Chapter 1
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE FIRST BOOK, TRACES OF ELIJAH GO BACK AND READ IT BEFORE YOU READ THIS!!!!
It’s been a few months since Elijah and I got married. My due date is just a is only a few weeks from now and I am just absolutely terrified. Things with Elijah have been good. He’s been a very supportive and protective husband, talking me through my fears and reassuring me I have nothing to worry about.
I’m laying with him now, he’s caressing my belly and listening to the babies move around.
“Having fun down there?” I joke with him.
“Mhmm...they always sound like they’re fighting in there.”
“They probably are,” I laugh, “Jru and I were the same in the womb so mom tells me.” I play with his hair a little.
“I bet. I wonder if they have had any luck trying themselves, Ross and her.”
“Jru is still hopeful...the doctors said she’s fine but they still haven’t conceived...maybe it’s mental- she does have nightmares still.”
“Yeah, could be that....we never did talk about names for the babies.”
“If there’s a girl, I wanna name her after my mom, little Amy.”
“What if we have 2 girls?”
“Amy and.... Lina. Lina is pretty.” I nod.
“Okay, boy names.”
“Eli jr.,” I laugh.
“I like that one,” he chuckles.
“And maybe a strong name...Like Orpheus.”
“You’re good at this. Have you been thinking of names on your own~?” He teases.
“Maybe a little...what if...what if one of them is like me...?”
“Gender neutral names work too, like Dakota or Jamie.”
“Yeah, I like those too. Well, now we know our options. We’ll decide them together once they’re born.”
“I like that idea.” He nods.
“So, since I’m on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy, how are things going with Jru after our Coronation, King Eli~?” I tease him a little.
“Um...they’re different...I mean- I’m still captain but I have a lot more responsibility than just the warriors. I look for strays in the outskirts, trying to get them to join the pack instead of becoming rogues...basically I’m doing what your dad did for me...taking me in, orphaned...alone, no one to trust or care for- I was a perfect candidate for a rogue...I almost fully became one but your dad showed me what being in a pack is...the pack became my family and never did I imagine I’d become a king when I first got here. It’s surreal...”
“It was fate...you were always meant to be exactly where you are.”
“I almost passed this up...I didn’t trust your dad at first. I fought him when he found me. He could’ve had me executed for that but he saw I was scared and troubled. He got me in his arms and held me there while I screamed to be let go. Eventually I gave up and just cried. I was tired of running...hiding...just barely surviving. He showed me I didn’t have to do that anymore and I’m so glad he did.” He kisses my belly. “I can’t wait to meet them...”
“Me either...I think they would love to hear our love story when they’re old enough to understand it.”
“Yeah, I think they will too.” Just then we hear a knock at the door.
“Knock, knock~. How are you feeling Josi?” My sister comes in to check on me. She’s been checking up on me since I’ve been on bed rest. She’s been a lovely doting sister, making sure I have everything I need to feel healthy and relaxed until I give birth. I believe my pregnancy is distracting her from the lack of her own which I don’t blame her for, she lost a baby and has been unable to conceive since. I feel guilty about it but she won’t let me be upset. She wants me to be happy...happy she’s alive and breathing, happy she’s able to care for me, happy she can even try for another baby...she doesn’t want me to feel guilty but...I can’t help it. Darius tried to kill her because of me and I stood by and watched...it should be me suffering, not her. Maybe things would be easier for everyone if it was me...maybe everyone would be happier...I don’t deserve it as much.
“Josi? What’s goin on in that head of yours, hm?” My sister gently brushes some hair from my face as she comes over to me.
“Oh...sorry. It’s nothing. I’m doing alright, resting like the doctor ordered.” I give her a reassuring smile but I can tell by her expression, she doesn’t really believe me.
“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m fine, really.”
“I don’t believe it...you being cooped up in this room is the definition of depressed for you. You hate being helpless.” I sigh.
“Jru, I’m okay. I’m dealing just fine with Elijah by my side.”
“But he does a lot of work. And when he’s not here you’re alone...you’re by yourself. I swear, I will take a sympathy leave to take care of you.”
