His Alpha's Guardian

**Kataleya's POV--the next day**

I finally decided how I was going to tell Justin I was pregnant. Dr. Leigh had told Justin that I needed to take it easy for a couple of days, to hopefully fight the "cold" I had, and he was all too happy to tell me that I needed to remain at the house, resting.

Dr. Leigh came back this morning after Justin had left for the pack house with a portable ultrasound machine. She had printed out two of the little pictures for me. I was apparently four weeks along. Werewolf pregnancies are only twenty weeks, so I was already a quarter of the way along, which explains the sudden symptoms.

Once Dr. Leigh had left, I had linked to one of the ladies that owned an embroidery business in town and had asked her to make me a onesie. I had given her one of the ultrasound pictures and asked her if she could put it on a onesie and I asked her to put the saying “The best Alpha is yet to come” on the front of it, right below the ultrasound image. I also asked her to pick up a cute box and gift wrap, then wrap it for me. She is going to deliver it to me, right before Justin is scheduled to be back from the pack house. I had, of course, sworn her to secrecy, so she could not tell anyone that I was pregnant. I didn't want anyone else to know about Justin and I didn't want him to find out from someone else.

I planned to cook him one of his favorite meals and then present him with the “package” afterwards. I spent the rest of the day cooking our dinner as I waited for my package to arrive.

When there was a knock on the door, I opened to see Ms. Gonchelli with my package.

“Thank you so much!” I exclaimed, “How much do I owe you?”

She laughed, “My dear Alpha, you do not need to pay me. I was honored to do this for you and your heir. This is my gift to you. I will refuse to accept any payment from you.”

I chuckled, “I wish you were not so stubborn, Ms. Gonchelli."

We bid farewell and I was left alone once again. Just as I predicted, I heard the door start to jingle with Justin unlocking it at a quarter till five.

"Kataleya? Baby? What smells so good? Are you cooking? You should be resting, my love. Dr. Leigh said that you needed rest in order to fully get better,” Justin called out as he walked through the foyer.

He walked behind me as I was preparing our plates and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Baby, what do you think you are doing?” he whispered in my ear, lightly nipping my earlobe.

"What does it look like is going on? I am cooking you dinner, my Alpha. You know, even if I am sick, we both still have to eat. You have already forbidden the Omegas from bringing us food here and I am sorry, my love, but your cooking isn't the greatest.” I laughed.

“Baby, I could have ordered us something or I could have asked Oliver to bring us something. You know, he kills at any chance to come over here.”

“Just take your seat. I made you dinner and you are going to eat it and like it.”

"Yes, ma'am,” he says with a mock salute as he goes to the table. I bring our food to the table and we eat. We talked about what has been going on in the pack and anything that I might have missed the past two days that I might need to know.

Once he finished eating, I cleared the table and started doing the dishes. My hands were shaking as I tried to wash the plates and silverware. I knew what I needed to do, but I had a fear inside of me that was shaking me to the core.

He walked up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Babe, what is going on? I can tell you are worried about something.”

I tried to slam my walls in place, not wanting him to feel the extent of my emotions, but it was too late. He had already felt my anguish and worry through the bond.

Here goes nothing.

“Wait here.” I told him as I rushed to our room and grabbed the package.

I walked back into the kitchen and handed it to him, guiding him to a seat. I motioned for him to go ahead and opened it as I stood in front of the sink, wringing my hands in front of me as I waited for his reaction.

He slowly opened the package, taking special care to undo the ribbon bow that was on top. I heard his heart flutter as he started at the contents of the box.

I could tell that she had put some decorative pink and blue confetti and some mini pink and blue decorative rattles in the box surrounding the onesie. It had a little notecard on top that said congratulations on my Alphas and she signed her name.

He looked up at me and I could see the tears in his eyes. He stood up, the box clattering to the ground, and took big, long strides to reach me. He gathered me in his arms and held me close, placing one hand on my stomach.

“Really?” he asked, choking on the last syllable.

