“But can you hide a whole baby?”
Nico wouldn’t have to find out because he was about to talk to his father.He grabbed his brother’s hand and dragged him out of the bedroom, and when Chris squeezed his hand, Nico took a deep breath.
He could do this.Even in the worst-case scenario, he wouldn’t be alone.If his father kicked him out of the house and the clowder, he’d go to Mackenzie.He wasn’t sure he’d be allowed to stay in fox territory permanently, but if they weren’t, they could move to Northwood.Hell, he was pretty sure that if things came to that, they’d be welcome to move in with the skunks.There was no way Dean wouldn’t be willing to help.
One way or another, everything would be okay.Nico had to keep that in mind.
For once, their father wasn’t in his office.He was in the kitchen with their mom, which Nico hadn’t planned on.Still, he was going to have to tell her, too, eventually.He supposed he might as well do it now.He might need her support, anyway.
They both looked up when Chris and Nico walked in.Their mom smiled and opened her arms so Chris could hug her, and Chris did, but he didn’t go far from Nico.As soon as he was done, he came up to stand next to him, shoulder to shoulder.
“Oh, I know those faces,” their mother said.
“What are you talking about?”Chris asked.
She gestured at them.“That’s yourwe did something big and we’re about to tell youfaces.What happened?Should I sit back down?”
Nico and Chris glanced at each other.Their mother groaned and grabbed her chair.“Ishouldsit down, shouldn’t I?The last time I saw you like this, Chris told us about Jacob.”Her eyes widened, and she looked at Nico.“Is that what you’re going to tell us?That you’ve met someone?”
That would probably be the easiest way to start this.“I did,” Nico confirmed.“His name is Mackenzie, and he’s human.He’s related to Jerome.”
“The fox alpha?”Nico’s father asked.
“Yes.He’s the man who came in while you and I were leaving Jerome’s house that day.They’re cousins.”
“I see.”
Whatdid he see?Nico didn’t know, but he wanted to find out.He felt like he was about to start screaming if his father didn’t give him anything.For now, he was just watching Nico, which was freaking Nico out.
“I’m so happy for you,” Nico’s mother said as she moved closer to hug him.“How long have the two of you been together?”
“A little while,” Nico said, not wanting to explain that they’d only been together a few weeks, yet they were already expecting a baby.He suspected his parents would find out eventually anyway, but he wasn’t ready for the judgment yet.“There’s something else,” he said before he could change his mind.
“What?”his father asked.
He knew.He had to know.Well, he probably knew that something was wrong, but he couldn’t know what it was.He was about to find out.
Nico squeezed his eyes shut.“I’m pregnant.”
It was like a bomb had detonated in the kitchen.Everyone was silent.Chris grabbed Nico’s hand and squeezed it, and Nico squeezed back, relieved.He opened his eyes only to find that his mother had a hand pressed against her mouth and her wide eyes were filling with tears.
“Sorry,” he said.
She shook her head.“What are you sorry about?You don’t have to be.”
“I swear we used protection.I don’t know what happened.”
His father snorted.“Oh, I have a pretty good idea of what happened.”
Nico’s mother turned to glare at him.“Don’t you dare.”She turned back to Nico.“Are you happy?”
“I think I am.”Nico hadn’t really allowed himself to think beyond needing to talk to his parents and all the problems that would bring, but hewashappy.It might be too fast for a lot of people, but he knew what he wanted.If he’d had a choice, he’d have waited several more years before having children, but this was fine, too.He was sure that it had happened for a reason.He might not know what that reason was, but it didn’t matter.
His mother hugged him again.“You’ll be a wonderful father.”
“Thank you.”He wanted to cry, but he suspected that was only going to get worse once his father was done with him.There was no way out of it, though.“Dad?”he asked.
His father got up and came closer.Nico held his breath, wondering what was about to happen.He had his brother and his mother on his side, but what about his father?Was he disappointed?Probably.
