I noticed Red hesitate for a split-second before tagging along. I wondered if he was going because Hugo summoned him as an alpha or if he went because of his unofficial duty as babysitter. In any case, I was too distracted by Nero giving me a kiss to keep thinking about it.
“Be back in a bit,” he promised. “I have to go show off for the kids.”
I smiled and gave him a small chaste kiss in return. “Have fun.”
“Everyone, look! They’re kissing! Uncle Remmy and Uncle Nero are kissing!” Ashe announced loudly, pointing at us.
As Dax burst out laughing at his son’s antics, Morgan let out a sigh. “I guess the lessons about manners haven’tentirelybeen absorbed yet…”
16
Nero
After spendingsome time splashing around the river with the kids, the other alphas and I returned to camp where Remington was deep in discussion with the omegas. They were all listening intently, but since none of them—especially Sage—were squealing with excitement or throwing themselves on Remington in joy, I figured he hadn't told them about his pregnancy yet. I was giddy to realize I'd be there when he broke the news to the whole pack.
"And he seriously wasn't just a fish shifter?" Sage asked.
“Nope.”
"A water spirit, huh?" Morgan said. "How interesting. I never would've imagined such a thing existed, but I suppose we've all experienced how intriguing life can be."
"I'd love to meet Nautilus one day," Len remarked. “He sounds incredible.”
"You telling everyone about my dad, Remmy?" I asked as we approached. I gave him a quick kiss before taking a seat next to him. The other alphas joined in, sitting in a loose circle alongside their respective fate mate. The kids ran in, all of them still damp from playing in the water, and snuggled up with their parents. The sight made me smile. I couldn't believe that in a few months time, Remington and I would be having the same experience. I was already impatient to meet our baby.
"I was," Remington said, a sly look on his face. "I waited for everybody to come back before I said anything."
"Said anything about what?" Sage asked.
The man called Morgan, the oldest and calmest omega, was smiling as if he already knew what Remington was going to say. If that was true, then in that case I was glad he wasn't as much of a loudmouth as Sage, because I doubted the exuberant young omega would've been able to keep the secret.
"Well," Remington began, "we all know how Dr. Pine is able to tell if an omega is pregnant, right?"
They all nodded. Who knew Mom was so popular in the local shifter community? I felt proud knowing that she had helped so many people.
"It turns out she got her powers by being in a relationship with Nautilus, the local water spirit who is also Nero's father," Remington explained. "Nautilus has a stronger version of the same power, and he was able to tell us right away if we were pregnant or not."
Once again, Sage's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets. But now he wasn't the only one.
Len gasped softly. "Remmy, do you mean…?"
Everyone's gaze was on Remington, as if the spotlight shining on him. To me, it always felt like there was a spotlight on him because he was the centre of world.
"Yes," Remington said with a beaming smile. "I'm pregnant."
The rush of celebration commenced once more, this time even more enthusiastic. I couldn't blame the pack for being a tiny bit more excited about the baby than about me, because honestly, I was too.
"How far along are you?" Hugo asked, looking just as glad as his mate to hear the news.
"We just found out a few days ago," Remington told him. "Nautilus told us only a few hours after we, uh..."
"Conceived," I offered, trying to use the most child friendly term considering the kids were listening intently. Since nobody got up in arms about that, I figured it was appropriate enough.
"That's fantastic," Morgan said. "It must've been extra special because the news came from Nero's father."
Remington nodded. "It was. And I was glad to be there when Nero met him for the first time."
He put his hand on top of mine, warm and soft as usual. I smiled at him.
