“You look fantastic,” said Zane. Then, turning to his mate, suggested, “Hey babe, why don’t we take Sofia out for a late lunch at the cute restaurant downstairs?”
“Do you want to go, Mama?” asked David.
“I would love to,” Sofia said. “I’ll be right back, I just need to get my purse.”
Watching his mother leave the living room, David murmured, “The last time I can remember my mother this happy was before I was kidnapped. There’s a lot I have to do to make up for refusing to go with her when I was seven.”
Lifting David’s hand to his mouth, Zane kissed it before saying, “Babe, no you don’t. What happened wasn’t your fault and I guarantee your mother doesn’t think so, either.”
“On one hand, my head understands that, but in my heart, it’s different…there I feel guilty for everything that happened to her.”
Lowering his face, Zane buried his nose in his mate’s hair, rubbing it back and forth as he soaked up the scent. Then, he said, “Your mother will be all right, babe, and that’s what we need to focus on.”
“Okay, I’m ready!” Sofia sang out, sweeping into the room. “This is so exciting…I’ve never done this before!”
Rising, Zane took David’s hand, pulling him up, then escorted mother and son out of the suite and down the hallway to the elevator. “Just a minute,” Zane said to them as he told one of the enforcers where they were going. After receiving a nod, Zane ushered Sofia and David into the elevator, grinning at his mate as they descended.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate sat on the floor, slowly rubbing his mate’s back while Dakota kneeled in front of the toilet, waiting forthe next roiling wave to leave his stomach. “Babe, I think I should call Ian,” he said, worry evident in his voice.
“I’m pretty sure it’s just morning sickness,” replied Dakota.
“But what if it isn’t? Maybe you caught something? I think we should cancel tonight. You need some rest.”
Dakota started to shake his head, but quickly stopped when it made him feel worse. “No, I’ll be fine by tonight. We must help Brian, babe. We owe him so much.”
He agreed with his mate, but right now all Slate could think about was Dakota. “Okay we’ll go but please, babe, will you let me call Ian? I’ll feel better if I know for certain it’s morning sickness and not some other thing you might have caught.”
“Wolves don’t get sick,” Dakota spat out just before the next wave of retching. When there wasn’t anything left in him to throw up, he gratefully took the wet washcloth from his mate, wiping his mouth.Shit, this isn’t fun.Handing it back, Dakota glanced at his mate, seeing the worry in his face and felt bad for causing it. Sighing, he said, “Go call Ian and my brother. Maybe they can give me something to prevent the morning sickness.”
“Do you think there’s any more?”
“No, I’m pretty sure that was everything I ate,” Dakota said, trying to get up off the floor.
“Here, let me,” Slate said, scooping his mate up in his arms and carrying him to their bed. “Sit here for a minute; I’m going to get you some ice chips to suck on to get the taste out of your mouth.” Heading to the bar in the living room, he grabbed a couple of ice cubes, smashing them, before putting the slivers in a glass. Setting it down on the night stand, he helped Dakota lie down, propping acouple of pillows under his head. Then picking out a small chip of ice, he held it to his mate’s lips until they opened, popping it in. “Suck on that slowly, babe. I’ll be right back after I call Ian and Colton.”
Giving a limp wave, Dakota closed his eyes, savoring the melting ice in his mouth while trying to control his worry that something was wrong with their pup. After everything they’d gone through, he knew it would just about kill him if he lost the baby. His hand sought out the place where his bean was growing, still so tiny, but Dakota already loved it, an entirely new emotion that shocked him since he’d never wanted kids. Slowly rubbing his belly, he pictured his pup with dark hair and a mischievous glint in his brown eyes—just like his mate’s.
Returning to his mate’s side, Slate said, “Babe, Ian and Colton are coming right over. Is the ice helping? Do you want anything else?”
Swallowing the little bit of water he had in his mouth, Dakota patted a spot on the bed. “Babe, sit down here, next to me.”
Slate carefully lowered himself there. Sensing fear in his mate, he gathered Dakota in his arms, humming a melody while holding his mate close. If Ian assured them it was nothing more than morning sickness, he knew they both would feel better. Still vowing to leave no stone unturned when it came to providing the best for his mate and their pup, Slate decided a talk with his mother was in order. He needed answers and his mother was the expert on Dire Wolf pregnancies.Thank goodness she’s still here.
The security of Slate’s arms helped settle Dakota’s nervousness while waiting for Ian and Colton. Listening while his mate had spoken to them on the phone, he decided no matter what Ian wanted him to do, he’d agreebecause Dakota intended to have a healthy pup. Suddenly, a thought popped into his head. “Babe, have you done anything about a chef to fill in for me?”
“No, not yet, but I promise I’ll send an email to my secretary as soon as Ian has finished,” Slate said, before resuming his humming.
“What song is that? I haven’t heard it before.”
“Running Free.”
“I love the melody…can you sing it to me?”
“Mhmmm, some of it…
My paws pound the ground,
