Ashton's POV:-

Ce and I had just come home from our last semester at Stanford. Our classes had been long and taxing, but together we had pulled through. We had both turned out to be hard workers and workaholics. One would think that is the worst combination, but we worked so well. It wasn't smooth all the time. There were a lot of tears, breakdowns, and motivational talks.

They'd make some great stories one day.

No, we didn't survive on coffee and pizza. We had proper food. None of us was a huge fan of cooking so we'd take turns to make meals. We were in different courses so our timetables were different. We lived together in an apartment off-campus, so it was okay. We took care of each other and made sure that the other wouldn't over-exhaust themselves. We studied sincerely to graduate with honors. We partied from time to time, too. 

It was the best period of my whole fucking life so far.

"Hey, dad. You called?" I walked into his office at the Packhouse.

"Have a seat," he said, nodding.

"What's up?" I asked, putting my ankle up on my knee and leaning back in the chair.

"We need to talk," he sighed. Okay, so I wasn't there for a welcome back drinking party.

Noted.

"Okay?" I said unsurely. "Why so formal, though?"

"Because this is important."

"I'm listening," I said, intrigued.

He stared at me intensely for the longest time and I met his gaze unflinchingly.

"I think it's time you take your position as the Alpha of the pack," he finally said. 

I let that sink in. Alpha Ashton Summers. It had a nice ring to it. I'd be able to finally change a few things I'd always wanted to in the pack. I would be able to lead the pack. Cecelia without a doubt will be the greatest Luna the Pack could ask for. We would be able to make people happier. We already had a few plans ready to be put into action.

But.

I couldn't. Never once in all these years had I had a chance to sit with my mate and spend time with her without the continuous hovering of some type of a problem. Whether it be Vincent or college, we were always too busy to be a normal couple. And now that I was a seventy percent shareholder at our pack's company, I had that to worry about too. Add being a full-time alpha and I wouldn't have time for my family at all.

"I . . . can't," I breathed out.

"Excuse me?" Dad asked me, baffled. I didn't blame him. I'd always wanted to be an Alpha. I couldn't shut up about it when I was a teen.

But I wasn't a teen anymore. I was twenty-two. I had a mate I had to think of, not just myself.

"Because," I breathed in, trying to frame it right. "I think Cecelia might be pregnant."

He blinked.

"What do you mean you think?" He questioned. I ran my hand through my disheveled hair.

"Gut feeling," I answered.

"You have a gut feeling that your mate is pregnant?" He asked skeptically. Even a blind man could see the hope on his face. I kept myself from rolling my eyes.

"I'm not sure," I clarified. "But she has been acting weird. She's moodier and craves the strangest foods at the strangest times. She almost bit my head off last week when I said that eating ice cream with pickles at three in the morning is not normal. And she hates pickles."

Dad chuckled.

"You might be onto something, son," he agreed delightedly. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," I smiled.

"Are you excited?"

"I'm nervous," I admitted. "If Cecelia is pregnant . . . things will change."

"They will," dad grinned devilishly. "I still remember when Elena and I had you. You were a menace. The set of lungs you had on you, Goddess. If your pup is going to be anything like you, I'll have to hold on to the helm for a few more years."

"I wasn't that bad," I protested.

"You keep telling yourself that," he laughed. "Now, go!" He urged, "Find out if your speculations are true."

"What? How am I supposed to do that?"

"Ask her." He shrugged.

"I comment on her eating and she almost kills me. What makes you think that I'll survive after I ask her if she's pregnant?" I asked incredulously.

He waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, you'll be fine. Cecelia is a mellow girl. She's sweet. She won't do that." 

"I love her, but seriously," I began, leaning forward. "Are we talking about the same Cecelia Rivers?"

"Yes, we are," he laughed.

"You just want a grandchild," I accused, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I do," he grinned unabashedly.

"I could die, you know?" I said.

"We'll see."

"I'm your only son! Does that not mean anything to you?!"

"Quit stalling." He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not stalling." I lied.

"Will you go out peacefully or do I have to kick you out?" 

"Have a good evening."

