CHAPTER 20
“I love you just the way you are.”
Henry
So, it turns out Everett's roommate Jack may have experienced some kind of mental breakdown. The police weren’t able to tell us much, but explained that the fox shifter had a less than ideal childhood and somehow believed that the only way he would find his fated mate was if a mage or warlock used their powers to unlock magic within him.
None of it made a lick of sense. Which softened me to him.
I know Everett felt bad for him and was happy they decided to place him into a treatment facility rather than into jail.
There would not be a trial or prison sentence in his future, providing he stays at the facility and participates fully in his treatment.
Chris was not as forgiving as my Everett, he was out for blood.
Thankfully, with his newly formed mate bond with my best friend, he is being kept on his toes and distracted from the whole thing.
My bear naturally sides with Chris wanting to have some time alone with the fox to leave a few permanent reminders not to come near our mate again, but I can see how the whole thing was affecting Everett.
He felt bad for whatever happened in Jack's past and he didn’t want him to suffer more than he already had.
It’s that kindness and empathy in him that shows me what an amazing papa he's going to be to our baby, or babies if we’re lucky.
Once Everett's pregnancy was confirmed by blood test and his concerns over the lack of symptoms he had have been eased by the doctor. He feels much more confident in sharing the news with our respective families. In typical Everett style, we can’t just make a video call, of course.
He wants to invite my parents and his, along with a laundry list of his siblings and niblings for a party at Howlers.
And since I am an absolute goner for my omega, I oblige without question.
Before we can start to arrange all of that though, we have to get my omega moved out of his dorm room and into my cabin.
While the danger was gone, my bear was not willing to let Everett stay away from us again.
Not for such a trivial reason as transport.
I’m more than happy to chauffeur my mate around until he finds a car he likes or gives in and allows me to buy one for him.
Besides, I could tell the minute we walked back into his room and I felt him stiffen he wasn’t comfortable here.
Jack may not have physically hurt him, but mentally what he went though was akin to torture for a mated Omega, not to mention that feeling of being trapped within himself would break the strongest of men.
It makes me so fucking proud to call him my mate seeing how well he has handled the whole thing.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me bringing all of this stuff with me?
” Everett asks for the third time since we started to pack up his things.
He doesn’t even have that much. It’s mainly clothes and books.
It’s not like he's bringing a truckload of furniture, but even if he was, I would find the room for it.
“Of course, it’s okay sweetheart, for all of this and more.
Besides, I have a feeling I’m going to need to add an extension to the side of the cabin for all of these babies you want,” I whisper as I grab him around the waist, pulling him back against my chest so I can kiss along his neck and nuzzle at the mark I left on his skin.
With my fingers spread across his stomach, a pleased rumble comes from my chest, thinking that he's carrying our cub or kits in there.
It won’t be long until his belly is round, and I can’t wait to see it. Whatever he’s carrying, I don’t give a fuck. I’m going to love them, and my omega, with everything I am.
“How come I’m the only person doing any of the heavy lifting?
” Austin asks as he returns from a trip to my truck to grab another suitcase full of Everett's clothes. His tone is exasperated in mock anger, but the way he smiles at my mate and me speaks louder than any of his complaints. He’s happy for us.
Not like he was before, when he was surface-level happy that his best friend found his fated mate.
Now that Christopher’s in his life and he's experienced the overwhelming love that comes with having your mate, it makes for a deeper understanding and joy for his friend.
Everett's answering giggle makes me smirk against his skin, dropping one last kiss there before reluctantly stepping back to help with the last of the boxes. After all, the sooner we pack up my truck, the sooner we can leave this room and the bad memories behind.
“Oh, you have some very active little ones in here, did you want to know the genders?” Dr Norn asks with a bright smile.
Everett is four and a half weeks pregnant, but what I didn’t realise was squirrels' gestational period is only six weeks, shorter in some cases, so instead of the ultrasound showing an egg and not much more, there are three, yes three, tiny squirrel babies bouncing around Everett's womb.
“Yes please Doctor, but can you just write it down so it can be a surprise? My bestie is going to throw us a gender reveal party.” Everett tells her, practically bouncing on the hospital bed with excitement.
“Of course, that's a wonderful idea. Let me just turn this screen around so you don't get any sneaky peeks as I check.”
Carrying multiples means Everett's pregnancy is classed as high-risk and his care will be overseen by Dr. Ava Norn, an OBGYN specializing in high risk pregnancies and the Goddess of childbirth herself. She is a strikingly beautiful woman with raven black hair and bright blue eyes.