I nodded my head to tell him that I was truly pregnant. He picked me up in his arms, holding me tightly, and spun me in a circle.

He placed me on the ground and pulled my face to his, kissing me enthusiastically. He let down his walls and I was floored with the amount of love, excitement, fear, and happiness that was flowing to me from the bond. I lowered my bond, allowing him to feel what I was feeling. My anguish, fear, worry, excitement...the feelings just went on and on.

"Are you happy?” I whispered.

"Happy? I am fucking ecstatic baby. Beyond ecstatic.”

He got down on his knees and wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me tightly. He placed light kisses on my stomach.

“Is this why you were sick?”

I nodded my head. “I asked the doctor not to mention anything to you. I wanted to be the one to tell you and I was worried that someone would tell you. The only people that knew were Ms. Gonchelli and Dr. Leigh. I slightly used my Alpha command to swear them to secrecy.”

He placed another kiss on my lips. “God damn, I love you.”

Three hours later, we were lying in bed and Justin was holding my waist, caressing my stomach. “Baby?” he whispered.

“Mmmhh

“Can you promise me something?” he asked hesitantly. I could tell that I was not going to like what it was that was going to be asked of us. I felt the flicker of worry and then his walls slammed in place, preventing him from seeing what he was feeling.

“If 1 asked you to avoid training and rogue attacks, would you?”

I could feel my anger rising. I knew that I should not be mad at him. This is a normal question, but it still had my blood boiling. Just because I am now pregnant, does not mean that I am not able to handle myself.

“No...I am pregnant, not fragile. Training is safe as long as I focus on hand-to-hand and I wear protective gear over my stomach...as for the rogue attack, baby, I, also, the Alpha. How bad would it look if their Alpha did not participate in the rogue attack? If I did not help? I cannot ask the warriors to risk their lives when I am not willing to do it myself.”

“Baby, I am not meaning that you are not capable. Believe me, I know just how capable you are of kicking anyone's ass, but love, you are pregnant with our child and that makes you a little more fragile...at the very least, can you promise me that if you are training to wear the gear? As for any attacks and leaving the territory, will you please keep two warriors with you, just as added help? I can call Aziel back, they should not be too far gone, and send Garrison to his place. I need you and our child safe just for my peace of mind,” he whispered.

I sighed. I understood where he was coming from, but wouldn't I look weak if I allowed this to happen..allow my warriors to have to protect and guard me as if I could not handle myself...but at the same time, I don't want him worrying about me or the possible dangers that I could be in

"Fine. Call Aziel, send Garrison instead. And the other warrior? But I will still take part in rogue attacks. I have to defend my pack.”

He smiled, “I just ask for some compromise. I want either Gael or Oliver with you as the other warrior, depending on which one is available. Thank you, baby. I am going to make the necessary call. Rest. Go to sleep. I will be in bed after I make some calls.”

I woke with a start as I heard someone screaming in my head. “ROGUES!” I heard one of the patrol warriors yelling in order to wake me up. “Eastern border! We need reinforcements. There are too many of them.”

I jolted upright at the same time as Justin. He looked at me pleadingly, but he already knew what I was going to do.

I threw the blanket off me as we both rushed out of the room.

He stopped me at the door and pulled me into his arms, “Promise me, you won't be reckless?” he pleaded with me. I could hear the fear in his voice, causing his voice to waver.

“I promise.”

As soon as we rushed out the door, we both shifted and rushed to the eastern border. He pushed open my mind-link and connected with Oliver, Gael, and Aziel, who was now back in our territory. I need all three of you for the rogue attack on the eastern border. Alpha Kataleya is too stubborn for her own good and refuses to stay. I need both of you to watch her. Help her as she needs. Protect my mate and unborn pup.’

'Yes, Alpha,” all three chorused together.

We raced to the eastern border and I stopped at the number of rogues that were overtaking our warriors. For every warrior, they were outnumbered by five rogues.

Justin and I stared at each other for a moment.

“I love you. Be careful.” We both linked at the same time before we threw ourselves into the throng of wolves fighting.