“No, Jru you don’t need to do that for me. I’m fine, seriously.”
“Hmmm...fine, but if you need me to just say the word and I’ll do it.”
“I won’t have you do that. Thank you for the offer though.”
“Mmk. If you change your mind though~”
“I know, you’ll be there. You’re a good sister.”
“Yeah yeah. I’m making you two dinner tonight.”
“You don’t have to-”
“It’s already happening!! Deal with it!” She says, heading out of our room. I let out a sigh.
“She’s a handful.”
“She just cares a lot about you.”
“Or she’s just distracting herself. She hasn’t had any hint of pregnancy yet.”
“It’s...possible, but let’s not jump to conclusions. Are you hungry yet? I can check on Jru and see what she’s cooking.”
“Yeah I am kinda hungry.” I nod.
“Okay, I’ll be back.” He kisses my cheek and heads out of the room. Something about today feels...off. The twins are awfully rowdy today but I shake it off, rubbing my belly. I feel okay, sitting up, I decide to take a warm shower. Elijah usually showers with me, making sure I don’t pass out or slip. I’m very careful as I get undressed and step into the shower. The warm water soaks my body. My belly is so big, I can’t even see my own feet over it. Due to me being an omega and a hermaphrodite, my body has adjusted a little to accommodate for the babies. My chest has some slight plumpness to it. I’ll be feeding them in my wolf form a lot. I feel like it’s less embarrassing that way. I’ve been mistaken for/ called a girl my whole life and now I have freaking boobs which is annoying to say the least but they’ll return to normal with time. Wolf pups tend to ween off of breast feeding pretty early. We tend to crave our meat once those little teeth start showing up. At least I wear big shirts so no one really notices as much. Elijah on the other hand loves my body whether I appear masculine or feminine, he loves me for me. He never really cared about how I dressed or embraced my femininity while claiming masculinity. I try to fluctuate between the two but he loves me either way. I couldn’t ask for a better husband...husband... that is still so hard to fathom that this isn’t all some dream. I really married my dream husband. Our wedding picture is on our dresser but it still feels like a fever dream...being home still feels like a dream and I’m still being haunted by Darius...I still feel like he’s gonna show up any minute even though I watched him die. It’s ridiculous but I can’t help it. I feel like he still has unfinished business and that I’m gonna be the one to pay the price...that my babies will be the ones to pay the price and that’s the last thing I want.
“Babe, what are you doing in the shower by yourself?? You could’ve been hurt...”
“I’m fine, I just needed a warm shower...calm my nerves a bit...” I tell him.
“Everything okay...? Is it him again?” He asks. I’m silent for a moment before peeking at him from the door. He knows about my nightmares, of course.
“I’m thinking too much...” I pout a little. He cups my cheek.
“Want me to join you?”
“Nah, I’m about to get out. Thank you for checking on me.”
“Of course. Your sister is making us a nice dinner so she insists we dress decent.”
“Uh-Huh,” I smile a little, finally, “Okay I’ll be out in a minute.” He nods and heads back into the bedroom. I finish up in the shower and meet him there. He’s already halfway dressed. He’s started wearing less of his piercings lately which I kind of miss. He keeps small earrings in and he’s left his tongue pierced(of course~) but his eyebrow piercing- gone, septum piercing- gone. He really has a cleaned up face now. I adored his piercings, the youthful look he had. I think he’s trying to clean up for the babies- trying to be a role model dad I suppose even though he’s still the same Elijah he was before...just a little more mature now. He walks over to me once he sees I’m out of the shower, drying off. Of course, he helps with his gentle touch. His touch is always so comforting sometimes lingering, resonating on my skin. I close my eyes, melting to his touch. Then feel him stop, causing me to open my eyes and look at him. He’s gazing at me with the softest expression.
“What is it..?”
“Just admiring my mate in all his beautiful glory... glowing skin and comforting expression.” I break into a grin.
“You’re so sweet...”
“I’m only like this with you ~”
“Yes I know,” I laugh, “You’ve been very protective of me lately as well, what’s going on with you?”
“The alpha in me is yelling at me to protect my unborn young and my mate at all costs.”