**************************

I quietly opened the door and slipped into our house soundlessly just in case Cecelia was sleeping. I made my way to the kitchen, flipping the lights on as I went. I now knew she was there. I could smell her and hear her breathing. It was irregular, meaning she was awake and not passed out on the dining table like yesterday.

I could also feel her emotions and she was not very pleased at the moment. I sighed mentally. There goes.

"I brought you something," I sang, placing the bags down on the table. She lifted her head from the table and glared at me. 

Is it too late to run away?

'Stop being a wuss,' Xavier scowled.

'I'm not a wuss!' I protested indignantly.

"Unless you brought me new boots, I don't wanna hear about it," she said. 

"No, but it's even better!" I tried to cheer her up.

"Is it that motorcycle I was eyeing last night? Or the new Mercedes that was launched last week?"

I faintly wondered how all that would fit in those bags I just made jazz hands at.

"Think smaller," I smiled.

"Are we going to Hawaii?" She asked. 

How's that smaller?

Okay, that was not getting us anywhere.

"How about I just tell you?" I suggested.

"Party pooper," she pouted. When I just stared at her, she waved her hand, gesturing for me to speak up.

"Yes, ma-," I halted, shaking my head. "I brought you your new favorite. Ice cream and pickles."

She stared at me blankly for a solid minute. I think I started sweating.

"I hate pickles."

What the-

"But a few days ago, you were eating ice creams and pickles and-"

She shrugged.  "I'd just felt like it." 

How does that make sense?

"Pass me the ice cream, though. I want that." She grinned. Speechless, I pushed the bag towards her. She excitedly opened the packaging. Then her face fell. "It's melted."

"What the fuck? Already?" I groaned, moving to take the packet from her. If it was melted, it would look hideous and smell worse with the pickles in there too. 

Too late. Her face turned green and she gagged, dropping the packet and running towards the bathroom. I cursed and ran after her. She was hunched over the seat and puking her guts out. I sighed and gathered her hair in one hand while soothingly rubbing her back with the other.

"Urghhh," she leaned back, shuddering. Her body shivered and her face shone with sweat.

"Maybe we should go see a doctor?" I suggested, thinking of it as a golden opportunity to find the truth.

"What?" She frowned, "I'm fine. It was just some acid reflux."

I don't think so.

"No, no. I'd like to make sure." I didn't budge, gently pulling her up and leading her to the counter and basin.

She weakly rinsed her mouth and then washed her face. She grabbed her toothbrush and began brushing. She looked exhausted. She finished, sighing.

"That's much better," she rubbed her eyes.

"We're going," I said firmly, dragging her out. 

*********************

"This is ridiculous, Ashton!" She hissed. I sighed.

"Maybe," I shrugged, "We'll find out."

We were sitting there waiting for the test results while Cecelia looked like she would kill me any second. She had wanted to sleep but I had insistently brought her to the Pack Hospital.

"I hate you," she snapped. I didn't reply. I couldn't think of saying anything that would not worsen the situation.

"Luna?" Kayla, the pack doctor called after a while.

"Yes?" Cecelia asked her with a smile.

Why am I the only person on the receiving end of her mood swings?

"Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" Kayla asked. I tried to open a link between us to ask her what was the matter but she strategically didn't accept the request, shooting me a sharp look instead. 

I leaned back with a scowl. Pack doctors were to be obeyed, even by the Alphas.

"Sure," Cecelia agreed, promptly getting up. "I'm not dying, am I?" I heard her ask as the door closed behind them. I bit back a laugh. 

They were inside for ten minutes. Ten minutes of waiting. Kayla stubbornly kept me out of her head and Cecelia'd blocked me out as well. 

Terrific.

What did they have to talk about? My leg bounced up and down as I waited anxiously. What if Cecelia was really sick? What if she was suffering from some side effects of all the drugs she had to take in the past years? Her body never agreed well with them. She wasn't really dying . . . was she?

Oh, Selene, no. 

'Will you stop with the negativity already?' Xavier snapped.

'Can it,' I retorted, blocking him. She walked out at that very instant. I stood up immediately.

"I'm pregnant," she declared without preamble.

I blinked.

Okay. She's pregnant. I'm going to be a father. She's going to be a mother. We're going to be parents. I was right.

Now what?

"Cool," I blurted out like a fool. I expected a fit, but she just nodded.

