A Bonded Morning: Secrets, Worries, and Justified Ends

I woke up wrapped in Kaelen's strong arms, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. For a moment, I just lay there, soaking in the warmth of his body and the incredible feeling of safety. After everything that had happened, I still couldn't believe we were here, together, bonded.

"Good morning," his deep voice rumbled through his chest.

I tilted my head up, meeting his brilliant blue eyes. "Morning."

He smiled, that rare, genuine smile that transformed his usually stern face into something breathtaking. His hand traced lazy patterns on my bare back.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

The question was simple, but it suddenly brought everything crashing back. The joy of our bonding night was immediately tempered by the weight of reality. I was pregnant. With Jaxon's baby. And half my bonds were still trapped in the Grey realm.

"I'm..." I struggled to find the right words. "Happy about us. Terrified about everything else."

Kaelen's arms tightened around me. "Talk to me."