And Talon—well, he was managing as best he could. Despite his outward calm, I knew he was hurting after the fallout with his family, but he masked it well. Recently, he’d skillfully dodged my attempts to discuss how he was feeling by proposing a shift and run for us in our animal forms. My rabbit side was instantly distracted, and we swiftly shifted our conversation to planning the when and where.Damn sneaky cat, I thought.
“Lucas?” Brian’s voice, soft yet insistent, pulled me from my reverie.
“It’s going well. It’s been a little rough with Talon’s family… They’re just so…” I struggled to find the right words, the right tone, to convey the complexity of it all. His father was beyond unreasonable. Rejecting his son based on unfounded accusations, then expecting reconciliation without acknowledging the pain caused.
Brian nodded his head knowingly. “Talon’s family is something else. I recently met his dad and sister at a pride function. They really didn’t care for me, but Edward shot that shit down with a quickness. How’s Dominic doing? Any issues with the demon’s past?”
“No problems, just perks,” I chuckled. “Dominic can take us anywhere in a flash. Italy, England, and just last night, France. I never imagined traveling like this, not just for a night out.”
“Damn, that sounds amazing. Edward and I have traveled, but flying is no match for instant teleportation. You’re going to have to share your demon with the rest of us,” Brian said with a chuckle.
I laughed along. “Maybe one day. But right now, we’re just enjoying discovering all this together.”
Brian mock pouted and took a sip of his coffee. “So, the big issue is Talon’s family? No sign of the crazy demon?”
“All quiet on that front, thankfully. Juls was…” I shuddered at the memory. “Let’s just say I’m glad he hasn’t come back.”
“You know we’re here if you need anything, right?” Brian’s sincerity was comforting.
“I know, and I appreciate it. It means a lot, really,” I replied, feeling grateful for the support system we had here at the Pride house.
The clatter of a mug being set down on the counter interrupted our conversation, and a new presence filled the room. “That coffee smells amazing,” a voice exclaimed with a laugh. “Too bad I already had my cup. Hayden will freak if I have another.”
I turned to see Brian’s best friend, Owen, sauntering into the kitchen. His fire engine red hair, cut short and styled into wild curls reminiscent of the comedian Carrot Top, was the first thing that caught my attention. Owen’s facial features were sharply defined, framed by smooth, porcelain skin dotted with freckles that gave him an almost ethereal appearance. His emerald eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned at us, revealing his diamond stud earrings that glinted under the kitchen lights.
Despite his lively entrance, there was a paleness to him that wasn’t there before, a slight gauntness that suggested he wasn’t at his best. Owen was well-known within the Pride; not only was he Brian’s best friend, but he was also mated to Hayden, the prince of the Pride and Edward’s son, which placed him prominently within our community.
“Owen, you still look like hell. You still not feeling any better?” Brian asked.
I knew Owen was ill weeks back, but I’d think he would have recovered by now.
“Are you okay?” I asked, voicing my concern. “I knew you were sick, but that had to be a month and a half ago. Is it that serious?”
“Oh, it’s serious,” Owen said with a sigh. “But I’m fine. It’s just rough getting used to.”
I glanced at Brian, who bit his lip and shifted nervously. I tensed in my chair. Brian only bit his lip when there was bad or hard news he had to deliver.
I looked back at Owen. “What’s rough getting used to?” I asked cautiously.
“It’s part of the reason I asked you to have coffee with me,” Brian said. “It wasn’t just to ask how you’re doing being mated. You see….” He paused and appeared to collect himself. “Well, um….”
“There’s no easy way to say it, Bri. You need to do it as your nana did—rip the band-aid off,” Owen interrupted before focusing on me. “Mated couples, no matter their gender, can get pregnant. I’m pregnant.”
I blinked several times and opened my mouth to reply, but I was making a great impression of a fish. “Say what?” I managed.
“Is that the same look I had when your Nana told me?” Owen chuckled, looking at Brian.
“Pretty much. It shocks everyone,” Brian grinned.
“What do you mean? You’re pregnant?” I blurted out, bypassing their banter.
“I mean just that. It turns out that not knowing enough about fated mates can really bite you in the ass,” Owen replied, his voice laced with a mix of irony and resignation. “I’m pregnant. Confirmed by eight pregnancy tests because Hayden really needed to be sure,” he added, rolling his eyes.
“Nana explained fated mates can get pregnant, and if you’re human, you can also take on your shifter partner’s traits, like longer life, strength, and hearing.”
My mind spun. This had to be a joke. Owen claimed he was pregnant, and now humans could gain shifter traits. I glanced at his abdomen and then back up. “Why the hell didn’t anyone tell us? What the—Do you know how much sex I’ve been having?” My rant halted abruptly, realization dawning. “Fucking hell. I have two mates, and one of those mates is a demon. I can have fucking demon! A demon baby!”
I stood up, pacing the kitchen. “I could be a dad,” I muttered, followed by a string of expletives.