"Awesome. Let's go home. I'm hungry." She said, walking towards the door. I followed her numbly, observing her.

I don't know what I expected: her to jump in the air with joy, cry that we're not ready, or scream at me for doing this to her so young. But whatever it was, I don't think her reaction was anywhere close.

"How're you feeling?" I asked her when we settled in the car and I started the short drive back.

"I feel like having Italian tonight. What about you?" She questioned. "I'm ordering right now."

Ooookkaaayyyy.

"I'll have what you have," I said, not really in my senses.

"You'll eat pasta in white sausage sauce with peanut butter?" She asked me skeptically.

"Never mind," I gulped and gave her my actual order.

The evening was so normal, it was borderline scary. It did not in the least feel like we had found some life-changing news. It was too calm. I wondered what was going on in Cecelia's head multiple times. 

The dinner conversation was about the pack and our friends instead of a nursery and parenting. On our walk to the stream, we reveled in nature and reminisced old times and moments we shared there. We went to bed early, tired from traveling. We had yet to unpack as well.

I couldn't sleep. I lay awake for a long time. The news didn't seem to have sunk in. I suspected this, yes. But knowing it was true, that it was real . . . it hit differently. And Cecelia . . . she seemed to have shut down. Denial. 

Did she not want this?

I mean, we were twenty-two. That was actually normal for a werewolf to start a family. Maybe it was just the surprise? 

I couldn't stop overthinking.

Over the week we told close friends and family of the news.

Dad was more than pleased to hear that I was indeed right. Mom was cross for a while for being kept out of the loop again but she forgave me after a lot of coercing. No thanks to Cecelia, who was enjoying the show. I wanted to be mad at her but her giggles warmed my heart.

Regina and Robert congratulated us heartily. Aaron and his mate Vanessa even planned a small get-together. It was small, nice, and cozy. We decided not to let the pack members know yet. Kayla had been sworn to secrecy and told to keep everything on the DL. After all, Cecelia had barely completed sevenweeks. We had time.

Julian seemed happy. He teased Ce a lot. Liana was ecstatic and proceeded to squeal like a little girl when we told them. I was happy to say that we were on great terms now. There were some issues but we got past them. Nate and Mark couldn't shut up about Ce and I expecting. They turned six this March and they were fiery as hell.

The week was surreal. It passed by in a blur. I had begun to think that the news would never sink in either of us when it happened.

I was awoken by a feeling of distress. I knew it wasn't mine because I felt fine. I also knew it was the bond, meaning Cecelia wasn't alright. The space next to me was empty. Cecelia didn't seem to be scared, so I kept calm. I trained my ears and deduced she was in the balcony. 

Slowly, I got up and made my to her. She was sitting on one sofas we had put out and her eyes were glued to a piece of paper in her hand. Only one light was on, so it was dim. I made sure to make my approach audible so as not to startle her. Her heartbeat was a little wild without it, too. She didn't seem to hear me nonetheless.

I sat down beside her and she jumped slightly before realizing it was just me and relaxing. I curiously peaked at the paper and my own heart started beating faster.

It was his first sonogram.

We couldn't make out much, but since Cecelia's pregnancy was expected to last only five months in total, they took one out anyways.

"He's so small," she murmured, trailing a gentle hand over the laminated sheet. Her face conveyed wonder.

"He is," I agreed, staring at it too. I was mesmerized. The week was so crazy, we hadn't really had the time to sit down and go through the reports. When we did have time, we did not have courage.

"Our lives will change so much, Ash," she mumbled.

"I know," I sighed, my stomach churning at the thought.

"Will we be good parents?" She asked softly.

" . . . I don't know," I fessed. "But we'll try our best. That's all we can do."

She looked at me with watery eyes.

"I have a life growing inside of me." She said, her eyes bright with a strange joy. "It feels so special."

I was stumped for words. My mind was full of a myriad of emotions. I didn't know exactly what to feel. I could only imagine what Cecelia was feeling and going through because she had blocked me out again.

"You can feel the bump now, you know?" She continued, placing her hand on the belly. A tear fell down her cheeks but her lips twitched into a smile. "It's amazing."

