The Mates of Monsters
Chapter 79

The sweet smell of cooking blackberries wafts in my face as I stir the fruit over the stove to make jam. Helena places the proofed dough loaf in the oven, and we function seamlessly, chatting through our work. "Do you think they will like jam? I hope they aren't picky." "Children are picky, but they will grow out of it. You know, my daughter was a very picky eater at first, so I would eat the food she feared and act as if it was the most wondrous tasting thing. She would see my reaction and immediately want to taste it. Most of the time, she would act the same way-smiling and saying yum-my. She was a precious little thing."

"I can't wait," I say.

Helena comes to my side. "Here, dear. Let me take over. Sit down for a bit, won't you?"

"I can finish. My belly isn't big yet-I feel fine. But you can bother me in a few months."

"Brigette!"

Helena bumps me out of the way at the sound of David's call. She takes over the stirring, but I'm too curious about David's shouting to care. "David?" I call back and look into the hallway. "Is everything-"

He walks briskly down the hall with a smile on his pretty face. "It passed."

"What."

"The proposition passed," he confirms and sweeps me into his arms.

"Congratulations," Helena says from the kitchen.

"A-Are you serious? You heard just now?"

"I came right here to tell you."

I latch onto him and squeal as he spins us around. "I can't believe it! I have to call Aurora and Bonny and my mom and-"

My rambling stops when he kisses my lips and sets me down. "I'm so proud of you," he says and caresses my cheeks. His thumbs trace my cheekbones before he quickly kisses me again. "Stay with me?"

He lets go. "Of course."

"Just let me call my mom to tell her the news, and then I want to talk about turning the second bedroom into the nursery. I think it has the best lighting so if we chose that pale green paint, the shadows won't be too weird," I explain. I've been nesting and preparing for the baby ever since my pregnancy was confirmed at the doctor's a few weeks ago.

"Go on and call her, then we can go upstairs and you can show me what you want to do."

"Okay."

David carries on into the kitchen while I grab my cell phone from the dining room. I left it beside my laptop earlier when Helena asked if I wanted to help her in the kitchen. The device is still resting face down on the table, so I grab it and call my mom. We send plenty of text messages, but this is something I want to hear her reaction to.

I sit down while I wait for her to pick up-it only takes two rings. "Hi, Brigie, how is everything? Are you doing okay?"

"I'm doing just fine," I say in regards to my pregnancy.

"Is my grandbaby still being good to you?"

"It's been smooth sailing."

I can almost hear her smile. "Aw, well, I think you may just have an angel growing in there. That's good-I'm happy for you."

"Who knows, maybe the little thing is waiting until my guard is down," I joke. "Anyway, I'm actually calling with news."

"You decided to know the gender?"

"Sorry, but no. David just told me that the proposition passed."

Her voice leaps. "Oh! Oh, that's wonderful, Brigie. I can't believe you pulled it off."

A hint of sarcasm escapes me. "Thanks."

"So that's that? Amabell could be our next Alpha?"

"She could be. There are a few conditions, but they're minuscule compared to the rules before. If Amabell is the only blood child of the Alpha and Luna, then she will be the next Alpha, but we're likely to see the first female Alphas in packs who have no current Alpha. You remember how I told you about

Aurora, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"If Aurora was Alpha Blood, she would be Alpha of Nicodra's pack now since she was mated to Nicodra. But, because she isn't, she'll have to hold out until her child can take over." "And because of you, even if her child is a girl, the pack will have a leader."

"Because of everyone who voted in favor of the preposition, yes," I correct. "That's all I wanted to tell you."

"It's great news," she says, "I'm so proud of you."

"Do you think Dad will be proud? Or will he be all weird about it still?"

"I think he's just needed some time

f.n

to understand it all. It can be difficult for him to handle change, but he'll be proud of you, don't you worry. It takes@special person to do what you've done, and he knows that."

My mind catches and tangles in my thoughts for a moment, then I yank myself free. "David and I are deciding how the baby's room will be, so I'll let you know what colors we chose so you can match the blanket." "Good. I can get started on it then."

"You'll have plenty of time to knit considering the baby isn't coming any time soon. Unless you're making a blanket big enough for the entire pack, I don't think there's any need to rush."

"You know I like to add little details," she argues. "I want it to be perfect so when my grandbaby is all curled up, they'll think of me and how much grandma loves them."

"You don't have to be so far, mom."

"Your father-"

"Won't be a Beta forever," I finish. "Talk to him. Start to plant retirement seeds, and promise me that the two of you will move here when he does."

"We wouldn't be anywhere else, you know that. The second he steps down, we're coming to be with you and our grandchild. I can promise you that as many times as you need."

Something inside of me

settles-perhaps it's my baby

knowing that they will be surrounded

by love and family. I want to give av

them a village of people who love

them, who will protect, nurture, and

teach as much as David and me.

My baby will never be alone.

"Okay," I say. "I'll talk to you later. David is waiting for me."

"Sure thing. You send me those colors."

"I will, and you take care of Dad-make sure he doesn't trip at the finish line."

"I will. You go and plan with David."

"Okay, bye, Mom. Love you."

"Love you too. Bye now."