Howling Hearts

I woke up to the smell of hot chocolate and saw my mother sitting next to me on the couch. I got up quickly and hugged her tightly. "When did you get here" I asked in an over-joyed tone.

"Oh honey, me and your father left the moment Lucian gave us a call." She said whilst handing over a cup of hot chocolate to me.

"So then where's dad?" I asked looking around the room. "Oh he and Lucian are in the lounge". I hoped out of bed and ran to the lounges expecting them to be at each other's throats.

When I entered, I saw two lazy boys pointing at the window. Both of them sitting on their own with a beer in hand. Whilst watching the view of the sun setting over the Los Angeles horizon,

"You know Lucian, I'm going to be honest with you. When I met you I thought you were a prick", my dad said, looking at the view.

Lucian's head whipped in the direction of my father with a curious expression.

"And why is that Mister Bloodmoon?"

"Well, only a prick would show up at a beta-families house in another pack making demands and misusing his alpha abilities" "Sir"

"No sunny boy, I'm not done yet" My father continued. I leaned against the kitchen pillar and just watched as they spoke with one another.

"But I do now understand why you did it. For a long time I envied you for knowing my own child was in danger before I did. But I am happy now. Because if you hadn't, I would've lost my daughter and never had the opportunity to meet my grandson", He said, and I smiled at his response.

"But sir, we don't know the gender yet"

"Don't have to sunny boy. Because I already know"

"Well, I sure hope your right". I cleared my throat and both men turned to meet eyes with me.

My father got up and started walking towards me with his arms wide open. We hugged tightly and it felt good to see the two most important men in my life getting along for once.

"I have a feeling it's a girl"

I said.

"Oh Scarlet, you can feel like whatever you want to, I just have a knack for knowing the gender before they are born"

My father said and I glared at him in a joking manner.

"How do you feel sweat heart?". 1

"Like it's a girl" Everyone giggled and we all went and sat down in the lounge with coffee and cookies.

We all just spoke about pregnancy and how we met and how our relationship is and how my parents are proud of me.

Everything seemed so perfect at that moment that I just wished it could go on like this forever.

After hours of visiting, my dad looked at his watch.

"Oh dear, we have to start heading home soon. We old people enjoy our nights' rest, unlike you young ones full of energy and ready to produce a pup",

He laughed at his own joke while getting up from the chair. We walked them out and waived as they drove away.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Lucian's hand on the small of my back all the way, reigniting a flame of l**t. I looked up into his eyes and just as we were about to turn around and head home, a voice called out to us

"Lucian Scarlet". A figure approached us from the shadows. Lucian stood in front of me acting as a protective barrier if need be.

"Riley?" I heard him ask and I then looked over his shoulder, seeing a very disheveled Riley with a very prominent bump. "Can I speak to you... Both?" She sniffed as she asked in a soft and broken tone. I stepped forward next to Lucian and reached my hand out to her.

"Sure. Come on in." Lucian held onto my upper arm

"what are you doing?"

"Being kind." I said I knew very well that Riley felt alone and only did what she felt necessary for her own protection and her family.

I knew she had no ill wishes for me. She just didn't have another option at that point. We all headed up to the Alpha floor and got seated in the lounge.

In the light, I saw her much more clearly.

Her appearance had seemed to have fallen aback.

Her hair had been a knotted mess and her clothes were baggy and dirty. Her whole appearance was unkempt and that, for someone as proud as her, was a big thing.

"I...I want to apologize for what I did to the two of you. I just didn't know what else to do and I was in a panic.

Scarlet, I liked you from the day I met you and Lucian. I always just wanted your happiness, but when my life and my child's life was on the line, I had to be selfish.

Not that it was an excuse, but just to let you know that there weren't other motives for me and there still aren't. I am sorry and I do hope you forgive me".

Me and Lucian looked at each other in shock and an awkward silence filled the room.

I gestured to Lucian with my eyes to go first but it had become clear that he wasn't. "Riley, we already forgave you",

Her head shot up, meeting my eyes, and my words landed on her ears. I guess she was anticipating a beating but instead received pure kindness.

"Riley, I know everything. Including that you and Lucian were intimate to some point. I know you are speaking the truth, but my forgiveness has a shelf life. Cross me again and it will be expired" She nodded as my words escaped my mouth.

"No worries, I understand. I promise that I will never do it again".

Awkward silence filled the room once more. "I guess I'll take my leave".

She said whilst getting her stuff together and standing up from the chair with difficulties due to her baby bump that was large.

For us, wolves' pregnancy didn't last 9 months, but instead, 9 weeks on average. I knew her time for labor was nearby.

"Where are you staying at the moment?" I asked her with a pitiful look.

"What do you mean Luna?" She tried to shrug of my question.

"Where will you be sleeping tonight?"

She froze at my question for a while before regaining her breath.

"I...I don't know yet"

"I'll tell you where. You'll be here tonight on the bottom floor, of course, since I don't trust you but you will have a roof over your head and a plate of food before bed" I said and she smiled shyly.

"Thank you Luna"

She said quickly before hurrying off downstairs.

"Well I didn't expect that from you" I turned to glare at Lucian.

"And why is that?"

"Oh I don't know it was just unexpecting"

"I'm full of surprises and you haven't even witnessed half"