I let out a long sigh and shuffled closer to Ashe. He mumbled something incoherent and wrapped his arms around me.
"That w's nice," he murmured.
I nodded lazily.
"Think I might... sleep now..."
I was too tired to reply. But I didn't think Ashe would've noticed anyway, because he'd already started snoring.
21
Ashe
A few months later...
It was a crisp autumn morning.The cool breeze ruffled the edge of my shirt, making the hem around my swollen belly flutter. The sound of alpha grunts and tools hitting wood filled the air.
And fuck, I was craving a huge portion of apples more than anything in the world.
"I want sweets and sugar," I complained. "I'm so fat."
Bear raised a brow in amusement, then put down the wooden beam he was holding. "You are not fat. You're pregnant." He slapped his belly. "I'm chubbier than you are."
"Okay, well, you're a bear shifter," I retorted. "You basically have to be a little chubby. It's in the job description."
"Yo, Ashe, not that I don't sympathize with you, but can this conversation wait?" Zak called from the top of the wooden frame. "We're trying to build you and your man a cabin here, and we need his help."
I sighed dramatically. "Fine, I guess."
Bear carefully laid down the wooden beam, then popped over to give me a quick kiss. "We'll take a break soon. Then I'll find you apples."
I beamed at him. Of course he remembered my classic craving.
Also, damn, Bear looked so good when he worked up a sweat doing hard labor.
"Okay," I said. "Now get back to work before Zak siccs his orca mate on you."
"I heard that," Kamari called from the other side of the cabin frame.
"Bear versus killer whale," Zak mused with a smirk. "Now that's a fight I'd like to see."
Bear huffed. "Keep dreaming," he signed before hauling the beam onto his broad shoulder.
I chuckled at their antics. I loved how naturally Bear fit in with the rest of my family. It warmed my heart to see them all get along so well. Aside from the rest of my cousins, Bear also had a great relationship with Starry. Everything fell perfectly into place.
I guess that was the magic of finding your fated mate.
"How's that house coming along?"
I turned to see my dad Morgan. He sat next to me on the grass with a smile.
"Hey, Dad," I said. "It's going faster than I thought it would, honestly."
"Too bad you're too pregnant to help," he teased.
"Hey, I tried to help!" I insisted. "I picked up one end of the timber before Bear shot me a nasty look and told me to go sit down. So I did."
Dad chuckled. "I'm surprised. You generally don't tolerate being told what to do by alphas."
