Dead Luna
Chapter 50

Jackson's

POV

I admit, I was enjoying myself. I knew that Amelia hadn't realized my feelings for her, despite my many hints. To her I was just "one of the guys", and I knew she felt safe around me. But I'm tired of hiding my true feelings from her.

I was pushing the boundaries, big time, but nothing that couldn't be explained away as more or less innocent. What randy wolf could resist getting a taste of Amelia, if they had the chance? She smelled so good, even without being my mate. How much better must she smell if I could convince her to be my mate? Not that there was much likelihood. Not when she's pregnant by someone else.

Amelia tastes even better than she smells. And I can definitely taste something is slightly off, hormone wise. I'm 90% positive she's expecting. With whom? I can't quite tell. I get in closer to get another yummy taste, making sure to insert my tongue as deep as I can hoping to replace the answer. But it's too early in the pregnancy, I suppose.

"Congratulations, mama." I say after I shift back, and snuggle in close. I knew she was very confused right now, and desired comfort.

"You're serious, aren't you?"

"Pretty positive, yeah." I confirm, "There is a definite shift in your hormones. But it's too early to scent who daddy is. Who is the lucky guy?"

"Up until Monday, I was still technically a virgin," Amelia confides, sounding completely shaken and unsure of herself. "Since then I may have been in close proximity a couple times to some naked werewolves, but there was never any s*x!" "Monday? And today only Saturday? That explains why it's so faint. I honestly shouldn't be able to tell this early, unless you're expecting multiple pups."

"You're got to be joking, right?" Amelia says soundly pissed off now. She pushes me away from her, hops right out of the bed, and finishes getting dressed. I can tell that she's now very angry. I just can't tell if it's me she's angry with, or someone or something else. "I haven't had s*x in three f*****g years, and now you're saying I'm somehow knocked up with several pups? You are not funny, Jackson!"

I throw on my clothes as well, since I needed to guard her once she leaves this room. Leo had told me how he had felt almost a compulsion to stay near her since they started this task for Moon Goddess, and that he could pretty much sense where she was at all times when he had been guarding her. And as soon as I agreed, I guess that compulsion had transferred to me. It was kind of weird, yet comforting. I could even sense her general mood, I knew when she was asleep, and even when she was aroused. I knew exactly how hard it was for her to say no to Derrick both last night and this morning. And I knew right now that she was even more scared than angry with me.

Amelia was just about to leave, was even reaching out for the door nob, when suddenly she burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"Ambrosia says I'm not pregnant at all!" She says, laughing so hard now that she's almost crying. "Oh, goddess, I nearly believed you! But seriously, just how many she wolves have you gone around sniffing or tasting?"

"Well, in truth, not very many," I admit, not quite ready to admit that I had been a little unsure. "But how else can you explain the hormone shift, then!"

"Ambrosia says I'm in heat," she says, somberly, and she sit down next to me again. "She's suppressing the symptoms as much as she can, but recommends there be no more waltzing around naked anywhere near a p***s."

Oh. "You really scared me!"

"I'm sorry." I tell her, and I really am. Then she punches me in the arm suddenly.

"I can't believe I let you taste me! Oh my goddess, I didn't even let Derrick do that!"

"Ouch! You're pretty strong for a she-wolf."

"Thank goddess I told Derrick no. I didn't realize how close I was to... that." She says, and then she looks me in the eye. "You must not tell him about this. I mean it! If I had already decided to choose him as my mate, that would be one thing. But I don't want anyone forcing my hand. And I think we both know Derrick would take advantage if he knew. You have to promise me you won't tell him, please!

"I promise I won't tell Derrick Lyons that you are in heat." I swear, with my hand over my heart. I know she isn't wrong.

"Wait, does he know I'm alpha blooded?"

"Umm, yeah." I admit to her. "He's the only one I've told. But really, anyone with access to the database could look it up."

She growls at me. Note to self, a she-wolf in heat is very temperamental.

"How about we go have breakfast, and then you spend the weekend with your mom, hmm?" I say, trying to calm her down.

Amelia agrees to breakfast, but grumbles all the way down to the dining room. She loads her plate up with French toast and bacon, but then just picks at it, looking somewhat morose.

"What's wrong?" I ask, concerned.

"Nothing really," she answers. She takes a bite of French toast and chews it slowly before she continues. "It's just earlier, back in the alpha suite when you congratulated me... my first thought, before I got scared or angry. I was happy. And now I'm sad."

"The next few days are going to be very difficult, I believe," I inform Amy. Her hormones would be wrecking havoc on her mood. "What do you think about shopping with your mom this afternoon? And then I might have a fun surprise for you this evening, but don't ask me to spoil it!"

Amy growls in frustration at that. I guess she's not a fan of surprises. "Can you at least tell me about why you keep a toothbrush in the alpha suite?"

"Sure!" I laugh, surprised that she'd bring that up again. "I don't, actually. Derrick has a drawer in his bathroom vanity filled with all sorts of extra hygiene products in there. I just grabbed a brand new toothbrush out of there."

"Of course you did." She says, sounding disappointed at my far too reasonable explanation.

Why, did you think I was having some sort of fling with Derrick in the alpha suite, or sneaking my other paramours in while he was out?

She shakes her head no at that, and looks slightly ashamed of whatever it was she actually had envisioned I had done.

We finish up breakfast and leave just before warrior training is over. Apparently Amelia doesn't wish to run into a bunch of sweaty males, which is probably a very good idea under the circumstances with her being in heat. I'm starting to wonder exactly how well Ambrosia will be able to mask the symptoms, and I ask once I know we are alone, about half of the way to her moms cottage.

"Well, it's a bit easier for her only because we haven't shifted, so I'm not completely werewolf yet. She's mostly trying to focus on keeping down the pheromone level, and she can minimize most of the pain and hot flashes. I'm on my own to deal with mood swings and cravings, though."

"She believes this was all a result of getting overheated in the hot springs, and then being completely surrounded all last night by male pheromones. It was just too much stimulation for my blossoming werewolf body. So, thanks for that. Not!"

"I know you enjoyed it." I say, very smug, and I watch as she starts to blush. "You were very aroused this morning, and you tasted so very delicious!"

And then she growls at me, and leaves me on the front porch to wait while she spends the rest of the morning with her mom and gets ready for shopping. I was going to have to tread carefully around Derrick until we leave on Monday. If he gets wind of Amelia being in heat, I don't know if anything could prevent him from taking advantage to get what he wants. I know I promised to help him, but I can't exactly go against Amy's wishes either. It was quite a dilemma.