part0006

D ani glanced at the clock and frowned. Jonathan was late. Fifteen minutes late. “I’m going over there.”

Sasha flipped through a magazine and spoke without looking up. “Give him a few more minutes. While we wait, tell me how you are feeling.”

Was she serious? “I’m fine. I’m not the one who saved his best friend’s life and almost died in the process. On top of that, he discovers he’s a shifter. He used to hunt us down. I really think he needs to talk with Nevan.”

And Dani was rambling. Glancing to Sasha, Dani released a sigh. The wolf Healer put the magazine down and met her gaze. “Jon is a strong male. He will heal.” She stood and advanced to Dani.

Suspicion rolled through Dani. “What are you doing?”

Sasha smirked. “Jon isn’t the only one who needs a checkup.”

“I don’t either. I’m fine.” Dani waved the other Healer off and side stepped her.

Sasha crossed her arms and pursed her lips. “How long are you going to ignore your pregnancy? Until you can no longer hide it?”

Dani whirled around and glared at Sasha, who was smiling. “I’m not ignoring it. It’s just early. A lot could happen.”

“Have you told Nevan?”

“No.” Dani dropped her shoulders and hopped up on the counter. “He’s been having bad dreams and seems a little distant.”

Sasha moved closer and placed her hand on Dani’s stomach. “Nevan is an empath and is bonded to you. He could be sensing your anxiety about being a mom.”

“I don’t have anxiety.” Dani pouted and moved her feet in circles. “I just put the idea of having kids out of my mind since the accident. The news that I will be mom takes some getting used to.”

A frown formed on Sasha’s face then she drew her brows together. “That’s interesting.”

Panic tightened Dani’s chest. “What?”

“I need to do a sonogram. There might be six in there.”

“No. Way!” Dani caught the spark of mischief and a smile on the Healer before Sasha could hide it. “Shut up. You’re a dork.”

Sasha laughed. “I should have taken a picture of your face. No, I only sense one lifeform in there.”

It was Dani’s turn to laugh. “It’s a baby not an alien.”

“Are you sure?” Sasha waggled her brows.

“Yes. I know the father pretty intimately.”

“In all seriousness. Your leopard wants to keep him or her. She’s curled around the baby.” Sasha clapped her hands together. “Congrats, Mama.”

“Thanks.” Relief flooded her and she felt a weight lifted off her. Happiness bloomed within her and a whole new type of anxiety grew. She didn’t know a thing about how to be mom. Her parents died when she was very young. She’d never had a mother figure in her life. At least Dani had two best friends and Nevan’s mom, Sarah, to turn to and compare notes with and ask newbie mom questions. “I think I’ll text Christa and have her go visit with Jon.”

“Good plan.” Sasha picked up her phone. “First I’m going to call him to check in.”

Warmth crept in Dani’s heart. Sasha worried about Jon more than Dani did, even though the other Healer just told her not to worry. Dani hid her amusement. It made her wonder if Sasha was attracted to the male. Or scented him as her mate.

“Hi, Jon. It’s Sasha…Yes, I’m checking up on you. Dani and I were concerned when you didn’t show for your appointment.” Sasha paused and met Dani’s gaze as she listened. “That’s great. You should talk with Nevan too. He’s human…I know, and I didn’t mean…Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Sasha sighed as she shoved her phone back into her pocket. “He just got back from a run with Hayden and Alec. The males talked him into joining the Enforcer training camp. Jon sounded excited about it.”

“That’s great.” Dani hopped off the counter and moved to the door.

Sasha followed and flipped the lights off as they exited the medical center. “I know. It’s great Hayden and Alec are bringing him into the fold.”

Dani agreed. That was one less worry off her mind. One more to go. When and how to tell Nevan he was going to be a father.

Cam stood in the middle of the community center and took in all the pink. She’d never been a girlie-girl and pink wasn’t one of her favorite colors. However, Shay—her best friend and sister-in-law—insisted the triplets needed pink in their lives.

Blaine came up behind her and slid his arms around her, his hands flattened on her very large and slight oval belly. “That’s a lot of pink.”

Cam nodded. “Yep. When they turn five, I’m starting them in the junior enforcer training.”

Blaine bit down on her shoulder, sending zap of hot, liquid desire through her. “No, you’re not.”

She leaned into him so his front pressed against her back and cupped his head. His Alpha power flowed in the mating link, wild and raw. She loved it. Loved him.

“You two look hot .”

Cam’s heart danced as Graham’s words entered her mind. She met Graham’s heated gaze as he crossed the room. When he reached them, she grabbed his black T-shirt and pulled him in for a kiss. “Where were you?”

“Talking with Nevan. He’s a bundle of anxiety. The idea of possibly being a father and not knowing for sure is fucking with him big time.” Graham placed his hand over Blaine’s, which were still on her belly.

Cam frowned. “I’ll talk with Dani when she gets here. We might go to the house for a private girl talk.”

Just then Cam sensed that her brother’s mate, Sable, entered the center. With a smile, Cam waved the female over. Blaine let out a soft growl and Cam slapped at his thigh because it was all she could reach at the moment. “Hush. She has proven herself as a loyal packmate.”

“I wasn’t growling at her. Well, not directly. She’s tense like she’s upset.”

Cam scented the air. Pregnancy screwed with her senses. It was one reason her mates didn’t want her working her enforcer duties while pregnant. She was too vulnerable. Sable wasn’t just upset, she was pissed. “Looks like Sable, Shay, and I are going to the house for that girl talk. I’ll text Dani on the way.”

Cam stepped out of Blaine’s embrace and kissed each of her mates before crossing the room to Sable.

The tension faded when Sable stopped in front of Cam. “Hi.”

“What’s up?” Cam wasn’t the type to beat around the bush about anything. Neither was Sable. So the female wasn’t going to brush off whatever upset her.

There was still some tension among the Pack members with Sable there. Some dickheads couldn’t accept she killed her own parents to save them all. No, that wasn’t good enough for some.

Cam pressed her lips together to hold in a laugh. She knew all too well what her alpha-male, growly brother was like.

Sable glared at her. “It’s not funny.” A small smile formed on her face. “He wouldn’t let me train with the Enforcers even though Dani cleared me to do so for a few more months. Nigel’s no better. Father and son are tag teaming against me.”

A laugh burst from Cam. “I’m not sorry. I was ordered den mother duties as soon as my mates found out. Believe me, I feel your pain.”

Even though Sable was the daughter of their enemy, she and Cam had quickly discovered they shared so much in common. They were both dominant females who protected their family and Pack.

They’d become fast friends in the past month.

A tiny squeal echoed through the center. Cam turned to see Max—her three-year-old stepson—running toward them. Holding her arms out, she expected him to leap at her like he usually did because he knew she couldn’t pick him up. Instead he went past her and hugged Sable’s legs.

Cam let out a dramatic sigh. “Ah. That’s not right.”

Sable picked him up and blew raspberries on his cheek, drawing a giggle from him. “He knows who his favorite aunt is.”

“I was going to tell Shay to take a break and go back to the house. Come with us. I’ll text Dani to meet us there for some girl time.” Cam walked her fingers up Max’s back. He let out another laugh and wiggled in Sable’s arms.