"It's from the mate of one of our fallen warriors; I delivered a basket to her and told her to send me a message if she needs anything." I summarize the message as I read it: "She's written about childcare—about needing a place where trusted people can look after her children. She mentions needing to go to the garden and the shops but finding it too difficult to bring her children along with her and also being inconvenienced by waiting for her sister-by-bond to be available to come and watch the children while she goes."

Theo leans against his desk. "Did she write anything else?"

"She says her brother's pack has a place like this next to their schoolhouse—they call it the Nursery—and that his kids are always well taken care of; they play with other children, do activities outdoors, have stories read to them, serve meals at mealtimes, have naps." I look up. "Theo, this sounds wonderful."

"I think it would be a very useful and respectable thing for you to do for the pack."

My hand grasping the note falls to my side. "You mean I could do it? Make this place a reality here?"

He shrugs. "Why not?"

A smile tugs at my lips. "I-I don't know. It would be a huge project that would require constructing a building—so materials and labor and..."

His expression is unchanged.

"You mean it? I could do this?"

"You're having your event at the house with the pack's high-standing women, aren't you?"

I nod.

"Announce it then."

A doubtful laugh slips out of me, one of utter disbelief but also excitement.

"Do you want this, Celeste?" He asks in earnest.

I glance at the note, still partially speechless. "I mean, I want to give the pack things they need, and I want all Draven mothers to have access to help always. I'm privileged; I have you and Maude and Elise and Lily, and I know my baby will be taken care of. I want that sense of security for everyone."

"Then it's settled. You'll have to meet with our head of construction; you haven't met him yet—he doesn't attend leadership meetings concerning the war, but I'll set something up for next week so you have time to gather your ideas and host your party. I'm sure Maude will be more than willing to help considering the new position you've—"

His thought is severed when I abruptly throw my arms around him and smush my face against his shoulder.

"Thank you," I say. "You don't know how much this means to me—to have your support, your encouragement. I can't wait to tell Maude, Lily, and Elise. This is really going to help people—the pack is going to love it."

Theo caresses my face and encourages me to look at him. "They're going to love you," he says, and our mate bond lashes.

I kiss him at once, lifting onto my tippy toes and wrapping my arms around his neck. His hands massage my waist and hold me in place as he readily receives me. It feels like it's been so long since we were last intimate. Between losing Dan, enduring the war, and the news of my pregnancy, we've both been overloaded. However, at this moment, I feel an all-consuming need that will not be deterred.

"Now," I breathe amid our liplock. "I want to now. Please."

"Please?" He murmurs, leaning back. "Are you asking nicely?"

"Rosa said nothing against it, and I'm feeling fine." I gaze directly into his eyes, edging into restlessness. "So, yes, I'm asking nicely."

Theo looks past me to the study doors. He seems to be contemplating.

I hold his jaw and shift his attention back to me. "I know the first eight weeks are important, but if it was dangerous for the baby, Rosa would have said something. I promise it's fine."

"Then I have no choice, do I?" He asks, conceding.

I shake my head, no.

He seems to scrutinize every detail of my face. "Are you going to tell me what you want me to do?"

I shake my head again, slower. "This time it's not what you're going to do for me; it's what I'm going to do for you."

"Is that so?"

"Mmhm."

Theo smiles slyly as his mind seems to fill with ideas. "In that case, the first thing you can do for me is walk over there and lock the doors."

Ideas sprout in my imagination of what he could possibly want me to do. I leave him—my hand slipping out of his—to draw the study doors closed and turn the lock on the left handle. When I twist around, he waves me back.

The second I'm in front of him again, he moves me against the desk, keeping me in place with his own body. He proceeds to undress me, pulling off my shirt first. He reaches under my arms and unclasps my bra. My chest is free and somewhat tender. I touch myself to decipher the cause of the ache; it must be my body changing.

"It's too late to hide yourself."

"No," I look down at my examining, "it's not that. I just feel a bit sore—heavy."

Theo holds my waist. "Does it hurt?"

"I wouldn't say it's painful, just sensitive."

