Thirty- one

I had no idea if I was doing it right! Was this the right time to introduce Zara to my parents? Is that how normal humans do it?

But it wasn't exactly in my control, either, like so many other things in my life, I thought bitterly.

I didn't want to scare Zara but my parents were adamant about meeting her soon and I was sure they were going to point out every single flaw in her. Well, I'd like to see them try. As far as I know, she's pretty flawless.

My father, or should I say, the alpha, wasn't happy at all when I told him I would have another go with the mate bond, with Zara. I told him that his empty threats about not giving me the alpha title were not going to take him anywhere, I would happily become a rogue if I had her with me.

The very thought about Zara made me happy and lifted my mood. I leaned back on the hood of my car, silently waiting for her to walk out of the school doors. We had decided that we would meet up at my car after school ended so that I could take her to meet my parents.

This was the second day of our relationship and I was already starting to sound sappy, but I just couldn't wait to see her again. Seeing her walking in the hallways, in her skirt and a tank top had my wolf moaning in pleasure.

My wolf was acting out, he just wanted to mark Zara as soon as possible and it was getting hard to control him every time Zara locked lips with me. Needless to say, I was addicted to her scent too. I was beginning to understand why she loved chocolates so much. Being with her in class and sitting with her in lunch, just wasn't enough. It just made me want more and I wanted to give her time. I wanted to give her the choice to be marked by me. I wanted her to choose me.

And every time she smiled just weakened my resolve. The way she smiled at me yesterday, when I dropped her at home, stopped my heart. She was so happy that I had helped her resolve the feud with her friends, and that I had helped her in general. I just couldn't sit by and see her frown and sigh dejectedly every time she saw them, I knew she loved both Natalie and Samantha and that she valued their friendship very much. I wasn't going to let it all go to waste, especially because somehow, I knew it was all my fault, in the first place.

My thoughts are interrupted when the amazing smell of chocolate and pines surrounds me. I nearly groan at the aphrodisiac smell and open my eyes to see Zara coming towards me, with a soft smile on her face.

I loved how gorgeous she always looked without even trying and I had to stop my wolf from going crazy, who wanted me to run to her and take her in my arms. I crossed my arms over my chest as I roamed my eyes over her small figure. She blushed at my staring and I couldn't help but smile triumphantly at the sight. I was aware that the mate bond manifested itself differently in humans than the way it did in us werewolves, but it was always a sight to witness that she was affected by me. 

My wolf growled at the sight of her blush and I smirked at her. She rolled her eyes playfully at my reaction and walked closer to me. I held her hand and brought her closer to me and I wrapped my arms around her.

She stilled for a second and my breath caught in my throat at her reluctance to hug me. Was I going too fast?  

Before I could apologize, she relaxed in my embrace and hugged me back. My wolf howled in pleasure and I couldn't help but smile at her action. The way her body was pressed flush against mine like our bodies were molded to fit together perfectly, made me sigh in pleasure.

I leaned back to look at her pretty face and see the ever-present blush on her cheeks whenever I was around. 

"So, are you ready?"

She nodded. "We just have to make a detour first." Her voice sounded unsure but firm. I just nodded my head at her and smiled.

I loosened my hold on her and let her walk to the passenger side of my Mercedes. "Where do you want to go?" I asked her as I unlocked my car and buckled my seatbelt.

"The medical store," Zara said absentmindedly and I couldn't help but frown. Was she sick? She didn't look sick, but what do I know? 

My wolf was already panicking inside and as a result, I was panicking myself. What if she has some chronic life-threatening disease?

"Are you alright?" I asked her tentatively, unsure if I wanted to know the answer to my question.

She chuckled at my panic-stricken expression and I immediately felt myself relax at her response. "No, I just need to pick up something."

I nodded and started the car after turning on the GPS. Zara kept playing with her hands and I had come to know this as a nervous habit she had. I guess, meeting your boyfriend's parents would give anybody nerves.

I parked the car and made a move to unbuckle my seat belt to accompany her into the store. "I will be back in 5. Stay here." Zara said with a sheepish smile and before I could open my mouth and think of anything to say, she ran into the store to get whatever it was she wanted.

I sighed and leaned back into the plush leather seats and smiled at how I was taking orders from a human now. I couldn't help but chuckle at my situation. I guess that's just how mate bonds worked.

In five minutes, Zara came back and settled herself in the car. I raised an eyebrow at her secretive behavior but refrained from asking anything about it. I didn't plan to make the situation awkward, what if she had some tampons or pads in there? I cringed at the thought and started the car.

I didn't know about her but I was getting nervous as the pack house approached. The higher ranks and their families lived in the pack house. I had lived there my whole life, my dad being the alpha. What would I do if he kept insulting Zara? The thought infuriated me and I took in a deep breath to calm myself down.

I could see Zara fidget from the corner of my eye and I gently took hold of one of her hands to give her reassurance. Tingles immediately went up my arm and I immediately relaxed at her touch. I think this action was more for my benefit than hers.

I parked the car in front of the pack house and immediately got out of the car. I walked briskly to the passenger side so and opened the door for Zara. I wasn't being gentlemanly; I just couldn't wait to touch her and hold her in any way. I knew she needed my touch as much as she needed mine.

I helped her out of the car but didn't release my hold on her. I smiled nervously at her, to find her looking up at me with a gentle smile on her face. I pulled her close to me and planted a kiss on her forehead. I smirked at her flushed face and she punched my arm after seeing my smug expression.

