Chapter 398
Xaden closed the door shut behind him and went down the stairs.
He felt a sudden air of relief around him after unburdening all that.
He had been feeling choked while making the decision of taking the baby away and now that he had finally let Jasmine have the baby, he was relieved.
He went past the guards who stood at attention.
Then it occurred to him and turned to them.
“I told you not to let anyone into the bedroom without my permission.” He asked.
“We didn’t let anyone sir.” The guards said confused looking at each other and then back at him.
It finally occurred to him that Marie must have entered the bedroom using magic.
She didn’t need to walk past the guards when she could appear and disappear.
He sighed, and then made a mental note to get magic that would ward off intruders.
He walked towards his study and headed past the hallway.
He felt the eyes of the members of his pack on him.
When he was shut into the solace of his study, he was able to pour a glass of brandy.
A child?
He was going to be a father.
None of it made sense to him.
It was the wildest and most unbelievable thing he could even think of.
He itched the back of his head.
He wondered how babies were even given birth to.
He had heard stories of course, but he had never found himself in a situation where he would have to witness it.
He was going to have to witness it.
Worse he was going to have to take care and raise the child.
It scared him.
It terrified him!
Going to war, yes he could do that.
It was easy for him. He knew how to lead and command men.
He knew how to rule and be a leader.
He was not afraid to rip an enemy wolf into pieces.
But having a child.
A baby!
The thought sent chills down his spine.
And Marie had said that they would have to continue having sex.
That aspect genuinely bothered him.
He was very much sexually attracted to Jasmine and he desired her in ways he had never desired anyone.
And yet the way which Marie had said it, like it was task, for the baby.
He waved the thought away.
She was probably just messing around.
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in.” He ushered in and then Belinda stepped into his study.
He leaned back in his chair.
“My lord.” She greeted.
“What can I do for you?” He asked her.
“The Financing for the projects Jasmine had started.” Belinda said. “I haven’t been able to get a hold on her. The rest of the workers really appreciated her support and attempt at making the working and living conditions better for us.”
Xaden rose a brow.
He had no idea that Jasmine had already begun to make such an effect on the people that hated her before.
“Jasmine is.” He said. “Pregnant.”
Once he had blurted out it, he shrugged and realized that they were all going to find out eventually.
“Oh?” Belinda said surprise written all over her face.
“So this would obviously mean that she would be unable to work for a very long time.” Xaden said.
“Oh.” Belinda mumbled again.
She was still seemingly shocked.
Well so was he.
“So would you be able to take over them?” He asked her.
She nodded. “Of course my lord. But Lady Lily has some of the work on her fingertips.”
“How is she faring with them?” He asked as he leaned on the table and crossed his arms.
“Alright.” Belinda said. “She is very popular amongst the workers. They like her.”
“If they like her.” Xaden started. “Then why bother about Jasmine resuming work.”
Belinda hesitated.
“Say what you want to say Belinda.” Xaden said. “I have been with you in this pack since we rebuilt. Over a decade. You are one of my first loyalists. I don’t expect you to hide anything from me.”
She sighed and said. “It’s nothing my lord. But just that, Jasmine has had a very hard time here. I didn’t like her myself. Especially after what her father did to my pack. Everyone in this pack has at least a story to tell about Jasmine’s terrible father. But she has done so much. She has defied the odds and her behavior in the pack is not what I expected. We all expected someone as terrible and haughty as
Belinda almost blurted out Anna but shut her mouth immediately.
“As her father.” Belinda changed the direction of her words. “But she is one of kindest girls I have ever met. I judged her and a lot of the other members of the pack feel so too.”
Xaden rubbed his chin.
“They feel bad.” Belinda said. “They feel terrible for treating her the way they did. Especially with the incident that happened with little Emma and the mob that wanted to have her hung. Emma’s mother has been ashamed of herself and been meaning to apologize.”
Belinda sighed heavily. “The people want to connect with her and I wanted to give her a chance to do that. That’s why I would have preferred her to resume her work.”
Xaden sighed himself as he absorbed the weight of Belinda’s words.
“But since she is pregnant I won’t expect her to. Lady Lily has been equally very good.” Belinda said quickly as she gathered the books she had come with. “Congratulations my lord. We’re going to have a little pup running around soon.”
And then Belinda started to leave.
“Belinda can I ask you something?” He asked.
“Of course my lord. Anything.” She said.
His face went red with shame. “You have had about five children right?”
“Yes my lord.” Belinda said. “The oldest is already fifteen and a tyrant while The last monster is six years old and definitely going to remain the last. I can’t carry another pup for eleven months again.”
Xaden shifted uncomfortably. “This was just something that I heard and you are an experienced mother so I was hoping you would know a thing or two about it. Hence why I bothered to ask.”
Now he was talking too much.
“My lord.” Belinda began. “I will not look at you a certain type of way, regardless of what question you ask of me. ”
He looked at her uncomfortably.
The longer he took, the more difficult it was for him to say it.
He closed his eyes and finally said it.
“I wanted to ask if it’s true that both expecting parents of the pup Uhm… er… well if it’s required that they continue to have sex in claims that it makes the birth easier.”
Belinda blushed. “Well It is true my lord. The pup is usually quite big and the vagina much small. So giving birth its best that it is widened frequently in preparation of the birth to come. Also it depends on size. If it’s Ehmmm Your ehmmm Property is quite big then that’s a good thing. It means he can open it wider.”
Xaden was so embarrassed with the way Belinda spoke about it.
He rubbed his face and smiled at Belinda.
“Do you understand what I mean by this? Or you would want me to explain in further details. I can do that.”
He shook his head.
“Gods no.” He stated quickly to prevent another embarrassing conversation. “I understand.”
Belinda smiled. “If there is anything else you would need my lord. Or anything else you wish to discuss about the future pup. I am here.”
There was a knock at the door and Xaden could not be any more relieved to finally be rid of Lady Belinda.
“Come in.” He said quickly.
And then he turned to Belinda.
“I would definitely let you know. Thank you.” Xaden said quickly dismissing her.
It was Lily who was coming in.
“Congratulations once again my lord.” Belinda beamed with joy as she left the room.
“Congratulations? Did I miss a certain celebration?” Lily jokingly asked.
He waved his hand for her to seat.
“Unfortunately there is none.” He said.
He regretted telling her his initial plans.
Telling her that they would have a future together and that Jamsine’s child would have been hers to keep.
Now that he thought about it, that was the most horrid thing to do.
What had he been thinking?
“It’s good you came here I had been meaning to tell you something important.” Xaden begun.
“Yes my lord.” She said her pretty brown eyes blinking at him.
What sort of mess had he gotten himself into?
“Lily I had made a proposition to you earlier.” He said. “About my unborn child and you being my mate.”
“Yes you had.” Lily said calmly.
He felt completely terrible delivering her this message.
“I’m sorry but that would no longer be possible anymore.”