(unedited)

== Simon’s POV ==

This was absolute madness. For one, I knew that neither Enna or Gideon was flirting, they talked like normal people and didn’t display the physical signs of attractiveness. Gideon blushed but he only seemed a little shy around girls. Secondly, I knew Enna liked me. Not only, I was her mate, fated to be with her, but I also knew I was earning her trust, slowly but surely, and it was more than could be told about any other man. Even my Beta, James, who had taken care of her when she arrived wasn’t close to her like I was. She told me her story before anyone else, so there was no reason to be jealous.

The third point was the more important though. How in the heck could I feel jealous when we had much more important things to deal with, as in, the fact that people are trying to capture my mate and probably torture her or kill her?

My internal turmoil got me annoyed, but only with myself. I could feel Enna’s soft small hand in mine, walking by my side, her arm brushing mine slightly as we walked behind Gideon. She seemed to understand I was a bit on edge, as my eyes met hers and the little frown in between, silently asking “is everything all right?”

I smiled to her, taking in a deep breath. It was all right now, because her eyes were all on me, her hand was in mine and she cared about how I felt. I bent down to give her a quick kiss on the forehead which made her smile as if she knew something I didn’t.

During all of that thinking I had just been doing, Gideon had led us to Collins’ office, he knocked and led us in. Inside, the Alpha and his mate, Cassandra, were sitting on a couch, talking, James and Martin were discussing something by the window but stopped as we walked in.

Cassandra’s face lit up, and she rose to walk right over us, engulfing a frozen Enna in a big hug, large pregnant belly included. “I’m so happy you feel better” she said to Enna with a huge smile, pulling back from the hug. “Simon’s mom talked about you loads, I’m so happy we finally get to meet each other”. Enna seemed still a little frozen from the sudden demonstration of affection from a stranger, but she didn’t push away or even step back. She only squeezed my hand a little harder and said: “I’m also happy to meet you” said Enna with a smaller smile, but it was honest. “You’re going to have a beautiful baby boy” she added, with a serious face. Cassandra’s eyes went wide and she looked back to her mate who frowned.

“How would you know that?” he asked her, in a slightly harsh tone. I stepped in front of Enna, just in case Collins’ got mad at her reflection but Cassandra totally bypassed me to hold Enna’s hands in hers.

“Are you sure?” she asked, both confused and excited.

“Cassandra, come back here!” ordered Collins, because his mate was now with mine behind me. I didn’t feel any tension though, it was mostly Collins’ reaction earlier which had ticked me off, but now that Cassandra was in the way, Collins wouldn’t attack my mate, so I stepped back, letting Collins see that his mate was fine and that I wasn’t threatening her. He looked at me quickly and then relaxed a little.

“We have two girls” explained Cassandra to Enna who was still oddly frozen in place, “we really wish for a boy but the doctors haven’t been able to tell us.” Cassandra held so much hope in her eyes that Enna looked at me, slightly bewildered. She definitely had stepped in a snake’s nest and I didn’t know how to pull her out. She looked back at Collins’ mate’s face who was searching Enna’s.

“Can I?” asked Enna pointing to Cassandra’s stomach. Cassandra nodded vigorously, but Collins, worried for his mate, stepped towards them quickly, only to be held back by his own mate with a flick of her wrist. He stopped, two steps behind her, trying to look over her shoulder at what Enna was doing.

My mate wasn’t doing much in fact, she smiled at Cassandra reassuringly, then put both of her hands on Collins’ mate belly, moving slowly around, her eyes lost in her thoughts and feeling. A few seconds later, she pulled back with a little frown and looked at me with worry.

“What’s wrong?” asked directly Collins. He had been around Enna enough now to understand her expressions. Enna didn’t answer him directly, she looked at Cassandra’s, now worried, face.

“I’m not sure I’m the best person for this” she explained to Collins’ mate, “I’m a healer but I’m not a doctor.”

“What do you mean?” asked Cassandra, grasping Enna’s hands in hers.

“It’s a baby boy, I’m sure of it. Girls just don’t feel the same.” She explained. She didn’t seem to mind Cassandra’s tight hold on her, her eyes were lost on the horizon, as if she was recalling something from far away in her memory.

“But there is something about him…I’ve never come across an Alpha and a Luna’s child before, I don’t know if it’s that, or something else. You should get a full checkup, make sure everything in fine. I wouldn’t worry too much, he seemed ok, it’s just…..it’s just like the aftertaste on my mind isn’t totally right” she tried to explain. Cassandra was frowning a little but then she quickly hugged Enna.

“Thank you” said the Luna. “I will go to the doctor’s now to make sure. I’m happy it’s a boy Enna, however he will come to us” she finished with a warm smile. She went ahead to kiss her mate and stepped out. Collins seemed lost in thoughts for a minute or two.

When he came back he quickly uttered, “We’re meeting with our old maid tonight.” He seemed a little distraught. “Just go with your mate, we’ll wait” intervened Enna with a little comprehensive smile. He nodded and left in a hurry, followed by Martin who frowned at her.

“You’re quite the party, Enna” laughed James before stepping out.

We were now left alone in the office, Enna was fidgeting, biting her bottom lip and playing with her fingers. I took both of her hands in one of mine, and used my other to lift her chin up so she could meet my gaze. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. You have an amazing gift Enna” I murmured to her.

She seemed to settle a little bit, managing to smile, but a storm was still raging behind her eyes.

____

It was meant to be a much longer chapter but I only had the time between unpacking and repacking to leave for my New Year's Eve activities to write. I published it so you could have something to read before New Year's Ever (or after, if you leave on the eastern side of Europe).

I wish you a beautiful, amazing and happy 2015 with all the love and health in the world !

See you next year ^-^