Chapter 22 #3
“Well, let’s think about how things work in wild prides.
Not all of them have the Alpha/Omega gene.
So, let’s talk about those prides first. Usually, it’s the lionesses who hunt and protect the cubs.
They’ll beat the living daylights out of males a lot of the time.
They don’t back down. In prides that do have the Alpha/Omega gene you see omega lions regardless of sex and gender reacting that same way.
I’m not saying it’s hormonal. I’ve never gone out and taken blood samples from wild lions, but I think in lion shifters it translates to roughly the same thing. ”
“Are you saying I’m turning into a pregnant guy Evie?” I laughed.
“Actually, that’s not a bad way to look at it.
She’s very much a lioness,” he nodded. “I think right now, it’s increased in intensity because you’re pregnant.
Philip sent over the scan last night after he left your place.
I believe that you were already stressed and on edge and now that you’re pregnant it means your baby depends on your survival.
Eating them would take care of the problem.
It’s not just lions either. The last time I was pregnant there was a supply chain problem with the pheromone blocker spray the clinic uses because someone ran a truck off the road.
I wanted to fly to the jail where he was being held and eat him.
Just gobble him up whole and get on with my day.
And speaking more as a carrier and a family friend, if you encounter one of those individuals trying to harm you or someone else, I’d rather you eat them than try to talk sense into them and get hurt.
Sure, I could probably put you back together if you survive, but I’d rather treat you for gastrointestinal distress than near-mortal injuries. ”
“Don’t worry. If one of them got that close to me, they’re at the very least losing a limb or a head,” I nodded. “This one is probably more in the realm of something I need to ask Kenny or maybe even Eran.”
“A therapist?” he grinned.
“Yeah,” I smiled sheepishly.
“Eh, I’m not a therapist, but I’ve been around the block enough time to know some stuff.”
“I love Beryl and I know he means well but it’s starting to feel like he expects me to hide at home.”
“Is this about how you went out in the middle of the night last night?” he asked. “Before you think I’m spying on you, I was just leaving Glitter Bomb when you drove by and your Wing Mini isn’t hard to spot.”
“Yeah. I wanted to go check on the playroom but went to the grocery store instead,” I shrugged.
“I ate a whole cake last night. I was starving. I woke up starving too. As soon as I had my coffee, I was ready to eat again. I can’t eat bacon or even let it be cooked in the house because the smell makes a traitor out of my stomach. ”
“I’d be more worried if you weren’t having bouts of increased appetite,” he grinned.
“Eat what you can and what you want. As for Beryl, just keep setting the boundaries. I think he probably gets more than you think. I’ve had first time sires bang on the exam room doors and demand to be let in.
I don’t. In fact, I take twice as long just to teach them how to respect their mate’s wishes, but I don’t think Beryl is like that. ”
“He’s not. He… I mean, I miss him right now,” I said. “If someone didn’t have to stay home with Jondi, I probably would’ve woken him up to come with me.”
The doctor smiled at me. I blinked, bemused at what was so good about what I said.
“You trust him with Jondi,” he nodded. “That’s a good thing.
I think maybe you were just enjoying the freedom of being able to make a trip in middle of the night when you want to.
That’s not a bad thing. Needing to decompress is normal.
Especially when you arrive back home to find out all your problems are still here and now you have Beryl and a pregnancy to factor in.
You went out hunting. Maybe it was the modern style of hunting, but it is a good way to clear your head. ”
I left about half an hour later with a clean bill of health for both the jellybean and me.
We left the clinic and went to Sandy’s to grab some subs because I was once again ravenous.
In a little corner booth, grateful for the solitude of the early morning hours, I told Beryl about my urges to eat people.
He listened and nodded along. Then I told him the doctor’s theories on everything else.
“But what do you think? That’s what he thinks.”
“Well, he is a doctor,” I shrugged. “And honestly, it makes sense that my lion would rather eat people now than have to deal with them when the baby comes. Plus, I hadn’t thought about it, but I haven’t been able to go anywhere alone unplanned in a long time.
I love Jondi. I’d die for that kid but a middle of the night grocery store run and eating a cake on my own was nice.
Sure, it’s not something I’d want to do every night, but it was a nice change of pace. ”
“Can you let me know next time you want to go grocery store prowling in the middle of the night?” he asked.
“I should’ve told you,” I nodded. “I’m sorry.”
He rubbed his foot over my ankle under the table and grinned at me. Yeah, we were so going home to romp.