I can’t help but grin. “You will get used to it after a few weeks.”
“I have no doubt I will,” he smiles.
When we reach the party—it’s actually just a simple get-together for the pack and a few of our friends from other packs, with a barbecue and lots of snacks and drinks—I watch my father go chat with Liam, who came in Elden’s place. Liam briefly called me beforehand and told me that his parents are there to watch over Marius. Annie really wanted to come tonight, so he accompanied her. Something seems to be a bit off with him though… he looks worried and thoughtful, and I wonder if it has anything to do with Marius.
I make my way over to my friends. Annie’s chatting with Ella and Finn, while Harmony is dancing somewhere with a cute guy from Red Claw, finally letting loose after the last few weeks of turmoil and drama.
“Annie!” I approach my friend and hug her. Her pregnancy is really showing now, and she has some color in her cheeks along with that pregnancy glow. She finally looks happy instead of sick like she did at the beginning. “You look so good.”
She beams at me. “And I feel really good too, Celine. My body finally adapted to the pregnancy.”
Ella still looks worried. “Flora said that it’s normal for her body to struggle at first because she carries a lycan alpha, but…”
Finn nods. “Yeah, Mom said it’s because a werewolf needs to adapt in order to carry Lycan pups first, and that now she has, we don’t need to worry anymore.”
“We obviously still do, though,” Ella mutters.
“Obviously,” Finn agrees.
Annie grins. “Everyone around me is constantly doting on me. You won’t believe it… yesterday Liam carried me up the stairs.”
I laugh. “I’m not surprised. He keeps looking over at you,” I tease her. “But that’s nothing new.”
“Yeah, but now it’s even worse,” she says, but she looks happy while she does, so I assume she enjoys his attention quite a bit.
“And you still won’t tell anyone the gender of the twins?” Finn asks, making huge puppy eyes at Annie.
She chuckles. “Nope, that’s my secret. It’s fun seeing everyone so curious.”
I laugh at Ella and Finn as they start pestering her with more questions. I understand how she feels. It must be fun to have everyone making wild assumptions and guesses like that.
Aryanna approaches us with a big smile. She’s in a particularly good mood because Jazz is finally moving in with her, and they are going to collect all of her stuff over the next few days. “What did I miss, girls?”
“Just the usual,” Annie chuckles. “They are talking about my huge belly.”
“Aw, who can blame them.” Aryanna beams. “I can’t wait for two little Liams or Annies to be bustling around the pack house. The whole pack is already anticipating their birth.”
“No pressure, really,” Annie snorts.
I look at Aryanna. “You will watch out for Jazz, won’t you?”
“Absolutely, I promise. My hot little witch will be safe with me.” She waves in Jazz’s direction. Jazz is currently on the dance floor with Valerie. Both of them look so relaxed and happy and full of life. “The Moon Goddess blessed me with a beautiful and strong mate.”
“Yeah,” I smirk. “And me with an overly complicated and dramatically brooding lycan prince.”
The others blink at me before bursting into laughter.
“I promise, he’s not that bad,” Aryanna grins.
“I’d better stay out of that conversation,” Ella snorts.
Annie smiles. “Liam told me he’s really trying to be better. He’ll be released from the hospital soon.”
“And?” Ella eyes me curiously. “Will you give him a chance?”
“For now, I only promised to meet with him,” I admit. “To talk. Considering everything else, I’ll just wait and see.”
As we continue to chat, Liam finally gives in to his pull toward Annie, and sneaks up on her from behind. He tugs her into his arms, smiling brightly as she squeals in surprise. She pats his arm. “Overprotective alphas are the worst.”