Duke’s POV

It’s been a week and Jules still hasn’t forgiven me for spying on him at the recreation center. I know that I should have just let him do his own thing, but I couldn’t help myself. I worked on some of my paperwork before I just couldn’t handle the thousands of what- ifs going through my mind. I also thought that I was doing a really good job at going unnoticed, I guess I wasn’t so great after all.

“Please accept these as a symbol of my sincerest apologies” I held out a bouquet of flowers to my heavily pregnant mate. He didn’t look too thrilled at my millionth apology of the week.

“Go away” He turns back to Cooper whose hair he was combing all of the knots out of.

“Yeah! Get out!” Wow even my own son has turned against me. I narrow my eyes at him, but quickly turn my glare into a smile when Jules turns his attention to me again.

“Please Jules. I don’t know what else you want me to do. I’ve apologized for my mistakes and I wish I hadn’t done it, but I can’t turn back time” He just huffed and I was starting to get very frustrated.

“I want a mate that trusts me” He says, his voice void of emotion.

“I do trust you Jules. I promise. I didn’t trust them. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to you and the baby” I try to explain myself to him.

“I get that, Duke. I’m not saying that you can’t worry or be protective, but you promised me that I wouldn’t be treated like a prisoner anymore. You promised me that, and yet I can’t do anything without you hovering over me. So I may not be confined to a room anymore instead I am bound to your side for eternity” He finally cracks and I can tell that it was hard for him to admit his feelings by how hard he is hugging Cooper.

“I never knew that you felt that way. I never intended for you to feel so stuck and lifeless. I am truly sorry that I have hurt you and made you feel this way. I will try my best to be less of a warden and more of a mate from now on. I love you, Jules” He is crying which breaks my heart.

I hold my arms open and he rushes into them. The feeling of my mate in my arms is so rewarding after the lack of touch this past week. I rub his back comfortingly, and eventually cup his stomach gently. I smile at the feeling of our baby kicking against my hand in protest. I don’t think this baby likes sharing his mommy just as Cooper doesn’t.

I can’t wait to see what they look like. Our room has a new crib installed in it, and we are as prepared as we can be. No matter how prepared we are for this baby, I don’t think that we’ll ever be ready. I mean sure, I have taken care of Cooper since he was very young, but not fresh out of the womb. What do I do if the baby is slimy or something? No, I’m just being silly now.

I’m broken out of my thoughts at the sight of my mate wincing in pain, “Jules? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just having contractions. I reached out to the midwife and she informed me that I shouldn’t panic and that contractions don’t necessarily equate to the baby coming right then and there. She told me to call for her when the contractions get really close together or my water breaks” I stand shocked at all of this information and a little upset that he never told me any of this.

“When was this and why didn’t you tell me that you were experiencing contractions?” I asked my hands rubbing his belly softly while he took deep breaths.

“Oh I was mad at you” He tells me simply as if I was an idiot for not having guessed the answer.

“Jules in such a serious situation we can not let our emotions cloud our reason. Something could have gone wrong and would you be so petty as to withhold the information from me out of sheer spite?” I was seriously upset and I could tell that Jules was also getting distressed by my words.

“Listen to your own words Duke. I do not need a lecture. What could you have done for me if I told you. You are not a medic, I reached out for help and I found it for myself. I do not know how you could accuse me of keeping such misfortune from you if there was any. We had just made up from our previous spat and now it seems like you are so eager for a new one.” As unfortunate as it was to argue right after we had just resolved our previous quarrel, I refuse to admit fault in this instance.

“Well an accusation it may be, but perhaps an accurate one. You were innocent in our previous argument, but such an innocence can not be found in the present one. Do not paint me the villain falsely” I point my tone at him and he narrows his eyes at me.

“A villain? Is this some sort of joke? Maybe I should have told you about my condition, but to call me a villain is blasphemy. You may be my Alpha and I confide in you, but the comfort I seek in you is a privilege not a right. It would serve you well to remember that, Duke” His tone is just as cold as mine, and I can only hope that Cooper can not hear our hurtful words.

“I agree, but does the same principle not apply to an Alpha. Are we not allowed to seek comfort in our omegas? An omega wishes for the trust of his Alpha, but an Alpha is wrong to wish for the same from his omega? I have never forgotten that you are a blessing that has graced my life. As you do not wish for a lecture from me, I do not deserve a lecture about privilege from you, Jules” I release him from my arms only to cross them in front of my chest.

“What is that supposed to mean?” He mirrors my tense position.

