Dean hesitated, then shrugged.“A bit.Jasper and I are both okay, though.I saw a healer, so you can stop worrying about me.”Dean bit his lower lip.“The healer actually suspected that there was a chance I was pregnant.He’d told me to take a test before, but I refused to believe it was a possibility.”
Mackenzie flopped down on the couch.“So it’s confirmed?You’re pregnant?”
“I thought we’d already confirmed that with the test.”
“How can you be pregnant?And what about Jasper?How is he?”
Dean sat down next to Mackenzie.He moved a little more slowly, as if his body was aching.Was that a consequence of the pregnancy?Was there anything Mackenzie could do to help?
“Jasper’s fine.Well, he’ll be fine.I really don’t want to talk about what happened, though.”
Mackenzie arched a brow.“You’d rather talk about the fact that you’re freaking pregnant?How didthathappen?”
There was a twinkle in Dean’s eyes when he answered.“Well, you see, when two people love each other so very much—”
Mackenzie whacked him on the thigh, taking care not to do it too hard.The baby wouldn’t feel it since they were nowhere near Dean’s leg, but still.“You’re not funny.”
Dean shook his head.“I’m very funny, but I don’t know how to answer your question.All the healer could tell me was that it had to do with my shifter DNA.”
Mackenzie’s stomach dropped.“Is there a chance thatIcould get pregnant?”
“I’m sure there is.You’re going to have to talk to the healer to know for sure, though.”
“Please.I need to know.”
Dean snorted.“If anything because it’ll ensure you don’t make the same mistake I made.”
“I thought Jasper was your best friend.”
Dean shrugged.“He is.Well, he was.We’re still friends, obviously, but there’s more.”
“And is that something you’re happy with?”
“I wouldn’t be with him if I didn’t want to be, if that’s what you’re asking.We’re not together because of the baby.The baby happened because we’re together.”
“What are you going to do now?I don’t think that any human doctor is equipped to deal with a man being pregnant, but I’m sure we can find someone.”
“I don’t need a human doctor.”
“I’m sorry, but don’t pregnant people go to the doctor?”
“Yeah, but I have a healer.Like you said, I don’t think any human doctor has ever dealt with this kind of pregnancy, so I don’t see why I should see one of them.”
“Don’t you think it would be better to go home?”Mackenzie wasn’t trying to offend Dean or tell him what to do, but the forest was more dangerous than he’d expected.Jasper had been stabbed.Mackenzie understood why Dean might not want to leave, but he might have to consider it for his baby.
Dena narrowed his eyes.“Iamhome.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do, but I can’t believe you’d suggest something like that.Why do you want me to leave the father of my child?It’s not like Jasper can move with me.He couldn’t even if he was allowed to.He’s the skunk alpha, and he has responsibilities.”
“And you have a responsibility to your child.Staying here is dangerous.What’s going to happen if they stab you next?”
Dean got to his feet, shaking his head.“You don’t get it.”
“Maybe not, but have you actually thought this through?”
“What do you think I’ve been doing since I found out I was pregnant?”
