Chapter Four

Freya sat in Racheal's living room, her eyes red and puffy from crying. Racheal, a wise and comforting presence, sat beside her, offering her a cup of tea.

"I just can't believe he would do this to me," Freya said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I thought we had something special. I thought he loved me."

Racheal placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry. But you can't blame yourself for his actions. Aiden has been raised with certain traditions and beliefs that are hard to shake."

Freya sniffled and wiped away a tear. "But what about me? What about our child? How can I do this alone?"

Racheal's eyes softened with compassion. "You're not alone, my dear. I'm here for you, and you have other loved ones who care for you. As for the child, it's a blessing, and it will bring you great joy. You'll see."

Freya nodded, taking a sip of her tea. "But what about Aiden? Do you think he'll come back to me?"

Racheal hesitated for a moment before answering. "I can't say for sure, my dear. But what I can tell you is that he has a lot to think about. He's torn between his love for you and his loyalty to his pack. It's not an easy decision for him to make."

Freya nodded, a glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes. "Do you think there's any way we can make it work? Even if Aiden can't be with me, can we at least find a way to co-parent the child?"

Racheal smiled gently. "Of course, my dear. We'll find a way to make it work. There are always options, and we'll explore every possibility. You're not alone in this."

Freya let out a deep breath, feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders. "Thank you, Auntie. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Racheal hugged her, holding her tightly. "You don't have to worry, my dear. We'll get through this together."

Days turned into weeks, and Freya found solace in Racheal's support. They talked and planned, exploring every possibility for the future. As her pregnancy progressed, Freya began to feel a sense of purpose and hope. She would be a mother, and she would raise her child with love and care, no matter what.

And while Aiden remained absent from her life, Freya held onto a sliver of hope that he would come around. She knew that the battle between love and tradition was a difficult one, but she had faith that they could find a way to make it work. Even if they couldn't be together as a couple, they could still co-parent their child and find a way to be in each other's lives.

Freya's aunt continued to be a guiding light, providing comfort and support throughout her journey. She was a reminder that love and family were the most important things in life, and that no matter what challenges they faced, they would get through it together.

Freya's aunt, Racheal, had been a constant presence in her life ever since she found out about her pregnancy. As the due date approached, Racheal became even more involved, helping Freya to prepare for the arrival of the baby.

They spent hours together, shopping for baby clothes, furniture, and other necessities. Racheal was a wealth of knowledge when it came to raising a werewolf child, and Freya soaked up every bit of information she could.

One day, as they were putting together a crib, Freya turned to Racheal and said, "I don't know what I would do without you. You've been my rock through all of this."

Racheal smiled and placed a hand on Freya's shoulder. "I'm just glad that I can be here for you, Freya. Family is everything, and I want to make sure that you and your child have everything you need."

Freya's eyes filled with tears. "I wish Aiden was here to help me. I know he's busy with his pack, but he's going to be a father. He should be here."

Racheal's expression softened. "I understand how you feel, Freya. Aiden has a lot of responsibilities as the future alpha of his pack. But that doesn't excuse him from being a father to your child. Have you talked to him about this?"

Freya shook her head. "He won't even talk to me. He's so focused on his pack and their traditions. He doesn't see that we could make this work. We could co-parent, or we could find a way to be together despite the challenges."

Racheal placed a hand on Freya's belly. "This child deserves to have both parents in their life, Freya. You need to talk to Aiden and let him know how important this is."

Freya sighed. "I don't know how to get through to him. He's so stubborn and set in his ways."

Racheal smiled. "Well, you're a stubborn woman too, Freya. And that's a good thing. You need to stand up for what you believe in and fight for what's important to you. I have no doubt that you can find a way to make Aiden see things from your point of view."

As the days went by, Freya thought more and more about what Racheal had said. She knew that Racheal was right. Her child deserved to have a father in their life, and she deserved to have the support and love of the man she loved.

So, one day, she decided to reach out to Aiden. She sent him a message, asking if they could talk.

To her surprise, he responded quickly and agreed to meet her. They met in a park, away from the prying eyes of the pack. Aiden looked tired and stressed, but Freya was determined to make him see things from her point of view.

"Aiden, I know we've had our differences, but I need you to listen to me," she began. "Our child deserves to have both parents in their life. And I deserve to have the support and love of the man I love. We don't have to be together as a couple, but we can co-parent and find a way to make this work."

Aiden sighed. "Freya, you know how important tradition is to our pack. We can't just throw it all away because of our personal feelings."

Freya's eyes hardened. "I'm not asking you to throw anything away, Aiden. I'm asking you to see that love and family are just as important as tradition. We can find a way to make this work, but we have to be willing to compromise and work together."

Aiden sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I understand where you're coming from, Freya. But you have to understand that my duty to the pack comes first. I can't just abandon everything I've ever known and everyone I've ever loved just to be with you." 

Freya's heart sank, but she refused to give up. "I'm not asking you to abandon anyone, Aiden. I'm asking you to consider that there might be a way for us to be together without going against the pack. We can find a compromise, we can work together to make it happen." 

Aiden looked skeptical. "What kind of compromise are you talking about, Freya? Our traditions are clear, we mate within the pack to keep our bloodlines strong. You're not one of us, and I don't see how we can change that." 

Freya leaned forward, her eyes pleading. "I know it won't be easy, but we can try. Maybe we can talk to the pack, explain our situation, and see if they're willing to make an exception. Maybe we can start a new tradition, one that allows for love and family outside of our pack." 

Aiden shook his head, his expression pained. "I don't know, Freya. It's a big risk. The pack might not be willing to change, and even if they are, it could take years to convince everyone." 

Freya reached out and took Aiden's hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm willing to take that risk, Aiden. I'm willing to fight for us, for our love and our family. Are you?" 

Aiden stared into Freya's eyes, seeing the determination and love there. He knew he couldn't turn away from her, but he also knew that it wouldn't be easy. "I am, Freya. I'll do whatever it takes to be with you and our child. But we have to be careful, we have to be smart about this." 

Freya nodded, relieved. "Thank you, Aiden. I know it won't be easy, but I believe we can make it work if we just keep trying." Aiden gave her a small smile. "I believe it too, Freya. We'll make it work, no matter what."

Freya smiled back at Aiden, feeling a sense of hope and love wash over her. She knew that their journey wouldn't be easy, but she was willing to fight for their family, for their love. She leaned in and kissed Aiden, feeling the warmth and tenderness of his lips against hers.

As they parted, Aiden took a deep breath. "We'll start by talking to my father, the Alpha. He'll be the hardest to convince, but if we can get him on our side, the rest of the pack will follow."

Freya nodded, feeling a surge of nervousness but also determination. "Okay, we'll do it. Together."

They stood up and left the clearing, their hands clasped together in a tight grip. As they walked back to the pack's main house, Freya couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and love for Aiden. He was willing to risk everything for her and their child, and she knew that together, they could overcome any obstacle.

As they reached the door to the house, Aiden turned to Freya. "No matter what happens, just remember that I love you. And our child. And I'll do anything to protect both of you."

Tears welled up in Freya's eyes as she looked at Aiden. "I love you too, Aiden. And I'll never forget that."