Chapter Fourteen
Altan
We’d been together six months, and I was waiting on my alpha to ask me to move in with him. My apartment was too tiny for my big bear, and he claimed his place wasn’t good enough for me.
But something had to change.
I missed him. There were nights, especially Fridays and Saturdays when the tattoo shop was open until two in the morning and instead of waking me, he would sleep at his place. And some nights, I had to work late and he had appointments.
First, there was something big I had to do.
I chose to do it alone because I didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily.
There had been some huge social media trend involving tattoos, and their shop had been booked solid for weeks.
Xavier and Sothea decided to start their own social media videos and, from what Greta told me, the appointments were stacked for months with more coming in each day.
I ignored the online comments about how hot my man was. They were right, after all.
Omegas fawned over him. Some requested him specifically.
He put a big picture of us together on his wall, but it didn’t stop the flirting.
Greta, however, tolerated zero bullshit in the flirting department with her mate and with mine.
She shut down the nonsense in one terse post threatening to block anyone who did not back off.
I walked into the healer’s office and filled out the forms. Waited my turn. Took the test. They had tests at the drugstore, but my gut told me to get it done at the healer’s office. If I had the news I thought I did, the last thing I wanted was a false alarm.
A half hour later, my life had completely changed. Now, I had to tell my mate.
That night, I made him a steak with cheesy mashed potatoes and garlic bread, one of his favorite meals. He’d said he wanted kids but, for some reason, I felt like I had to butter him up before telling him.
Literal butter. The steak was topped with a compound rosemary-and-sea-salt glob of it.
“Damn, something smells incredible.”
Wednesdays were his designated day to get off early. I lived for Wednesdays and Sundays. My stomach somersaulted as he shut the door. Showtime.
“I cooked your favorite.”
He nuzzled my neck and said hi to Bunny Foo-Foo. “You’re my favorite, but I like steak too.” He leaned in and sniffed me again. “Did you go to the doctor or a hospital?”
Shit. I’d forgotten to shower. It wouldn’t have mattered. My shifter mate could smell if I had a lollipop the day before.
“Sit down. I have something to tell you.”
“I will not sit down. Are you sick?” He looked me up and down. “Did something happen?”
“I went to the healer for a test.”
“What’s been happening?” He sat and pulled me into his lap. “Have I not been paying attention?”
“You have. But you have also been busy. I’ve been nauseated in the mornings, and the thought of eggs makes me want to throw up. I’m exhausted most days, and I had a hunch but wanted to confirm it before telling you.”
“Tell me. Please.” The pleading broke my heart.
“I’m pregnant, alpha.”
If I doubted his reaction before, that was squashed as a big smile broke out on his face. “You are? The test was positive. You’re pregnant?”
“I am.”
He grabbed my face and pulled me down for a kiss. “What have I done to deserve this? You’re my mate, and now we’re having a cub. I can’t imagine a better day. You’ve made me the happiest damned bear on the planet. Hands down. No question.”
“And there’s steak.”
He laughed loud and hard. “And the steak makes it all even better. But why didn’t you tell me. I would’ve gone with you.”
“You have been so busy and I didn’t want you to shuffle your schedule around for the test. There will be plenty of days in the future when you have to reschedule things. We have doctor’s visits and ultrasounds. And then I don’t know if you can take time off after the baby is born.”
“Not a question.” Sothea put his hand over my belly. “Consider it done. I’ll be there for you in any way you need me, omega. I’m yours. You and our baby.”
“I know you will. You’re going to be the best dad.”
“I was thinking the same thing about you, Altan. Is it okay if I tell my brothers? Greta? They will be so excited for us.”
I nodded. “Of course. I have to tell Brent first though. I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t.”
We made the calls and to nobody’s surprise, everyone was happy for us. Greta said she was immediately getting online to shop and Brent was looking up names. Our baby had a big family already.
A sleuth.
“Oh my Goddess,” I said halfway through the meal. “This baby is not going to come out a bear, is it?”
Sothea didn’t laugh, though I suspected it was difficult not to. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, they sounded silly. “Shifter babies are born in their human forms.”
I cracked up and so did he. “I’m sorry. That was ridiculous. When will they shift? I’m not going to go to the crib and see a cub, am I?”
My poor shifter alpha. Putting up with all these crazy questions.
“We don’t know. I shifted on the first day of kindergarten, right before I was supposed to get on the bus.
So, obviously, I missed my first day but I was five.
Theo shifted young, before he could walk.
Xavier was about three, I think. I would have to ask him.
But there are signs. Their temperature will run hot.
You will hear their bear before you see it. Growling, mostly.”
“I’m used to growling. You growled at me the first day I met you.”
Altan shook his head. “Baby, have you seen you in the mirror? One look and I was done for. If you hadn’t gone on that business trip, you would’ve been mated way earlier.”
“Is that right? So sure of your prowess?”
He snorted and finished his plate. “Well, my mate is the most gorgeous man in the world and now we have a baby on the way so, yeah, my alpha ego is firmly intact.”
Alphas, I swear.
“I’ve created a monster.”
He got up and picked me up, sitting me on the counter while he cleaned up the dinner mess. “You are in the process of creating our baby.” He leaned down, putting his mouth to my belly. “Hear how Daddy is talking about you? Calling you a monster. Shame on him.”
“Have you heard of the terrible twos?” I asked, running my hands through his hair. “And a shifter with terrible twos? I suspect it won’t be the last time we call them a monster.”
Sothea shook his head and we talked while he did the dishes. About how long I would be pregnant. A nursery. Names. Our future. All of it.
“I have something to ask you.” We were in bed, facing each other. The room was dark. He could see me but I couldn’t see him in the pitch black. Didn’t matter. I knew his face by heart.
“What is it?”
“Today, in between clients and for the past week or so, I’ve been looking at houses.
I found one that I thought might be perfect.
So what I’m asking is, would you move in with me, mate?
We can move into my house and then find a house or buy one now.
Whatever you want. All I know is that when you’re not next to me, I lie awake, wishing you were. ”
“Only if Bunny Foo-Foo can come.”
“Dealbreaker.” He chuckled. “I’m just kidding. Of course she can come.”
“I lie awake thinking about you too. I’m in.”