.

After eating something, she started to feel better and by 10 she was able to go to the office. When she returned home from work, it seemed like the entire pack was up in arms. Brad had gone home so it was only her and Tala. Her guards had escorted her in, as usual, but Marisol could feel Nolan tense next to her.

"What is it?"

"Alpha is not happy."

Her eyes furrowed. He never called Grey Alpha. "What? Why?" She winced, hearing something break from upstairs.

"Apparently, strategic planning isn't going so smoothly."

"Luna, Alpha wants us to take you back out for a little."

Marisol turned toward Abigail's voice. "What? Why?"

"He's in a very bad mood," Nolan explained.

Marisol stood, thinking. Wasn't this a relationship? Shouldn't she stay and help him out? "Is he okay?"

"Yes."

"Okay, well let me go put my briefcase in my room and I'll come back down." Tala led her upstairs to their room. As she entered, she felt something crush under her feet and she knelt down to see what it was. It felt like paper. She picked it up and set it down next to her briefcase She took off her heels and changed into a more comfortable outfit. She could hear shouting coming from Grey's office. When she was finished getting dressed, she walked down the hall. The door was open already, so she leaned against the doorframe. Grey was screaming at someone, but she didn't bother trying to understand what he was shouting. She was pretty sure it wasn't all in English.

She didn't wince from the shouting. She was kind of used to it because of her father. She knew to just stay silent until he was done. She stepped in, though, when she heard something splinter. "Greyson?" She walked in, stepping on something. She ran into something by accident. He must have completed wrecked his office. "Come here."

"Not now, Marisol," he sighed. "You shouldn't even be here."

"Greyson, come here right now. I don't know where to go because you destroyed your office so you have to come to me."

She could hear him sigh. After a few seconds she could feel his large stature in front of her. She placed her hand on his chest and felt her way down to his hand. She started pulling him out of his office with a little resilience from Grey.

"What are you doing?"

Marisol took him to their room and shut the door behind them. She took off her shoes and started taking off his suit jacket.

"Marisol–"

"Has anyone asked you how you're doing?"

"What?"

"Take off your jacket and shoes," she ordered before finding her way to the bed. She climbed on it and laid down, waiting for him. When she felt the bed dip, she opened her arms and pulled Greyson onto her chest. She ran her fingers through his hair. After a few minutes, he calmed down and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"No one ever asks how you are. Are you okay?"

"No more people can die during my reign. I feel like I'm responsible."

"You aren't, Greyson. Look at me, everything will be okay. I promise. And even if things go sideways, you'll have me."

As she laid there with her mate in her arms, she suddenly realized that this was probably the first time he had ever been cared for like this. Men needed affection and attention too. He deserved to be asked how he was doing just like he asked everyone else. His mental health mattered.

"We are going to stay here until you tell me you're okay. And not just mediocre okay, but okay okay. Does that make sense?"

She could feel him smile. "Not at all."

"Eh, you'll know what I mean," she laughed softly. "And then you are going to go take a long, warm shower. Once you're finished, come downstairs."

Twenty minutes later, Greyson was up and undressing to shower. As he was washing up, she laid out clean sweatpants and his favorite slippers. She didn't want to touch the mess because she didn't know what was important, so she just went downstairs. His favorite meal was raw venison. It made her stomach turn, but he loved it.

She stood in the living room, unsure where Nolan was. So she sighed, calling his name. "Nolan?"

"Yes, Luna?"

She jumped. She wasn't expecting him to be so close. "What time is it?"

"7."

"Can you get the other guards and come into the kitchen?"

"Yes, but why?"

She winked before leaving the living room. In the kitchen, she went into the fridge and took out a six-pack of beers. She smiled as the guards came in, all greeting her. "All of you have been working so hard," she said. "Greyson included. So tonight you are going to drink and then go for a hunt. Have fun," she stressed. "Greyson won't want to go too far with his best so have fun around the packhouse. Once you have eaten, come back and we'll play pool and stuff."

Silence filled the room. They weren't used to taking orders from Marisol, but after a moment they realized that she was Luna.

"If Luna says to get drunk and party, then imma get drunk and party!"

Marisol laughed from Axel's comment.