In Between The Alphas
Chapter 100

He didn't wait for Jake to respond; he just started walking with me in his arms. I squirmed to be let down but he held me tighter.

"I can walk, Logan." I whispered while trying not to let him smell my vomit breath.

"I know you can," was his simple response, "I want to do this."

He didn't let me down when we got into the car. In fact, he climbed into the back seat and left me straddling him. I tried to pull away but he didn't let me. Someone else got into the front seat and started the car. While I kept my face buried in his shoulder, he rubbed small circles on my back.

"Where am I driving to, Alpha?" I heard an unfamiliar voice ask.

"My house, Stephen; and make it quick."

Stephen gave a grunt of acknowledgment and started to drive.

"How do you feel?" he asked. I opened my mouth to respond but shut it almost immediately and shrugged. "I'm sorry."

He kissed the top of my head and pulled me impossibly closer to him.

As soon as the car stopped in front of the house, I rushed out and into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I can still taste the vomit and smell the rotting corpse; the thought of which had me heaving in the toilet bowl. Logan met me bent over the toilet and cursed. I heard bags hit the ground and his hand was gathering my hair out of my face while he rubbed a comforting hand behind my neck and upper back. When I was done he handed me my toothbrush and I muttered an inaudible thank you.

"I should have never taken you there." He said after a few moments of silence.

I ran my eyes over his figure through the mirror but he avoided my gaze. I rinsed out the toothpaste and made my way over to him. His hands wound around my waist and he buried his face into my neck.

"I stink, Logan." I murmured and he muttered something unintelligent, "I'm fine, every pregnant woman throws up. It's part of the process."

"You should not have had to see that."

"I like to be kept in the loop of what's going on."

He pulled away and gave me a bland look, "Don't patronize me."

"Then don't make a big deal about it," I said simply, "I like that I'm being kept in the loop; I want to help." He had a look on his face and I pulled back, "Don't you dare."

"Do you blame me though?"

"You can't keep me out of the loop Logan." I warned, "I deserve to know what's going on."

"You're pregnant," he said in a low voice, "With our baby."

"I'm pregnant, not an invalid." I retorted, "I'm not asking to put on armor and fight."

"I wouldn't let you."

I ignored that and continued, "I'm asking for you to not hide things about this from me. I'm the one this witch wants."

"And that is exactly why I want to keep you as far away from it as possible."

"You can't do that." I said and he raised a brow, "You shouldn't do that." I corrected.

"I just want to keep you safe."

"Then let me help," I pleaded, "Let me see Hunter-,"

"No."

"You didn't even let me finish."

"I'm not going to," his tone held no room for discussion; "I'm not going to negotiate when it comes to your safety." "You'll be there with me."

"It's still a no Charlotte, drop it." His tone had gone hard, "I won't let you see him and especially not after today."

I opened my mouth but let it fall closed and sighed in resignation, "Okay; I'll let it go for now." I planted a small smile on my face, "I stink. Do you want to take a shower first or should I?" The tension still hadn't eased from his shoulders so I turned on the shower until it was blazing hot then I pulled him under. He cursed when the water hit his skin.

"Are you trying to roast your skin?" he asked as he turned the water towards cold.

"But now it's too cold," I pouted.

"Some of us aren't exactly into being burnt alive." He muttered and a laugh escaped me.

He looked down at me with admiration and kissed my lips softly once, twice. "Take a bath Charlotte; I'll wait outside for you."

I shoved the disappointment deep inside me and nodded. He looked at me with a frown, almost as if he would say something else but at the last minute he just walked out of the bathroom.

When I got out of the bathroom, Logan wasn't in the room. It was just after I had put on one of his shirts and a pair of my basketball shorts that he stepped in with a breakfast tray in his hands.

I moved to take it from him but he lifted it out of reach and nodded towards the bed, "Sit down."

"You spoil me," I said but obliged.

On the tray lay a plate with avocado sandwiches, a small saucer with banana and blueberry muffins and a banana and raspberry smoothie. A single lily lay on the tray and I picked it up first and gave it a not so discreet sniff. "Did you do all this right now?" I asked and he nodded.

"The doctors said you have to eat healthy." He shrugged as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

"Thank you." I mumbled not knowing what else to say. I took a bite of the toast and almost moaned.

Halfway through that slice I saw one of my grey shirts lying on the floor. The way it lay reminded me of a fish and I suddenly had an urge to eat fish.

"What's wrong?" Logan's voice pulled me out of my thoughts, "You have this look on your face."

"I don't want to bother you."

"What's wrong Charlotte? I'm not going to ask again."

"I want sardines," I blurted out, "On my toast."

He chuckled softly and I kept my gaze on the bed sheet. "You don't have to be embarrassed baby." He picked up the plate of my toast, "Eat the muffins, I'll be back."

I opened my mouth to protest but he had already stepped out. I fumbled with my fingers for a second before biting into one of the muffins. Logan is one hell of a cook, I'll give him that.

I was eating the last of the muffins when he walked in. The smell of sardines assaulted my nose and my stomach grumbled. I had even forgotten that he went to get me something.

"That looks so good." I clapped my hands together and he gave me a weird look. I ignored him and took a bite out of it. "I swear I love you."

"I'm going to forgive this combination simply because you're pregnant."

"It's really good," I argued and I pushed a slice towards his face, "Try it."

"I think I'll pass; thank you." He gently pushed my hand back towards my face.

He stared at me with a small smile while I ate but I paid him no heed as I devoured the food in front of me. It was after I was done eating that I realized he spent the entire time staring at me. "What?" I asked and he shrugged, "You're staring at me."

"You're beautiful."

"I'm eating like a pig; and I probably stink of sardines." I muttered as I placed a hand over my stomach.

Logan's eyes followed the movement and I realized that this is the first time I've acknowledged the baby growing in me like this. It feels- weird in a good way.

"Do you want to?" I gestured towards my stomach and he nodded.

I lifted my shirt and he reached out gingerly before laying his hand over my flat stomach. He inhaled sharply as his hands came in contact with my bare stomach and a million emotions flashed across his face at once: Fear, Anticipation, Love and Awe. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it almost immediately.

"We should schedule a proper ultrasound." I broke the silence, "The last time we didn't really get to see our baby."

His breath came out in a shudder and he pressed his forehead to my stomach, "I'll handle it." He swallowed deeply, "I just-." He trailed off with a small chuckle, "Is it natural to be this gob smacked?"

"I think it's kind of cute." I smiled. He pressed a lingering kiss to my stomach and my breath hitched.

When he pulled away he had firm determination on his face, "I swear, I will keep the both of you safe. I won't fail you again."