Words didn't even begin to cover what I was feeling then, so I decided to hug her instead. She came willingly, climbing onto my lap. Her legs went around my torso and her arms wrapped around my neck. She always fit well in my arms. Her body always molded with mine perfectly. The feel of her so close to me always made Xavier and I content.

"We're going to spoil him so much," she muttered against my shoulder. I could feel her smile and then yawn. I chuckled, resting my head slightly against hers and playing with the ends of her hair.

"Not too much," I disagreed. "I don't want to be responsible for a brat."

She pulled back and smacked my shoulder gently.

"He won't be a brat." She narrowed her eyes at me.

"If we spoil him too much, he might be." I shrugged.

"Are you questioning my parenting skills?"

"Considering that neither of us has done this before, I'd say yes." I laughed.

"Thanks for the support, Ash," she said sarcastically.

"I'm being realistic," I defended myself.

"Well, dump that and try optimistic!" She reprimanded.

"O...kay?" 

"Hmph. Now let's go. I'm hungry."

"Hungry? Now?" I asked skeptically. I was glad of the topic change but how does food fit in the picture when it's past two in the morning.

"Yeah." She nodded thoughtfully. "And I think I'm in the mood for some ice cream and pickles."

"Ice cream and pickles? Are you sure?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" She rolled her eyes, moving to get up.

"Maybe because you hate pickles?"

"So? I want to eat them now. And don't forget the ice cream. Butterscotch."

"We don't have butterscotch," I said, standing up too.

She raised an eyebrow pointedly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I can go get it," I added.

"No. We are going."

"You should sleep," I frowned. "It's late."

"Really? I didn't notice!" She deadpanned.

"Ce . . . " She looked ready to sleep on her feet.

"We're going. Come on." 

She went inside. I sighed as I followed. She skipped down the stairs and Xavier panicked in my head. I froze before dashing after her, ready to act at a moment's notice. I didn't dare say anything.

"What's the hurry?" She asked, finally reaching the bottom-most step.

"What hurry?" I tried to be nonchalant. She eyed me sideways while she walked forward.

"Ce, please watch your step," I pleaded. She shook her head with a smile but obliged.

"Stop worrying," she told me.

Easier said than done, sweetheart.

We grabbed our jackets and I took the keys. I had a few dollars stashed in the car.

I played calm instrumental for a change in the car. Just as I predicted, she fell asleep halfway there. I went ahead and brought what she wanted anyway. I got extra flavors and bought more chocolates too. The guy at the counter gave me a weird look.

Funny thing is, she was so deeply asleep that she didn't stir even once. Even when we reached home and I carried her upstairs, she kept on sleeping. I closed the balcony doors and switched off the lights we had forgotten to switch off earlier. I discarded my shirt in the hamper and slowly got under the covers. As I was settling, the bed creaked.

"Hn?" Cecelia woke up with a start. I cursed under my breath.

Of course. I drove her through half the city and brought her up and she stayed asleep. As soon as the bed creaked, she woke up.

"Sorry," I apologized in a whisper.

"Navamah," she muttered sleepily, scooting closer to me. My lips twitched upwards as my arms brought her closer.

"Aren't you hungry?" I decided to tease her, brushing the hair out of her face. Her eyes squinted open and she regarded me with what looked like concern.

"It's the middle of the night, Ash. Sleep." She spoke more coherently. "Seriously, I worry about you."

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. She smacked my chest.

"Sleep," she muttered.

"Good night, love." I pressed a kiss to her forehead. I switched off the lights and for the first time in almost a week, went to sleep with a light heart and a smile on my face.

Everything was finally perfect.

********************

A/N:-

Cliché, but not really. I hope you guys liked it.

If you managed to read this far, do tap that star.

This is officially the end, guys. I won't be posting any more bonus chapters anymore. I must say, I'll miss writing Ash+Lia dynamic.

So, how did you like the book???

Also, check out my other works, it'll mean a lot to me ❤
1) Imperfectly Perfect
2) Everlasting Ephemeral
3) Talk Again 

P.S. Thank you guys so much for all the reads, votes, and comments. I'm on the ninth cloud. This bonus chapter is for you all making my week the best ever❤❤❤

All my love,
xoxo.

(27.8.21)