The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate Chapter 137

Athena

Mara smiled. "Good. Now, Athena, you're going to need to rest more. No strenuous activity for a while. And the arousal symptoms should start easing within a week, but until then, just be patient with yourself."

I felt my cheeks heat up but I nodded. "Okay."

She stood up. "Do you have any questions?"

"Is it safe?" I blurted out. "For us to... you know. Given what happened before."

Mara's expression softened with understanding. "It's perfectly safe," she assured me.

"The trauma you experienced before was from external force, not from intimacy with your mate. Just be gentle and listen to your body. If something doesn't feel right, stop. But normal intimate activity won't harm the baby."

I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders. "Okay. Thank you."

"Anything else?" she asked.

"How soon will we know if everything is okay?" Tristan asked. "If the baby is healthy and growing properly?"

"I'll be able to sense more at the next visit," she said. "But so far, everything feels strong and healthy. The pregnancy is taking well."

Tristan let out a breath of relief.

"Alright then," Mara said. "Come see me next week. And try not to worry too much. I know that's easier said than done, but stress isn't good for the baby. Focus on the joy and let me worry about the medical side of things."

We thanked her and left, walking back to the car in a daze. Neither of us spoke until we were both inside with the doors closed.

Then Tristan turned to me. "A baby," he said.

"A baby," I agreed.

"We're going to be parents," he continued.

"Yes."

"Holy shit," he said, running his hands through his hair. "Holy shit, Athena."

I started laughing because what else could I do. The whole situation was insane. We'd gone from thinking I had an abnormally long heat to finding out I was pregnant.

Tristan started laughing too and soon we were both laughing so hard we couldn't breathe.

When we finally calmed down, he reached over and placed his hand on my still flat stomach. "I'm going to protect you both," he said seriously. "Nothing is going to happen to either of you. I promise."

"I know," I said, covering his hand with mine. "I trust you."

"I won't be like Daxon," he said. "I'll never hurt you or this baby."

"I know that too," I said. "You're nothing like him, Tristan. You're good and kind and you're going to be an amazing father."

His eyes got shiny with tears. "I'm going to try so hard," he said. "I'm going to do everything right this time."

"You will," I said with certainty. "We both will."

He leaned over and kissed me again. "I love you," he said. "And I already love this baby so much."

"I love you too," I said. "Both of you."

He started the car and we began the drive home. About halfway there, something occurred to me.

"We have to tell Orion," I said.

Tristan glanced at me. "Your brother is going to lose his mind."

"In a good way or a bad way?" I asked nervously.

"Probably both," Tristan admitted. "He's very protective of you. But he's also my best friend and he'll be happy for us."

"And Sarah," I added. "She's going to be so excited."

Tristan smiled. "She's going to lose her mind. In the best way possible."

"When should we tell them?" I asked.

"Usually people wait until after the first trimester," he said. "But Orion isn't just my best friend he's your brother. I think we should tell him soon. And Sarah too."

I thought about it. Part of me wanted to wait, to make sure everything was okay first. But another part of me wanted to share this joy with my brother.

"Soon," I agreed. "But maybe let's wait a week or two. Just to make sure everything is going well."

"Whatever you want," Tristan said. "This is your decision."

We drove in comfortable silence for a while and then Tristan said, "You know this means you're going to have to take it easy at work, right? No more lifting heavy things or staying late."

"I'm pregnant, not broken," I pointed out.

"I know," he said. "But Mara said you need to rest and I'm going to make sure you do. Orion will agree with me on this."

I rolled my eyes but I was smiling. "You're both going to be unbearable, aren't you?"

"Absolutely," he said without hesitation. "Get used to it."

When we got home, Tristan insisted on carrying me inside even though I told him I could walk just fine.

"I'm practicing," he said when I protested.

"For what?"

"For when you're further along and need the help," he said with a grin.

I smacked his shoulder but I was laughing.

He carried me all the way to the bedroom and laid me gently on the bed. Then he lay down beside me and pulled me close.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"For what?"

"For this," he said, placing his hand on my stomach again. "For giving me another chance at being a father. For trusting me with something this precious. For being you."

I felt tears prick my eyes. "You don't have to thank me for any of that."

"I want to though," he said. "I want you to know how much this means to me. How much you mean to me. I know you're scared because of what happened before. I'm scared too. But we're going to get through this together."

