She nodded and took a deep breath. “I’ve been seeing someone.”
“Okay, so I do need to kick someone’s ass for breaking your heart,” Quintus said.
“He didn’t break my heart, he got me pregnant.”
“Wait! What the hell did you just say?” he yelled, standing to his feet.
“Please, Quinny. Don’t be mad at me, I know he’s my mate,” Sareena begged.
Quintus was trying to wrap his head around what his little sister had just told him.Pregnant...what the ever-loving fuck?He started pacing the length of the small space, running his fingers through his hair. He was agitated, but not angry with his sister. But he was definitely disappointed in her.
Maybe his lack of anger was the cause of his irritation. Sareena was about to graduate from high school. He, Gabriel, and Elizabella expected her to go off to college and fulfill her dreams. Her getting pregnant so early in life wasn’t on any of their lists.
“I’m not mad,” he sighed, sitting down beside her. “Sareena. But I am disappointed. I thought the plan was you were going to go off to college after you graduated.”
“I can still do that. Now I can do it here in Vale Valley, instead of going away.” She looked away then back at him. “I need you there with me when I tell Mama and Gabe. Zion is going to meet me at home.”
“Wait you want to do this shit tonight?” Quintus asked. “Why not give it a couple of days?” Quintus wasn’t in the right frame of mind to deal with the situation. Plus, he kept thinking about the kiss he shared with Scott and wondering what the hell a playroom looked like.
“Are you kidding me? Did you forget we’re shifters and Mom will smell the change in hormones? Besides, Zion and I want to get it done and over with so we can fully become mates.”
“Your bond isn’t complete?” Quintus asked in shock. “So not only are you pregnant, but you didn’t bite him?”
“No, and being away from him right now is killing me. There’s this burning inside of me that can only be put out by being next to my mate. You’ll understand when you find your mate.”
“Oh gods. I can’t believe I’m hearing this shit from my little sister right now.”
“I’m serious, Quinny. I knew he was my mate just from his scent.tThen when we kissed, it was like fireworks on the Fourth of July. I know what you’re thinking. I’m too young to know what having a mate really means. Zion is important to me, and I know it deep down in my heart. Quinny, he’s the one. I don’t care that he’s human or a beta. All I know is he’s mine.”
That’s not what I’m thinking about, baby sis.But he kept that to himself.
Quintus knew what she was talking about. Earlier that night when he and Scott had kissed, his body had felt as if it was on fire. When they’d separated, he could tell Scott had mixed feelings about kissing him. Which had been why he’d run from the man...again. He hadn’t wanted to hear the rejection.
After he had time to think, he’d decided he needed to tell the man what he thought—they could be fated mates. Quintus wasn’t sure how Scott would take the news, but he was preparing to fight for what he believed was his. Quintus looked at his little sister and realized that even though she was young, Sareena knew what she wanted. And didn’t have a problem claiming it.
“I’m not sure what to say,” Quintus told her. She was being more mature about the whole situation than he was expecting.
“Say you’ll stand beside me when I tell Gabe and Mama.” Sareena reached over and touched his hand. “I can’t do this without you. They seem to listen to you more than they do us girls. It pisses me off sometimes. But in this instance, I need your help.”
“It won’t be easy,” Quintus told her.
“I know. Zion and I had a long talk about our future, before I called you. We know there will be a lot of adjustments and sacrifices. But we can do this.”
“Promise you’ll still go to college?”
“Of course, I still want a career. Having a baby won’t change that.”
Nodding, Quintus stood and pulled Sareena to her feet, hugging her. “I think you’re wrong,” he whispered to her. “They listen to you guys, just as much as they do me.”
“If you think so, big bro.”
“I know so,” he said, stepping back. “Come on, let’s go tell Gabe and Mama they are about to be a grandparents.”
“Wait, not just yet,” Sareena said, sitting back down.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I am,” she told him. “I need a second to absorb everything. I was really scared to tell you I was pregnant. Believe it or not, I value your opinion as my friend and a big brother.”