"I'll be gentle," he says and brings his shirt over his head. He then goes for my pants, so I use the desk to sturdy myself as he brings them down.

Theo leaves only my underwear on, and I don't question his desires, although my cheeks flush as I stand near-naked in the study, a room that feels like anyone can barge in at any moment. Even the thought of someone coming into the house calling for Theo prickles my skin and sparks my adrenaline.

My faith lies in a single lock, and it's...exciting.

Theo steps back as I remain against his desk. A chill blows over my skin. "What are you doing?"

"Looking at you."

My arms slowly slide against my front. I wasn't hiding before but suddenly it's hard not to.

"Put your hands on the desk," he instructs.

"Theo."

His distance only makes me feel more exposed. My heart begins to thump; it may as well be the first time I'm getting naked in front of him.

"Can I not look at you?"

I bend one knee over the other. "You can, but..."

He steps closer. "I want to remember you here like this."

"In the study? Against the desk?"

"Against the desk," he repeats, entertained.

I narrow my eyes and turn to acknowledge the desk. I place my palm on it. "So you'll be thinking about this then—what we do?"

"Memories can serve as a great incentive."

"For?"

"I told you before you're what I think about during attacks."

My lips part. "Don't you need to be focused on the task at hand?"

He holds my side, my ribs, as his thumb runs over part of my breast. "You'd be surprised how quickly the mention of one's mate can focus a man."

My stomach clenches.

"Now...you really want to do something for me?"

I wet my lips and stand taller. "Of course."

He starts undoing his pants. "Then you can get on your knees."

***

I wake in Theo's clutches and before either of us gathers the willpower to move, I think back on the previous day. My nerves writhe as I recall standing naked and as I reimagine the carnal act that ensued—what Theo had me do. From his reactions, I can only deduce that I did well enough, but it was my first time using my mouth, and I know there's still much for me to learn.

I continue to pick apart the memory until Theo stirs behind me and begins stroking my hair.

He's out of bed after some minutes of cuddling, and I'm too preoccupied to fall back asleep like usual. So, as he gets ready to leave, I retrieve my diary from its hiding place in the closet and flip through it for a specific page I saw while rummaging around my old bedroom at Rowan.

The doodle-bordered list proves easy to find.

"What about Amma?" I ask. "Or Polly?"

"Amma over Polly," Theo says from the bathroom while I stay warm in bed.

"I agree. I like Amma." I continue reading down the list, reaching the bottom. "What about Emma? Emma or Amma?"

"Amma."

"Because it's closer to Alpha?"

"Alpha is one of my favorite words."

A small laugh purls out of me. "Well, that's about it for younger me's baby names. Most of them are...questionable, but I was probably twelve when I came up with them, so it was a shot in the dark anyway."

Theo steps into the bathroom doorway. "There's still plenty of time to decide."

"I know, but I think I want Rosa to tell me the gender sooner rather than later—I can't handle the suspense." I shut my diary. "I wonder if Alexa knows the gender of her baby yet."

"Well, just because Bryan betrayed us, doesn't mean you can't write to Alexa. I was actually going to write to my mother; I should tell her you're expecting. If you want, I can send your message with mine."

"Okay. I think I will. Maybe she can also clear some things up about what happened with the attack."

Theo grabs a shirt from the closet. "I doubt she knows about it."

"Really? Still? Then should I write about it or not?"

He pauses to contemplate before he says, "Go ahead. She should know what her mate's been up to." Theo brings the shirt over his head. "Unless he gets the note first and gets rid of it."

Theo comes to the side of the bed and bends to kiss me goodbye while holding onto the headboard. He has an attack to flush out before they strike in four days. Meanwhile, I need to prepare for my luncheon which is already the day after tomorrow.

"I'll see you later," I say softly as he withdraws.

He thumbs my lip. "If you need me, send one of the guards watching the house to find me. I don't want you trekking around the whole territory."

"Yes, Alpha," I mutter.

"Careful," he warns as though I might trigger something within him that's reminiscent of yesterday. "I'll try to be back in time for dinner but don't wait for me if I'm not."

