“Here, see? Here’s the baby,” said Mac, pointing to a spot on the screen.
“Is there only one?” asked Smokey.
Mac ran the wand over Theo’s belly several more times. “Yes...only one.”
“Are you sure?” growled Smokey.
“Yes,” Mac replied. “Based on the size of the cub, Theo is about four months pregnant. If there were another cub, he would be clearly visible now.”
“You sure he isn’t hiding?” Smokey asked. “I heard that can happen.”
Looking sharply up at Smokey, Mac’s brow furrowed. “While I can’t be one hundred percent sure, I’m 95 percent sure Theo is pregnant with only one cub. My opinion is just not based on the ultrasound but also my physical examination of him.” Then seeing Norm’s confusion, he added, “If there were two cubs, Theo would already be showing but since he only has a very slight baby bump, I suspected he was carrying only one. The ultrasound confirmed it.”
Mesmerized by the image on the screen, Theo reached out and touched it. “He’s gorgeous. I can’t wait to show Ki.”
Feeling Smokey’s gaze, Norm looked up at him and answered his mate’s unspoken question. “Ki…Kieran…he’s our best friend. We met him when we were prisoners at Arald’s. He helped us get out of there.”
“Ki’s pregnant too,” Theo murmured. Then, remembering what Ki got after his ultrasound, looked at Mac. “Hey, can we have a picture of our cub?”
“I’m already printing it out,” Mac said, smiling. When it ejected from the machine, he handed it to Theo. “Here you go…your cub’s first photo.”
Taking it, Theo held it reverently, gazing at his cub. “He’s so beautiful,” he whispered as Norm and Smokey crowded close to him to peer at the photo.
Norm only saw an image of a blurred blob and for the life of him, couldn’t understand how his mate could call their cub beautiful. Feeling Smokey squeeze his hand, he turned his gaze to him, catching his raised eyebrows and grin. Norm smiled back, relieved he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t make heads or tails of what Theo had seen.
After the gel was wiped from Theo’s skin, he sat up. Most of his tension was gone—he’d seen his cub who appeared healthy according to Mac. Now it was time to put the next part of his plan into operation, starting first with packing up a picnic basket for his two Alphas.
~/~/~/~/~
Oracle headed to Jackson’s study. She’d be leaving soon to meet Mystia but first she had to deliver a message from the Fates to Jackson. Knocking softly, she waited a moment before pushing the door the rest of the way open. “Hello, Jackson…do you have a few moments?”
Looking up at the melodic voice, Jackson rose, grinning at his mother-in-law. “Hey…sure, c’mon in. It’s actually great timing.”
Gliding in, Oracle sat down in a chair in front of his desk. “Oh, why is that?”
Sitting back down, Jackson leaned back in his chair, pausing for a moment before answering. “I’m sure you know Smokey is Theo and Norm’s mate. It was touch and go there for a while but everything worked out in the end.”
Nodding briefly, Oracle murmured, “I am delighted to hear that.”
“Yeah…it was a surprise to them…well to me too, especially since Ghost Bear shifters don’t have two mates.”
Shrugging, Oracle said, “You know as well as I do, there are always exceptions.”
“Of course,” Jackson replied. Then, changing the subject, asked, “What did you want to see me about?”
“I have a message from the Fates about your Alpha power,” Oracle began.
“What about it?”
“You have the ability to hide it.”
“Hide it?” Jackson repeated, puzzled. “Hide it how? And more importantly why would I want to do that?”
Oracle smiled softly. “Because unless you do, it will make you a target.”
Jackson stared at Oracle as her answer rattled his mind.I’m a target? Oh shit!“I’m not sure I understand.”
“It is important no one outside the Blackwood Pack learns of it…at least for now.”
