A Surprise

[Ivan’s POV]

"Arissa!" I hissed, quickly catching Arissa as her body went limp. "Hey, wake up!"

I clutched her in my arms and gently patted her cheek in an attempt to rouse her, but she didn’t respond. Instead, her mouth tightened into a grimace of discomfort and her face contorted in pain.

"GET A HEALER!" I growled, beginning to make my way towards the pack house while all the ceremony guests watched in confusion. "DON’T JUST STAND THERE LIKE FOOLS!"

At my words, the crowd came to life, making way for me to pass through and asking around if anyone was a healer. 

Rolling my eyes, I continued to move, making my way into the pack house and up the stairs towards mine and Arissa’s living quarters. Once I arrived, I beelined for our room, laying her down on the bed and sending a mindlink to Christine.

Satisfied that she would arrive soon, I busied myself by pulling off Arissa’s shoes and loosening her corset.

"Master," Christine called when she arrived. "What happened here?"

"She started speaking about seeing someone and then she passed out." I explained, stepping aside so that Christine could begin to examine Arissa.

"Do you think it could be stress from the luna coronation getting the better of her?" Christine asked, as she placed two fingers on Arissa’s inner wrist. "Maybe it was too much, despite her insisting it wasn’t."

"Too much for Arissa?" I repeated, stopping the laugh that wanted to escape. "You know her." I pointed out. "Nothing is too much for her."

Instead of responding, Christine let out a huff. "Just because the mistress acts strong, it doesn’t mean that she is indestructible."

"I know that."

Of course, I knew that. Especially after getting past the well-built walls that she had when we first met. Despite her strong facade, she was still–even to this day– on the brink of breakdown at any point.

Recently, Arissa had begun to have nightmares of her past. Even though she was always vague in explaining them, I knew they involved the Omega concentration camp she was sent to as a child. Despite my trying to get her to tell me more about it, she wouldn’t speak of it. It hurt that she wouldn’t let me in that deep, but we still had plenty of time for that.

"Uh…" Christine murmured, drawing me out of my head. "Master…"

"What is it, Christine?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. "Why do you look nervous?"

"Um…I hope you don’t mind me asking, but do you know when the mistress’ last moon cycle was?"

"Her last?" I repeated, furrowing my brows. "When was the last time she attempted to kill me due to her being overly hormonal? "Come to think of it…" I began, realizing it had actually been a while. "I don’t remember."

"I see."

I watched as Christine’s usual stern expression began to soften and her eyes began to sparkle.

"Congratulations, master." She beamed, reaching out and shaking my hand. "You’re going to be a dad."

"Be…a….what." I managed as my head began to spin. "Repeat that."

"You’re going to be a dad." Christine huffed, her happy expression immediately faltering. "The mistress is pregnant. That could be why she is acting funny."

Pregnant… Arissa was pregnant. She was pregnant with my child, and we were going to be parents. This thought alone left me both excited and terrified.

Would I make a good father or would I end up being like my own? Though I had brought Arissa back in the beginning to create an heir, things were completely different. I no longer wanted just an heir from her. I wanted a family, and now that my wish was coming true, I didn’t quite know how to process it.

"Don’t panic." Christine said quickly, taking my silence as a bad thing. "You’ll make a great parent. If you need any help, I’m here to…"

"Would you mind stepping out?" I blurted, stopping Christine mid-sentence. "I’d like to have a moment alone with Arissa."

"Of course. If you need me, I’ll be right outside. "

"Thank you, Christine."

Forcing a smile, I watched as Christine made her way out of the room, leaving Arissa and I alone. Only after the door to our room closed did I collapse by Arissa’s side and fix my gaze on her stomach.

There was a little person beginning to form in there. A little me and a little Arissa. It was all so surreal. Was I really ready for this?

"Ivan?" Arissa’s soft voice murmured as her hand touched the top of my head. "What are you doing?"

"Thinking." I responded, grabbing her hand and bringing it to my lips.

"About?" She asked.

"Us, and our future family."

"Why that of all things at this moment?"

As Arissa spoke, she furrowed her brows in confusion, as if she did not quite understand what I was getting at.

"Because," I began, taking a deep breath. "Our duo is about to become a trio."

"Trio?" Arissa repeated, seeming to perk up. "Are you finally agreeing to a threesome?"

"No," I snapped, flicking her forehead. "I’ve told you multiple times...If anyone lays so much as a hand on you, I’ll fucking kill them. "

"Then what are you talking about?" Arissa demanded, beginning to pout.

"I was talking about you and me and our baby." I responded, feeling my heart soften by that simple word. "You’re pregnant, Arissa. We’re going to be parents."

"Parents…" she repeated, unsure if she managed to hear me correctly. "Like parents to an animal? Or even to an apprentice?"

"No," I chuckled, placing a comforting hand on her cheek. "I mean parents to a child that you and I made ourselves."

"Wait…" she gasped, extending a claw and running it the length of the corset that was still wrapped around her. "Are you saying…"

Reaching down, she yanked the corset off so I was left in only the skirt of her dress and a lacy bra that did no good at hiding her perfect breasts.

"There’s a thing in me." She continued, pressing a manicured finger against her stomach. "I have a little you and me in my stomach?"

"That’s right." I confirmed, letting a broad smile make its way across my face.

Unable to contain the joy that was now beginning to build as I accepted the reality around me, I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around Arissa’s waist. Pulling her closer, I placed my ear against her stomach in hopes of hearing the little things heartbeat.

"Woah, woah," Arissa gasped, grabbing my shoulders and attempting to pry me off. "If you keep that up, you’re going to..."

A loud gurgle erupted from her stomach, cutting off any other words that may have escaped her. Letting a laugh escape me, I untangled myself and quickly stood up.

"Come on," I chuckled, taking in Arissa’s bright red cheeks. "Let’s go feed you."

"I’m not hungry." She grumbled just as her stomach rumbled again.

"Of course you aren’t, my love." I smirked. "Quit being stubborn and come on. We can discuss this further once you’ve been fed."