I'm tempted to repeat myself, but Theo has places to be, so I chose not to tease him. Besides, Maude will be here soon, and I'm hankering to tell her about her promotion.

Not long after Theo's gone, I get out of bed, go about my morning routine, and wait at the kitchen table for Maude, making sure to start the kettle for her in between. The weather this morning is not as overcast as it has been lately, but even through the walls, I can feel the temperature dropping. I'll be pregnant through the fall and winter and giving birth on the cusp of spring, a fact I decide I like very much.

My baby will be born into greenery and blooms and eventually, warmth—what will be a welcome idea after an already harsh season made more grave by war.

I snack on a few of Elise's latest confectioneries until I hear the back door open and Maude comes through. She lifts her head as she enters the kitchen wearing a coat with a bag slung on her shoulder.

"You're up early," she comments and goes to the counter. "It's nice to see the sun's out. Did you put the kettle on?"

"I did."

She peers back. "You must have Alpha blood inside of you; you're much more productive."

"Funny," I say, sarcastic. "There's actually something I have to tell you. Come. Sit down." I pat the table.

She quirks a brow. "What is it?"

"Just come sit."

Maude sighs and leaves her bag on the counter. She strips off her coat and places it folded on her lap as she sits and entertains me.

I can hardly tame my grin. "So, I talked to Theo yesterday."

"About the baskets?"

"No."

"About the luncheon?"

"No, just listen," I insist. "We talked about you."

Her lips flatten into a displeased line.

"And I told him with everything that we've been working on, there's hardly enough time for you to do your jobs around the house."

"Well, I wouldn't say there isn't enough—"

"So we decided to give you a new position," I spill excitedly. "Advisor to the Luna."

Her expression turns blank. "A title?"

I nod, clutching my hands on the table.

Maude's mouth opens, and her chest fills with air, but nothing comes out. Her gaze strays, and I find my excitement petering into anxiety.

"A title?" She questions. "Are you serious?"

My arms and hands reel into my body. "Yes?"

And then she fractures—her face softens and her lips curl into a smile. The pressure building in my stomach disperses in relief.

"Goddess, I thought you didn't want it," I breathe. "You scared me."

"I just... I'm surprised. I mean, a title... I have a title?"

"I did tell you a while ago that you needed more influence. You belong in a position where your knowledge and skills can be put to good use, and you've practically been my advisor this entire time. Really, this was all overdue."

Maude grabs onto the table as though she needs to steady herself. "Sure, talk is one thing, but going to the Alpha about it... What did he say?"

"He had no doubts or anything like that. All he said was that we need to find a replacement housekeeper."

"Right. A replacement."

"That shouldn't be too hard, should it?"

She teeters her head. "It could be. The pack house housekeeper needs to be efficient, trustworthy, dependable—it's an important decision. There are valuable things in this house—information that must be protected—not just anyone can be brought in."

"So what's the process?"

"I'll find some candidates, we'll interview each one together, and we'll present our choice to the Alpha. I think that's the best way."

I nod. "Okay. I would hate to bring in someone that can't be trusted. Theo's already unnerved by Bryan's betrayal; he doesn't need another reason to be on edge."

The kettle begins its loudening screech, so Maude shuts off the stove.

"At least now that you're working full time with me, we'll be able to set up all our bereavement gift deliveries with the volunteers we get from the luncheon and be able to start work on the Nursery. Theo said we'll have to meet with the Head of Construction and—"

"Head of construction?" Maude questions. "What are you planning on building for the baby?"

"Oh, Goddess, I forgot. Not my baby's nursery, the Nursery," My hands mimic my urgency, "The mother from our first deliveries sent a message and mentioned another pack that has this whole childcare thing. Theo already agreed to let me do it; we're constructing a building and talking about it at the luncheon."

Maude blinks in surprise. "Constructing a building?"

"Yes! Here, let me go grab the message, I still have it."

I push back my chair and rush out of the kitchen, leaving Maude standing at the counter with an out-of-breath look on her face.