Chapter 7: Sweet Beginnings
813words
"Are you sure about this?" Mia asked, watching me measure the counter space. "It's a big investment."
"I'm sure," I said, more confidently than I felt. "I've been baking since I was a pup. It's time I did something with that skill."
Three weeks had passed since I'd left Aiden. Three weeks of morning sickness, of dodging pack members' curious glances, of ignoring calls from Elder North demanding I "stop this foolishness and return home." Three weeks of building a life that was entirely my own.
The pregnancy remained my secret, shared only with Mia. At eight weeks, there was nothing to show yet, though my wolf senses detected subtle changes—a new fullness to my scent, a protective instinct that flared whenever someone stood too close.
"Luna's Sweet Creations," Mia read from my hastily sketched logo. "I like it."
"It's a start," I said, running my hand along the dusty counter. "My start."
The money came from my grandmother's inheritance—funds I'd never touched during my marriage, always saving them for "someday." Someday had finally arrived, born from necessity rather than choice, but welcome nonetheless.
By sunset, I'd signed the lease and ordered basic equipment. The work ahead was daunting—renovations, permits, suppliers to contact—but for the first time in years, I felt a spark of genuine excitement. This space was mine. This dream was mine. No one could take it away.
* * *
That night, exhausted but satisfied, I fell into bed in Mia's guest room. Sleep came quickly, deep and dreamless—until it wasn't.
A gentle touch traced my cheekbone, so light it might have been imagination. Warm fingers brushed hair from my forehead with familiar tenderness. In my half-conscious state, I leaned into the touch, comfort washing over me.
"Aiden," I murmured, the name escaping before I could stop it.
The touch vanished. My eyes flew open to darkness, the room empty and still. Just a dream, then. A memory my body refused to forget.
Morning brought reality back into focus—nausea, blueprints for the bakery layout, a call with the contractor. No time for phantom touches or lingering attachments.
* * *
Days blurred together as the bakery took shape. I threw myself into the work, grateful for the distraction from both my pregnancy and my broken marriage. The physical labor—painting walls, arranging furniture—helped quiet my restless wolf, who still howled for her mate despite my determination to move forward.
Word spread quickly in our small town. Former pack members stopped by to peek through the windows, some offering help, others simply curious about the Alpha's estranged mate and her new venture. I accepted the help and ignored the gossip.
A week before the grand opening, I stayed late, finalizing the menu and testing recipes in the newly installed ovens. The scent of vanilla and cinnamon filled the space, comforting and familiar. This was what I was meant to do—create sweetness from simple ingredients, transform the ordinary into something special.
I locked up well after midnight, the full moon illuminating my walk back to Mia's. My wolf pushed against my skin, eager for the run I'd been denying her. Soon, I promised. After the opening. After I figured out how to shift safely while pregnant.
Sleep came easier that night, my body pleasantly tired from the day's work. Yet once again, I woke to that same sensation—fingers gently stroking my hair, a warm presence beside me. This time, I kept my eyes closed, heart racing as the touch continued—tracing my eyebrows, the curve of my jaw, lingering at the pulse point on my neck where Aiden's mating mark still sat, faded but present.
I knew I should be frightened. Instead, something like peace washed over me, lulling me back toward sleep. Just before consciousness faded completely, I felt the ghost of lips press against my forehead—so real I could almost catch his scent, pine and rain and something uniquely Aiden.
When morning came, the room was empty as always. No evidence of a visitor, the windows locked, Mia's security system untriggered. Yet the sensation lingered, too vivid for a mere dream.
Over breakfast, Mia noticed my distraction. "You okay? Morning sickness again?"
I shook my head. "Just strange dreams."
"About Aiden?" she asked gently.
"How did you know?"
She smiled sadly. "The bond between true mates doesn't break easily, Luna. Even when you're apart physically, there are... connections. Especially during pregnancy."
"You think I'm imagining him because of the baby?"
"I think your wolves are still connected, regardless of what you and Aiden decide as humans." She hesitated. "Have you thought more about telling him?"
I placed a protective hand over my still-flat stomach. "After the bakery opens. One life-changing event at a time."
