Four months later.

Laughter filled the room as I peppered kisses all along Layla's huge belly. Which she carried absolutely perfectly, no amount of words that defined beauty could ever live up to her. Her hands were in my hair gently running through it. I've missed her laughter so much and sometimes I don't get enough of it. It's taken a while for her to actually come around and get used to the idea that it's okay to laugh.

I know sometimes she feels guilty about it but, she pushes through it. As for me I've held it in for this long and I'm sure I could keep it to myself but, until then I just want to enjoy our shared happiness.

"You know they could come at any minute." she whispered and I smiled.

"You hear that pups?" I questioned, staring at her round bump, "You can come out now."

She laughed once more which filled my entire body with happiness, "I think we should go to sleep." she stated, a yawn escaping her afterwards.

I smiled at her scrunched up face and her droopy eyes. Then I leaned back up pulling her shirt over her belly and kissing over the fabric. She sleepily smiled while I pulled the blankets over us and scooped her into my arms. She fit so perfectly in them that I instantly felt myself falling asleep.

Jake cooed as we rubbed Layla's back and played with her black hair that's gotten so long.

I love her so much.

The next day when I woke up the guilt about our pup dying was settled in more harshly. Jake was ultimately beating himself up over it. And the both of us just couldn't find it in us to talk to Layla and Mia. We didn't want to hurt them with our pain because, they have come so far. But, trying to hide it from them is killing us as well.

We hadn't talked about him since the funeral and Mia talks to Jake more now. It's certainly taken a while but, she's finally talking again. Jake doesn't want to do anything to set her back though. And by that it means having to keep how we feel pushed aside. When all I really want to do is just be in Layla's arms so she can tell me that it isn't my fault.

But, I know I can't because, I'd never want to bring her back down like that. I bit my lip harshly as I tried to keep how I felt at bay so she wouldn't feel it through the mate bond. My fingers trailed down the side of her face and I pushed some hair behind her ear. She shifted around against my touch, her facial expression portraying discomfort. Before her eyes slowly opened and her green eyes met mine.

"What's wrong?" she asked, I scrunched my eyebrows at the sudden question.

"What?" I asked, "No good morning?" I questioned with a smile in which she frowned.

She pushed herself away from me, slowly sitting up before grabbing my hand to pull me up too so that I was sitting up with her. She then grabbed my hands in hers in a gentle grip. Her eyes shifting to mine with a softness to them that made me melt.

"I know that something's wrong okay." she stated, "I know that you've been trying to hide it from me but, I can feel it here and there, I've been waiting for you to say something but, you don't." her words made me realize how stupid I was to think I could even try and hide it.

She's my mate after all.

"Just tell me what's wrong and Ill help you the best I can." she mumbled, glancing down at our interlocked hands.

I sighed deeply, "I don't want to bring you down with me." I muttered, "That's why I didn't tell you."

Her hands left mine and she cupped my face, "You could never bring me down." she firmly voiced, "But, you not allowing me to help will, so tell me." she urged.

I took a deep breath before letting all of my feelings out, "I feel like you having a miscarriage is my fault I remember what you said about the consequence and I know that I'm the reason-"

"Stop." she interrupted and I glanced towards her emerald eyes, "It isn't your fault I'm the one that made the decision to bring you back because, I love you." she smiled and swiped away a traitorous tear from my face, "I know that the consequence wasn't the best it was actually horrible but, if this was the price I had to pay for getting you back then so be it." she stared at me with unshed tears in her eyes, "One thing I know for sure is, it isn't your fault." her tone was filled with certainty and firmness.

Every word she had said managed to wash away any guilt I once had. There was still a sliver but, I knew it, her words and her touch was enough to diminish any pain I felt. Jake was already feeling so much better himself like a weight was lifted from him. All we needed was our mates assurance and we got it.

Layla pulled me towards her to initiate a soft kiss against my lips. My hands grabbed her sides gently as I kissed her back. The sparks shot between us causing the kiss to grow more passionate.

"I can't wait to marry you." I whispered against her lips.

She smiled into the kiss as I brought one of my hands into her hair, "You're going to have to." she laughed, pressing her lips against mine.

"Not for long."

Later along in the day Layla and I were at the new pack house that was finally finished and had been for some time now. It was such a great moment that really bonded the whole pack together for good. Lots of the pack had also moved in that same day. I loved how it came out, it was bigger and by far better than the original one that had been tarnished. Layla of course loved it one thing she loved more was the view it offered.

The house was facing forwards towards an area of hills that was scattered with flowers. The big yellow sun and the array of colors in the sky made it all the more picture perfect. Which is where Layla couldn't get enough of.

