When the World Turns Red (Crossover between the Red and Acceptance Series)

Chapter 17- Rylan's POV

I entered the kitchen to see that Sam was almost done making food, and my mouth started to water while my stomach started to growl louder, earning curious looks from everyone. I didn't say a word about how delicious the food smelt and only looked at Cooper.

Cooper looked at us when we entered the room, and a look of concern and worry appeared on his face when he saw something on my face that didn't have to deal with food or how hungry I was. "Ry?" he asked and stood before he started to make his way toward me, and all talking ceased while they turned to look my way. "Ry, what's up? What's wrong?"

I shook my head and bit the inside of my lip. My heart grew warm, and I couldn't help but feel happy that he was concerned about me, even though he had no reason to be because I was safe. I didn't say a word while he made his way to me, and that seemed to have made him become more worried because he looked at the group that had left with me.

"What happened?" he asked. "What's wrong?" He stopped in front of me and studied me as if he could find the answers on my face, but I hid them behind a smile. He held back an eye roll before he looked at my brother, biting back a small growl. "What happened, Rhett?"

My brother shrugged and pressed his lips into a thin line. "That is up to her to say out loud," he said coldly, and Cooper rolled his eyes and scowled. "I do not want to get on her bad side, and I do not want my butt on fire." He flashed me a small smirk and a wink. "Right?"

"Very funny," I said and shook my head before I turned my attention back to my mate. I bit back a small smile while I tucked my head closer to my chest. I didn't say a word to him and grabbed his hands before I placed them on my stomach.

My mate frowned and narrowed his eyes while he looked at my stomach, and he rubbed my belly. He didn't say a word while he stared at it before a small look of realization and fear dawned on his face, and he instantly looked at me with wide eyes.

"Pregnant?" he mouthed and searched my face for answers. His face grew pale, and a look of hope and happiness filled his eyes while he studied me. "Are you pregnant, Ry?"

My throat closed, and tears pricked the corners of my eyes. I didn't say a word and watched as my mate turned his attention back to my belly and rubbed it with furrowed brows and a small pout on his lips.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, and he looked at me in the eyes, searching my face to make sure that I was actually telling him the truth. "Are you sure that you are pregnant?"

My throat seemed to close tighter, and I couldn't help but slowly start to struggle to breathe, even though it wasn't much to make me pass out. I slowly nodded in confirmation while I stared at him, searching his face for answers.

Tears slowly started to stream down my face while I stared at him, not knowing how he would react and prayed that he would be just as happy as he had been for the past couple of births we had been through together as a couple.

Cooper furrowed his brows further and turned his attention back to my belly, not saying a word about how I was acting. He rubbed my stomach and bit the inside of his bottom lip while he stared at it as if he was trying to see if it was true.

I didn't say a word and placed my hands on his, biting the inside of my lip and hoping that he would be fine with my hands on his.

And thankfully he was because he didn't pull away from me.. yet.

My whole body was tense, and my heart pounded hard and fast in my chest.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper and looked me in the eyes.

I nodded, and my bottom lip quivered faster because I didn't know if he was ok with me being pregnant with another set of his children.

Oh Goddess please let him be, I silently prayed while my heart skipped a beat before it started to pound harder and faster in my chest. Please.

I can't lose him again...

My mate moved my hands from his and lifted my shirt just a tad, and my whole body grew still because I had no idea what he was planning on doing and was a little hurt that he moved my hands from his.

Oh no...

He placed his hands back on my stomach and gently rubbed it before he leaned forward and placed a small kiss to it as if he were kissing the child itself.

"Don't give Mommy any trouble, ok?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper and so low that I had to strain my hearing to hear what he had to say. "And don't be born here. I don't know how we will get you back home if you are."

A small strangled sob escaped my lips when he said that, and the weight of the world seemed to be lifted from my shoulders as if what he had said confirmed that he was ok with this and bringing another child into the world.

Oh thank Goddess...

My mate lifted his gaze when he heard my strangled sob, and he raised an eyebrow in question while he slowly blinked. "What?" he asked and cocked his head to the side while he studied me. "What was that sob for, Ry?"

I shook my head and didn't say a word, not sure if it would be possible for me to say anything because of the lump that lodged itself in my throat.

Cooper blinked and studied my face as if he were trying to see if my face would give away what I was thinking or feeling when I couldn't describe it in words.

And for some reason, it did because after he had studied me for some time, he pulled me into a hug and held me close to him, pressing a small kiss to the side of my head.

I instantly wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face into his chest while I cried out the feelings that I was feeling, for I was not able to hold onto them any longer.

"Forgive me, Love," my mate said and placed another kiss to the side of my head while he rubbed my back. "I didn't mean to make you feel as if I didn't want our child."

I shook my head and tried to get my feelings under control but couldn't for some reason. "I know," I said, my voice cracking and was barely above a whisper. "I am sorry too. Please, forgive me as well."

I squeezed my eyes harder together and held back a small sob, afraid that he wouldn't forgive me for being a mess, even though I already knew that he would.

My mate chuckled and held me tighter to him, shaking his head just a tad. He slowly started to rock me back and forth, back and forth while he rubbed my back, trying to sooth me in a way that only he could. "There is nothing to forgive, Ry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I understand."

He squeezed me closer to him as if he was afraid that I would pull away from him and leave him alone in this new world where there were new possibilities and new chances to find love.

But my heart was claimed by him and no one else...

"I hadn't made it easy on you. I should have fought it harder." He squeezed me a little tighter before he released me just enough so that I would be able to breathe and not hurt our child.

Sam and Thomas grew stiff, but we ignored them while we held onto each other for warmth and comfort that only the other could bring.

Oh Goddess...

"I know," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I cleared my throat and licked my lips as I tried to get my emotions under control, loving and hating the fact that I was pregnant. "But it was written that way. We can not change the past."

My mate chucked and slowly nodded. "But we can learn from it and make sure that it doesn't happen again," he said and rolled his eyes, teasingly. "I know this, Ry. We have had this conversation already." He flashed me a small smirk and a wink, even though I wasn't able to see I was still in my mate's arms.

I bit back a small chuckle and slowly nodded. "And we will keep having the conversation," I said while I slowly but surely started to calm down, and the tears started to stop falling down my face.

I pulled away from my mate and rubbed my eyes, blinking back the tears that had almost stopped falling down my face. "We will keep having it for a long time." I flashed my mate a small smirk and a wink, and he groaned playfully before he pulled me into a hug and a kiss, ignoring the others that were gathered in the room with us.

"And I wouldn't have it any other way, Ry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper when he pulled away from me before he placed a small kiss on my lips again.

I promise...