My fingers tighten around the phone 116

Aria’s POV
The hallway of my apartment fell silent as Leo’s footsteps faded away. I leaned against my door, staring up at the
flickering light overhead and taking a deep breath to center myself. My stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence and
drawing a small smile to my face.
“Hungry, little wolf?” I whispered, my hand instinctively moving to rest on my still-flat belly.
I pushed the door open and stepped into my dark, empty apartment. The silence struck me immediately—both a relief
and a strange absence. Since Lucas had been born, we’d rarely been apart. Without his vibrant energy filling the space, I
felt oddly off-balance, like missing a limb I’d grown used to. Despite all the drama and chaos surrounding my return to
the wolf world, I knew coming back had been the right choice.
I pulled out my phone and texted David and Zoe to check on Lucas. Within seconds, my screen lit up with a response—a
photo of my son curled up on David’s couch, wearing brand new dinosaur pajamas I’d never seen before, fast asleep with
the soft glow of his favorite car show playing in the background. My heart swelled at the sight of his peaceful face.
I moved quickly through the apartment to my bedroom, peeling off my clothes and replacing them with soft, loose
sweatpants and a comfortable tank top that didn’t press against my increasingly sensitive breasts. Pregnancy was already
making its presence known in a hundred subtle ways only I could feel.
Back in the kitchen, I decided to make myself something to eat since I’d barely touched my food at the restaurant. Opening the refrigerator, I scanned its meager contents—some eggs, cheese, leftover vegetables, a half loaf of bread.
Perfect for a late-night breakfast, my favorite comfort food.
I pulled ingredients from the shelves, gathering bowls and pans with practiced movements. There was something
soothing about these simple, methodical tasks. They required just enough attention to distract from the emotional storm
still raging inside me, but not so much that I couldn’t process the day’s events.
I connected my phone to the small speaker system in the kitchen and selected a soft, mellow playlist. The gentle
strumming of acoustic guitars filled the apartment as I whisked eggs in a bowl, adding a splash of milk and a pinch of
salt.
As the tantalizing scent of sizzling eggs wafted through my kitchen, my stomach let out a growl that could rival a bear’s. I
popped bread into the toaster and found myself swaying to the gentle melody playing from my speakers, stealing a rare moment of stillness in my chaotic life.
My thoughts drifted to my growing to-do list before this baby arrived. With no fight prize money coming in, I’d need to
hustle through summer, picking up whatever work I could find. Zoe’s offer about her sister Lily seemed perfect timing—
minimum wage babysitting would let me work double shifts somewhere. If I planned carefully, I could sock away enough
cash to survive the weeks after birth when I wouldn’t be able to work.
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you’re on 𝗻𝚘𝑣𝘦𝕃5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a
click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
The reality of it all hit me suddenly, making my knees buckle. I grabbed the counter to steady myself, a wave of dizziness
washing over me.
“One day at a time,” I whispered, breathing in the comforting kitchen smells. “You’ve done impossible things before.”
I flipped my perfectly golden omelet onto a waiting plate, watching as cheese slices immediately began melting across
the top. The toaster popped, and I snatched the warm bread, completing my midnight breakfast with a smear of
strawberry jam.
Plate in hand, I nestled into my couch corner, tucking my feet underneath me. The first bite made me close my eyes in
pure bliss—I hadn’t realized how famished I was. Between chews, my mind kept replaying Ethan’s face as he’d turned
away. The raw hurt etched into every line of his expression, the barely-contained fury in his voice that couldn’t quite mask
his pain. We were masters at wounding each other, experts at finding the exact words that cut deepest.
“What a mess,” I mumbled through a mouthful of toast.
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you’re on 𝗻𝚘𝑣𝘦𝕃5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a
click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
Part of me wanted to text him right now, just say “that’s all” and wipe the slate clean. But keeping this pregnancy from
him gnawed at me daily, but Emma remained coiled like a venomous snake in his life, ready to strike at any vulnerability. Until he truly cut her out, I couldn’t risk bringing my children near that toxicity.
At least Lucas knew about the baby. His little face had lit up at the news, those emerald eyes widening with pure wonder.
“A sister!” he’d declared with such conviction, already planning his role as protector. The memory made me smile despite
everything.
I pulled my favorite faded blanket over my legs, its soft, worn fabric carrying the comforting scent of home. The TV
flickered in the dim room as I channel-surfed without really seeing anything. The apartment felt strangely quiet without
Lucas’s constant chatter and thundering footsteps, but the silence wrapped around me like a cocoon, giving me space to
breathe.
My fingers found their way to my stomach, drawing lazy patterns around my navel. “We’ll figure this out, sweet pea,” I murmured, the nickname coming naturally. “Mama’s got you. Your brother’s already crazy about you. We’ll make our own
little pack, the three of us.”
I hesitated, the weight of uncertainty pressing against my chest. “And your daddy…” My voice caught unexpectedly. “Your
daddy might be amazing too, if we can just stop breaking each other’s hearts long enough to talk.”