"It's so sunny today." she mumbled, as I placed my chin on top of her shoulder and secured my arms around her belly.

I replied, staring at her tannish skin that was glowing in the golden sun, "Yeah it is."

"We're going to cut the cake now!" Genevieve called behind us and Layla turned which made me drop my hold from around her.

"Okay, come on." Layla intertwined her fingers in mine to pull me along behind her.

I gladly followed behind while Jake was basically drooling over how beautiful she looked. Even if it was for a simple birthday party for Dawn. Anywhere at anytime Layla could make us fall more for her just by glancing our way no matter what she was wearing.

Once we made it inside, she led us towards the kitchen where tons of people were. Mostly pups who couldn't stop messing around. Especially Dawn who was very energetic courtesy of the many sweets she's had. But, once Jacob managed to get her seated and we sang happy birthday. The moment that I've quite literally been begging for, happened. Layla looked at me with an urgency to her and then her gaze dropped to the ground.

Where her water had just broke.

"Um Landon." she spoke before a painful groan had left her lips alerting the whole pack.

Her knees had given out but, I swiftly picked her up in my arms just before she could hit the ground. She held onto me as I felt her pain kick in through the mate bond which stung at my heart. Her cries were becoming louder while I rushed to get to the pack doctor.

"It's okay I'm right here." I coaxed trying to get there as fast possible with how many people were in my way, "Move." I growled out with my alpha tone clear.

That certainly seemed to get everyone moving a lot faster. They scattered themselves against the wall clearing a path for me. Layla tightened her grip on my shirt.

"B-be nice." she managed to get out between her harsh breathing.

It amazed me how on the verge of giving birth to not only one pup but, two she was still very much selfless. Even when she was probably in some of the worst pain anyone could imagine. She was going to be the most amazing mother. And I couldn't wait to witness it with my own eyes.

"Leave it to you to be nice right now." I replied back, finally making it to the double doors and kicking them open.

Layla's discomforting yell filled the room as I placed her on top of the bed and Paul along with the others came right over. She held my hand in hers in a tight grip. As Paul lifted the dress she was wearing, Jake fought to hold a growl in.

"Alright Luna, I'm going to need for you to push on my count okay?" he questioned, I locked my eyes onto Layla's closed ones.

Her face was already red, "Okay." she blew out in a hurry as her chest heaved from her heavy breathing.

Jake was getting very agitated at how much pain she was in. But, almost as soon as we felt it, we also felt it dissipating. At least once the doctors had managed to finally hook her up to machines and iv's. We relished in the fact that the medicine was working and helping her. Yet her hand had still been gripping mine in a tight hold.

A tenacious one but, as much as it hurt me I didn't care not one bit if it was helping her. I placed my other hand on her head to brush away some of her hair. Just as Paul began counting and Layla's cries of agony became louder.

"I'm right here love, you can do this." I mumbled with a faint smile on my lips at the realization that this is actually happening.

I brought her hand to my lips to kiss as I winced badly at how hurtful her screams sounded. Even though the pain was mere it seemed to only grow by the second. Which led to the doctors upping her dosage to relieve her of the pain. And after a while Paul was given a blanket and a small cry was mixed in with Layla's. My head had snapped to the right of me to see Paul holding one of our pups in a white blanket.

"It's the boy." Paul had announced, gently handing him over to one of the nurses who I watched very closely.

"Landon." I looked back to Layla who had relaxed against the bed with a small smile on her lips.

"You did amazing." I leaned down to connect our lips in a short kiss.

She smiled and nodded her head with relief written all across her features. We were only like this for a minute before her ear pitching screams were back. Paul had once again counted her down and her death grip on my hand was back in motion. I continued to brush away some of her hair and whisper encouraging things to her.

"Just breathe baby, you got this." Jake was practically on his toes the whole process.

Mia had even came to the surface every once in a while to relieve some of the pain from Layla.

"A little further luna, almost there." Paul inputted, I felt my heart beat quickening at that.

Any minute now she's going to be here and we're officially going to be a family. Soon enough another small cry was let out that meshed with Layla's. I comforted her as she relaxed into the bed with red cheeks and her chest heaving. My eyes had also inevitably locked onto the small figure in Paul's arms. He had put her next to our other pup in a small bed and wheeled it closer to us.

I glanced to Layla's droopy green eyes as she eyed them with faint smile, "Their perfect." she breathed, I nodded my head, shifting my eyes back to the small beings.

But, my body froze once an ear pitching beeping sound filled the room and it wasn't Layla's screams.