Esme

Chapter 45

Luciano's POV

Cooking with my mate was one of the most precious moments I've shared with her. I was a very good cook and so was she. Danny had her mate over and Alley was around as well as my beta, her bump was looking quite obvious now.

It's been 2 weeks since Esme returned home and a week since she started her online classes. All four of them did different art courses but they still had classes together in the house.

My sister specialized in drama, she started learning how to write scripts and well, she was always the drama queen. Estefanía decided she'd focus on poetry, and let's face it, she's the only one who thinks too deep and too shallow at the same time.

Alley decided she'd be a sculptor and a painter, she really wanted to challenge herself.

"Babe watch it, you'll cut yourself" I yelled as I noticed my mate started to act all woozy.

"I'm fine Luciano, just a headache I guess" she said and continued chopping the carrots.

"Have you had your classes today Esme? Are you skipping school?" She rolls her eyes.

"Ohh cut it out Lulu" I find it both weird and cute when she calls me Lulu. So I nudge her side and pinch her nose.

My wonderful mate decided she'll paint and write books. So far she's been working on this novel on this app called Wattpad. Apparently you can read and write stories there. She's planning on turning it into a series. But I'll support her however I can.

Since that day we had that talk, everything was smooth. I opened up more, she advised me a lot. She never made me feel like I was ever facing anything alone. We even made love two days after that day, and it was just like the first time.

But I can't help but notice, my mate has been acting all weird, and smelling weird too. I'm sure there's something she wasn't telling me and I was gonna find out soon.

"Lunch is ready you ass holes" she yelled into my ear.

"What the fuck babe" but she was smiling and it was so cute. "I'll let this one slide"

"Fania when will he get here?" Alley asked about her brother.

"He'll be here soon" she answered.

"Danny get the cream liquor in the fridge and a pitcher of fruit juice for Alley" I told my sister

"Actually, get two glasses. I won't be able to take alcohol" my mate said and I dropped my cutleries. Everyone staring at her in confusion

So that explains the weird smell. 'Mate is pregnant with cub'  My wolf, Max said to me.

"Why not Esme? Are ya sick?" Stephan asked and before she could answer I did.

"Because my mate here is pregnant. When were you going to tell me and how far gone are you??"

"I'm really sorry Luciano, I wanted you to figure it out yourself. Are you not happy?"

"How could I be happy when you kept the knowledge of my first child from me" I don't get it, she could have told me.

"Luciano I'm sorry"

"I'm not mad at you, I'm actually extremely happy. How far gone are you?" By now everyone was looking at us.

"12 days. I saw the doctor yesterday"

"This is the second best day of my life. It's gonna be an Edward right?" I was so happy I could do a back flip right now, then I caught my beta laughing at me and I growled at him.

"I don't know babe" just then Alley's brother walks in.

"Derek!!!" Alley shouted as he walked up to kiss her forehead.

"How are you doing sis, how's the baby?"

"Ohh we're good" Alley answered as he bro-hugged Stephan, James and I.

"Hey Esme, how you doing?" He asked her as he kisses her cheek.

"I'm good, and I'm pregnant" she said. "You're pregnant? That's amazing" that was when I noticed Estefanía was not even on the dining, she was coming downstairs.

"Hey mate" she said as she approached him and kissed him. "I've been waiting for you"

"Hi babe, I wanted to stop by Ethan's place to check on baby Ezra" he said and kissed her forehead.

"How are they?" My mate and I asked in unison then looked at each other and she smiles as Alley mouthed 'creeps'.

"They're okay, you should visit them Esme" he responded and she could only nod. "Now let's eat, I'm starving"

He sat down and we all dug in, eating and having a regular dining chit-chat. I placed my hand on Esme's thigh and squeezed lightly as I looked at her. She met my gaze and winked at me, making me blush a little, but I tried my best to hide it.

"We should go visit my parents soon, it's been a while." I said to her through the link.

"Sure, no problem. We'll take fruits and good news to them" she replied and we touched foreheads.

"Luciano? Are you ready to be a dad? It's a different level of crazy you know. I mean, staying up at night because of all the crying, the whole diaper changing episode, splashing so much water during bath time, so much crying and poop and staining everyone's outfit with baby food, and..." I cut her short.

"Don't forget how babies also bring the family together, the joy they spread, and how they're beams of Joy lighting up the whole room. Their perfect little smiles and their genuine gazes. You should also think about the good things too baby and it would be an honour to be the father of your kids" I said and she smiled and we continued eating.

"You said today was the second best day of your life, what's the first?" She asked out of the blue.

"The day I found out we were mates, Orchid" I said back and she just grabbed me and peppered my face with kisses and everyone was just staring at us really weird.

"You could maybe get a room!?" My beta said and I growled.

"Mind your business bro" then I threw a grape at him.

Before I new it, mashed potato landed on my face. "You started it bro". Ohh it's on, I filled my spoon with peas and threw it accross the room but I didn't aim well so it hit Alley.

"Ohh my God Alley, I'm so sorry" Alley threw some peas and some of it hit Esme.

"Now we're even" she said and smiled.

"Ohhh no she didn't!! Food fight" Esme yelled and everyone started tossing food at each other and that was how we all lost respect for the sacred Calderon dining table.

            ~•~