“You have been denied many freedoms in your life, Jules. That is a fact I will not deny, but you have had much more privilege in your life than you think. I too am privileged, but I know exactly what privileges I have been granted as they have either just appeared in my life or they have been taken away” My wolf is starting to get really restless as am I as I relive the unfortunate throes of my past.

“And you fault me for that? The contractions have finished. I no longer seek your presence. Goodbye.” He starts to walk away from me which only angers me more.

“Immaturity plagues you, and perhaps the truth also weighs heavy on your soul. The contractions may have stopped, but that does not mean they will never be back. Are you so cruel as to reduce me to begging and pleading for you to seek safety in your condition?” I reach out to him but he shrugs me off.

“I am off to seek safety in the arms of my father. Do not follow me. I will have the guards escort me if it will please you. Cooper will also come with me” He grabs his coat and calls one of the guards over before walking towards our son’s room.

“For what reason should the boy go with you? Do you plan to flee with my whole family under the guise of visiting your father?” I question him and his glare could kill a weaker man.

“Since you reduce me to such a scum that I would have the gall to do such a thing, I will leave Cooper here. I hope you realize the error of your words” He pushes me out of his way before rushing off with the guard.

“And I, your actions!” I shout after him, my voice full of disdain.

Perhaps I was too harsh with my words, but should I just stand there and be the victim of hurtful actions? I would never resort to violence against those that I love, but I do feel anger course through my body. I just want to destroy something. Does that make me a monster?

I wish to destroy the person who cursed us with rainy skies. Why must we endure misery and heartbreak in order to see the sun shine and colors grace the sky? Why must we hurt each other in order to enjoy the comfort of our love? These are all lessons that various advisors have taught me about life, and though I have accepted it as true I can’t fathom why it is the case?

I can only hope that Jules is okay despite the turmoil I have caused him.

⯀

Jules’ POV

Is this the fate of mates? Well if it is then the story books need to be rewritten. Is it truly immature to ignore the thing that torments you or is it a sign of maturity to let the problems flow off of you as water does off a duck’s back? My heart is heavy. Am I truly as cruel and spoiled as Duke claims me to be?

“To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you, Jules?” My father greets me and dismisses my escort who nods respectfully before scurrying off.

“Unfortunately there is no pleasure, father. Only misery and anger” He quickly ushers me into the manor.

“I hope it is nothing that I have done, Jules. I swear that it was not me that gave the boy chocolate. I blame Jude, he is always up to mischief when food is involved” My father’s eyebrows tense in concentration.

I sigh miserably, “This is not a silly matter about chocolate. Duke and I have been in an argument for a week, and we finally resolved it today. All looked bright until another argument quickly followed. I’ve come to seek both refuge and advice”.

“You are young, Jules, and though Duke may be a lot older than you he is still young as well. This relationship is the youngest of them all. Tell me how this first issue was resolved and we’ll go from there” He guides me to my old room which brings me surprising amounts of comfort as I sit on the bed. I recount the story and my actions following and he nods here or there, but by the end of my story I still can not gage his reaction.

“There’s still so much you have to go through, Jules. We can not shelter ourselves from life and all of it’s misfortunes and thorns. I tried to do that to you, and look where that got us. This is not about who is right and who is wrong although we so desperately seek validation. Love, relationships, and mates don’t last if that’s the way you go through life. Everything is a compromise, even if the compromise leaves you less than satisfied sometimes. Sometimes it’s better to face our problems head on rather than letting them grow bigger and scarier” He pulls me into his arms comfortingly.

“I just don’t want to make things worse if I’m too angry. He is quick to accuse me of such ridiculous things” I reply.

“Duke is a strong Alpha, Jules, but even the strongest of Alphas make mistakes and have insecurities. Yelling may not be the best solution to resolving his feelings, but it’s a lot better than the methods that he’s been taught, Jules. I can’t say I agree with the things that he has said to you, especially as your father, but there is always truth to both sides of a story. Do you truly think that it was fair to keep these kinds of secrets from your mate? I think in such heated times it is okay to separate from each other for the moment while you calm down, but don’t avoid conflict resolution. I want you to put yourself in Duke’s shoes whenever you just can’t understand where he’s coming from. You don’t have to change your mind after that, but at least consider it. I think it will help” He releases me from his hug and wipes the tears from my cheeks gently.

“When did you become so wise?” I giggled softly.

“I’ve always had a brain, I’ve just not always used it. There’s a lot that I regret in life Jules, and I don’t want the same fate for you. I love you” Now I was crying for another reason.

Right as I wanted to respond I felt a sharp sensation and a rush of liquid escaped me. I gasped in embarrassment and concern. I looked up at my father with startled eyes, and he held the same expression.

“I think my water just broke…”