Was it a sign of personal growth that she was genuinely touched everyone had gathered here for her baby shower?
The best thing of all, there was food. Lots andlotsof food, and a huge cake. Plenty to go around and leave Dewi lots of leftovers.
And Nami, who apparently was the lead co-conspirator with Gillian and Asia, didn’t even force Dewi to play any silly baby shower games.
But as Dewi sat there in the living room and unwrapped presents with Ken looking on and wrangling the wrapping paper…
Yeah. Shit was…gettingreal.
They were having a frickingbaby.
She also didn’t miss how, if she got up, someone not pregnant was usually jumping in to ask what she needed, offering to get it for her.
All of them treating her like she’d suddenly become weak.
“Guys,” she finally said as they were working on the cake. “You realize I’m not dying, right? I’m just pregnant.”
Peyton laughed. “Can you humor your big brothers, please? Not as pack Alpha, but as Peyton and Trent? We know you’re not fragile. This is for us as much as for you.”
“Yer mother woulda been over the moon,” Badger added, his tone shaded with sadness. “Chelsea woulda been beaming wi’ pride. Yer father, too.”
“I know I am,” Duncan added.
His pained tone knifed through her soul, his grief still sharp and keen.
She set her cake aside and stood so she could go hug him where he sat. “I love you, Da. Thanks for coming home.”
He nodded toward Ken. “Thank him. He talked me into it.”
“He sure did,” Nami piped up, smiling. “You shoulda heard him, Dewi. You’d have been proud of that boy.”
She surveyed the assembled crowd. “Thank you, everyone, for coming today. I really appreciate it.Weappreciate it.” She walked over to Ken and hugged him. “You did good,” she said. “I never caught on.”
“Well, until it was too late.” He grinned.
She nuzzled noses with him. “For once, this is a surprise I really don’t mind at all.”
Chapter Twelve
Ken gently closed the bedroom door when he realized Dewi looked like she was sound asleep. He headed toward the bathroom, pulling off his shirt.
“I’m not asleep,” she mumbled.
He immediately changed direction and headed for the bed, leaning in to kiss her. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”
“Pregnant,” she groused. “I’m feelingpregnant.”
Smiling, he sat on the edge of the bed. “Ready to neuter me yet?”
She pouted. “No. That’d only punishme, too.” She brushed her fingers down his treasure trail, stopping at the waistband of his jeans. “I just…” She met his gaze. “I hate being treated like I’mfragile,” she said. “I’mnotfragile.”
“We’re not treating you like you’re fragile. We’repamperingyou. You’veearnedit.”
“I don’twantto be pampered. I want towork!”
With the back of his fingers, he caressed her jaw. “You’re going to be a mom,” he said. “I’m going to be a dad. I’mterrified. As Trent, Asia, and Nami all keep reminding me, it’s okay to feel terrified. You have to admit you didn’t have a normal childhood, even for a shifter. If everyone didn’t love you, they wouldn’t be so focused on you now.”
“I feel like I’m an animal in a damn zoo.” Her hand fell still on his thigh. “Youhave the next baby.”
