Chapter 20 – Shower
Ella
I dream that I’m on a boat, rocking gently in a starlit sea. I stare up at the night sky, bathed in the light of the full moon. My belly is swollen with my pup, and Sinclair is beside me, telling me stories about shifters – all the myths and legends of his people. His voice carries me along the waves, until he begins describing the life we’ll have together with our baby. He paints a picture of perfection, a happy life as a family of three – my child and I pampered and cared for while he rules his empire, wanting for nothing.
It all seems too good to be true, and it’s not until I realize I’m dreaming that I understand why. When I blink my eyes open, I realize that there are tears in them. I really am rocking, but not in any boat. Sinclair is carrying me inside from the car and clearly trying very hard not to wake me.
I must have fallen asleep. I realize dazedly.
“You don’t have to carry me.” I murmur, hoping the emotion in my voice can be passed off as grogginess.
“Hush now.” He croons, “I don’t mind. You just rest.”
Another time I might argue, but I’m so sleepy, and his arms feel so good around me that I just snuggle in. To my surprise, Sinclair leans his face towards my hair and inhales a deep breath. “You smell more like a wolf every day.” He shares. “The baby must be very healthy.”
This idea makes me smile, “Will I be able to feel it move soon, if pregnancy is so much shorter?”
“After a couple of months, yes.” He confirms.
This is still sooner than human babies quicken, but I feel so impatient. “Hmph, that’s so long to wait.”
Sinclair chuckles. “Maybe, but it will be so worth the wait, sweet Ella.”
enough to voice this hidden worry. It’s been on my mind ever
so cautious with you – I don’t want anything to happen,
to his chest and inhaling his own scent. “I think you just like telling people what to do
thing, and I’ll show you what strict really is.” Before I can respond or contemplate what this might mean, he pushes into my bedroom, striding towards my
a shower
you sure? It’s very
a childhood of almost always feeling
and more myself as more of
with the baby. I don’t know how I can recognize his growl from anyone elses, but in my heart, I know that danger
small space, and I cry out in fear, unable to stay quiet. I don’t think ten seconds passed before the door slams open and Sinclair appears, his
to the shower stall, opening the glass door to release the steam, and finds me curled up in a ball in the corner. “I
the room. “I don’t smell anything” He tells me after a moment, “but I’ll have the guards search anyway, just in case” He charges out of the room only long enough to bark some orders at his guards, telling them to begin
as Sinclair returns, he pulls me into his arms. “It’s
know what’s wrong with
you.” He reasons. “But if you don’t feel safe you can
nod into his chest, realizing it’s bare for the first time. He must have been getting
up into his arms, or think about stopping to grab night clothes, I simply let Sinclair carry me back to his rooms. When he sets me down I realize I didn’t bring anything to sleep in. I pause, trying to decide if I want
I ask anxiously, spinning
is focused on me, and suddenly I’m painfully aware of the fact I’m only
scent.” He frowns, prowling
only going to sleep. No one is going
head. “We
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UFUXUYrXWeG0k0jE1a+EEl3mf1jJP8qr8lOtEhP5ujeESTLgORA7VExxgZaWpsNOJj4W+slDn1Yz2Pl4IaB1LpmNqa4tcdCfuKPMCHmvDJTzemKIRewzKXnlKTzsHcLNwMFHuMDXajyrAO0HuVzgnz+im9DanLuO0o0YOn3bERGWGPTI/ICGxeOZGG54Hi9u
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