Chapter 63
Chapter Sixty-Three
Mal
Rut-roh
I quickly realize they aren’t just fucking with me because there’s not even the hint of a smile or a snicker or anything that resembles Haha, we got you, you should see the look on your face!
“How is this even possible?” Todd asks. “I mean… How?”
I know how he feels because that’s how I feel.
“Exactly!” I say, choking back my impending hysteria. “How is this possible? I look over at Shawn. “I thought you said non-canine shifter species couldn’t get a canine omega pregnant! I mean, not without a lot of medical assistance.”
“Apparently I was wrong, and it is possible, under the right circumstances,” Shawn says. “Congratulations! You blew the bell curve.” He sploots onto the grass again with a yawn. “Jeezus, I’m glad I’m not too old for this shit, but I’m getting too old for this shit.”
“Well, you definitely smell like pack now,” Jax says. “I have no clue how this will impact your initiation process.”
Davis snorts from the safety of his hiding spot. “Yeah, everyone will hesitate to volunteer for this initiation. They’ll be terrified of Todd ripping their balls off.”
“Not to mention good-bye to most of my future mating heat helpers.” Shawn sighs. “They’ll be terrified they might get me pregnant.”
“I… I…” I’m still hoping this is a horrible joke, while at the same time unexpected hope sneaks into my brain.
Because as I stare into Todd’s eyes, I already feel…something.
Different.
Changed.
Beyond what I’ve already felt since yesterday morning.
“We’re having a baby,” Todd whispers, the horror on his face changing to blissful wonder.
I… am at a loss for words.
Jax drags himself to his feet and walks over, nudging Todd’s ass with his foot. “Congratulations, motherfucker. You got him first.”
But in this way, at least, I can tell Jax isn’t upset, especially when he smiles.
Todd looks up, his smile fading. “I’m sorry about all that, sir, I—”
Jax snorts and drops to his knees next to us and hugs him. “Dude,” he gently says, “stop with the sir shit. You’re my best friend. I know it was an act, okay? I will admit the spitting was especially inspired.”
“Blame your mate for that one. I just followed orders.”
Jax glances back at Shawn, who’s still lying in the grass, and tips Jax a weary two-fingered salute from his temple.
Jax focuses on me but he doesn’t touch me. “Are you okay? You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
“I am not injured,” I say, “but don’t ask me if I’m okay because right now my brain is scrambled. Are you sure you guys aren’t just fucking with me? If so, let’s call it right now, because it’s not funny.”
I mean, in my gut I know they aren’t, but I…
Well, denial ain’t just a river in Egypt, as they say.
Todd cups my cheek and kisses me again. “We’re not kidding, baby.”
“This isn’t something we would joke about with you,” Jax says. “And I need to call Pops about this.” Jax stands, walking over to Shawn and helping him to his feet. “Like I need to call him right now.”
Davis finally steps all the way out from behind the tree, the rifle strap now slung over his shoulder. He tosses Jax a set of keys and then points. “About fifty yards down the trail that way. Can’t miss it.”
“Thanks.” Jax takes off at a lope.
Then Davis gets on his radio. “This is Davis. It’s over and everything’s safe.
Jax is back. Everyone, stand down. Repeat, everyone, stand down.
Make sure all safeties are on and guns are unloaded and put in cases.
Jax is on his way to get his truck. Walk the course, retrieve all marking tape, and return to base so we can check in the tranq guns and radios and have a debriefing. ”
Davis tsks, then looks over at us. “Guess the two teams of guys who volunteered for mating heat fun will be sorely disappointed.”
“Tell them I said sorry,” Shawn says. “I was looking forward to it, too.” He walks over and smiles down at us. “Well, at least you won’t be going through it alone. Either of you.”
Todd kisses me again. Sweet warmth breaks through my shock, flowing through me, making me cling to him and never wanting to let him go.
Never wanting him to let me go, either.
We’re still sitting there a few minutes later when I hear the rumble of an approaching vehicle. Davis already picked up the cones marking the outer boundaries of the clearing, and he unloaded and returned the tranq gun to a hard-shell rifle case he had with him.
Jax parks the truck and climbs out while Todd stands and helps me to my feet.
From the way he nearly just scooped me up in his arms instead of letting me stand, I get the distinct impression he wants to start carrying me everywhere.
“Before we jump to conclusions, can we get a doctor’s confirmation?” I ask, even though in my heart I already know the truth. “Maybe the concoction just wore off faster than you thought.”
