Baby after One Night with the Prince

Tanya's POV.

Lily and I are glaring angrily at each other just as Maroc walks in, and he doesn't hide that he's overheard the conversation between the two of us. "Tanya has talent. She is not incompetent," he suddenly states proudly whilst walking over to my side.

"Her getting the job wasn't just because of me. I only mentioned to Vivian through Philip and Thomas that Tanya desired to return to work at the company. It was Vivian who was more than happy to have her, and even praised her talent and her achievement for winning the perfume competition. So Vivian invited Tanya to return to Eau de Luna Parfumerie as a special consultant."

It warms my heart tenderly as Marco defends me, and I'm sincerely touched by his words. But he's not done. His icy glare then snaps to Lily. "You have no right to belittle her talent," he cocks his head in piercing look that makes me shiver. "Was it not you that lost to her in the competition?"

Lily's obviously flabbergasted by the confrontation, she flusters with her words to begin with, before releasing them in a fit of anger. "Have you forgotten what Tanya did to you 5 years ago? She's a terrible person! Why are you defending her?" Marco barely reacts, and only says in a cold voice. "That is not a matter that concerns you. Or anyone else. It's between me and Tanya, and I have the right to choose whether to forgive Tanya or not. But no one else has the right to bully her. Not you."

Lily is flustered, her shoulders sagging as she doesn't know how else to respond. Marco simply huffs before turning to me with a smile. "Happy Valentine's Day," I'm astonished and undeniably adore the roses he hands me. I can't help but drop my head into the large bouquet to inhale the sharp romantic smell, before my eyes lift back to him, sparkling with inner joy.

But that's not all. I watch him reveal a box from a gift bag he brought along, opening the box to reveal a dazzling diamond necklace. I'm left speechless, stammering as I try to respond. "Marco... this is too much- thank you." He chuckles softly. "Nonsense. Turn around so I can put this on you."

I comply without a hint of protest, allowing him to clasp the silver chain round my neck so the diamond pendant sits fresh and bright against my collar bone, as if it belonged there all along.

I truly am overjoyed, and I'm swimming in pride that he would get me something so beautiful. Marco really spends Valentine's Day with me as he promised 5 years ago. I don't have to receive fake, malicious roses on Valentine's Day anymore. But my emotions are contrasting heavily to Lily's. She appears shocked and in some form of disarray that she tries to hide, before pointing out. "But where's your ruby necklace Tanya?" I look at her with slight confusion, I didn't think Lily would notice something as simple as a necklace when she disliked me so much.

But Marco answers for me. "Tanya took it off and left it in my room at the palace."

I don't seem to understand Lily's rage, but I know Marco. Although everyone may not have noticed, I caught a glint in Marco's eyes when he answered Lily, as if he had predicted Lily's fluster and had been waiting for Lily's inquiry. Nevertheless, my thinking is interrupted as Marco takes my hand, and we head home together. It's late in the afternoon by now, and Claire is already home from school. She greets us enthusiastically by the door, although I notice her eyes dart excitedly to our hands that lay intertwined.

Before I can ask about her day, Claire cuts me off with a sudden statement. "Will you and Marco sleep in the same room tonight?" she winks mischievously as we both look at her with considerable surprise.

Since we don't answer her immediately, she chooses to elaborate. "My friends at school told me their mom and dad sleep together," again, Marco and I really don't know how to respond to her childish inquires, and we both try to change the conversation one way or the other. But throughout the entire evening, Claire periodically brings it up again.

Eventually we have to pretend that we're going into the same room together for night. Finally, alone I say to Marco. "What are we meant to do? Marco, she's insistent. She won't let this go."

39

He sighs. "I know, I know...." his head tilts in thought. "Maybe, to ensure she believes that we're in love we should sleep together in the same room tonight.... Just for the time being, until she forgets."

I'm obviously shocked. I blink at him, and then blink again, unable to understand or comprehend his proposal. But before I can say anything else, Marco turns away from me sharply, as if to hide embarrassment. He then suddenly puts on a rather confident air while saying. "Well, I've already done my part pretending to be a good husband, I'm sure it shouldn't be too hard for you to help me out a little."

I can't help but only playfully roll my eyes as he continues. "Look, we will just sleep in the same bed, that's all. Also, I think I've given you enough compensation for holding up your end of the deal," he points at the box, which withholds my new diamond necklace that I've put back.

My mouth gapes in the form of a smile in response to his teasing. "Excuse me? The necklace was a gift! You can't use it as a bribe," I say in jest.

"Sure I can," he grins, and before I can grab it, Marco swiftly snatches the box that contains the necklace. "Hey!"

He toys with me, dangling the necklace out of my reach, and I can't help the giggle that escapes me. He uses his height against me, lifting the necklace high up whilst I continuously jump, trying to catch it. Eventually I jump and barrel into him accidentally, and we tumble onto the bed with me on top.

But Marco still doesn't give in. Every time I try and snag the piece of jewellery, he yanks it out of reach with a playful laugh. I straddle his torso and pin his legs in place with my weight as best I can to stop his wiggling. "Give it here Marco!" yelling with laughter as I miss to catch hold of it once again.

There's a rough playfulness in my actions that I can't help it at the moment, as I do whatever I can to win our silly game. I pull his clothes and try and hold down his other hand whilst reaching out for the necklace. We're so closely pressed together I can hear the erratic rise and fall of his chest as he laughs.

But suddenly, I feel Marco stiffen beneath me, and despite lying down, his head lifts to look at the doorway. My head turns to his line of sight, and I immediately flush red with embarrassment as Claire stands there looking at us both curiously. Although her smile is infectious, and we all burst into laughter.

Marco helps me off him and he grabs Claire and pulls her onto the bed with us. No longer than ten minutes and she's fast asleep. Although Marco and I remain awake, somehow both knowing that we need to talk. He whispers into the darkness. "Have you felt any changes to your body recently?"

Somehow, I thought he might've known, or at least guessed that something had changed within me. I nod. "I actually have a wolf," I can't help the excitement in my voice as I say this. "She spoke to me a few days ago. She told me that even though other werewolves don't sense my wolf yet, they will soon. And..." I almost feel the same amount of disbelief as when Freya first told me. "I'll be able to transform into a wolf soon."

Despite the blackness of our surroundings, I can clearly see his blue eyes widen in surprise, before he smiles at me. "That sounds amazing."

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I don't reply to him immediately, and he senses my discomfort. "You're not excited?"

I sigh. "Don't get me wrong, course I am. All this time I believed I'd never have a wolf, and now finally know I have one and that I can transform one day. It's surreal.... But."

"But what?"

"It just sucks because I suspect that the barrier that was suppressing my wolf for so long was the ruby necklace my mother left me... I just don't know what to believe anymore. Why would she leave me something that would hurt me?" Marco reaches over Claire whose still fast asleep, and gently rubs a hand over my shoulder, trying to comfort me. He gives my arm a squeeze, forcing me to look back into his eyes. "I promise we will find out who did this." "But how?"

He smiles confidently. "Lily also has a diamond necklace that she always wears. I suspect that your necklace and hers are the keys to solving the mystery surrounding your birth. We will finally know the truth."

I smile back at him, not sure if that is even possible. But I trust him. "I hope so."

"Don't worry. The plan has already started. I'm going to get Lily to us the truth herself."