I eventually made my way up to the top floor and looked around after devising a plan to serve as a metaphorical choke collar for Elias. It was almost surreal to think that I was back here again. I crossed my arms over my stomach as I looked around Elias' room. It looked the same as I remembered it; clean, big, and everything in its place.
"I'm glad you're here," Elias said from behind me. I spun quickly and put a hand up to stop him from coming any further. I knew that the second he touched me, I would melt into him and forget everything. I needed to put the leash on him before that happened.
"There are rules," I stopped him. Elias' smile fell as he sighed and sat on the edge of the bed in front of me.
"I figured there would be. You were left alone with my mother for too long," he said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. I ignored his comment as I began to pace.
"One, if you so much as look at Kendra or touch her, even on accident, I'm gone for good. Two, you're not leaving me here on my own while you go do... whatever. No bodyguards, either; I'm coming with you. Three, I get to keep my phone, and that should go without saying. Four, I get to visit Still Water whenever I want, and that includes Mason. And Five, you don't tell me what to do," I said before I stopped pacing and just stood in front of Elias with my arms crossed. He thought about it before he sighed.
"I'll try," he said. I raised my eyebrow in surprise that he was so dismissive.
"You will, or I leave, and you never know when, or if, I'm coming back. I will take our baby with me and you don't know when you get to see either of us again. I can resist the mate bond and you know it," I challenged him. He looked shocked at the seriousness of my words.
"Okay, fine, you win. I will," he agreed quickly. "Now can I hold you?" he asked. I felt myself smile slightly as he held his arms out for me. I sat in his lap as his arms encircled my waist and his head settled in the crook of my neck. His hand ran across my stomach in consistent circles. I felt warm safe and comforted in the best possible way. A yawn escaped me as my body sagged with exhaustion. Elias cradled me before he laid me down in the bed.
"Get some rest, cupcake," he said before he kissed my head gently. Elias turned to leave but I held his hand as I sat up.
"Stay with me... please," I asked abruptly. Elias held my hand in his briefly before he turned off the light and got in the bed beside me. He kissed the top of my head before wrapping his arms around me. I wasn't really huge on cuddling but it was comfortable enough.
"Go to sleep, Nova," Elias said when he saw I wasn't closing my eyes. He rubbed my back gently and eventually my eyes were coaxed into closing and I fell asleep soon after.
~
I woke feeling rejuvenated and rested. Elias' arms were still wrapped tightly around my waist. I smiled lightly to myself as I relaxed further into the pillow. I felt bile build up as I rushed to the bathroom. I heaved as the acid emptied from my stomach. Just perfect...
Morning sickness.
I felt a hand on my back as I coughed as sat back on my heels. I was cradled into a chest and felt the familiar comfort and warmth spread through my body and a hand rubbed my back gently.
"Are you okay, Nova? Are you sick? What's wrong?" Elias asked quickly. I chuckled and shook my head as I stood and went to brush my teeth. I put toothpaste on my toothbrush as Elias stood behind me.
"It's just morning sickness, Eli. It's normally a package deal when a baby is involved," I said before I stuck the toothbrush in my mouth. Elias only wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on the top of my head.
"I don't get it," Elias said after I put my toothbrush away. I looked at him confused as I turned to face him. His arms snaked behind my back again as he looked at me perplexed.
"Don't get what?" I asked.
"I don't get why you're not excited to have this baby. You love kids and taking care of people and children," he said.
"It wasn't... You're right, I love kids," I said, moving away from him. "It wasn't the baby, it was the timing and... you. I'm not ready for a baby... I'm don't feel solid enough with you to take on this responsibility. I love you, but I can't explain why. That doesn't mean that I trust you with something as big as a baby... our baby," I said. I felt bad as I saw his face drop.
"Oh," he said simply. I put a hand on his arm as he began to walk away.
"Elias wait," I stopped him. "I did this, came here, to get to trust you. I want to. It's just going to be a process," I said, subconsciously rubbing my hand over my stomach. Elias stepped forward and kissed me gently.
