My pajamas are comfortable. Their softness surrounds my skin like a blanket while I hold the tub of ice cream to my chest. My spoon keeps filling up, and my tears keep falling. However, when Ares freaked out asking why I didn't have an answer. I'm just crying and moody, and needed ice cream.

Tonight drained me. While I'm glad this ball is finally over, now we have the next thing to plan for. The trials are right around the corner. And it's unnerving to see how many men are sending in their personal bid against his neck. I believe Ares is up to twelve men he'll have to take care of. I'm only a couple weeks into pregnancy and yet all the emotions and turmoil are being affected. The healer Rachel told me it's normal and to enjoy this time. However, I'm not fucking enjoying shit about this.

"We have two weeks until the trails. I'll be training with my delta's until then. I've received my thirteenth challenger as of this evening." Ares drops onto the couch cornered from me. His abs are on full display, only a pair of pajamas pants to keep him covered. They're a beautiful silk, however, and I can't fight my need to crawl over to his corner of the world and lay my head on his lap. He helps me adjust to keep the ice cream near me and focuses on running his fingers through my hair.

"And who might that be?" I mumble over a large scoop. He's used to my antics by now.

"I'd expect Darius to challenge. He's been looking to grow his power for the past couple months, but it looks like his need for a mate is taking precedent. And he can't challenge a King until I become one. Here. Look there." He drops the paper to my sights, the name of his beta scribbled across the bottom, "I suppose he's become jealous of me and wishes to grow into an alpha position."

"Josh and Jessica. I can't believe it." I grab the paper with my sticky fingers trying to blur the names away with my eyes. She is more in tune with this wolf stuff than I am.

"There's nothing I can do however. We'll just have to wait and see how he does. He's a worthy challenge, one that I'll have to give my best to defeat. Josh has a problem with ego on the other side of things, and that tend to trip him up before he can strike for the win."

"And the others? Do you know much about them?"

"Just omegas that have the balls to sign up. It'll be sad to see potential die, but this is far above their heads."

I put the lid on the ice cream listening to the crack of my back as I sit up. Ares watches me with a light smile as I comfortable on the arm of the couch so I can look at him better, "At the end of the day, I need you to stick around. I don't know how to be a wolf, let alone raise one." I motion to my belly growing the future of the pack.

"You've done well adjusting thus far. It was that horrid ex of yours that led to such a bump in the road."

"Or the kidnapping? Buying me off? Force marking?" I joke with him but his eyes go dark at the admittance.

"You'll never let that die will you?"

"Why would I? Can't wait to tell our child who their father wooed their mother." I give him a roll of fingers to mock him, "Can't wait till they're old enough so I can tell them all the gory details. Such as, they were made from a tree fuck, one of the least romantic ways to get pregnant."

"Better watch that tongue, love." He looks me over, hands running up my leg giving me those addictive sparks. I meet his eyes, they're inviting. Maybe that's what I need.

"And what if I don't? You dirty kidnapper. I can't believe..."

And before I can get the sentence out, his lips are over mine crushing the ice cream between us.