“Yeah, but what about your piercings? You’ve stopped wearing them.”
“Well babies have grabby hands...I don’t want them to rip them out so I took out the ones that they would really reach for.”
“You’re a goofball...” I squish his face and give him a kiss.
“What??” He chuckles.
“Nothing love. Just be help me get dressed.” He shakes his head grabbing me something to wear.
“Big t-shirt dress again?” I snort.
“You know me so well. Just grab my black Vans and my jean jacket.”
“As you wish, your highness~”
“Ew don’t call me that. I’m not even used to you calling me your husband.” I laugh, having him help me get dressed as we talk.
“Well both being my husband and king are true. Why do you deny it so much?”
“Because they are things I never thought would come true....most of all the part where I’m married to you.”
“Well it’s real. You’re here, we’re together. We’re gonna be a family any day now.”
“I know...I still can’t believe that either...so young and we’re gonna be parents. I’m glad we’ve at least graduated Highschool before we started making babies.”
“Have you ever wanted to go to college other than taking on all this responsibility?”
“Yeah, actually I have but I always thought the pack was most important. Maybe somewhere down the line I’ll take online classes.”
“I would fully support you if you did. You deserve to follow your dreams...so tell me more about you.”
“Well...if I did go to school, I would want to be a teacher for preschool and kindergarten students. Your first school experience sticks with you.”
“I’m lucky your dad took me in or else I never would have finished school. I’d been hiding so long that I gave up on school but being homeschooled under his watch gave me hope and next thing I knew I was holding a diploma in my hand.”
“I remember seeing you so happy that day in your cap and gown. Back then I wished we interacted more...”
“Yeah...we were stupid for not giving into our instincts.” He laughs.
“We sure were,” I laugh as well, “but we came around in the end...the only thing I hope for is our children having happy lives and living out all their dreams. Perhaps we shouldn’t have them rush into pregnancy so soon...they should have some time to become adults for a minute first.”
“I agree- although I don’t regret how things for us went a single bit...things would’ve been worse if we didn’t mate that night...you would’ve probably ended up pregnant with twins who were both his...then I would’ve never had you in my arms again...and you’d be miserable with an abusive mate who you would continuously try to fix and save and vouch for knowing deep inside that nothing you did would help...” he touches his forehead to mind. “You would’ve wanted to die and I wouldn’t be able to bear being at that funeral...”
“Elijah...why didn’t you tell me about all this you were feeling...?”
“Because it’s a false reality...and I didn’t want to worry you with nonsense...”
“It’s not nonsense, my love...it’s something you were truly worried about....it’s probably why you didn’t want to fight Darius at first...because you felt your worst fear had come true...isn’t that it?” He’s silent for a moment but nods.
“When I saw you in his arms, I wanted to challenge him, I wanted to fight for you to the death but he was so hell bent on that being his baby- which he was right about- I know you wouldn’t forgive me if you woke up and the man you truly loved killed the father of your child so I...I had to let you go...but then something told me I couldn’t give up— well really your sister did,” he laughs a bit “she helped me stop moping around and being depressed and go fight for you I thank her all the time for helping me get the strength to fight back.”
“I really didn’t know that...”
“She was the one who really planned to get you back home. You’re her twin, her true other half. She wasn’t about to let her pregnant brother be stuck with an abusive mate when his soulmate was waiting for him, in pain just being away from him.”
“I’m so sorry all of that happened...” he looks at me, holding my shoulders.
“Never apologize for what happened. It was not your fault. You were completely helpless. The witch is on probation for the sake of her son but if she ever tampers with another wolf gathering again, I will make sure the punishment is much more severe.”
“I know you would but I doubt it would be of free will...”
“Free will or not, I will make her suffer. I have more to protect now that I know what I’m up against.”
“Elijah-”
“No. I will protect my family by any means necessary. I’m sorry Josi but I won’t lose you or our kids again...ever.”
“Okay...I understand...” I nod. “I love you...”
“I love you too...sorry for being harsh about that...”
“It’s okay...I know where it’s coming from...come on, let’s go eat dinner.” I smile a little at him and we head downstairs.