"Well... thank you for giving me a chance to earn your trust," he said before he put his hand on my stomach as he looked at it. "That's our pup in there," he said lovingly. I rolled my eyes and moved his hand before going back into the bedroom.
"It's a baby, Eli; not a dog," I said as I went to the closet. Elias had all of my stuff moved into this room when I was gone.
"Still, we made him," he said, following me.
"What makes you think it's going to be a boy?" I asked as I changed into a loose sundress. I walked out of the closet only to run into Elias. He held me close to him and sighed in content. My stomach growled loudly as I pat Elias' back awkwardly.
"Um... Eli, I'm going to go to the kitchen," I said. He let go only long enough to scoop me up and walk me downstairs. "Eli, I can walk you know," I said. He just ignored me and carried me all the way into the kitchen. Kendra was already there, bustling around the kitchen, cooking. Alexa was also there, sipping on some water at the bar. She turned when she heard us and smiled at me.
"Ah, Eli, Nova, come," she said. Eli set me in the chair next to her before he kissed her cheek.
"Hey mom," he said. When Kendra looked at him, he averted his eyes to look at me. I was happy to see that he was taking my conditions seriously. "I'll, um... I'll just be upstairs," he said nervously before he hurried away. Alexa gave me a knowing look.
"I see you've implemented... something, I assume?" she asked. I nodded as I was handed a glass of water by Kendra.
"Yes, I made my conditions for staying very clear last night," I answered.
"Is that all that happened last night?" Alexa asked before she took another sip from her glass. I scoffed.
"He's far off from earning that back so soon. He's actually going to have to work for that," I said before I sipped more of the water.
"I heard you this morning. I guess the morning sickness is kicking in," she said. I sighed before I turned to face her. She was already facing me with her full attention.
"Yeah, it was a pleasant little wake up call," I said sarcastically. She rubbed my back motherly.
"A little ginger before bed should help," she offered. I smiled lightly as her hands went to my stomach gently.
"I'm going to be a grandma," she said towards my stomach. I found myself chuckling.
"You're far too gorgeous and young-looking to be called a grandma," I commented. She smiled fully as her eyes came back up to mine. She tilted her head slightly almost as if she were examining me kindly.
"You know, I like you more and more every day," she said. "Elias was a stupid boy to mess up with you," she said.
"I can hear you!" his voice filtered into the kitchen from further in the house. We both giggled before eating breakfast. Once we were nice and full, we continued talking. After a moment of prolonged silence, she hopped off the bar stool and offered me a hand down.
"Let's go into town. We'll have a girls' day," she suggested. I agreed and went upstairs to get my things. Before I even got my foot on the first stair, Elias was in front of me. I sighed and looked at him expectantly.
"I'm going with you," he said. I chuckled.
"Having a guy there kind of ruins the point of a girls' day, don't you think?" I said. He scoped me up and carried me all the way up to the room.
"I don't care, I'm not leaving your side," he said. I put my sandals on and grabbed my purse.
"I think I'll be in capable hands with your mother," I said. He followed me around the room and bathroom like a puppy.
"I thought I was leaving you in capable hands when I left you with Peyton and you got in touch with Mason. I thought I was leaving you in capable hands when I left you with Darius, and Kendra attacked you. I'm trying not to complete the trifecta," he said. I sighed and shook my head.
"Do you not trust the woman who raised you?" I questioned. I knew the answer; I was just trying to get him to admit it to himself.
"I trust her with my life, but I don't trust her with yours," he said. I touched his cheek hesitantly before I kissed him gently.
"I'm going to have a girls' day with your mother and we're going to have a good time while you do whatever it is an Alpha has to do to run a pack. And under no circumstances are you to communicate to that slut downstairs while I'm gone... okay?" I said softly when I pulled away. He stood there slightly shocked as he nodded. I smiled. "Love you, see you when I get back," I said before I hurried out before he had the mind to chase after me.