The Chosen

Chapter Eleven

Calleo's P.O.V

I looked at Ellie, who had gone still. Her face was blank, but I saw a single tear run slowly down her cheek. We both knew what this meant. Not only was Ellie in danger, but also our baby. Our little, innocent angel.

"No, no, no." I muttered, anger balling up in the pit of my stomach. It was one thing have my mate in danger.

"Calleo, calm down." Caleb said softly.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" I snapped at him.

"Getting angry isn't going to help." he tried to reason with me.

I was about to argue with him, but stopped when I felt a soft hand touch my arm. I looked down at Ellie, and the anger immediately dissolved into a softer feeling. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and she leaned against me.

"I love you." I whispered in her ear. "No matter what."

Her body shook with sobs. I ran my fingers through her hair and kissed her temple. "It's going to be okay." I assured her.

Caleb walked over to us and rubbed her back soothingly.

"Is she okay?" Matt asked, walking into the bathroom.

Ellie lifted her head from my chest and looked over to Matt. I released her and she walked over to Matt. He pulled her into his arms.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked her, looking a little scared.

"She's pregnant." I whispered.

His head snapped up to look at me. "What?"

I nodded.

"Why would you even risk getting her pregnant until this was over? They have even more reason to kill her now!"

"You think I don't know that?"

"Obviously not because she is!"

"I'll do anything to protect her and our baby. Even if it means giving up my own life."

"And leave her mate-less and your child without a father?"

"She'd still be alive!"

"And your child will have to grow up without their father by their side."

"Well, they'd still have you guys. That's better than nothing."

"Listen to yourself, Cal!"

"I am listening!" I snarled. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family. No harm is going to come to Ellie, or our baby. I'll die making sure of that."

Ellie pulled away from Matt and ran out of the bathroom and down the steps.

"All of this arguing isn't good for her." Caleb said, looking between Matt and me. "She's under enough stress as it is."

I sighed. "You're right."

The sound of a door slamming shut had us all running downstairs. Ellie's mom was in the kitchen, looking rather flustered.

"Where's Ellie?" I asked her.

"She ran outside. I tried talking to her, but she wouldn't calm down." she looked at me. "What's going on?"

"I'll explain everything." Caleb said. "Go get her."

I nodded and half ran outside.

Ellie's P.O.V

I found a suitable rock and sat on it, gazing out at the small spring. My eyes were sore from crying and my head was pounding, but I felt better. I didn't feel the need to puke every five minutes, which was probably caused by the lack of food in my stomach to throw up.

I looked down at my stomach and rested my hand on it. Our baby was in here. So tiny and innocent. He or she had no clue what was going on, but loved me anyway. My baby would always love me, mistakes and all.

I think back to what Calleo said earlier. He'd give his life up protecting us. That should make me happy, knowing someone loved me enough to give their life up for mine; instead, it made my chest ache. I couldn't live without Calleo. Even though I'd have this perfect little baby, I wouldn't be truly happy. I part of me would be missing.

The snapping of a twig makes me jump to my feet and spin around to face whoever it was sneaking up on me. My protective stance relaxed when I saw that it was Calleo. He rushed over to me and pulled me into his arms.

"Never run off like that, Ellie." he said in my ear. "It's too dangerous. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you."

"I'm sorry." I buried my face in his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist. "I couldn't take all of the arguing."

"I know, baby. I'm sorry, too." he pressed his lips to my hair.

I pulled away from him and leaned up to kiss him. His lips were warm against mine. He moved his hands to my hair, tangling his fingers in my hair and holding my face to his. After a minute or two of kissing, we were both breathing hard. I reluctantly pulled away to catch my breath.

"We need to get back." Calleo said softly. "It's not safe out here."

"Indeed, it isn't." a husky voice agreed from behind us, making us spin around. "Especially for you, Ellie."

The guy was about six foot tall, had a stocky build, and black curly hair that hung down into his green eyes. Most importantly, he was pointing a gun at me.