"Together," I repeated, liking the sound of that.

"I'm not going anywhere," he promised. "No matter what happens, I'm right here."

I kissed him because I didn't have words for what I was feeling. All I knew was that despite everything we'd been through, despite all the chaos and pain and loss, we'd ended up here.

Together, with a baby on the way.

And somehow, despite all my fear, that felt right.

I thought about the baby I'd lost, the one Daxon had taken from me with his fists and his cruelty. I would always carry that loss with me.

But maybe, just maybe, this was my chance to heal. To have the family I'd always wanted with someone who truly loved me.

"We're going to be okay," I whispered, more to myself than to him.

"We're going to be better than okay," Tristan said, holding me tighter. "We're going to be amazing."

And for the first time in a long time, I let myself believe it.

The next morning, I woke up to find Tristan already awake, staring at me with an expression that made my heart skip.

"What?" I asked, my voice still rough with sleep.

"Just looking at you," he said softly. "At the mother of my child."

I felt my cheeks warm. "You're going to be weird about this, aren't you?"

"Absolutely," he said, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "How are you feeling?"

I took stock of my body. The overwhelming need was still there, but when I answered I said something else.

"Better, I think," I said. "Still feel hot and I still want you, but it's not as bad as before."

"That's good," he said, relief evident in his voice. "Maybe Mara was right about it easing up."

I stretched and immediately felt his eyes on me, watching the way my body moved. The heat in his gaze made warmth pool in my stomach.

"Don't look at me like that," I said.

"Like what?"

"Like you're thinking about doing things to me," I said.

He grinned. "I'm always thinking about doing things to you. But now I know you're carrying my baby, which makes you even more attractive somehow."

"That doesn't make sense," I said, but I was smiling.

"It doesn't have to make sense," he said, his hand moving to rest on my stomach. "It just is."

We lay there for a while, his hand on my belly, both of us trying to wrap our heads around the fact that there was a tiny life growing inside me.

"Do you think it's a boy or a girl?" I asked.

"I don't care," he said immediately. "As long as they're healthy, I don't care."

"Me too," I agreed. Then, "But if you had to guess?"

He thought about it. "A girl," he said. "With your eyes and your stubbornness."

I laughed. "My stubbornness?"

"Yes," he said. "And hopefully my patience, because otherwise we're in trouble."

"What if it's a boy?" I asked.

"Then he'll have your kindness and your strength," Tristan said. "And he'll be the most loved little boy in the world."

My throat felt tight. "You're really happy about this, aren't you?"

"More than I can put into words," he admitted. "I know we're both scared, but Athena, this is everything I didn't know I could have again."

I turned to face him fully. "I'm glad it's with you," I said quietly. "If I had to do this with anyone, I'm glad it's you."

He kissed me then, slow and deep, and I felt that familiar need start to build again. His hand moved from my stomach to my hip, pulling me closer.

"Tristan," I breathed against his lips.

"I know," he murmured. "I've got you."

We made love slowly, carefully, both of us hyper aware of the precious cargo I was carrying. It was different from the frantic coupling of the past week, more tender and intimate.

Afterwards, we lay tangled together, and I felt more at peace than I had in days.

"We should probably get ready for work," he said eventually, though he made no move to get up.

"Five more minutes," I mumbled, burrowing closer to him.

He chuckled and held me tighter. "Five more minutes."

Those five minutes turned into twenty, and by the time we actually got up and started getting ready, we were running late.

We got ready together, and I noticed Tristan watching me more closely than usual.

"Orion is probably wondering what's going on with us."

I say already feeling bad that I'll lie to him, and I know Tristan doesn't like lieing to him too. But I just don't know how to tell him.

"He definitely knows something is up," Tristan agreed. "But we'll just tell him you've been feeling under the weather."

"Which is technically true," I said trying to make myself feel good.

When I reached for my coffee mug out of habit, he gently took it from my hands.

"You can't have caffeine," he said.

"What? Why not?"

"It's not good for the baby," he explained. "I read about it once when Jess was pregnant."

I wanted to argue, but he looked so earnest that I just nodded. "Fine. But I'm going to be miserable without my morning coffee."

He gently redirected me to the decaf he'd already prepared.

"I'm going to miss real coffee," I sighed.

"I'll make it up to you," he promised.