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Chapter 91 - Chapter 88: Pregnant

The den was warm.

Too warm.

Filled with noise, movement, life—three small bodies darting around like they had something to prove after being stuck in bed for days.

"Kael—stop climbing that!"

"I climb!"

"You fall," Aiden shot back automatically.

Ryn barked something that sounded suspiciously like agreement. Lior followed after them, wobbling but determined, ears flicking with every step.

And in the middle of it—

Aiden stood still.

Watching.

Thinking.

His hand rested—just briefly—against his stomach.

Then he looked up.

"Theron."

Theron turned immediately.

Always.

"Yes?"

Aiden hesitated.

For once.

Not because he was unsure.

But because this—

This mattered.

"…I need to tell you something."

The shift in his tone was enough.

Theron stilled.

The pups kept playing, unaware.

Eirik watched quietly from the side.

Aiden took a breath.

Then—

"I'm pregnant."

Silence.

Not long.

But heavy.

Theron blinked once.

Twice.

Then—

"…you're—"

Aiden nodded.

And that was all it took.

Theron moved.

Fast.

Too fast.

One second he was across the den—

The next, Aiden was lifted clean off the ground.

"Theron—!"

Aiden grabbed onto him out of instinct as Theron spun slightly, laughing—actually laughing.

"You're pregnant?" Theron repeated, voice bright, disbelieving, overwhelming. "Again?"

Aiden huffed, half-annoyed, half-laughing despite himself.

"Yes, that's usually how it works."

Theron didn't even react to the tone.

He just pulled Aiden closer, holding him like he might disappear.

"My omega," he murmured, something fierce and proud in his voice. "My awesome fighter omega."

Aiden froze for half a second at that.

Then looked away.

"…don't call me that."

But it didn't land.

Not really.

Because Theron was still smiling.

Still holding him.

Still… happy.

Purely.

Completely.

Behind them—

"UP!"

"UP!"

"UP!"

Three tiny voices demanded immediately.

Theron huffed a quiet laugh and carefully set Aiden down before reaching for the pups.

Kael got lifted first.

Ryn clung to his leg.

Lior demanded attention by grabbing onto Aiden's shirt again.

For a moment—

It was chaos.

Happy chaos.

Aiden watched it.

This.

This was what he wanted.

Wasn't it?

Then—

Theron's gaze shifted.

Just slightly.

Toward Eirik.

And something in it changed.

Subtle.

But sharp.

Because now that he was looking—

He saw it.

The way Eirik stood.

Too still.

Too quiet.

The way his gaze lingered on Aiden just a moment too long.

Not like a friend.

Not like a packmate.

Something else.

Something Theron didn't like.

At all.

His expression cooled.

"…take the pups outside," Theron said suddenly.

Aiden blinked.

"What?"

"Just for a bit."

Eirik hesitated.

Only for a second.

Then nodded.

"…come on," he said softly, crouching down. "Let's go outside."

Kael protested immediately.

"No!"

Ryn growled.

Lior whined.

Aiden frowned.

"They're fine here—"

"They'll like the snow," Theron said, voice calm.

Too calm.

Aiden didn't like that tone.

But before he could argue further, Eirik had already gathered them, gently guiding the three protesting toddlers toward the entrance.

The door closed behind them.

Silence.

Aiden turned back slowly.

"…what was that about?"

Theron didn't answer immediately.

He was watching the door.

Listening.

Waiting until he was sure they were gone.

Then—

He looked at Aiden.

"You shouldn't be alone with him."

Aiden blinked.

"…what?"

Theron's jaw tightened slightly.

"Eirik."

A pause.

Then—

"He's in love with you."

The words dropped heavy.

Sharp.

Wrong.

Aiden stared at him.

Then laughed.

Once.

Short.

Disbelieving.

"No."

"Yes."

"Theron—"

"I can smell it," Theron cut in. "I can see it. The way he looks at you—"

"He's my friend."

"He wants more than that."

Aiden's expression hardened instantly.

"And what? That means I'm not allowed to be around him?"

"It means I don't trust him."

"It means you're jealous."

That landed.

Hard.

Theron didn't deny it.

"…I won't apologize for that."

Aiden scoffed.

"Of course you won't."

Silence snapped between them.

Tense.

Sharp.

"You're overreacting," Aiden said, voice colder now.

"And you're ignoring it."

"He's been here longer than you've known me."

"And I've known you longer than this life," Theron shot back.

That—

That hit something.

Aiden's eyes flashed.

"Don't."

Theron stilled.

"Don't do that," Aiden continued, voice rising slightly. "Don't pull that 'past lives, fate, bond' thing every time I disagree with you."

"I'm trying to protect you."

"I don't need that!"

The words echoed.

Loud.

Familiar.

Aiden's chest rose and fell sharply.

"I'm not weak," he added, quieter now—but no less firm.

Theron stepped forward slightly.

"I never said you were."

"You act like it."

"I act like you're carrying my child."

"And I've carried three already!"

That shut everything down.

For a moment—

Neither of them spoke.

The air felt too tight.

Too full.

Aiden's hands curled into fists.

Then—

Without another word—

He turned.

His body shifted mid-step, bones moving, form changing—

Black fur.

Blue eyes.

His wolf.

And just like that—

He walked out.

Not running.

Not looking back.

Just—

Leaving.

The door remained open behind him, cold air spilling into the den.

Theron stood still.

Silent.

Watching the space Aiden had just left behind.

And for the first time since hearing the news—

His happiness cracked.

Just slightly.

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