Leah POV

  A fluttery feeling tickles my stomach, and I burst from the seat in shock. “What the hell was that!” Another wave flutters grazing the inside of me, and I can’t stop myself from squirming and jumping like the kitchen floor was covered in tiny little bugs trying to crawl over my skin. I squeal as the motion continues, causing my mate, Axel to barrel into the room, claws drawn and ready for a fight.

  Axel inspects our kitchen for an enemy and comes up empty. His claws retract as he senses no immediate danger in our kitchen. He watches me as I continue to involuntarily squeal at the top of my lungs over the sensation happening in my stomach. This felt different from any gas bubble I had felt before. Did someone cast a spell on me when I wasn’t looking? Did I have worms? Those are the worst parasites for beast folk to get! The medicine is awful tasting. Please, Heaven, don’t let this be worms.

  “Leah,” Axel’s voice breaks through my internal panic. I stop my squirmy dance to look at him chuckling at me. “What has the mighty Alpha Huntress in such a dire state?”

  My voice sounded like I might cry at that moment. “I think I have worms,” My small voice chimed as another flutter rippled inside my stomach.

  “Worms?” Axel gave me a confused look.

  “Yes,” I pouted. “My stomach won’t stop fluttering.”

  “Fluttering?” His confusion only deepened. “Worms don’t flutter.” He said, flatly.

  I jumped again at the fluttering sensation. He giggled as I wriggled myself into a ball on the floor trying to get the feeling to stop. I rolled and turned, which caused the fluttering sensations to increase like I had awakened some parasite inside of me. What the heck is this thing?

  “Leah,” Axel placed a hand on my cheek. His warmth calmed me. “Relax, my love.” He pulled me into his arms, cuddling me like a scared pup. “Tell me about the flutter.”

  I nodded, trying to snuggle up to him. “I was just standing there near the counter to make tea when I felt a sudden flutter moving along the inside of my stomach. At first, I thought it was gas, but it kept happening over and over.” Another flutter poked at my insides. “It keeps happening. It feels weird so I thought it was worms. You say it isn’t worms because they don’t flutter. Now, I fear that I might have a parasite.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Is it still happening?” His voice was calming to me, and I almost wanted to melt into him when another flutter feeling passed through my stomach.

  “Yes,” I whispered, feeling embarrassed. Normally, things like this don’t bother me. I am stronger than the other females in our valley, but today I felt off.

  “Let’s call my dad,” Axel soothed me. His father was the healer in our valley, so if there was something wrong with me, his father would know.

  “Okay,” I agreed.

  Waiting for Axel’s father felt like forever. Hunting while injured, I can handle it. Taking down a beast ten times my size is fun for me. Leading my hunters in war is exciting. Handling the stress of being a patient is my biggest weakness. I can take care of others all day. I enjoy slaughtering my enemies. Chasing prey makes my day, but this was heavy. Not as heavy as when Rory was dropped into my lap, but it’s a solid number two.

  Axel just sat next to me on our couch, rubbing my back as the flutters continued in my stomach. In fact, I think the fluttering was worse with Axel next to me. Can the worms sense his presence?

  Leah, you don’t have worms.

  I groaned at his words. Then, this is either a weird ass gas bubble or a stupid parasite. I think I prefer worms.

  Axel raised his eyebrow at me. I don’t think it’s any of those.

  “What else could it be?” I questioned just as his father walked into our living room.

  “How about we find out?” Axel’s father said, happily. There was a twinkle in his eye like he knew exactly what was going on already. Axel and I stayed quiet as his dad checked me out. His mother stepped in with another test for me to take by peeing in the cup.

  I gave her a weird look. “You want me to pee in a cup?”

  “It’s the least invasive way to confirm my theory.” His father reasoned. I just took the cup and headed for the bathroom, knowing he would say more until he had evidence of his theory.

  Sometime later…

  Axel’s mom is quietly looking over her husband’s shoulders. I watch her face twist and scrutinize whatever Axel’s dad is doing. I grip Axel’s arm tightly for emotional support. The stress of waiting was wearing on me, and I was ready to just fall asleep on Axel’s shoulder. Axel seemed stone-like as he watched his father’s back. Again, he seemed to know what was going on, but he wouldn’t say a word. Finally, his father turned around with a stoic face.

  “Leah, you don’t have worms, gas bubbles, or parasites,” His father started to smile. “You are healthy.”

  “Then, what was with the internal fluttering?” I asked, feeling exasperated by everyone’s nonchalant attitude.

  “Aye, that would be your pup moving around in your stomach,” Axel’s father grinned ear to ear.

  Pup…there’s a pup in my stomach? “That means I’m pregnant…” I was astonished in a good way. Suddenly, I feel Axel squeeze me like a grape in giant arms.

  Leah, I am so excited! He looked at me with pure love in his eyes as he remained speechless.

  It hit me like a ton of rocks. After years of failure of trying to get pregnant, I had a little pup in my belly. The pup was big enough that I felt their paws or fingers run along my stomach. All the love Axel and I had finally come to fruition. Rory wouldn’t be our only child anymore. She was going to have a baby cousin! It was real. I am finally a mother. I wish Rory and my sister, Astrid, were here to see this. It was all I could do not to cry in Axel’s embrace. Our family was growing.