“I doubt that,” Shawn says. “I checked you once I started seeing the signs, and you were absolutely slick and loose. I probably could’ve fisted you with very little effort.
You were definitely deep in a mating heat, so I’m positive you caught.
Takes about forty-eight hours before a blood test will show it in canines.
From what I know, the only thing that’ll short-circuit a mating heat in a canine omega—male or female, and especially an intense first heat—is catching, or death.
” He smiles. “And you don’t look dead to me. ”
He walks over to the truck and opens the tailgate so we can retrieve our clothes. Another truck rumbles up and Davis walks over to talk to the driver and passenger.
Todd, Shawn, and I ride in the truck bed while Jax drives us to the house. Jax and Shawn have to talk to the safety team and will shower down at the fun room.
When Todd and I step onto the back porch he scoops me into his arms and kisses me. Goddess help me, despite how exhausted and sore I am—and how grossly sweaty and sticky I feel—I wrap my arms around his neck and would do anything he wanted right now.
He doesn’t put me down. He carries me through the house to his bathroom, where he kisses me again before gently setting me on my feet and undressing me, not letting me do a thing.
You know, maybe I could get used to being a spoiled-rotten mate.
In the shower, he kisses me even as he tenderly washes me, finally letting me scrub his back. We don’t need to speak out loud and really don’t speak much silently, either, because every touch, every glance, every brush of our lips against each other’s flesh is all we need to say.
Then he wraps me in his arms under the water, his chin rubbing the top of my head, and I had no idea how sexy that gesture was until now, and…
Basking is the best word for it. Soaking up each other’s energy.
The peace, despite the shock that is still there—for me, at least—but there’s also an awe I can’t explain.
I don’t want to think about anything beyond this moment right here, because it’s perfect, and I know perfection is fleeting.
When I tell Todd I need to walk over to the apartment to retrieve clean clothes, I think he’s about to throw a tantrum because he doesn’t want me walking anywhere.
Then I spot the moment his brain finally drops back into his skull.
After kissing me, he grabs his robe, which is huge on me but I don’t mind, especially since it smells like him, and puts it on me, even tying the belt for me.
“Don’t be long, baby.”
“You want to roll me up in bubble wrap and keep me in bed, don’t you?”
He finally smiles, but there’s an adorably bashful air about it. “This is all new to me, too.” He nuzzles my nose and gently pats me on the butt. “Hurry back. Comfy clothes—we’re not going back to work today.”
When Jax and Shawn walk into the kitchen through the back door forty-five minutes later, they’re showered and changed into clean clothes. Todd has asked me at least thirty times if he can make me something to eat, if I’m thirsty, if I need anything—
Uh, yeeeeah.
But I’ve swung all the way across the emotional pendulum again to being completely in shock. Thank the Goddess they showed up because my nerves are frayed and I don’t want to snap at Todd.
“Doctor Williams is on her way over,” Jax says. “I figured it’d be easier on her to come see all of us at once. She should be here in less than an hour.”
“What’d Mike say when you talked to him?” Todd asks Jax.
He snorts. “Well, a few colorfully choice swear words that he and Dad can’t abandon everyone and head to Florida immediately, so I think they’re happy. And he said to tell you both congratulations, and that he can’t wait to meet you, Mal.”
I slowly nod, because in addition to the emotional shock I’m bone-weary exhausted now in a way I’ve never felt before. I’m certain most of that’s due to what I just went through, but part of me can’t help wondering if it’s also because of…
Yeeeaaah.
There’s another part of my brain insisting this is a mistake, that there’s no way I caught on my first heat, and that there’s another logical, perfectly rational explanation for this, which the doctor will tell us when she arrives.
I’m certain that will disappoint Todd, but there’s no way I’m…
Well, I just can’t be.
Can I?
While Todd and Jax talk, Shawn slides into the chair next to me and offers me a semi-fist bump. More like an exhausted shadow of one. He looks as exhausted as I feel. “You okay?”
I try to say yes and nod but I find myself slowly shaking my head.
He pats me on the hand but doesn’t say anything else.
Then Todd looks over at me and, mid-sentence of Jax saying something, says to me, “Baby, can I get you something to drink? Something to eat? Any—”
“Todd I love you please stop talking,” I snap almost as one long word, regretting my tone, but I’m literally not in control of it.
Shawn busts out laughing and looks at Jax. “Is that what I sound like at the end of a heat?”
Jax smiles. “Damn, it’s like you’re twins.” He turns to Todd. “Yeah, that’s right, you’ve only ever played with fun-heat Shawn, not dealt with bitchy post-heat Shawn.”