"Impressive," I said.
"I was hungry." Red licked his lips. "The baby was, too."
He shifted back, then leaned against the grass with a groan. I knew he must've been uncomfortable and winced in sympathy. I shuffled up beside him to stroke his chest and belly.
"Does that feel good?" I asked.
Red shut his eyes. "Mm. Yeah." He sighed. "I'm really damn lucky to have you."
I smiled. "Likewise. I got the most special fated mate in the world."
"No need to flatter me."
"Not flattering." I grinned. "Objectively true. How many other shifters do you know who are an alphaandan omega?"
"Ha! True enough." He shot me a cheerful look. "Though it takes a special alpha to be accepting of it."
I shook my head. "No. It's not something that should be special. Everyone should be accepting of it." I kissed his cheek. "And if they're not, I'll peck their eyes out."
Red chuckled, tilting his face to brush our lips together. "My hero."
* * *
"Uncle Red,you look like you swallowed a huge egg!" Ashe said.
He and Lupa were particularly interested in the changes in Red's body. They sat clustered around him, eyes wide as they barraged him with questions, ignoring the fact that it was story time.
"Yes, I know, Ashe," Red said with a mix of amusement and thinning patience. "That's the third time you've mentioned that."
"But it's true!"
I bit my lip to contain my laughter. Lately I always sat with Red during his babysitting sessions. Since he was getting closer to his due date, I didn't want to be apart from him for too long, and I could make sure the kids weren't exhausting him too badly. Despite the rest of the pack insisting Red take time off for himself, Red always volunteered to watch them.
"Keep reading, Uncle Red," Leveret mumbled. He was apparently the only one actually invested in the old storybook, even though it was one he'd heard a thousand times.
Ignoring her twin's question, Lupa asked, "Is it gonna be a fox or a raven? Is it gonna come out as an egg? Are you gonna sit on it to keep it warm?" She gasped, suddenly horrified. "What if you sit on it and it breaks?"
"It won't break, 'cause Uncle Red's its daddy," Ashe argued.
My laughter was getting harder to stifle.
"Y'know, I actually don't know what it's gonna be," Red told them. "It'll be a surprise."
That was enough to sate Lupa and Ashe's curiosity for now. Kids loved surprises.
"Keep reading," Leveret said again, growing fussy.
"Sorry, Lev."
Red cleared his throat and picked up the book, skimming forward to the correct page. But before he could begin to read, a big paw slapped it out of his hands. Starry and Zak, both in their animal forms as a mountain lion kitten and a wolf pup, delightedly knocked the book over, playing with it like a piece of prey.
"At least those two are having fun," I said with a chuckle.
Leveret sighed.
Red patted his head. "Sorry, buddy. They don't know any better."
I was afraid Leveret might be upset, but thankfully his dad showed up. Len walked over and gingerly pried the book out of Starry's needle claws.
