Chapter Thirteen
Rain
I trembled with excitement? Fear? I couldn’t even place my finger on the exact emotions. I wasn’t afraid of Lux. He would never do anything to hurt me.
But what I’d just seen was certifiably insane.
Lux, a human by all standards, had turned into a fox right in front of my eyes.
Not an ordinary fox, either, but the one from my dream.
The one who let me rub his belly and who crawled into my lap.
It was so real. I could still feel his soft fur underneath my fingers.
And that fox? He had bitten my ankle. I looked down to see a trickle of blood seep from the wound. It only hurt for a fraction of a moment, and then my entire body flushed with passion and love. From a bite. From a fox.
Lux stood in front of me and when our eyes met, he shrugged one shoulder. Oh, now he was bashful.
“I…you…you turned into a fox.”
He nodded.
“You bit me.”
Another nod.
“But it didn’t hurt like an animal bit me and…” I reached out for something to hold onto, but Lux rushed in and offered himself, wrapping his arm around my waist.
“Why don’t you sit down?” my love, my man asked. I needed some explanations fast. Lux walked with me to the bed where we’d made love and helped me sit down.
“Explain.”
Lux nodded. His steadiness calmed me and so did his touch. It was like water on a fire. I had instant reactions to him. “I’m going to explain everything. I promise. But I think the first thing I should explain is the fact that you are pregnant, Rain.”
My hand flew to my stomach, and I cradled it there. “How can you know? We only—”
“It only takes once, Rain.”
“But I haven’t taken a test. I’m not throwing up or tired or whatever omegas feel when they are pregnant. How did you know?”
I had about six billion other questions, but he was right. I needed this part resolved before we moved on to the other ones.
“Well, that leads to some other things. I’m a fox shifter, as you just saw.
My sense of smell, every shifter’s sense of smell, is twice as sensitive as a human’s.
I can scent the change in hormones. You smell sweeter to me now.
I smelled it as soon as you opened the door. You are pregnant with our kit, Rain.”
I turned to him so fast, I was surprised my neck didn’t snap. “Kit?”
“A baby fox. Yes.”
“And you’re a fox shifter.”
Lux gave me a soft smile. He was calm and none of this seemed to upset him in the least. He held me close and while some things he was saying were jarring, I let him. I needed his closeness. “I am. I was born that way. All shifters are. My parents are fox shifters.”
“My boyfriend is a fox shifter. Wait, are you my… I don’t know what to call you. Boyfriend doesn’t cut it.”
He ran his knuckles over my jawline. “Another explanation. We shifters believe in fated mates. Soul mates, I think humans call it. You were made for me and I was made for you. I have been waiting for you most of my life, Rain. That’s why I bit you. To complete the claim and mark you as my mate.”
“Mate.” Okay, I had read some shifter books. I had some knowledge of this stuff. Not a ton. “Like a husband for shifters.”
Lux shrugged and kissed my temple. I noticed when he did that, he inhaled deeply.
“Kind of. But mate is a lot more. Human marriages fall apart. They divorce and find someone new. They cheat on each other and betray one another. Mates don’t do that.
You’re the one for me. Period. There is no one else.
I will love you for the rest of my life. ”
“You would never cheat,” I repeated.
“Never ever. Why would I when I have the best man on the planet as my mate?”
I sat with the things he’d told me. He didn’t say anything else. The puzzle pieces clicked together. The instant attraction. The way I slept with him before even dating. The way I longed for his presence after only one night. All of it.
I bit him. “Is that why I was compelled to bite you?” I asked.
“Yes. The mate pull doesn’t care if you’re human or shifter. I knew from the first moment I saw you in that diner that you were my mate. That was why I stuttered and made a fool of myself.” He shook his head, laughing. “What an idiot.”
“I thought you were just nervous. No wonder you weren’t freaked out when I bit you.”
Lux sobered. My mate sobered. This was a lot to take in. “I was honored that you chose to bite me that night. Truly.”
“And what happens if I choose not to be your mate?”
That question ended him. I saw it in the way his facial features fell.
The way his eyes turned downcast. “If you chose not to be mated to me, nothing changes for me, Rain. You will always be the love and mate of my life, and I will honor what we had by taking care of you and the baby anytime you need me.”
I hated what I was about to say, but my human brain needed time to process. “Lux?” I said. Those deep-brown eyes broke my heart. “This is all important and I’m glad you told me the truth but I’m gonna need some time to process all of this.”
“How much time?” The desperation in his tone killed me.
“I don’t know. But this is a lot. I’m pregnant, and you’re my mate, and I’m marked and you turn into a fox and…” I held my fingers up to my temple.
“I understand, sweet omega. I’ll leave if that’s what you wish.” He stood, and I could tell every moment sucked for him. It was how I felt that first night together when he had to go. “Can you do me a favor and take care of yourself? Get enough food and sleep? You’ve got my family in your care.”
That nearly made me burst into tears. “I will. I promise.”
He made his way to the door, slow as I’d ever seen him move. I felt awful for doing this to him, but my head was about to explode. Slowly.
“Hey,” I said before he shut the door. “I still don’t have your number. What if I need a delivery or something?”
He chuckled and took the phone I offered and plugged in his information. “You can text me anytime, mate. Day or night. For a delivery or for no reason whatsoever. I swear I will answer. Take the time you need, okay?”
I nodded and went to shut the door but as Lux walked away, I swore I saw him swipe at his eyes more than once. I hoped after all my thinking and sorting things out that he would accept me again. I didn’t know much about mates and what that entailed, but I was pretty sure I’d broken my fox’s heart.