Dana

　　He smiled in response. "You're always testing me, but you ended up crying," he teased gently, his tone affectionate as he traced patterns on my skin.

　　But despite the lighthearted banter, a nagging worry lingered in the back of my mind. "Are we safe?" I asked suddenly, my voice tinged with concern.

　　His expression turned to one of confusion. "For what?" he replied, his brows furrowing slightly.

　　"You know that I don't think I am ready for pregnancy... We did this a lot of times-raw," I confessed, my words hanging in the air as I waited for his response. His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer to him as he processed my words.

　　"I can guarantee that," Bathel reassured me, his voice steady and reassuring.

　　"But what will happen if that thing happens? I know that it's a responsibility for a Luna to give you a baby, but what if I am not ready-"

　　"Dana," he interrupted gently, his thumb brushing against my lips to silence my worries.

　　"I will always support you with your decision, and there's nothing to worry about that," he promised, leaning in to kiss me once more. His words washed over me like a soothing balm, easing my fears.

　　"Okay," I smiled at him, feeling a sense of relief wash over me at his reassuring words.

　　"How do you want our relationship to be revealed?" Bathel asked, shifting the topic.

　　A mischievous smile spread across my face as I considered his question. "Well, you know that your birthday is coming-just 7 days more," I began, excitement bubbling up inside me. "I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to make things more exciting. With so many people around, all eyes on us, it'll be the perfect moment to share our love with the world," I explained, watching as a smile formed on Bathel's lips and sparkled in his eyes.

　　"That would be good," Bathel agreed, his voice filled with warmth.

　　"Yeah," I murmured as I nestled my head against his chest, feeling his comforting embrace enveloping me.

　　"Just rest with me for now," he whispered, pressing a tender kiss to the top of my head. With a contented smile, I closed my eyes, letting myself be enveloped in the peace and security of his arms, knowing that at this moment, there was nowhere else I'd rather be.

　　As another day dawns, with just six days remaining until Bathel's eagerly anticipated 19th birthday, I find myself contemplating the passage of time and marveling at the juxtaposition of his youthful age with the undeniable allure of his mature, masculine physique.

　　Despite the excitement surrounding the upcoming celebration, I find myself unable to shake the lingering unease that has settled within me since our last encounter. Nevertheless, I push aside these thoughts as I go about my morning routine, showering and dressing before venturing outside the confines of our pack.

　　It's then that I encounter Lilith, an omega within our pack, who stops me in my tracks with a curious expression.

　　I couldn't help but feel a pang of apprehension. "Do you need something?" I inquired, attempting to maintain a façade of confidence despite the uneasy feeling gnawing at my gut.

　　Her response caught me off guard. "No," she began, her tone tinged with a hint of disapproval. "But last night, you were too loud," she continued, her words carrying a weight of accusation. "You know that it's a sin to engage in intimacy with a man who isn't your mate. And I know that you haven't found your mate yet," she concluded, her statement sending a shiver down my spine and causing my eyes to widen in shock.

　　"W-What-" I stammered, struggling to find the right words to respond to her unexpected revelation.

　　The weight of Lilith's words hung heavy in the air, leaving me speechless and uncertain of how to respond to her unexpected admonishment. "You don't even need to deny it," she said, her tone carrying a mix of sympathy and reproach as she patted my shoulder. "You're bothering my sleep, and interfering with my duties, but consider yourself fortunate-I won't divulge this information to anyone... for now."

　　Her warning sent a chill down my spine as I grappled with the gravity of her words. "But you have to be careful," she continued, her voice tinged with genuine concern. "If you were to become pregnant without a mate, you'd risk being expelled from the pack."

　　Before I could formulate a response to her dire warning, the unexpected arrival of Divine left me reeling. "I heard your conversation," she announced, her sudden appearance causing me to nearly lose my composure.

　　"What?" I scoffed incredulously, my heart pounding in my chest as Divine's interruption caught me off guard.

　　"Are you telling the truth?" she demanded, turning to Lilith with a mixture of disbelief and apprehension.

　　Lilith hesitated, her expression betraying a hint of guilt. "Well, I didn't mean to-" she began, but her words were cut short by Divine's stern interjection.

　　"You don't need to deny it right now," Divine asserted, her tone brooking no argument as she addressed Lilith directly. "I heard what you were talking about."

　　My heart sank as Divine's revelation confirmed my worst fears. I desperately hoped that Lilith wouldn't divulge any further details, but it was clear that Divine's presence had cast a shadow of fear over the conversation, leaving me anxious about the potential consequences of their exchange.

　　"Uhm, yes," Lilith murmured, her gaze fixed on the ground as she acknowledged Divine's accusation.

　　Divine's laughter rang out, cutting through the tension like a knife. "Okay, you can go now," she declared, her tone laced with a hint of amusement. "And leave her alone," she added firmly, her words carrying a subtle warning.

　　Lilith quickly bowed and made her exit, leaving me alone with Divine. I couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and apprehension at the turn of events. While Divine had come to my defense, her formidable reputation and sharp tongue left me unsure whether to thank her or fear her.

　　As I stood there, grappling with my emotions, I couldn't shake the feeling that Divine's intervention had only added another layer of complexity to an already fraught situation.

　　"I respect people's privacy when it comes to their sex lives," Divine interjected, her voice softening slightly. "But you haven't found your mate yet," she murmured, her words carrying a note of concern.

　　"What are you even talking about? That wasn't-" I began, but she cut me off with a gentle yet firm interruption.