I squeezed her hand and walked up the steps to the door of the pack house. I opened them myself and looked around for any sign of my parents.

We are at my office, son. My father had mind-linked me, he must have heard me come in. My wolf growled at his disrespect. Zara was the future Luna of the pack and she was supposed to be treated with the same respect as me. They should have been standing in front of me and welcoming her into the pack and not sitting in a damn office as if she were any other wolf, asking for permission to join the pack. 

I was infuriated and my wolf wanted to come out and rip his head off for disrespecting his mate. 

"My father is in his office. He will meet us there." I gritted my teeth and eyed the stairs distastefully.

"The mind link thing?" Zara furrowed her eyebrows and her nose was scrunched in contemplation. She looked so cute, I just wanted to laugh at her confused expression. 

My lips smiled on their own at her. "Yes, the mind link thing." I chuckled and she pouted at me. Oh, God kill me!

If she kept doing this, we wouldn't make it to the Alpha's office and I would just take her to the nearest couch. I groaned out loud at the mental image.

I guided her to the stairs and we were standing in front of a closed oak door in a matter of minutes. I sniffed the air and I knew there were two people in the room, waiting to meet my mate, my mom and my dad. 

I looked down at Zara to see how she was doing. I wanted to give her a last chance to back out of this situation, but she stood beside me with a determined expression on her face. She squeezed my hand and that was all the motivation I needed to open the door.

The room looked warm but the people inside were anything but. I had been inside this room countless number of times and soon, I was going to sit behind the huge mahogany desk, where my mother sat for now, and rule the pack with my lovely mate beside me. My father was standing behind my mother, with his arms crossed across his chest, a sure method to intimidate Zara. 

Nobody said anything but I could see what my parents on their faces. I waited for them to welcome Zara inside or say anything to her. When they didn't, I pulled Zara gently to the chairs placed in front of the large desk.

Nobody said a word even after we were seated and I felt Zara fidget beside me. I looked into the green eyes of my father, a trait I had inherited, challenging him to say or do anything to insult my mate, more than he already had.

I could see Zara fidgeting on her chair, from the corner of my eyes. She nervously tucked a blue tendril of hair behind her ear and smiled at my parents nervously.

I cleared my throat. "Zara, this is my father, the alpha of The Red Lakes Pack, Sebastian Cain and this is my mother, the Luna, Eva Cain."

Zara nervously waved at them. "Hi," she meekly said. 

What the fuck?! She waved at them. I smiled at her innocence and stopped myself from laughing at her cute nervousness.

My mother smiled stiffly at Zara whereas my father just snorted. I balled my fist and held Zara's hand tighter. God, give me strength or I will rip this man's head off!

Sebastian eyed Zara for a second. "So, Harper tells me that the moon goddess visits in your dreams."

Of course, this man would be interested in that subject, the only reason he ever agreed to meet Zara was because of her fucking dreams, even when he didn't believe it.

Zara waved her hand in the air nonchalantly. "She told me you don't believe it and whatever I say, you're not going to believe me."

Sebastian and Eva stilled and my head whipped to look at Zara. What was she saying? Did she have a recent dream about the goddess? She didn't know that she was going to meet my parents till yesterday, so she must have dreamt about it last night. I stare at her dumbfounded. Why didn't she tell me about it?

Sebastian sighed and Eva gave Zara a curious but suspicious look. "Really?"

Zara nodded and turned to give me a small smile.

Sebastian rolled his eyes again. "What more did the goddess say, that you were the perfect candidate for the future Luna?" 

I growled at him, warning him to shut the fuck up and not to disrespect Zara even more. 

Zara chuckled nervously and gently shook her head. "No, but she asked me to give the Luna this." She put her hand in the front pocket of her jeans and pulled out a pregnancy test.

Sebastian and Eva both stilled in their position and eyed the object Zara held in her hand with shock.

They had a good reason to be shocked too. My father was a white wolf and so, my parents experienced great difficulty in being pregnant. My mother had to suffer through several miscarriages and failed attempts before she had me. They stopped trying after they had me because they knew it was a lost cause. This situation caused a strain in their relationship and made them the people they are today, lifeless and cold. 

I dreaded the same thing would happen with my mate too and I wouldn't have been able to see Zara go through all the miscarriages and then see our marriage fall apart. I didn't want her to be the shell of a person she was now; I didn't want her to give up on life and happiness as my mother did.

Oblivious to the sudden change in the atmosphere in the room, Zara looked at my parents. "The moon goddess asked me to give you the good news. She told me that this was the only way you were ever going to believe me." And accept me. 

She didn't say the last three words but they were as clear as day.

Eva, with shaking hands, picked up the pregnancy test and then looked at Zara. "What?" She whispered.

"You will have no miscarriages this time. I could even tell you the genre of the baby. You could check right now. If you want." Zara rambled.

Sebastian had walked a few steps forward and I could see a vulnerable emotion pass through his face, one I had never seen before. "What do you mean?"

"I think she was clear about everything. You don't need to badger her." I said coolly.

Zara gently placed her hand on my cheek and I instantly calmed down. I looked at her and she gently smiled at me. She could see how she affected me and I knew then, that she would be there for me every time I needed to calm down.

Zara looked at my parents. "I'm saying the Luna is pregnant."