“Okay, we are all done here. Everything looks great Everett, baby A, B, and C are all doing well and right on track for your due date. As always, I’d like to ask that you take things easy.
Growing babies is tiring for all omegas and with your species accelerated pregnancy it can zap your energy after the smallest of tasks.
” The doctor explains as she cleans the blue tinted gel off Everett's belly before handing him a sealed envelope and a strip of black and white ultrasound images.
From the back his body hasn’t changed a bit, and from the front he kind of looks like he has a basketball shoved up the front of his shirt.
It's absolutely adorable. I can’t keep my hands off him.
Everyday it seems to grow bigger much to Ev’s dismay.
I’ve taken to thoroughly kissing his pouty mouth every time he comments his clothes don’t fit, or he feels like a whale.
He is the most beautiful creature to walk this earth.
“Thanks doc, I’ll make sure that he takes it easy, don’t you worry.” I assure her, helping Everett to his feet as he seems transfixed by the ultrasound pictures she gave him.
“I trust you will, Mr. Black. Call my office if you or Everett have any concerns, otherwise I will see you at the same time next week for your check up. I hope you have a fantastic gender reveal, I want to see pictures on your next visit.” She smiles, waving us off.
I have to walk with my hand positioned on Everett's back, guiding him back to the truck. He hasn’t taken his eyes off those pictures and is gripping the envelope like he's scared it's going to fly away.
Once I have him settled in the passenger seat I lean in through the open door and drop a kiss on his cheek.
“Think I could take a look, sweetheart?” I ask softly not wanting to disturb whatever moment he is having seeing an image of our babies for the first time.
My words take a few seconds longer to filter into his brain, but eventually he turns to face me.
I can see tears welling in his eyes, happy tears, I’m sure.
“Look at our babies Henry, we made them, three perfect little kits,” he says, the awe obvious in his tone as he turns the sonogram images to face me.
“I see them, sweetheart, and I can’t wait to meet them, which means you are going to be a good Omega and relax for a few more weeks until they are here,” I tell him, dropping another kiss to his lips.
I already knew he wouldn’t fight me too hard on it.
He had already told his boss at the cafe that he was moving out of town and would be handing in his notice.
It wasn’t easy for Everett. I could tell how much he loved working there, but with three little ones on the way, continuing to work a job that requires such an early start just isn't a viable option.
He nods, returning my kiss and going back to studying the pictures. “Think we could get these blown up on big poster boards to surprise our parents this weekend?” He suggests, drawing a loud laugh from me. That's actually a pretty smart idea.
“Yeah, we can totally do that. I’m pretty sure there is a print shop around here somewhere.”
“Awesome, I’m going to text Chris and let him know that we have the genders and that we want to have the poster boards displayed.
” Thank fuck for Chris. He has taken it upon himself to decorate for our mating celebration, that is really a gender reveal/baby shower in disguise.
Neither Everett nor I have any idea what exactly he has planned for the party, just that we are to attend in dressy casual attire and pain of death if we are late.
Our families are going to meet our mates and find out we are expecting triplets all at the same time.
I’m not sure how the grandparents are going to take the news.
I mean, they will all be happy for us, but there’s a chance they will be mad we chose to tell them like this and not as soon as we found out.
Meh, it doesn’t really matter. They will get over it.
A loud rumble fills the cab of the truck, and for once it didn’t come from me. I turned to face my omega to make sure that sound wasn’t the babies trying to make an early exit.
“Ugh, why am I always so hungry? Did you hear that?” Everett asks, making me bark a laugh.
“I think Dr. Norn heard that in her office, sweetheart. How about we go get you some food, and while I’m driving you can look up the print shop.” I offer, not wanting to make him wait any longer than he has to, to eat.
“Okay, yes. Thank you, baby. Can we get sandwiches? And maybe ice cream?” He asks.
Gone is the shy squirrel from our first date who was so worried about every move he made, overthinking every word he said.
Now my perfect omega has the confidence to just tell me what he wants, and he knows I will do everything in my power to make it happen, but more than that.
He knows I will never judge him. Even if he does like to dip his sandwiches into his ice cream.
“Absolutely, sandwiches and ice cream coming right up.” I grin, dropping one last kiss to his cheek before pulling out of the parking lot at the medical center, heading for town.
The way Everett wiggles with happiness in his seat, curls bouncing in his face, fills my heart to bursting. I am one lucky alpha.